Prisoner of Love

"Prisoner of Love"
Single by Tin Machine
from the album Tin Machine
A-side	Prisoner of Love
B-side	Baby Can Dance (Live)
Released	October 1989
Format	7"/12"/CD single
Recorded	Montreux; Nassau, August 1988 - early 1989
Genre	Rock
Length	4:09
Label	EMI MT 76
Writer(s)	David Bowie
Producer	Tin Machine, Tim Palmer
Tin Machine singles chronology
"Tin Machine"/ "Maggie's Farm (live)" (1989) "Prisoner of Love" (1989) David Bowie: "Fame '90" (1990) Tin Machine: "You Belong in Rock n' Roll" (1991)

"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. Bowie claimed at the time he wrote the song for his then-partner Melissa Hurley. It reads as worldly advice from the singer, warning the subject off drugs among other things – Bowie’s social conscience is a recurring theme of Tin Machine.

Despite being backed by live tracks recorded at La Cigale, Paris on June 25, 1989, and a novel heart-shaped 12" picture disc release, "Prisoner of Love" 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

Production credits

Producers

• Tin Machine
• Tim Palmer

Musicians

• David Bowie: Vocals, Guitar
• Reeves Gabrels: Lead guitar
• Hunt Sales: Drums, vocals
• Tony Sales: Bass, vocals
• Kevin Armstrong: Rhythm Guitar

References

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