Rage Hard

 

"Rage Hard"
Single by Frankie Goes to Hollywood from the album Liverpool
A-side	Rage Hard
Released	22 August 1986
Format	7", 12", CD
Recorded	1986
Genre	Dance, New Wave
Length	5:05
Label	ZTT / ZTAS 22
Writer	Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Producer	Stephen Lipson
Frankie Goes to Hollywood singles chronology
Welcome to the Pleasuredome (1985) Rage Hard (1986) Warriors of the Wasteland (1986)

"Rage Hard" is the fifth single by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. It was released in August 1986.

Background

Having topped the charts around the world with Welcome to the Pleasuredome and its accompanying singles, Frankie Goes to Hollywood took off to Amsterdam to record the follow up album, Liverpool. Taking on a rockier edge, "Rage Hard" was the first single culled from the disc.

The single's title came from the Dylan Thomas poem "Do not go gentle into that good night".

Of note, "Rage Hard" was a testament to the changing musical landscape in Britain at the time. It was not only the first Frankie single to be featured on CD single, it was also the first single to not feature a cassette release.

"Rage Hard" eventually hit Number 4 in the UK singles charts and Number 1 in Germany (for two weeks), #5 in Switzerland, #7 in the Netherlands, #12 in Austria, #19 in Sweden and #32 in France.

B-sides

The b-sides to "Rage Hard" were, for the most part, straight forward cover songs. Firstly there was a cover of David Bowie's 1972 glam-rock classic "Suffragette City", slightly renamed to "SufferRAGEette City" to fit in with the "Rage Hard" promotion. The second cover song was "Roadhouse Blues" by The Doors which featured on the 2nd 12". A shorter version features on the CD single.

The original b-side is an odd composition entitled "(Don't Lose What's Left) Of Your Little Mind". It was released in two versions, a 4 minute mix and a 6 minute mix and featured Holly Johnson & Brian (Nasher) Nash imitating 'The Count' Vampire ("Ha ha ha / I am the count")from the Childrens' TV show 'Sesame Street'. This was complimented by sampled burps and belches over a backing track.

Tracklisting

(All discographical information pertains to UK releases only)

7" single (ZTAS 22)

"rage rage"

1. "Rage Hard (7" mix)" (5:05)
2. "(Don't Lose What's Left) Of Your Little Mind" (4:03)

• The standard release features all five coloured fists on the cover

Stamped 7" (ZTAX 22)

1. "Rage Hard (dance mix)" (4:55)
2. "(Don't Lose What's Left) Of Your Little Mind" (4:03)

• The dance mix of Rage Hard was an edit of the "Broad Mix" from the 2nd 12" (sleeve featured the Blue fist)
• ZTAX7 came in a pop-up gatefold sleeve (with the Rage Hard fists being the pop-up) (sleeve featured the Orange fist) (ZTD22)

12" single (12 ZTAS 22)

"Slam Bam"

1. "Rage Hard" (12:08)
2. "SufferRAGEette City" (3:31)
3. "(Don't Lose What's Left) Of Your Little Mind" (6:15)
4. "['always note the sequencer...']" (:22)

• This mix is also known as "Young Person's Guide To The 12-inch"
• This 12" was also released with a 12" x 24" poster (12 ZTAQ 22)

2nd 12" single (12 ZTAX 22)

"Broad"

1. "Rage Hard (Broad Mix)" (8:36) (sleeve features the Yellow fist)
2. "Roadhouse Blues (the full version)" (4:03)
3. "(Don't Lose What's Left) Of Your Little Mind ('suffer brother')" (6:15)
4. "['always note the sequencer...']" (:22)

• (sleeve featured the Yellow fist)

Note: 12ZTAX22 also came as a limited edition with a box designed to contain all the Rage Hard UK issues (box featured the Red fist)

CD single (CD ZCID 22)

1. "['we have begun']" (0:07)
2. "Rage Hard (Broad Mix edited)" (5:08)
3. "Rage Hard (compacted)" (11:58)
4. "SufferRAGEette City" (3:31)
5. "(Don't Lose What's Left) Of Your Little Mind (excerpt)" (:18)
6. "Roadhouse Blues (the short version)" (3:37)

• (sleeve featured the Purple fist)

Freddy Basstone Mix

1. "Rage Hard (Freddy Basstone Mix)

There was both a single and 12" version of the Freddy Basstone mix, which appeared with an unusual Island Records promotional cover.

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