Hanging on a Heart Attack explained

Hanging on a Heart Attack
Cover:Device Hanging on a Heart Attack 1986 single cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Device
Album:22B3
B-Side:Hanging on a Heart Attack (Extended Version)
Released:12 May 1986[1]
Label:Chrysalis
Producer:Mike Chapman
Next Title:Who Says
Next Year:1986

"Hanging on a Heart Attack" is a song by American pop rock band Device, released in 1986 as the lead single from their only studio album 22B3. The song was written by Holly Knight and Mike Chapman, and was produced by Chapman. "Hanging on a Heart Attack" peaked at number 35 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Brian Grant and produced by Frank Hilton for MGMM Productions.[2] It achieved heavy rotation on MTV and peaked at number 10 on the Cash Box Top 30 Music Videos chart.[3] [4]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Cash Box praised Knight as a "songwriter par excellence" and considered "Hanging on a Heart Attack" to be a "tough and eery rocker that has immediate appeal". The reviewer added that the "strong production and vocals from Paul Engemann highlight this latest Knight gem".[5] Nancy Erlich of Billboard noted that the song's "heavy duty dance beat and snippets of weirdness should please both mainstream and alternative rock crowds".[6] Gavin Report wrote, "Device is meticulously constructed from the ground up – right down to the odd guitar lick and a well timed key change. Straddling the line between Album Radio and Top Forty, a record like [this] pretty much defines the 80s modus operandi of airplay rock."[7] Pan-European magazine Music & Media picked the song as one of their "sure hits" in their issue of 16 August 1986 and noted its "melodic and powerful pop chording".[8]

Track listing

7–inch single (US and Canada)[9]

  1. "Hanging on a Heart Attack" – 4:02
  2. "Hanging on a Heart Attack" (Extended Version) – 5:58

7–inch single (UK, Europe, South Africa, Australasia and Japan)[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

  1. "Hanging on a Heart Attack" – 4:02
  2. "Hanging on a Heart Attack" (Instrumental Version) – 5:58

12–inch single (US and Canada)[17]

  1. "Hanging on a Heart Attack" (Dance Mix) – 7:21
  2. "Hanging on a Heart Attack" (Dub Version) – 6:37
  3. "Hanging on a Heart Attack" (Short Version) – 4:24

12–inch single (UK, Europe and Australasia)[18] [19] [20] [21]

  1. "Hanging on a Heart Attack" (Dance Mix) – 7:21
  2. "Hanging on a Heart Attack" (Dub Version) – 6:37
  3. "Hanging on a Heart Attack" (Instrumental Version) – 5:58

Personnel

Device

Production

Other

Charts

Chart (1986)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[22] 46
US Billboard Hot 100[23] 35
US Hot Dance/Disco Club Play (Billboard)[24] 14
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[25] 27

Notes and References

  1. News: Beck . Marilyn . Holly Knight has her day . . May 5, 1986 . B7 . . subscription . August 4, 2023.
  2. Video Music: New Video Clips . . May 10, 1986 . Billboard Publications, Inc. . 98 . 19 . 63 . 0006-2510.
  3. Video Music: MTV Programming . . August 23, 1986 . Billboard Publications, Inc. . 98 . 34 . 63 . 0006-2510.
  4. Top 30 Music Videos . . August 16, 1986 . 50 . 9 . 24 . 0008-7289.
  5. Single Releases: New and Developing . . June 14, 1986 . 49 . 52 . 9 . 0008-7289.
  6. Erlich . Nancy . Reviews: Singles . . June 14, 1986 . Billboard Publications, Inc. . 98 . 24 . 73 . 0006-2510.
  7. Album/Alternative: New Releases . . May 16, 1986 . 1606 . 32.
  8. M&M Euro Tip Page . . 16 August 1986 . 3 . 32 . 13.
  9. Hanging on a Heart Attack . . 1986 . US and Canada 7-inch single sleeve . . VS4-42996.
  10. Hanging on a Heart Attack . . 1986 . UK 7-inch single sleeve . . CHS 2996.
  11. Hanging on a Heart Attack . . 1986 . European 7-inch single sleeve . . 108 341.
  12. Hanging on a Heart Attack . . 1986 . French 7-inch single sleeve . . 884 898-7.
  13. Hanging on a Heart Attack . . 1986 . Italian 7-inch single sleeve . . CHS 419.
  14. Hanging on a Heart Attack . . 1986 . South African 7-inch single sleeve . . PD 2484.
  15. Hanging on a Heart Attack . . 1986 . Australasian limited edition 7-inch single sleeve . . K 26, CHS 2296.
  16. Hanging on a Heart Attack . . 1986 . Japanese 7-inch single sleeve . . WWS-17637.
  17. Hanging on a Heart Attack . . 1986 . US and Canada 12-inch single sleeve . . 4V9 43007, CS-43007.
  18. Hanging on a Heart Attack . . 1986 . UK 12-inch single sleeve . . CHS 12 2996.
  19. Hanging on a Heart Attack . . 1986 . European 12-inch single sleeve . . 608 341.
  20. Hanging on a Heart Attack . . 1986 . French 12-inch single sleeve . . 884 898-1.
  21. Hanging on a Heart Attack . . 1986 . Australasian limited edition 12-inch single sleeve . . X 13260, VS4-42996, CHS 12 2996.
  22. Book: Kent, David . David Kent (historian)

    . David Kent (historian) . Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . illustrated . Australian Chart Book . St Ives, N.S.W. . 1993 . 0-646-11917-6 . 88.

  23. Hot 100 Singles . . August 23, 1986 . Billboard Publications, Inc. . 98 . 34 . 82 . 0006-2510.
  24. Hot Dance/Disco - Club Play . . August 16, 1986 . Billboard Publications, Inc. . 98 . 33 . 38 . 0006-2510.
  25. Book: Downey . Pat . Albert . George . Hoffman . Frank . Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950-1993 . 1994 . Libraries Unlimited, Inc. . Englewood, Colorado . 1563083167 . 94 . registration . August 4, 2023.

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