Sold Me Down The River was first released as the a single on 11th September 1989 in advance of appearing on the Change album released on 18th September 1989
It was an incredibly hot day and because of the skylights, the temperature in the studio was unbearable. I asked Tony Visconti if I could go outside and sing on the roof. Tony thought it was a great idea and while he was rigging up a cable long enough to reach from the control room, Dave Sharp came up to keep me company and he brought his Gibson Thunderbird. Just as the sound of Sold Me was pumped in to my headphones and Tony Visconti gave me the single to start singing, a huge airship flew past overhead. Dave and I kept playing whilst Twist captured the moment on my video camera – Mike Peters Alarm 2000 collection
Sold Me Down The River was first released in the UK on a 7″, 10″, 12″ CD and Cassette single on 11th September 1989
It initially entered the UK single charts at 43 on 16th September 1989
UK Official Singles Chart positions for Sold Me Down The River single release
16th September 1989 – Enters at number 43
23rd September 1989 – Remained at number 43
30th September 1989 – Drops to number 62
Leaves the Top 100 official UK singles
1989 Skylight Suite recording details
Running length 5:25 Album version, 4:11 Single version, 3:36 Edit version
Written by Macdonald / Peters
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Synth Bass, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Percussion, Keyboards
Mark Taylor – Keyboards, Hammond Organ
Tony Visconti – Backing Vocals
Backing track recorded 12th May 1989 at The Skylight Suite, London, England
Mixed at Good Earth Studio, London, England in June/July 1989
Produced and Engineered by Tony Visconti
Alternative studio recordings – Demo, Acoustic, Remastered, Re-imaged
October 1988 – March 1989 – The Alarm – the alarm.change.demos released in 1998
Running length 5:48
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Guitar
Dave Sharp – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocal
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocal
Nigel Twist – Drums
Demo sessions recording at Kinmel Hall, Abergele, St George, North Wales
1995 – Acoustic recording details
Running length 3:02
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Recorded at Fort Apache, Boston, USA
Produced by Michael Peters. Recorded by Dan McLoughlin
2000 – The Alarm – The Alarm 2000 Collection Box Set : Change Remastered release
Running length 5:27
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Synth Bass, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Percussion, Keyboards
Mark Taylor – Keyboards, Hammond Organ
Tony Visconti – Backing Vocals
Remastered from the 1990 original recording by Mike Peters.
Remastering Engineered by Gary Butler @ RTS Liverpool in 2000
2019 – Mike Peters presents The Alarm – Stream [Hurricane of Change] recording
Running length 3:24 Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – 1st Voice, Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Narration
Steve “Smiley” Barnard – 2nd Voice, Drums, Percussion
Jules Jones Peters – 3rd Voice, Piano
George Williams – 4th Voice, Bass Guitar
Recorded at Sain Studios, Caernarfon, Wales 8th-12th February 2019
Recorded and engineered by George Williams
Assistant recording engineer Aled Hughes
Demonstration tape engineer Mark Warden
Album appearances and discography of studio recordings
All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
(All Images right click to open larger in new window)
18th September 1989 : The Alarm – Change
IRS Records, vinyl IRSAX 1020, cassette IRSAC 1020, CD IRSACD 1020 (UK Release)
Original 1989 Album version
Change was also released on vinyl, cassette and CD in USA, Canada, Vinyl and CD in Europe and Australia,
Vinyl and cassette in Italy, Vinyl only in Brazil, Cassette only in Germany, CD only in Japan
1989 : The Alarm – The Alarm
IRS Records, catalogue number CDS-34 (CD) Japanese promotional compilation album
Original 1989 Edit version
13th November 1990 : The Alarm – Standards
IRS Records, vinyl EIRSA1043, cassette EIRSC1043, CD EIRSCD1043 (UK Release)
Original 1989 Single version
Standards was also released on vinyl, cassette and CD in Europe and USA, Vinyl and cassette Italy, Vinyl and CD in Australia, cassette and CD in Canada, Vinyl only in South Korea and CD only in Japan
1997 : Mike Peters – Acoustic Works 1987-1991
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C005 (CD)
1995 Fort Apache Acoustic Recording
13th April 1998 : The Alarm And Mike Peters – The Best Of The Alarm and Mike Peters
Released in the UK & Europe on EMI, catalogue number 7243 4 93751 2 3 (CD)
Original 1989 recording radio edit
1998 : The Alarm – the alarm.change.demos
Red Dragon Record, catalogue number LC6448 (CD)
October 1988 to February 1989 demo sessions recording at Kinmel Hall, Abergele, St George, North Wales 
2000 : The Alarm – Change [1989-1990]
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C015 (CD)
Appearing as part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set and then later as an individual disc
Original 1989 album recording remastered
2000 : The Alarm – The Alarm 2000 collection sampler
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C018 (CD)
Original 1989 album recording remastered
2002 : The Alarm – Close
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21CS002 (CD)
Original 1989 recording radio edit version
2002 : Mike Peters – Acoustic Alarm Standards
Conspiracy Music CM0014 (CD) (USA Release)
1995 Fort Apache Recording
2004 : The Alarm – 2004 Reissues Sampler
EMI, no catalogue number (UK) (CD)
Oiginal 1989 album recording remastered
2006 : The Alarm – The Best Of The Alarm.
