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. 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 - new rules limited the number of items that could count towards the official charts, following the earlier ZTT excesses. "Rage Hard" eventually hit Number 4 in the UK singles charts and Number 1 in Germany, #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 "SuffRAGEtte 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 " Of Your Little Mind". It was released in two versions, a 4-minute mix and a 6-minute mix and featured Holly Johnson & Brian Nash imitating Count von Count from the children's TV showSesame Street. This was complemented by sampled burps and belches over a backing track.
The standard release features all five coloured fists on the cover
20,000 copies in a pop-up gatefold sleeve
7": ZTT / ZTAX 22 United Kingdom
"Rage Hard" - 4:55
" Of Your Little Mind" - 4:03
Stamped is an edit of the "Broad Mix" from the 2nd 12"
Was released to celebrate the song entering #6 on the UK charts on 6 September 1986.
12": ZTT / 12 ZTAS 22 United Kingdom
"Slam Bam"
"Rage Hard" - 12:08
"" + "SuffRAGEtte City" - 3:31
" Of Your Little Mind" - 6:15
"" - 0:22
An edit of this mix is also known as "Young Person's Guide Into The 12-inch"
This 12" was also released with a 12" x 24" poster, 20,000 copies.
Also released on German CD
12": ZTT / 12 ZTAX 22 United Kingdom
"Rage Hard" - 8:36
"Roadhouse Blues" - 4:03
" Of Your Little Mind" - 6:15
"" - 0:22
Note: 12ZTAX22 also came in a limited editioncardboard box which was designed to contain the complete set of Rage Hard UK releases. The front of the box lists the relevant catalogue numbers of the intended contents, minus the Stamped mix 7" single which is not listed. The box, called "The Total" had a sticker which made it clear that only 12 ZTAX 22 was included. It is still not established whether any box sets with their intended contents were ever officially released or indeed sold by record stores, but it's highly likely that some stores sold a complete set on request, if not officially.
"Broad Mix" also known as "Rage Hard ⊕⊕"
Track 2 is labelled as "Broadhouse Blues" on the sleeve.
Track 3 is labelled as " Of Your Little Mind" on the front sleeve
CD: ZTT / CD ZCID 22 United Kingdom
"Rage Hard " - 17:12
"SuffRAGEtte City" - 3:31
"" + "Roadhouse Blues" - 3:54
* * Tracks 1 and 3.1 was rereleased in 2012 on CD Sexmix Disk 1, Tracks 14 and 15.
12": Island / DMD 987 United States
"Rage Hard" - 7:00
"Rage Hard" - 4:03
"Rage Hard" - 5:30
US Promo 12"
Digital download: ZTT
"Rage Hard" - 5:09
"Rage Hard" - 5:00
"Rage Hard" - 5:07
"Rage Hard" - 12:07
"Rage Hard" - 8:42
"Suffragette City" - 3:35
" Of Your Little Mind" - 6:15
"Roadhouse Blues" - 4:07
"" - 0:24
1993 Version
In 1993, a version of the song appeared on the b side of The Power Of Love reissue entitled "Original DJ mix". This version is the original 7" mix from 1986, but with the first chorus removed. Instead, the first verse and second verse are jointed together. This release can also be found on a large centre hole 7" disc with the label details stamped into the naked vinyl, as opposed to a paper or printed label.
