GLASS CANDY & THE SHATTERED THEATER “HANG ONTO YOURSELF” (1999)
originally recorded by Arnold Corns (1971)
cover version available on “Brittle Women” (Not On 45, 1999)
Ah, the bands of my later youth. Glass Candy’s “Brittle Women” has the distinct honor of being one of the first 45 I ever purchased as an adult. This single remains my absolute favorite release from Glass Candy.
In actuality, Arnold Corns was a band formed by David Bowie. “Hang Onto Yourself” was later re-recorded for The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.
Performance of “Hang onto Yourself” from 1978
Glass Candy (and the Shattered Theater) are an outfit from Portland who have undergone a major style change since their inception some 10 years ago. Then, I associated them with the whole GSL roster from the era of Spock. Now they’re doing some highly processed nu-disco stuff that’s interesting enough. It seems they’re finally getting their due. Their live shows were pretty incredible. I last time I saw them was at my “retirement party” back in 2005, a bill shared with Magas and Les Georges Leningrad.
Glass Candy in 2003 performing “Cold Party” at this show at the Fireside Bowl in Chicago. Guess who was there…
For Glass Candy, the trajectory towards disco was natural and expected, albeit strangely timed in terms of trends. They started playing anthemic, hard edged glam, and just as in history, that trend faded to make way for disco. Ida No’s warble still ranks high in my book among favorite vocalists. Eventually, I’m sure Glass Candy will wind up punk again. Punks with excellent graphic design skills.
