"Hand in Glove" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by The Smiths | ||||
from the album The Smiths | ||||
B-side | "Handsome Devil" (live) | |||
Released | 13 May 1983 | |||
Format | Vinyl single | |||
Recorded | Early 1983 at Strawberry Studios in , England | |||
Genre | Alternative rock, indie pop | |||
Length | 3:25 (album version) 3:13 (single version) |
|||
Label | Rough Trade | |||
Writer(s) | Johnny Marr, Morrissey | |||
Producer(s) | The Smiths | |||
The Smiths singles chronology | ||||
|
"Hand in Glove" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Sandie Shaw | ||||
B-side | "I Don't Owe You Anything" | |||
Released | 9 April 1984 | |||
Recorded | February 1984 | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Label | Rough Trade | |||
Writer(s) | Morrissey, Johnny Marr | |||
Producer(s) | John Porter | |||
Sandie Shaw singles chronology | ||||
|
"Hand in Glove" is a song by the British alternative rock band The Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. It was released as the band's first single in May 1983 on independent record label Rough Trade Records. "Hand in Glove" peaked at number three on the UK Indie Chart. It did not chart (top 75) but made number 124 outside the UK singles chart. A remixed version of the song was featured on the band's debut album, The Smiths, in 1984. That same year, a cover version recorded by singer Sandie Shaw featuring Smiths members Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce as backing musicians reached number 27 on the UK Singles Chart.
Morrissey and Marr wrote "Hand in Glove" in January 1983, between the second and third concerts The Smiths ever played. Morrissey claimed that after Marr gave him a demo cassette of the song, he went home and wrote lyrics for it in the span of two hours, conscious of the fact that it would be the group's first recorded work. Even prior to performing the song live, the group was unanimous in the opinion that "Hand in Glove" was their strongest song to date.
The Smiths asked their manager Joe Moss to fund the recording of "Hand in Glove". In late February, the group booked a one-day recording session at Strawberry Studios in at the cost of £250, which they produced themselves. Morrissey claimed in later years that he was dissatisfied with his vocal and returned a week later to re-record his part, the day after which the entire group travelled to London and convinced Rough Trade owner Geoff Travis to release the record. However, author Simon Goddard noted that it was not until April 1983 that Marr and bassist Andy Rourke visited the Rough Trade offices. On that occasion, Marr handed Travis a cassette featuring "Hand in Glove" and a live recording of "Handsome Devil", telling Travis, "[L]isten to this, it's not just another tape". Impressed, Travis promised he would. The following Monday, Travis called the group and invited them back to London to release "Hand in Glove" as a single. Both parties agreed to release the single as a temporary arrangement before agreeing to any long-term partnership.