"Prisoner of Love" is a song by

Tin Machine Tin Machine were a British–American rock band formed in 1988, and fronted by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. The band consisted of Bowie on lead vocals, saxophone and guitar; Reeves Gabrels on guitar and vocals; Tony Fox Sales on bass ...

taken from their eponymous debut album. It was issued as their third single in October 1989.

Song development

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

Live performances and video

The band elected not to make music videos for singles from the album, and instead created a 13-minute

megamix A megamix is a remix containing multiple songs in rapid succession. It often features various artists. There may be only one verse or even just a brief chorus of each song used, sometimes in addition to samples of the same or other songs. It is ...

video, in which "Prisoner of Love" was included. The video, directed by

Julien Temple Julien Temple (born 26 November 1953) is a British film, documentary and music video director. He began his career with short films featuring the Sex Pistols, and has continued with various off-beat projects, including ''The Great Rock 'n' Roll ...

, went unreleased commercially until its 30th anniversary in 2019. "Prisoner of Love" was performed during the 1989

Tin Machine Tour The Tin Machine Tour was a concert tour headlined by Anglo-American hard rock band Tin Machine. The tour commenced on 14 June 1989, following a performance of " Heaven's in Here" at the ''International Music Awards'' in New York City on 31 May ...

. 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 #"Prisoner of Love" (Edit) (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 4:09 #"Baby Can Dance" (Live) (Bowie) – 6:16 12"/CD version #"Prisoner of Love" (Edit) (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 4:09 #"Baby Can Dance" (Live) (Bowie) – 6:16 #"Crack City" (Live) (Bowie) – 5:13 #"Prisoner of Love" (LP version) (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 4:15

Credits and personnel

Producers *

Tim Palmer Timothy J. Palmer (born 4 October 1962, in North Shields) is an English record producer, audio engineer, guitarist and songwriter of rock music, rock and alternative rock, alternative music. He Audio mixing (recorded music), mixed Pearl Jam's d ...

Musicians *

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

– vocals, guitar *

Reeves Gabrels Reeves Gabrels (born June 4, 1956) is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. A member and guitarist of British band the Cure since 2012, Gabrels worked with David Bowie from 1987 to 1999, and was a member of the band Tin Machine. ...

– lead guitar *

Hunt Sales Hunt Sales (born March 2, 1954) is an American rock drummer, who has played with Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop and Tin Machine with David Bowie. He has often worked with his brother Tony Sales, a bass guitarist. Personal life Hunt Sales is a son o ...

– drums, vocals *

Tony Sales Tony Fox Sales (born September 26, 1951) is an American rock musician and composer. Normally on bass guitar, Sales and his brother, Hunt Sales, have worked with Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop, and in Tin Machine with David Bowie. Early life and career B ...

– bass, vocals Additional musicians *

Kevin Armstrong Kevin Armstrong (1922–1992 ) was a dual player who played Gaelic football, football and hurling for his local club O'Connell's GAA, O'Connell's and for the Antrim GAA, Antrim senior inter-county teams in both codes from the 1940s until the 19 ...

– rhythm guitar

External links

References

*Pegg, Nicholas, ''The Complete David Bowie'', Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, {{David Bowie singles 1989 singles Tin Machine songs Songs written by David Bowie 1989 songs EMI Records singles Music videos directed by Julien Temple