Young Americans (song)
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| “Young Americans” | |||||
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| Single by David Bowie from the album Young Americans |
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| B-side | ”Suffragette City” | ||||
| Released | 21 February 1975 | ||||
| Format | 7" single | ||||
| Recorded | Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia; 11 August 1974 | ||||
| Genre | Soul/Disco/Rock | ||||
| Length | 5:10 | ||||
| Label | RCA 2523 |
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| Producer | Tony Visconti | ||||
| David Bowie singles chronology | |||||
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"Young Americans" is a single by David Bowie.
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[edit] History
The first studio result of Bowie’s mid-1970s obsession with soul, “Young Americans” was a breakthrough hit for the artist in America (where the single was released in an edited 3:11 version). The sound, often later reflected on by Bowie as “plastic soul”, was matched by a cynical lyric, making references to the Watergate Scandal, McCarthyism and black repression via Rosa Parks, as well as a near direct lift from The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” with the line “I heard the news today oh boy!” In falsetto, Bowie asks the question: "Ain't there one damn song that can make me... break down and cry?". The backing vocal arrangement came at the suggestion of Luther Vandross. The "all night/all right" chorus is virtually identical to Bowie's 1972 song, "Lady Stardust".
Bowie sings "Do you remember your President Nixon?" while the song was recorded just two days after Nixon left office in 1974.
The song was a massive breakthrough in America, where glam rock had never really become very popular. The song reached #28 in the Billboard charts, making it his biggest success there up until that point.
[edit] Track listing
- "Young Americans" (Bowie) – 5:10
- "Suffragette City” (Bowie) – 3:45
The US release had "Knock on Wood" as the B-side.
[edit] Production credits
- Tony Visconti on “Young Americans”
- Ken Stott on “Suffragette City”
Musicians
- David Bowie: Vocals, Guitar
- Willie Weeks: Bass
- Mike Garson: Piano
- Andy Newmark: Drums
- David Sanborn: Saxophone
- Pablo Rosario: Percussion
- Larry Washington: Conga
- Ava Cherry, Robin Clark, Luther Vandross: Backing vocals
- Mick Ronson: Guitar on “Suffragette City”
- Trevor Bolder: Bass on “Suffragette City”
- Mick Woodmansey: Drums on “Suffragette City”
[edit] Live versions
- A live in-studio performance of "Young Americans" is included on the DVD set The Dick Cavett Show: Rock Icons
[edit] Other releases
- It appeared on several compilations:
- ChangesOneBowie (1976)
- Best of Bowie (1980)
- Fame and Fashion (1984)
- Sound and Vision (1989)
- Changesbowie (1990)
- Bowie: The Singles 1969-1993 (1993)
- The Singles Collection (1993)
- The US single edit appeared on the The Best of 1974/1979 and Rare.
- It was released as picture disc in the RCA Life Time picture disc set.
[edit] Cover versions
- The Braids - Here We Come (1998)
- The Cure - An XFM Compilation Album (1992)
- Everything - Drop Dead Gorgeous Soundtrack (1999)
- Lily of the Valley - Live Recording: Webster Hall, NYC
- Luther Vandross and Ava Cherry - Luther Vandross Live At Wembley, London
- Danny Michel - Loving the Alien: Danny Michel Sings the Songs of David Bowie (2004)
[edit] In other media
The song has accompanied the end credits of Dogville and Manderlay, the first two films of Lars Von Trier's trilogy USA - Land of Opportunities. "Young Americans" was also featured on the soundtrack of John Hughes' Sixteen Candles.[1]
The song was used briefly in the Nicolas Cage film Lord Of War.
[edit] References
- Pegg, Nicholas. The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-73-0
