Head Like A Hole (halo)

Halo 3: Head Like A Hole (US)
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Halo 3: Head Like A Hole (UK)
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Head Like A Hole (also known as Halo 3) is the second single by Nine Inch Nails, and the second single from debut album Pretty Hate Machine, released on March 22, 1990 by TVT Records.

About

Head Like A Hole was released in maxi-single (US) and standard single (UK and Australia) formats. Despite the absence of the original album version on either release, the US Maxi version is longer than Pretty Hate Machine, thanks to inclusion of 5 tracks from the limited UK edition of the Down In It single (Halo 1): 2 versions of "Terrible Lie" and 3 of "Down In It," all of which had only been available on vinyl when this maxi-single was due for release; shortly thereafter, Halo 1 was released on CD by TVT as well. The maxi-single's disc art reveals the tempo for Head Like A Hole (115 BPM) and Terrible Lie (88 BPM). On the US version, there's an unlisted bonus track featuring a clip of Kelly Ripa shouting "Let's hear it for Nine Inch Nails! Woooo! They're GOOD!" Also the first track on the UK single version is mislabeled: instead of Slate it should read Clay (that mix was used for the "Head Like A Hole" video).

The UK version's artwork was originally intended to be the sole artwork, but was replaced for the wider release by TVT Records due to the colour printing costing too much.[1]

Track listings

US Version

CD

"Head Like A Hole" (Slate) (remixed by Trent Reznor, Flood) - 4:13
"Head Like A Hole" (Clay) (remixed by Keith LeBlanc) - 4:30
"Terrible Lie" (Sympathetic Mix) (remixed by Reznor, Flood) - 4:26
"Head Like A Hole" (Copper) (remixed by Reznor, Flood) - 6:26
"You Know Who You Are" (remixed by Reznor, Flood) - 5:50
"Head Like A Hole" (Soil) (remixed by Reznor, Flood) - 6:38
"Terrible Lie" (Empathetic Mix) (remixed by Reznor, Flood) - 6:11
"Down In It" (Shred) (remixed by Adrian Sherwood, LeBlanc) - 6:51
"Down In It" (Singe) (remixed by Sherwood, LeBlanc) - 7:21
"Down In It" (Demo) (remixed by Reznor) - 3:55
"(unlisted track)" - 0:04

Backside of US Version J-card, with tracklist.

12" Vinyl

Also released as a 10" vinyl with fold-out poster of exclusive Mark Prent artwork, featuring Slate as the A-side and Copper on the B-side.
     A1 "Head Like A Hole" (Slate) - 4:13
     A2 "Head Like A Hole" (Clay) - 4:30
     A3 "Terrible Lie" (Sympathetic Mix) - 4:26
     A4 "(unlisted track)" - 0:04
     B1 "Head Like A Hole" (Copper)- 6:26
     B2 "You Know Who You Are" - 5:50
     B3 "Head Like A Hole" (Soil) - 6:38
     B4 "Terrible Lie" (Empathetic Mix) - 6:11

UK Version

Also released on 12" vinyl (1 & 2 on A-side, 3 on B-side) and 7" vinyl (Slate on A-side, Copper on B-side).

"Head Like A Hole" (Clay) - 4:30
"Head Like A Hole" (Copper) - 6:26
"Head Like A Hole" (Opal) - 5:18

Australia Version

"Head Like A Hole" (Slate) - 4:13
"Terrible Lie" (Sympathetic Mix) - 4:26
"Head Like A Hole" (Opal) - 5:18

You Get What You Deserve

This is a unique German CD promo with different artwork. It has no Halo designation.

"Head Like a Hole (Copper)" - 6:26
"Down In It (Shred)" - 6:51
"Terrible Lie (Sympathetic Mix)" - 4:26
"Head Like a Hole (Clay)" - 4:30

Album Credits

Writing and performance: Trent Reznor
(1–7) Production and mix: Flood, Trent Reznor
(8–9) Production and mix: Adrian Sherwood, Keith LeBlanc
(2) Production: Flood, Trent Reznor; Mix: Keith LeBlanc
(10) Production and mix: Trent Reznor
Original versions appear on the album Pretty Hate Machine

Contact: J Artist Management
Portrait: Max Hudson
Sleeve: Gary Talpas for Föhn Design

Releases

TVT Records TVT 2614 - US 12" Vinyl
TVT Records TVT 2615-2 - US CD
Island Records 12 IS 484 878 893-1 - UK 12" Vinyl
Island Records CID 482 878 893-2 - UK CD
Rykodisc RCD-10839 - US CD

External Links

Discography

Previous release - "Pretty Hate Machine"

Halo number: 3

Next release - "Sin"