Released in Europe, USA & Canada on Capitol Records, catalogue number 09463-57607-2-9 (CD).
Original 1989 recording radio edit
1st October 2019 : Mike Peters Presents The Alarm – Change
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C111 (Vinyl)
2019 Hurricane of Change recording
1st October 2019 : Mike Peters presents The Alarm – Stream {Hurricane of Change} – Downstream disc
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C112 (CD)
2019 Hurricane of Change recording
4th June 2021 : The Alarm – History Repeating
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C119LP (4 LP Vinyl box set)
V tbc
4th June 2021 : The Alarm – History Repeating
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C120 (CD)
V tbc
4th June 2021 : The Alarm – History Repeating
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C123LP (Double LP Vinyl)
V tbc
Single appearances and discography
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UK Releases :
11th September 1989 : 7″ Vinyl single – Sold Me Down The River
Track listing : Sold Me Down The River / Gwerthoch Fi I Lawr Yr Afon
IRS Records catalogue number EIRS 123
1989 Single version studio recording 
11th September 1989 : 7″ Vinyl single tri fold sleeve with pictures – Sold Me Down The River
Track listing : Sold Me Down The River / Gwerthoch Fi I Lawr Yr Afon
IRS Records catalogue number EIRS 123
1989 Single version studio recording 
11th September 1989 : 12″ Vinyl single – Sold Me Down The River
Track listing : Sold Me Down The River / Gwerthoch Fi I Lawr Yr Afon / Corridors of Power
IRS Records catalogue number EIRST 123
1989 Full album version studio recording 
11th September 1989 : Casette single – Sold Me Down The River
Track listing : Sold Me Down The River / Gwerthoch Fi I Lawr Yr Afon / Sold Me Down The River / Gwerthoch Fi I Lawr Yr Afon
IRS Records catalogue number EIRSC 123
1989 Edit version studio recording 
11th September 1989 : CD single – Sold Me Down The River
Track listing : Sold Me Down The River / Gwerthoch Fi I Lawr Yr Afon / Corridors of Power
IRS Records catalogue number EIRSCD 123
1989 Full album version studio recording
18th September 1989 : 10″ Vinyl single – Sold Me Down The River
Track listing : Sold Me Down The River / Corridors of Power / Gwerthoch Fi I Lawr Yr Afon / Firing Line
IRS Records catalogue number EIRS10 123
1989 Single version studio recording
September 1989 : 7″ Vinyl single white label promotional copy – Sold Me Down The River
Track listing : Sold Me Down The River / Gwerthoch Fi I Lawr Yr Afon
IRS Records catalogue number EIRS 123
1989 Single version studio recording 
September 1989 : 12″ Single sided Acetate – Sold Me Down The River
Track listing : Sold Me Down The River
IRS Records catalogue number EIRS 123
1989 Single version studio recording
Europe Releases :
September 1989 : 7″ Vinyl single – Sold Me Down The River
Track listing : Sold Me Down The River / Corridors of Power
IRS Records catalogue number 1C 006-24 1030 7
1989 Single version studio recording 
September 1989 : 12″ Vinyl single – Sold Me Down The River
Track listing : Sold Me Down The River / Firing Line / Corridors of Power
IRS Records catalogue number 1C 060-24 1030 6
1989 Full version studio recording
German Release :
September 1989 : 3″ CD single – Sold Me Down The River
Track listing : Sold Me Down The River / Firing Line / Corridors of Power
IRS Records catalogue number CDP 552 24 1030 3
1989 Full album version studio recording
Italian Releases :
September 1989 : 7″ Vinyl single – Sold Me Down The River
Track listing : Sold Me Down The River / Corridors of Power
IRS Records catalogue number 06 2410307
1989 Single version studio recording
September 1989 : 12″ Vinyl single – Sold Me Down The River
Track listing : Sold Me Down The River / Firing Line / Corridors of Power
IRS Records catalogue number 14 2410306
1989 Full version studio recording
Officially released live recordings – Audio
All are Worldwide Releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)
