Hammerhead (James Reyne song)

"Hammerhead"
CD single cover
Single by James Reyne
from the album James Reyne
A-side	"Hammerhead"
B-side	"Coin in a Plate” / "Burning Wood"
Released	September 1987
Format	Vinyl/CD Single/Cassette
Genre	Pop/Rock
Label	Capitol Records
Writer(s)	James Reyne, Simon Hussey
Producer(s)	Davitt Sigerson, John Hudson
James Reyne singles chronology
"Fall of Rome (1987) "Hammerhead" (1987) "Rip it Up" (1987)

"Hammerhead" is the second single from Australian rock musician James Reyne’s debut self titled solo studio album in (1987). The track featured uncredited backing vocals by Olivia Newton-John.

Reyne reflected on the song saying; ""Hammerhead" was not necessarily about me, but let’s say I thought I knew what I was talking about. I wrote it with Simon Hussey; the music Simon and I wrote together and I wrote the lyrics. From memory it seemed to come quite easily. I shouldn’t make too much about the fact that it’s about drugs. It can be taken many ways. It was an exercise in trying to write a song about that subject but to also make it that it could be about a relationship. It’s a song about a relationship. And whether that relationship is with a substance or a person, it’s an obsessive relationship".

Track listings

CD / Cassette Single

1. "Hammerhead" - 4:46
2. "Coin in a Plate" - 4:14

7" Promo Single

1. "Hammerhead" (7" Edit) - 4:19
2. "Burning Wood" - 2:43

Vinyl / Maxi

• A1 "Fall Of Rome" (Rock Mix by Mike Ging) - 5:52
• A2 "The Traveller" - 4:18
• B1 "Fall Of Rome" (Edited Version) - 3:42
• B2 "Fall Of Rome" (Instrumental) - 5:25

Chart positions

Year	Chart	Position
1987	Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart	8