UK 7" [Parlophone R6383]
The UK 7" comes in a rigid glossy sleeve opening from the side, indented on the back for easier access to the record (view front and back artwork from the menu on the left). Because this format was 'limited' and numbered, there is a white box in the bottom right corner on the back with a number stamped into it and, if it wasn't removed, a white circular sticker on the front advertising this. The record has a solid centre and vintage black Parlophone labels with silver text and a big yellow Parlophone logo top-left. There's a retro-looking "45RPM" top right, production credits, EMI copyright and publishing info on the left, catalogue number and "BIEM/MCPS" on the right, track listing including songwriting credits and running time at the bottom, and a legal warning around the top edge.
R 6383 A1 / R 6383 B1

UK 12" [Parlophone 12R6383]
The front artwork of the 12" format is very slightly different to that of the 7" in the cropping of the image and in the position of the text (see left). If it wasn't removed, there usually is a white circular sticker on the front advertising the fact that this is a limited and numbered edition and that the sleeve is gatefold. When unfolded, the sleeve shows this image unique to the 12" format. The back of the sleeve shows the same image as the back of the 7", with the same elements around it, but these elements (the barcode, credits, logos, etc) vary in relative size (view left). Also, the track listing obviously states that the version of "Moonriver" is an extended one. Because it was 'limited' and numbered, there is a white box in the bottom right corner with a number stamped into it. The record comes inside a white poly-lined paper inner sleeve and bears vintage black Parlophone labels with silver text and a big yellow Parlophone logo top-left. There's a retro-looking "45RPM" top right, production credits and EMI copyright on the left, catalogue number and publishing info on the right, track listing including songwriting credits and running time at the bottom, and a legal warning around the top edge.
12R 6383 A-1-1-1 / 12R 6383B-1-1-1

UK cd-single [Parlophone CDR6383]
The cd-single comes in a thin jewelcase. When compared to the other three UK formats, the cd's J-card insert shows a cropped close-up of the usual image (view left). The spine and back are black with white text. The spine shows Morrissey's name, the title track and the barcode number. The back flap has on the left a large barcode box including the two catalogue numbers, an empty "F:" compartment, one that states "Printed in UK" and another one with a 3-line manufacturing credit. To the right of the barcode are found the track listing and a sideways Parlophone logo. The insert's reverse was adapted from the 7" and 12" back artwork, but there is no barcode, Parlophone logo or white box with stamped number (view left). The disc is black with silver (uncoloured) text and a yellow Parlophone logo at the top. The track listing on it includes songwriting credits and running times and is found in the bottom half above Morrissey's name. A Compact Disc logo, production credits and an EMI copyright are on the left, the catalogue numbers and publishing info on the right and a legal warning around the top edge.

UK cassette-single [Parlophone TCR6383]
The front of the cassette shows the same image as the other formats, but it is cropped differently, showing less of the sides and more at the bottom (view left). The black spine gives Morrissey's name and the title in in the same fonts, colours and layout as on the front, with a white Parlophone logo at the top and the barcode number, also in white, at the very bottom. The back flap shows a barcode at the centre, between the track listing on its left and a Parlophone logo on its right. The barcode box includes 4 sideways compartments on the right: "F:" (left empty), "I:" (left empty; right separator missing), "UK:" which includes the UK catalogue number and a fourth one with two lines of text including "Printed in UK". The insert has one extra fold-out panel. It was modelled on the usual back artwork. The image of hands touching is at the top and beneath it are given the track listing including songwriting credits and publishing information as well as the usual production and artwork credits, an EMI copyright and a Parlophone logo. The cassette is made of black plastic with pale grey text printed directly onto it. It shows, amongst other things, the barcode number and the UK catalogue number in the top left corner, the track listing top-centre and a Parlophone logo in the top right corner.

UK promo cd [Parlophone CDRDJ6383]
The release of this single was mainly promoted in the UK with the help of this two-track promo cd and its 7" counterpart described next, both featuring the same unique front artwork (with minor difference in the cropping and relative size and position of the text; view left). The card sleeve opens from the side. Its back is lilac with a bit of black text at the bottom consisting of the track listing, production credits, EMI copyright, catalogue number and Parlophone logo. The disc surface is orange with black text and was modelled on vintage Parlophone labels. There is a large Parlophone logo at the top with "Promotional Copy" printed beneath it; the track listing (including songwriting credits and running times) at the bottom above Morrissey's name; production credits, EMI copyright, publishing info and label code on the left; Parlophone 'pound' logo, catalogue number and Compact Disc logo on the right; legal warning around the top and bottom edges.

A number of copies were sent out with two promo stickers on the back of the sleeve: one giving the contact information of Parlophone pluggers Deslyn Lewis and Kevin McCabe and another, larger one giving the release date of "RD 31.5" and announcing an upcoming performance on BBC2's 'Later'. This second sticker also states that Morrissey "is currently playing live dates in America to rave reviews", which was stretching the truth because, although live dates were planned at some point, Morrissey never went through with them. Other copies of the promo cd had a plugger sticker on the front of the sleeve instead of the back, for Parlophone plugger Helena McGeough. The latter promos may or may not be the same ones that have a large white sticker on the back of the sleeve giving the release date of "31st May" and stating that "Hold On To Your Friends" was taken from 'the number one album "Vauxhall & I"' and is the follow-up to single "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get".

