Helicopters featuring Roy Wood (October 24, 1980) – "Rock City" b/w "Givin' Your Heart Away" 7" Single : UK

Oct 23, 1980

2 min read

Released on October 24, 1980, Rock City was issued in the UK on Cheapskate Records under catalogue number CHEAP 6.

The release presents the act under two slightly different names. The record labels identify the artist as Helicopters (Roy Wood), while the sleeve uses Helicopters featuring Roy Wood.

Roy Wood was central to both sides of the single, writing, producing and arranging Rock City and Givin' Your Heart Away. The supplied sleeve information also shows that Rock City was published by Aviation Music.

The sleeve presents Rock City around the idea of young people searching for somewhere to go, somewhere beyond the confines of everyday life where music, dreams and escape can come together.

RECORDING

Rock City was recorded at The Old Smithy Studios in Worcester, England.

Paul Robbins and Colin Owen are credited as engineers.

STYLE & THEMES

Rock City centres on young people looking for somewhere to escape to and pursue the possibilities suggested by music and radio.

The repeated Rock City refrain presents this imagined destination as somewhere to belong and somewhere offering an alternative to being trapped by ordinary surroundings.

TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES

• Rock City — Written, produced and arranged by Roy Wood. The A-side runs for 4:00 and was published by Aviation Music.

• Givin' Your Heart Away — Written, produced and arranged by Roy Wood. The B-side runs for 3:50 and was published by Aviation Music.

RELEASE HISTORY

Released in the UK on October 24, 1980 as a 7" vinyl single on Cheapskate Records.

The release carries catalogue number CHEAP 6.

The supplied source records the release date from The New Singles No. 847.

PERSONNEL

Roy Wood — songwriter, producer, arranger

Paul Robbins — engineer

Colin Owen — engineer

PRODUCTION

Produced by Roy Wood

Arranged by Roy Wood

Recorded at The Old Smithy Studios, Worcester, England

Engineers: Paul Robbins and Colin Owen

Front cover artwork: Roy Wood

Label: Cheapskate Records

NOTES

The record labels credit the artist as Helicopters (Roy Wood).

The sleeve credits the act as Helicopters featuring Roy Wood.

The release date is documented in The New Singles No. 847.

The supplied sleeve credits Roy Wood with the front cover artwork.

RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE

Artist	Title	Label	Country	Catalogue	Date	Format
Helicopters (Roy Wood)	Rock City	Cheapskate	UK	CHEAP 6	October 24, 1980	7" Single

TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)

Format	Catalogue	Tracklisting
7" Single	CHEAP 6	A. Rock City — 4:00
		B. Givin' Your Heart Away — 3:50

SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2, RockfilesUK.

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