RECORD COLLECTING MONTHLY MIX 06: Golden Years - Future Legends
Exploring the Eclectic Sounds of David Bowie's Universe in 1974/5
Welcome to this edition of Record Collecting Monthly Mix, where we delve into the vast and eclectic world of vinyl records, spotlighting iconic tracks and hidden gems from the annals of music history. This month, our focus is on the legendary David Bowie and a carefully curated selection of tracks that showcase the breadth of his influence during the ‘Diamond Dogs’ / ‘Young Americans’ era.
1. "Golden Years" - David Bowie We kick off our mix with the timeless "Golden Years." This single release was a funk-infused track that pre-dated Bowie's "Station to Station" album. Released in the UK in the latter months of 1975 it reached #10 in the States and #8 in the UK.
2. "Future Legend" - Ten Jinn The first track on Bowie's concept 1974 album ‘Diamond Dogs’, US rock band, Ten Jinn's "Future Legend", formed a part of their 2018 tribute album ‘Ziggy Blackstar’.
3. "Diamond Dogs" - Duran Duran Duran Duran puts their own spin on the title track from Bowie's ‘Diamond Dogs’ album, infusing it with their signature, new wave sound. Released in 1995 on their covers album ‘Thank You’.
4. "Sweet Thing" - Momus The ethereal "Sweet Thing" cover by Momus adds a dreamy quality to Bowie's original, taking listeners on a whimsical sonic adventure. Just one of the many Bowie covers on the “triple disc spectacular” album ‘Turpsycore’ released in 2015.
5. "Rebel Rebel" - Rickie Lee Jones Rickie Lee Jones brings her unique flair to "Rebel Rebel," transforming Bowie's rebellious anthem into a soulful exploration of individuality. Taken from her 1993 album, ‘Traffic From Paradise’.
6. "Rock n Roll with Me" - Max Lorentz From his 2011 tribute to Bowie, ‘Kiss You In The Rain’, Max Lorentz offers a rock-inspired rendition of "Rock n Roll with Me", capturing the essence of Bowie's live performances.
7. "We Are the Dead" – Sanguinarius. Newcomers, Sanguinarius, deliver a haunting interpretation of "We Are the Dead", showcasing the darker side of Bowie's "Diamond Dogs". Released on TreatsForBeasts.
8. "1984" - Tina Turner Turner's powerful vocals breathe new life into "1984", a track originally recorded by Bowie for his unreleased "Diamond Dogs" musical, and released on her hugely successful ‘comeback’ album ‘Private Dancer’ in ….1984.
9. "Big Brother" - Cream VIII Cream VIII take on the politically charged "Big Brother", adding their own progressive rock twist to Bowie's social commentary. Recorded for the German 1997 tribute compilation ‘The Dark Side Of David Bowie’.
10. "Chant Of The Ever Circling Skeletal Family" - Stevie Salas Stevie Salas gives an unusual touch to this lesser-known gem from Bowie's "Diamond Dogs", creating a captivating musical experience. It featured as a bonus track on his 1993 album ‘The Electric Pow Wow’.
11. "Cracked Actor" (Live) - David Bowie Bowie's live performance of "Cracked Actor" captures the energy and charisma that made him a legendary stage presence. Taken from the 1974 “David Live” double album.
12. "Young Americans" - The Cure The Cure put their post-punk spin on "Young Americans", infusing Bowie's soulful anthem with their distinctive sound. Released on the promotional album for radio 104.9 XFM in 1995.
13. "Win" - Mark Kozelek Mark Kozelek brings his acoustic touch to "Win," creating an intimate and introspective version of Bowie's original. From the 2016 release ‘Mark Kozelek Sings Favorites’.
14. "Fascination" - Fat Larry's Band Fat Larry's Band take on "Fascination," turning it into a disco-infused groove that pays homage to Bowie's diverse musical explorations. Originally a duet with Luther Vandross, FLB released this track as a single to promote their 1975 album ‘Feel It’.
15. "Right" - Khruangbin Khruangbin offers a psychedelic rendition of "Right", showcasing their genre-defying approach to music. The Thai-influenced band actually hails from Texas, and submitted this track for the Bowie tribute collection ‘Modern Love’ in 2021
16. "Somebody Up There Likes Me" - Jerry M Williams Jerry M Williams adds a ‘spikey’ edge to "Somebody Up There Likes Me," echoing Bowie's exploration of spirituality. YouTuber Jerry has more video’s than subscribers, but is obviously a talented, huge Bowie fan.
17. "Across the Universe" - The Beatles A departure from Bowie's catalogue, but The Beatles' original version of "Across the Universe" provides a moment of reflection and diversity from the tracks on the ‘Young Americans’ album.
18. "Can You Hear Me" - Cher Cher's emotive collaborative interpretation of "Can You Hear Me" adds a touch of drama, demonstrating the song's enduring emotional depth. Featuring Bowie himself, this is taken from ‘The Cher Show’ in 1975
19. "Fame" - Eurythmics Eurythmics infuse "Fame" with their synth-pop magic, creating a danceable reinterpretation of Bowie's classic. Released as a bonus track on their 2003 re-issue of ‘Touch’.
20. "Rock n Roll Suicide" - Black Box Recorder Record Collector columnist Luke Haines, presents a haunting rendition of "Rock n Roll Suicide" which leaves listeners with a sense of Bowie's theatrical grandeur. Taken from a BBC session recorded with his old band BBR.
21. "Knock On Wood" - Eddie Floyd Eddie Floyd, known for his soulful performances, was the inspiration for Bowie's Top 10 UK hit in 1974 "Knock On Wood". This original version was a rich, soulful classic of the genre in 1967.
22. "The Man Who Sold The World" - Lulu Lulu brings her powerhouse vocals to "The Man Who Sold The World", delivering a rendition that captures the essence of Bowie's original while adding her own dynamic flair. The resulting fusion of Lulu's timeless style and Bowie's iconic backing vocals, took the song to number 3 in the UK charts in early 1974.
23. "Andy Warhol" - Dana Gillespie Written by Bowie for Dana Gillespie in 1971, but not released as a single until 1974, the song explores the avant-garde spirit of Andy Warhol, infusing the track with her own artistic sensibilities.
24. "Growing Up And I'm Fine" - Mick Ronson Mick Ronson, a longtime collaborator with Bowie, had Bowie write this song for his first album ‘Slaughter On 10th Avenue’. "Growing Up And I'm Fine" is a testament to their artistic partnership, offering a guitar-driven interpretation that pays homage to the original's rock and glam influences.
25. "To Know Him Is to Love Him" - Steeleye Span Steeleye Span, known for their folk-rock prowess, take a departure from their usual repertoire with a cover of "To Know Him Is to Love Him". Teaming up with Bowie on alto-sax to record the number for their 1974 album ‘Now We Are Six’.
26. "Space Oddity '75" - David Bowie Closing our mix is Bowie himself with a version of "Space Oddity". Originally a Top 5 hit for Bowie in 1969, this re-recorded version went all the way to the top in 1975. This performance captures the evolution of Bowie's sound, highlighting his enduring appeal and the timelessness of this interstellar anthem.