David Bowie (1947–2016) was an English musician who recorded over 400 different songs in a career which spanned six decades.[1] [a] Bowie worked with numerous artists throughout his career, including producers Tony Visconti , Brian Eno and singer Iggy Pop , and was the primary songwriter for most of his songs; he recorded cover versions of songs by artists including the Who , the Pretty Things and the Yardbirds . Beginning his career under the name Davy Jones, Bowie released singles with multiple backing bands, including the King Bees and the Lower Third, all of which went generally unnoticed.[2] Following his baroque pop and music hall influenced self-titled debut album in 1967,[3] he released his first successful single "Space Oddity ",[4] which introduced the fictional astronaut Major Tom .[b] He then released his folk rock inspired second self-titled album in 1969,[c] [10] the hard rock The Man Who Sold the World (1970), and the art pop Hunky Dory (1971),[2] which represented an artistic breakthrough for Bowie,[11] containing songs such as "Changes " and "Life on Mars? ".[13]
David Bowie performing on the Sound+Vision Tour in 1990Between 1972 and 1974, Bowie was a pioneer of the glam rock genre, as showcased on The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972), which launched Bowie to stardom,[15] Aladdin Sane and the covers album Pin Ups (both 1973),[2] and Diamond Dogs (1974).[16] His songs from this era include "Suffragette City ",[17] "The Jean Genie ",[18] "Rebel Rebel " and "All the Young Dudes " (made famous by Mott the Hoople ), the last two of which are regarded as glam anthems. Young Americans (1975) showcased Bowie's interest in soul and R&B music, as well as funk ("Fame ").[22] Station to Station (1976) was the vehicle for his persona the Thin White Duke , and is commonly known as the musical transition between Young Americans and his experimental art rock Berlin Trilogy ,[25] consisting of Low (1977), "Heroes" (1977) and Lodger (1979).[26] Working with Eno and Visconti, Low featured songs influenced by electronic and ambient music ,[28] "Heroes" expanding upon Low with a more art pop sound (prominently on its well-known title track ), and Lodger marking the partial return to his previous drum and guitar-based rock sound, with elements of new wave and world music present.[26] Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980) was a culmination of his 1970s works and featured the singles "Ashes to Ashes " and "Fashion ".[32] Bowie then recorded "Under Pressure " with Queen and the title track for the 1982 film Cat People with Giorgio Moroder .[2]
Bowie reached his commercial peak with the post-disco and dance -oriented Let's Dance in 1983.[34] [35] Tonight followed a year later,[36] after which Bowie contributed to various film soundtracks and released the pop rock Never Let Me Down (1987).[2] [38] In 1988, Bowie briefly halted his solo career to record with the band Tin Machine , who explored alternative and grunge styles before the genres were particularly well-known; the band dissolved in 1992 and Bowie resumed his solo career. Black Tie White Noise (1993) marked a creative resurgence for Bowie, featuring songs influenced by soul and jazz music, and made prominent use of electronic instruments.[40] [41] After releasing the experimental The Buddha of Suburbia later the same year, Bowie experimented with industrial rock on Outside (1995),[43] [44] drum and bass and jungle on Earthling (1997), and ended the 1990s with the pop rock-oriented Hours (1999).[46] Bowie reunited with Visconti for the rest of his career, releasing the rock albums Heathen (2002) and Reality (2003) before taking a break from music.[2] His final releases were the art rock-oriented The Next Day in 2013,[47] [48] the song "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime) " in 2014,[d] [50] and his final album Blackstar in 2016, before his death of liver cancer two days after its release.[51] The art rock and jazz album was Bowie's intended swan song , featuring several lyrics that revolved around his impending death.[51] [52] [53] Three new songs from the Blackstar sessions were released on the EP No Plan in 2017.[54] Bowie's unreleased album Toy , recorded in 2000, was posthumously released in 2021.[55]
Songs Key ‡ Indicates songs not written or co-written by David Bowie
