People Hold On


"People Hold On" is a song recorded by British band Coldcut and singer Lisa Stansfield, released as the first single from Coldcut's debut album, What's That Noise?. It was written by Matt Black, Jonathan More and Stansfield, and produced by Coldcut.
The song received positive reviews from music critics and became a commercial success. It was released as a single on 13 March 1989 and reached number eleven on the UK Singles Chart and number six on the US Billboards Hot Dance Club Songs. The song was remixed by Blaze, Juan Atkins, Dimitri from Paris, Mark Saunders, Eric Kupper, Tyrone Perkins and Masters At Work. An accompanying music video directed by Big TV! was also released.
In 2003, "People Hold On" was included on Stansfield's compilation, . In 2006, Casuals Remix by Ceri Evans was included on Coldcut's album, Sound Mirrors . In 2014, Full Length Disco Mix of "People Hold On" was included on Stansfield's People Hold On... The Remix Anthology.

Critical reception

Matthew Hocter from Albumism described the song as "an innovative dance track". Greg Kot from Chicago Tribune noted Stansfield's "elastic" voice on it. Tom Ewing from Freaky Trigger complimented her "as a house vocalist". He added, "Lisa Stansfield was a terrific find: she could play the belter with the best of them, but also provide a calm centre for Coldcut’s gleeful cut-and-mix pyrotechnics and pianos. Best of all, she sounded like she was having a tremendous time." Music & Media wrote, "An effective mixture of Stansfield's soul voice and a rare groove/house backing. Great dance track with a strong melody."
Fact put "People Hold On" at number 11 in their list of 21 diva-house belters that still sound incredible in 2014, writing:
Mixmag ranked the song as one of the 20 best songs in their The 20 best diva house tracks list in 2019, adding:

Track listings

Australian/European 7" single
  1. "People Hold On" – 3:58
  2. "Yes, Yes, Yes" – 3:33
Australian/European CD single
  1. "People Hold On" – 3:58
  2. "People Hold On" – 9:24
  3. "Yes, Yes, Yes" – 5:40
Australian/European 12" single
  1. "People Hold On" – 9:24
  2. "Yes, Yes, Yes" – 5:40
European 12" single
  1. "People Hold On" – 8:49
  2. "People Hold On" – 6:34
  3. "People Hold On" – 2:08
  4. "Yes, Yes, Yes" – 5:40
European promotional 12" single
  1. "People Hold On" – 9:24
  2. "People Hold On"
  3. "People Hold On" – 2:08
European promotional 12" single
  1. "People Hold On" – 8:49
  2. "People Hold On" – 6:45
US 12" single
  1. "People Hold On" – 9:24
  2. "People Hold On" – 6:34
  3. "People Hold On" – 3:58
  4. "People Hold On" – 8:49
  5. "People Hold On" – 2:08
US 12" single
  1. "People Hold On" – 7:58
  2. "People Hold On" – 5:33
  3. "People Hold On" – 6:21
  4. "People Hold On" – 3:58
  5. "People Hold On" – 4:33
  6. "People Hold On" – 8:07
US 12" single
  1. "People Hold On"
  2. "People Hold On"
  3. "People Hold On"
  4. "People Hold On"
2006 UK 12" promotional single
  1. "People Hold On" – 4:32
  2. "People Hold On" – 5:57

    Charts

"People Hold On" (The Bootleg Mixes)

In late 1996, "People Hold On" was remixed by British producers Dan Bewick and Matt Frost who called themselves The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The CD single with these Bootleg Mixes was released on 6 January 1997 and charted higher than the original version of the song in 1989. It peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and topped the UK Dance Singles Chart and Billboards Hot Dance Club Songs. The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels took their cue from Armand Van Helden's radical reworking of Tori Amos' "Professional Widow."
Because of this success, "People Hold On" was included on Lisa Stansfield's eponymous album as a bonus track. The music video, directed by Max Abbiss-Biro, does not include any new footage of Stansfield but uses small fragments taken from "Change" and "Someday " videos.
Later, "People Hold On" was also featured on The Remix Album and a limited edition of . On 24 October 2006, Dance Vault Mixes of "People Hold On" were released digitally. In 2014, Jon Is the Don Mix of "People Hold On" was included on the deluxe 2CD + DVD re-release of Lisa Stansfield.

Track listings

European CD single
  1. "People Hold On" – 3:42
  2. "People Hold On" – 8:09
Australian/European CD maxi single
  1. "People Hold On" – 3:42
  2. "People Hold On" – 3:58
  3. "People Hold On" – 8:09
  4. "People Hold On" – 7:59
  5. "People Hold On" – 9:21
European 12" single
  1. "People Hold On" – 8:09
  2. "People Hold On" – 3:58
  3. "People Hold On" – 7:59
  4. "People Hold On" – 9:21
2006 US digital Dance Vault Mixes
  1. "People Hold On" – 3:42
  2. "People Hold On" – 3:58
  3. "People Hold On" – 8:09
  4. "People Hold On" – 7:59
  5. "People Hold On" – 9:21

    Other remixes

  6. "People Hold On" – 6:11

    Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Cover and sampled versions

sampled the song in their track "Living in the Past" from the album of the same name, which was released in 2013.

Appearances in other media

The song appears in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV on the radio station Vice City FM.