“You Belong in Rock n’ Roll” is a song by Tin Machine, released ahead of their second album in August 1991. The song was the band’s first release on Victory Records, which was distributed by London Records in the UK.
The band’s sound was somewhat more refined than on their debut album, influenced by Marc Bolan and Elvis Presley, and its use of a music-as-sex metaphor was a Bowie theme used on several tracks stretching right back to his glam days.
Launched in a barrage of publicity, including appearances on Top of the Pops (where the band mimed and Gabrels chose to play his guitar with a bread roll, with Bowie seeming to be much amused by the resulting mess) and Wogan (where the band again mimed, and Gabrels played his guitar with a vibrator, and Bowie visibly tired of the host’s patter), the single peaked at UK No. 33 – a disappointment, but it would be Tin Machine’s biggest hit single.
Track listing
7″ version
“You Belong in Rock ‘n’ Roll” (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:33
“Amlapura (Indonesian version)” (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:49
12″/CD version 1
“You Belong in Rock n’ Roll (Extended version)” (Bowie, Gabrels) – 6:32
“You Belong in Rock n’ Roll (LP version)” (Bowie, Gabrels) – 4:07
“Amlapura (Indonesian version)” (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:49
“Shakin’ All Over (Live)” (Kidd) – 2:49
CD version 2
“You Belong in Rock n’ Roll” (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:33
“Amlapura (Indonesian version)” (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:49
“Stateside” (H. Sales) – 5:38
“Hammerhead” (Bowie, H. Sales) – 3:15
Recorded
Sydney October – December 1989; Los Angeles, March 1991
Producers
Tin Machine
Tim Palmer
Musicians
David Bowie: Vocals, guitar, saxophone
Reeves Gabrels: Lead guitar
Hunt Sales: Drums, vocals
Tony Sales: Bass, vocals
Kevin Armstrong: Rhythm guitar
Live versions
A live version recorded during the 1991 Tin Machine tour was released on the live album Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby in 1992.