Tony Hatch (pictured in 2013) produced Bowie's three singles for Pye Records from 1965 to 1966. Mike Vernon (pictured in 2017) produced Bowie's 1967 self-titled debut album . Tony Visconti (pictured in 2007) worked with Bowie for over 40 years, producing 11 of his 27 studio albums. Consequence of Sound later described the collaboration as "one of the most fruitful producer-artist relationships in rock history".[58] Mick Ronson (pictured in 1981) was Bowie's guitarist between 1970 and 1973. His work with Bowie was highly acclaimed, with Guitar.com considering him Bowie's greatest guitarist.[59] The pair also co-produced Lou Reed 's 1972 album Transformer . Ken Scott (pictured in 2014) produced Bowie's records between 1971 and 1973. Pianist Mike Garson (pictured in 2008) was Bowie's longest tenured and most frequent band member,[62] performing with him from the 1972–1973 Ziggy Stardust Tour until his final 2003–2004 A Reality Tour . Guitarist Earl Slick (pictured in 2011) worked with Bowie frequently throughout his career, starting with the 1974 Diamond Dogs Tour , up until his 2013 album The Next Day .[65] In 1981, Bowie collaborated with the British rock group Queen on the song Under Pressure , bringing him his third number one hit in the UK and a top 30 hit in the US.[66] [67] During the 1970s, Bowie covered three songs by singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen (pictured in 2012) : "Growin' Up ", "It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City " and "Spirit in the Night " (the last of which for the 1973 Astronettes project). All three would later appear on compilations albums. Bowie's 1975 song "Fame " features contributions from former Beatle John Lennon . On top of covering Lennon's songs over his career, Bowie performed a one-off live cover of "Imagine " on the final date of the 1983 Serious Moonlight Tour to mark the third anniversary of Lennon's death . The performance was uploaded to YouTube in 2016. Bowie collaborated with producer Brian Eno (pictured in 2011) numerous times throughout his career, including on his Berlin Trilogy (1977–1979)[72] and Outside (1995). King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp (pictured in 1973) played lead guitar on "Heroes" (1977) and Scary Monsters (1980). While promoting his 1977 album "Heroes" , Bowie sang a duet, the Christmas song "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy ", with Bing Crosby (pictured in 1951) for Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas . RCA Records eventually released the duet as a single in 1982. Bowie was good friends with singer Iggy Pop (pictured in 1987) throughout his career. Bowie co-produced and co-wrote Pop's solo albums The Idiot , Lust for Life (both 1977) and Blah-Blah-Blah (1986), while Pop later collaborated with Bowie for 1984's Tonight . The Who guitarist Pete Townshend (pictured in 2008) contributed a guest appearance on the Scary Monsters track "Because You're Young" (1980) and the Heathen track "Slow Burn" (2002).[79] Bowie had previously covered songs by the Who for his 1973 covers album Pin Ups . Bowie collaborated with producer Giorgio Moroder (pictured in 2015) for "Cat People (Putting Out Fire) ", the title song for the 1982 film Cat People . Bowie worked with Chic member Nile Rodgers (pictured in 1999) for 1983's Let's Dance and 1993's Black Tie White Noise . Blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan (pictured in 1983 ) plays lead guitar on Let's Dance (1983). At the time a then-unknown guitarist, his appearance on Let's Dance was a stepping stone for his own career, which took off shortly after the album's release.[84] Singer Tina Turner (pictured in 1985) performed guest vocals on the title track of Bowie's 1984 album Tonight . After writing the song "Girls " for her, Bowie recorded his own version during the Never Let Me Down sessions. Bowie collaborated with the Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger (pictured in 2014) in 1985 for a cover of "Dancing in the Street ", originally by Martha and the Vandellas . As well as starring in the 1986 film Labyrinth , directed by Jim Henson (pictured in 1986) , Bowie composed several songs for the film, all of which appeared on the accompanying soundtrack album . Guitarist Reeves Gabrels (pictured in 2012) was a member of Tin Machine with Bowie from 1988 to 1992 and thereafter worked with Bowie on all his projects until 1999. After performing a live one-off version of the T. Rex song "Cosmic Dancer" in 1991 with singer Morrissey (pictured in 2005) ,[91] Bowie covered his song "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday" for 1993's Black Tie White Noise . After touring with the industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails in 1995, frontman Trent Reznor (pictured in 2008) created several remixes of "I'm Afraid of Americans " in 1997. Reznor subsequently appeared in the song's music video . Bowie covered "I've Been Waiting for You " by Neil Young (pictured in 1996) for his 2002 album Heathen . Bowie collaborated with bandleader Maria Schneider (pictured in 2008) for the 2014 song "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime) ". Notes References