Hug My Soul

"Hug My Soul" is a single by British band Saint Etienne. It was the third single from the album Tiger Bay, and was released September 1994 (1994-09) by Heavenly Records. It was written by vocalist Sarah Cracknell along with songwriting partners Guy Batson and Johnny Male (Male and Batson would help co-write a number of tracks on Cracknell's solo debut Lipslide).

"Hug My Soul"
Single by Saint Etienne
from the album Tiger Bay
A-side"Hug My Soul"
B-side"Hate Your Drug", "I Buy American Records", "La Poupee Qui Fait Non (No No No)"
Released19 September 1994 (1994-09-19)
GenreIndie pop
LabelHeavenly, Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Batson, Male, Cracknell
Producer(s)Saint Etienne
Saint Etienne singles chronology
"Like a Motorway"
(1994)		 "Hug My Soul"
(1994)		 "He's on the Phone"
(1995)
Music video
"Hug My Soul" on YouTube
Alternative cover
US cover

The single was released with three B-sides: two written by Saint Etienne's songwriting partnership of Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs, "I Buy American Records" and "Hate Your Drug", and a cover version of La Poupée Qui Fait Non (No, No, No)", a live recording produced by the band's friend (and future Heavenly label mate) Edwyn Collins. A second CD featured remixes by Motiv8, Secret Knowledge, Juan "Kinky" Hernandez and Sure is Pure. It reached #32 in the UK charts and was their first single not to be released on 7" vinyl.[1]

This would be Saint Etienne's final release for Warner Bros. Follow up single "He's on the Phone" would be released on MCA Records, lifted from a dance compilation album called Life is a Dance.[2] The US releases included a number of exclusive remixes - including an alternate album version (which was released as a bonus track on the US version of Tiger Bay), a Motiv-8 dub, and the On Tour In '94 dub.

The song bears a resemblance to the 70s disco hit More, More, More by Andrea True Connection. In particular, the phrasing of the "More More More" lyric "Ooh, how do you like your love?" is identical to the "Hug My Soul" lyric "Ooh, what are you dreaming of?", and both lyrics are the opening to each of their representative songs.

Marketing

The UK release featured cover art involving a photograph of abandoned musical instruments. The US release features a photograph of the band.

The single was marketed with a surreal music video inspired by the French film La Bête (1975).[3] In the video, Sarah Cracknell plays a young girl asleep with her stuffed toys; she dreams of being chased by a bear, but ultimately ends up having jelly and ice cream with him in his den.

Critical reception

Tim Sendra from AllMusic described the song as "lush and sophisticated dance-pop".[4] Larry Flick from Billboard commented, "Songs like "Hug My Soul" combine a familiar blend of airy modern pop with prominent dance beats and fairly aggressive execution."[5] Music & Media wrote, "Despite the six mixes to draw the attention of the dance-minded, it will always be a pop song. If you don't think you're ready, check out the lovely track I Buy American Records."[6]

Track listing

All tracks written and composed by Batson, Cracknell, Male; except where indicated.

MC, Heavenly / HVN42 CS
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hug My Soul" 3:56
2."Hate Your Drug"Stanley, Wiggs3:47
12", Heavenly / HVN42 12
No.TitleLength
1."Hug My Soul (Album version)"3:56
2."Hug My Soul (Sure Is Pure's Kodacolour House Mix)"8:42
3."Hug My Soul (Motiv8's Blackpool Mix)"6:45
4."Hug My Soul (Secret Knowledge's Limbo Mix)"10:06
12", Heavenly / HVN42 12P
No.TitleLength
1."Hug My Soul (Motiv 8 Mix - Blackpool Mix)"6:45
2."Hug My Soul (12" Mix)"6:29
3."Hug My Soul (Sure Is Pure's Kodacolour House Mix)"8:42
4."Hug My Soul (Sure Is Pure - Little Deuce Dub)"8:40
12", Warner Bros. / 9 41591-0
No.TitleLength
1."Hug My Soul (Kodacolor House Mix)"8:42
2."Hug My Soul (Little Deuce Dub)"8:40
3."Hug My Soul (Nu Bootz Groove)"4:49
4."Hug My Soul (Motive-8 Mix"6:45
5."Hug My Soul (Motive-8 Dub)"6:41
6."Hug My Soul (Secret Knowledge Limbo Mix)"10:06
12", Warner Bros. / PRO-A-7069 (US Promo)
No.TitleLength
1."Hug My Soul (Kodacolor House Mix)"8:42
2."Hug My Soul (Little Deuce Dub)"8:40
3."Hug My Soul (Secret Knowledge Limbo Mix)"10:05
4."Hug My Soul (On Tour In '94 Dub)"5:08
  • Tracks 1,2 remixed by Sure is Pure
  • Tracks 3,4 remixed by Kris Needs
CD, Heavenly / HVN42CD
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hug My Soul" 3:56
2."I Buy American Records"Stanley, Wiggs2:50
3."Hate Your Drug"Stanley, Wiggs3:47
4."La Poupee Qui Fait Non (No No No) - Live In Reykyavik"Polnareff, Stephens3:55
CD, Heavenly / HVN42CDR
No.TitleLength
1."Hug My Soul (12" Mix)" (remixed by Mark "Spike" Stent)6:29
2."Hug My Soul (Motiv 8 - Blackpool Mix)"6:45
3."Hug My Soul (Sure Is Pure - Kodacolour House Mix)"8:45
4."Hug My Soul (Juan 'Kinky' Hernandez - Nu Bootz Groove)"4:51
5."Hug My Soul (Secret Knowledge - Limbo Mix)"10:06
CD, Warner Bros. / 9 41591-2
No.TitleLength
1."Hug My Soul (Alternate Album Version)"4:23
2."Hug My Soul (Kodacolor House Mix)"8:45
3."No, No, No, No, No (La Poupee Qui Fait Non)"3:55
4."Hug My Soul (Nu Bootz Groove)"4:51
5."Hug My Soul (Motiv-8 Mix)"6:45
6."I Buy American Records"2:55
7."Hug My Soul (Secret Knowledge Limbo Mix)"10:06

Charts
Chart (1994) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[7] 100
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[8] 34
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 32
UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[9] 35

References
  1. "Saint Etienne Heaven - Hug My Soul discography entry". Saint.etienne.net. 2002-06-29. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  2. "Life is a Dance discography entry". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  3. "Saint Etienne - Smash the System poll". Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  4. Sendra, Tim. "Saint Etienne – Hug My Soul". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  5. Flick, Larry (1994-05-14). "Dance Trax: Jacqueline Won't Let Go; Denise Johnson On Rise" (PDF). Billboard. p. 38. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  6. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 1994-10-22. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  7. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 1994-10-08. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  8. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 25 September 1994 - 01 October 1994". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  9. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 25 September 1994 - 01 October 1994". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
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