"Back on the Streets" is a 1976 song by the UK rock group

Hawkwind Hawkwind are an English rock band known as one of the earliest space rock groups. Since their formation in November 1969, Hawkwind have gone through many incarnations and have incorporated many different styles into their music, including hard ...

. It was originally released as a single in the UK (CB299) on 28 January 1977. Hawkwind had toured the UK in September and October 1976 in support of their album ''

Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music ''Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music'' is the sixth studio album by the British rock band Hawkwind, released in 1976. It reached No. 33 on the UK album charts. The title makes references to old science fiction magazines (''Astounding'' and ''Amaz ...

'', and although the song had not appeared on that album it was included in the set-list, a live version being later released on the album ''

Atomhenge 76 ''Atomhenge 76'' is a 2000 live album release of part of a 1976 concert by Hawkwind. Part of this set was previously issued in North America on a single CD as ''Thrilling Hawkwind Adventures'' (Griffin Music, November–1999, GCD8402). Track ...

''. The group were due to enter

AIR Studios Associated Independent Recording (AIR) is an independent recording company founded in London in 1965 by record producers George Martin, John Burgess (record producer), John Burgess, Ron Richards (producer), Ron Richards, and Peter Sullivan (rec ...

in October to record this song as a stand-alone single release, not to be included on any album. However, tensions within the band saw founding member and saxophonist

Nik Turner Nicholas Robert Turner (26 August 1940 – 10 November 2022) was an English musician best known as a member of space rock pioneers Hawkwind. Turner played saxophone and flute, as well as being a vocalist and composer. While with Hawkwind, Tur ...

and second drummer

Alan Powell Alan Powell may refer to: * Alan Powell (actor) (born 1985), American actor and singer * Alan Powell (drummer), British musician * Alan Powell (entrepreneur) (born 1967), American businessman * Alan Powell (historian) (1936–2020), Australian hist ...

being expelled before recording began. The remaining five members cut the single and the song remained in the set during their December tour, after which it was dropped, never to be performed again. The music was written by Paul Rudolph and lyrics by Robert Calvert to the vocal melody of

The Supremes The Supremes were an American girl group formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959 as the Primettes. A premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successful Amer ...

' "

Back in My Arms Again "Back in My Arms Again" is a 1965 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, "Back in My Arms Again" was the fifth consecutive and overall number-one song ...

", and produced by Bob Potter. The press reviews were mixed, the NME assessing it as "cranked-out basic chords designed to make your eardrums bleed, lyrics that are unintelligible apart from the chanted title-chorus, and the rhythm section playing like they enjoy feeling those blisters squish against their instruments", while others felt "It's all here - a hard-edge riff and plenty of instrumental colour. But whoever sat at the mixer had no idea about dynamic emphasis." The song has been included on subsequent compilations, starting with 1980's ''

Repeat Performance ''Repeat Performance'' is a 1947 American film noir (with fantasy elements) starring Louis Hayward and Joan Leslie. The film was released by Eagle-Lion Films, directed by Alfred L. Werker, and produced by Aubrey Schenck. Plot On New Year's ...

'' and is included as a bonus track on the 2009 re-mastered version of ''Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music''.

References

Hawkwind songs 1977 songs Songs written by Robert Calvert {{1970s-rock-song-stub