15th January 2000. Recorded at The Gathering 8, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales
Running length 4:20
Performed by Mike Peters and New Electric Band – Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve Grantley
Catalogue number 21C020
4th December 2000. Recorded at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland
5th December 2000. Recorded at University, Newcastle, England
Running length 4:45
7th December 2000. Recorded at The Cockpit, Leeds, England
Running length 4:24
8th December 2000. Recorded at Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, England
9th December 2000. Recorded at The Lomax, Liverpool, England
Running length 4:22
10th December 2000. Recorded at The Leadmill, Sheffield, England
13th December 2000. Recorded at Rock City, Nottingham, England
15th December 2000. Recorded at Shepherds Bush Empire (W12), London, England
Running length 4:26
16th December 2000. Recorded at University, Cardiff, Wales
Running length 4:20
17th December 2000. Recorded at University, Manchester, England
December shows performed as The Alarm 2000 – Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Richard Llewellyn, Steve Grantley
The UK December dates were part of the tour to promote The Alarm 2000 collection, The December tour CD’s were released as Live At ….
13th January 2001. Recorded at The Gathering 7, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales
Running length 4:19
Performed by The Alarm MMI – Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Richard Llewellyn and Steve Grantley.
Released in USA on Beyond and Japan on Imperial Records in 2001, reissued in UK, Europe Australia & New Zealand on Select Records and USA on Beyond in 2005 as The Alarm – Greatest Hits Live
6th February 2001. Recorded at Logo, Hamburg, Germany
10th February 2001. Recorded at Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg, Germany
Running length 4:21
9th April 2001. Recorded At The Elbo Room, Chicago, Illinois, USA
12th April 2001. Recorded at T.T. The Bear’s Place, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
13th April 2001. Recorded at The Vanderbilt, Plainview, New York, USA
20th April 2001. Recorded at The Cotton Club, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
February and April dates performed by The Alarm MMI
(Band Line up : tbc for the Feb and April dates)
1st February 2003. Recorded at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland
Running length 4:30
Performed by The Alarm MMIII
24th August 2003. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running length 3:30
Performed by Mike Peters and Bruce Watson acoustic
Released in 2003 on Alarmstock Volume 8 – Rock And Roll International
28th October 2003. Recorded at La Scala, London, England
Running length 6:20
Performed by The Alarm – Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist
Released as The Alarm – Bands Reunited Uncut 4 disc DVD/CD box set in 2005 – Disc Four Bonus Audio Disc The Alarm Reunion Concert, catalogue number 21CDVD004
3rd November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory, New York, USA
10th November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (East), New York, USA
Running length 3:37
12th November 2003. Recorded at The Middle East, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
17th November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (East), New York, USA
Running length 4:29
19th November 2003. Recorded at The Middle East, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
20th November 2003. Recorded at Elbo Room, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Running length 4:25
November dates performed by The Alarm MMIII
(Band Line up : tbc for the Feb and November dates)
28th August 2004. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running length 4:05
Performed by Mike Peters and Bruce Watson acoustic
Released in 2004 on Alarmstock 2 Volume 4 – Rock And Roll International Part 2
20th August 2005. Recorded at Capitol Records Studio A, Los Angeles, California, USA
Running length 4:34
Performed by Mike Peters Solo acoustic.
