music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Prisoner of Love" is a song by Tin Machine taken from their eponymous debut album. It was issued as their third single in October 1989.

"Prisoner of Love"
Single by Tin Machine
from the album Tin Machine
B-side	"Baby Can Dance" (Live) / "Crack City" (Live)
Released	30 October 1989
Recorded	August 1988 - early 1989; studio material recorded at Mountain Studios, Montreux Switzerland, and Compass Point Studios, Nassau live recording 25th of June 1989; at La Cigale, Paris
Genre	Rock
Length	4:09
Label	EMI MT 76
Songwriter(s)	David Bowie
Producer(s)	Tin Machine Tim Palmer
Tin Machine singles chronology
"Tin Machine" / "Maggie's Farm (live)" (1989) "Prisoner of Love" (1989) "You Belong in Rock n' Roll" (1991)

Song development

Bowie claimed at the time he wrote the song for his then-partner Melissa Hurley.[1] It reads as worldly advice from the singer to his naive younger girlfriend.[2]

Live performances and video

The band elected not to make music videos for singles from the album, and instead created a 13-minute megamix video, in which "Prisoner of Love" was included. The video, directed by Julien Temple, went unreleased commercially until its 30th anniversary in 2019.[3]

"Prisoner of Love" was performed during the 1989 Tin Machine Tour. The single was backed by live tracks recorded at La Cigale, Paris on 25 June 1989, and had a novel heart-shaped 7" picture disc release. It failed to chart in the UK or the US.

Track listing

7" version

1. "Prisoner of Love" (Edit) (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 4:09
2. "Baby Can Dance" (Live) (Bowie) – 6:16

12"/CD version

1. "Prisoner of Love" (Edit) (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 4:09
2. "Baby Can Dance" (Live) (Bowie) – 6:16
3. "Crack City" (Live) (Bowie) – 5:13
4. "Prisoner of Love" (LP version) (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 4:15

Credits and personnel

Producers

• Tin Machine
• Tim Palmer

Musicians

• David Bowie – vocals, guitar
• Reeves Gabrels – lead guitar
• Hunt Sales – drums, vocals
• Tony Sales – bass, vocals

Additional musicians

• Kevin Armstrong – rhythm guitar

External links

• Tin Machine - Nine Track Compilation (Official Video) on YouTube

References

• Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5

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