There are two main versions of the song, with various edits and remixes of the two. The first version, produced by Alex Sadkin & Tom Bailey, was released in late 1984 in Europe and Australia. The 1985 version was a reworking co-produced by Nile Rodgers, adding electric guitar and a gospel choir and released as a single in the US; this version appeared on the album.
The single peaked at No. 13 in the UK, spending nine weeks on the chart. In the US, it peaked at No. 14 on both the Adult Contemporary and Rock Tracks charts, No. 46 on the Dance Club Play chart, and No. 6 on the Hot 100 singles chart.
The B-side, "The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)", is an instrumental variation of the song and was exclusive to this single.
Content
Singer Tom Bailey said,
We were interested in the idea of group rituals of that sort, and particularly how it relates to artist, performer, and audience. ... [The song is] nonspecifically religious. It looks at religious ritual in that way, and then draws a kind of metaphor - I've always been very fond of the kind of layered metaphor where the song can be about one thing but also about another. That's part of a really ancient and noble tradition of religious writing of music. Typically, people talk about their love for God in a religious song, but what they're also saying is that they love someone human. It's a way of evoking that immense emotional weight into a song.[1]
Music video
Two versions of the promotional music video directed by Dee Trattmann exist for the single. The original edit of the music video features the band performing the 1984 version of the song on a stage in front of an audience of pop star look-alikes including David Bowie, Siouxsie Sioux, Mari Wilson, Gary Glitter, Boy George and Grace Jones.[2] When the song was reworked in 1985, the video was re-edited with the 1985 version dubbed instead.[3]
Formats
7" UK vinyl single (1984) Arista TWINS 6
"Lay Your Hands on Me" – 4:11
"The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:10
12" UK vinyl single (1984) Arista TWINS 126
"Lay Your Hands on Me" (Extended Mix/Full Version) – 6:08
"The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:10
7" UK vinyl single (1984) Arista TWING 6
"Lay Your Hands on Me" (U.S. Re-mix) – 4:19
"The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:10
12" UK vinyl single (1984) Arista TWINS 226
"Lay Your Hands on Me" (U.S. Re-mix) – 5:51
"The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:10
7" UK vinyl Picture Disc (1984) Arista TWISD 6
"Lay Your Hands on Me" (Single Version) – 3:44
"The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:12
New Zealand cassette single (1984) Festival Records-C 14155
"Lay Your Hands on Me" (Extended Version) – 6:05
"Lay Your Hands on Me" (U.S. Remix) – 5:56
"The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:13
7" U.S. vinyl single (1985) Arista AS1-9396
"Lay Your Hands on Me" (Single Version) – 3:44
"The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:12
12" U.S. vinyl single (1985) Arista AD1-9397
"Lay Your Hands on Me" (Single Version) – 3:52
"The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:14
Version from the UK 7" vinyl single—this is the charted UK hit version. Appeared on the film soundtrack for Perfect (1985); also found on the CD 'Thompson Twins – Platinum & Gold Collection' (2003 BMG Heritage/Arista).
This is an eclectic instrumental version of the song featured as the 7" and 12" B-side to both 1984 and 1985 versions. Found on Edsel's 2008 reissue of Here's To Future Days.
Despite being explicitly billed as the "U.S. Re-mix", never actually issued in the U.S. Only found on the U.K. 7" vinyl single. Never released on any CD compilation.
Despite being explicitly billed as the "U.S. Re-mix", never actually issued in the U.S. Only found on the U.K./Australian 12" vinyl singles and the New Zealand cassette maxi-single. Appeared on CD for the first time on the 2014 Cherry Pop compilation Remixes & Rarities.
First appeared on the CD compilation Thompson Twins 'Singles Collection' (1996 Camden/BMG); also found on 'The Best Of Thompson Twins' (1998 BMG/Arista Japan), and the reissue of Here's To Future Days (2008 Edsel).
Only available on 7" vinyl. This is the charted US and Canadian hit version. Not available on any CD compilation. This version has a shorter intro and the cold ending.
Instrumental version with a longer intro. From the bonus 5 track remix EP included with the limited edition of Here's To Future Days. Appeared on CD for the first time on Edsel's 2008 reissue of Here's To Future Days.
Album version with a shortened intro. Found on the CD compilations: Greatest Hits (1996 Arista/BMG), 'Thompson Twins – Hold Me Now' (2000 Arista/BMG), and 'Thompson Twins – UK BMG Music Publishing Promo CD' (2003).