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III Los Angeles Set 3 – Like Sniffin’ Roses
31st January 2009. Recorded at The Gathering 17, Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales
Running length 4:07
Performed by The Alarm – Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams and Steve Grantley
Released in 2010 – The Alarm – Loaded, Live At The Gathering 2009 (audio highlights disc),
Catalogue number 21CDVD013
29th January 2011. Recorded at The Gathering 19, Pontins Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park, Prestatyn, Wales
Running length 5:48
Performed by The Alarm – Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams and Steve “Smiley” Barnard and Mark Taylor
Released in 2011 on CD/DVD – The Alarm – Live At The Gathering 2011
Catalogue number 21CDVD015 (Audio disc)
28th January 2012. Recorded at The Gathering 20, Pontins Prestatyn Sands, Holiday Park, Prestatyn, Wales
Running length 6:51
Performed by The Alarm – Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve “Smiley” Barnard, Mark Taylor and Steve Norman
Released in 2012 – The Alarm – The Music Must And Shall Be Preserved
Catalogue Number 21CDVD016 (Audio highlights disc 2 – Saturday)
26th January 2013. Recorded at The Gathering 21, Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales.
Running length 5:19
Performed by The Alarm – Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve “Smiley” Barnard and Mark Taylor
Released in 2013 as The Alarm – Abide With Us – Live at The Gathering 2013
Catalogue number 21C063 (CD)
1st February 2014. Recorded at The Gathering 22, Venue Cymru. Llandudno, Wales
Running length 3:43
Performed by The Alarm – Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve “Smiley” Barnard and Mark Taylor
Released on CD/DVD in 2015 on The Alarm – No Barriers – The Gathering 2014
Catalogue number 21CDVD018 (Highlights discs)
18th April 2014. Recorded at McCabe’s, Santa Monica, California, USA.
Running length 3:06
Performed by Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released in 2014 as Mike Peters In Concert at McCabe’s
Catalogue number 21C069 (CD)
Officially released live recordings – Video/DVD
Lyrics
There’s a fire beneath my skin
There’s a fever that makes me ill
Got a love, a love that kills
I’ve got twenty four hours to live
Come back, I’m begging you please, come back
Come back, I’m down on my knees
Come back, I’m begging you please
I don’t know why and I don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
I don’t know why
I don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
Sold me down the river
There’s a rose across my chest
Got your name written on it
Love’s the drug that I live by
Give me a shot before I die
Come back, I’m begging you please, come back
Come back, I’m down on my knees
Come back, I’m begging you please
I don’t know why
I don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
Whoo whoo
I don’t know why
I don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
Sold me down the river
Oh yeah Sold me down the river now
Sold me down the river tonight
Whoo whoo
I’ve got a twenty four hours
I don’t know why
I don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
Whoo whoo
I don’t know why
I don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
Sold me down the river
All right
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Sold me
Sold me
Sold me down the river
Sold me
Sold me
Sold me down the river
I don’t know why
I don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
I don’t know why
I don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
Sold me down the river
Sold me down the river
Sold me down the river
Alternative lyrics – 1989 Demo
Alternative lyrics – 1995 Fort Apache
Alternative lyrics – Hurricane of Change recording
There was a fire beneath my skin
I had been sold down the river
There’s a fire beneath my skin
There’s a fever that makes me ill
Got a love, a love that kills
I’ve got twenty four hours to live
Come back, I’m begging you please
Come back, I’m down on my knees
Come back, I’m begging you please, come back,
There’s a rose across my chest
Got your name written on it
Love’s the drug I live by
Give me a shot before I die
Come back, I’m begging you please
Come back, I’m down on my knees
Come back, I’m begging you please, come back
Cause I don’t know why
I Don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
I don’t know why
Don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
Down the river
Sold me down
There’s a fire beneath my skin
There’s a fever that makes me ill
Got a love, a love that kills
I’ve got twenty four hours to live
Come back, I’m begging you please
Come back, I’m down on my knees
Come back, I’m begging you please, come back
Cause I don’t know why
Don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
I don’t know why
Don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
Woohoo
There’s a fire beneath my skin
Woohoo
There’s a fever that makes me ill
Woohoo
Got a love, a love that kills
Woohoo
I’ve got twenty four hours to live
I don’t know why
I don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
I don’t know why
Don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
Woohoo
Sold me down the river
Cause I don’t know why
I don’t understand
How you sold me down the river
One step away from the breaking point
Audio & Visual sources
Click on image for the official promotional video by The Alarm filmed for the single release in September 1989
Video mostly filmed in Butte, Montana, USA
Click on image for The Alarm MMIII with Dave Sharp performing live at The Gathering XI, Llandudno, Wales 2003
Click on image for The Alarm performing live for VH1 Bands Reunited at La Scala, Kings Cross, London October 2003
Click on image for The Alarm performing live at The Gathering, Llandudno, Wales 2009
(Page updated 18/01/2022)