UK 7" promo [Parlophone RDJ6383]
The 7" vinyl counterpart to the promo cd described above features the same unique front artwork, but the image was cropped a bit differently and the text on it varies in position and relative size (view left). The sleeve opens from the side and is indented on the back for better grip on the record. The back is lilac with a bit of black text at the bottom consisting of the track listing, production credits, EMI copyright, catalogue number and Parlophone logo. The labels are orange with mostly black text and were modelled on vintage Parlophone labels. There is a large Parlophone logo at the top with "Promotional Copy" printed beneath it; the title (including songwriting credits and running time) at the bottom above Morrissey's name; production credits, EMI copyright and publishing info on the left; Parlophone 'pound' logo and catalogue numbers on the right; legal warning in white around the top and bottom edges.
RDJ6383 A1 / RDJ6383 B1

UK promo flat
A 2-sided promo flat was sent to retail at the time of release of the single. Like most other flats, it is made of card and is the size of a vinyl LP sleeve. Both sides have text only, no image (view one side; better image needed). The opposite side (image needed) features the exact same text except for "available 31st May" which was changed to "out now". The colour pattern was also changed to a mid-green background with darker green text except for Morrissey's name and "The New Single" which are white.

UK subway size promo poster 152cm x 91cm (60" x 36")
View here.

UK promo poster 51cm x 33cm (20" x 13")
View here (better/bigger image needed).

UK promo advert 40cm x 30cm (16" x 12")
View here.

UK various artists instore cd "Tip Sheet" [Disctronics #54]
The release of this single (and/or perhaps the "Vauxhall & I" album) was promoted with the inclusion of "Hold On To Your Friends" on volume #54 of the "Tip Sheet" instore sampler series, alongside material by 15 other artists such as Aerosmith and Dannii Minogue. The front artwork is plain black text over a white background. The text consists of the printed words "the Tip Sheet CD for Issue #" completed with "54" in pen. There is a Disctronics logo and slogan at the very bottom. Information on the rest of the packaging is needed.

UK reference cassette [Abbey Road]
The existence of an Abbey Road reference cassette for this single has been reported. Information on its contents and packaging is needed.

Australia cd-single [EMI Australia 881439 2]
The Australian compact disc comes in a thin card sleeve opening from the side just like its Dutch counterpart but it is actually wider and higher by about half a centimeter. The front artwork is that of the UK cd-single, cropped to a square shape (view left). The back was modelled after the back of the UK vinyl formats, it shows the usual image of hands touching, with a simple barcode in the top right corner and its number part repeated in white above. The usual credits are found at the bottom (including an additional running time for the b-side but not for the a-side), with a Parlophone logo to the right of them. There is no country of manufacture mentioned anywhere on the sleeve. The only clue about the origin of this edition is found on the disc's inner ring which was etched in black with a logo for Digital Audio Technologies Australia. EMI Australia worked from the design of the Dutch disc, changed the font of the text, added the UK's CDR catalogue number above the barcode on the right, added "(extended)" to the title "Moonriver", but did not remove "Made in Holland" from beneath the publishing credits on the right, which means that this edition is often mistaken for a Dutch one by casual collectors.

Australia promo cd [EMI Australia 881450 2]
The existence of stock copies with a promo sticker on the back of the sleeve has been reported but it is not known whether or not these promos were officially sanctioned by EMI Australia. Information needed.

Holland cd-single [EMI 881450-2]
The Dutch single comes in a card sleeve featuring its own slight variation of the usual artwork on the front (view left). The back shows the usual image of hands touching with, in the top right corner, a large barcode with various compartments around it. The "I:" compartment was left empty, the "F:" compartment includes a French price code, the "UK:" compartment was left empty and the one next to it has the words "Printed in Holland" in it. A 2-line EMI credit and logo are printed sideways to the right. The bottom of the sleeve features the usual track listing and credits without any changes made to them except for the additional running times. There is a Parlophone logo in the bottom left corner. The disc looks just like the UK one, black with silver text and a yellow Parlophone logo at the top, but a few changes were made to the text. The UK's CDR catalogue number was removed and the barcode number was changed for the Dutch one. The credits for musical rights were changed to "BIEM/STEMRA" and "Made in Holland" was added beneath the publishing credits. Even though the version of "Moonriver" is still the extended one, this is not stated on the Dutch disc.

Sweden promo CD [EMI Svenska PCD23]
The Dutch edition of "Hold On To Your Friends" was sold in most of continental Europe, including Sweden. Local sales were promoted by EMI Svenska with the inclusion of the extended version of "Moonriver" on an untitled label sampler, alongside material by nine other artists including EMF, Supergrass, Radiohead and Megadeth. The disc comes in a thin card sleeve showing on its front a big orange '+' over a white backgroud, with a small black EMI logo over a part of it and a Swedish promo warning printed in orange in one corner. The back is mustard yellow and features the sampler's track listing with full credits for every song. Not only is "Moonriver" erroneously listed as "Moon River", but Morrissey's name is misspelled with one 'S' only. The disc is white with a pale grey (photocopy-style) repeat of the '+' from the front artwork. There's a silver (uncoloured) promo warning at the top and black text at the bottom, consisting of the catalogue number, a legal warning, an EMI Svenska copyright and an EMI logo.

USA reference video [Warner]
No video was shot for "Hold On To Your Friends" at the time of its release as a single, but one was put together in 2000 with the intention of including it on the "¡Oye Esteban!" DVD compilation. Reference material used in this process are therefore covered in the collectors appendix of the latter compilation.