With a new label and an idea for a commercial sound, Bowie wanted to begin fresh with a new producer. Wanting a commercial hit, Bowie hired Nile Rodgers (pictured in 1999) to co-produce the album. Although RCA was willing to re-sign, alongside Columbia and Geffen Records, Bowie signed a new contract with EMI America Records for an estimated $17 million. Having grown increasingly dissatisfied with the label, who he felt was "milking" his back catalogue, he was also eager for the September 1982 expiration of his 1975 severance settlement with his old manager Tony Defries. Scary Monsters was Bowie's final studio album for RCA Records, his label since Hunky Dory (1971). The musical ideals from these artists would greatly influence the new album. During filming for the latter, he grew fond of artists from the 1950s and 1960s, including James Brown, Buddy Guy, Elmore James and Albert King. During the year, Bowie filmed appearances in The Hunger and Merry Christmas, Mr. Recorded in August 1981 and transmitted in March 1982, Bowie also recorded an accompanying soundtrack EP, released through RCA in February to coincide with the transmission. Shortly after, he played the title role in a BBC adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's play Baal, directed by Alan Clarke. In July 1981, he collaborated with Giorgio Moroder for " Cat People (Putting Out Fire)", the title song of the Paul Schrader film Cat People (1982), and in the same session, recorded " Under Pressure" with the rock band Queen. The murder of John Lennon in December 1980 affected Bowie deeply he cancelled an upcoming Scary Monsters tour and withdrew to his home in Switzerland, becoming a recluse but continuing to work. During this time, he also filmed an appearance in the Uli Edel film Christiane F. Following the sessions, Bowie portrayed the lead role of Joseph "John" Merrick in the Broadway play The Elephant Man between late July 1980 and early January 1981. With the record, Bowie achieved what biographer David Buckley calls "the perfect balance" of creativity and mainstream success. The album was remastered in 2018 and included in the box set Loving the Alien (1983–1988).ĭavid Bowie released his 14th studio album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) in 1980. Bowie's biographers have also given mixed assessments on the record. He later reflected poorly on the period, referring to it as his " Phil Collins years". He felt that he had to pander his music to his newly acquired audience, which led to his follow-up albums, Tonight (1984) and Never Let Me Down (1987), being critically dismissed. It was supported by the successful Serious Moonlight Tour throughout 1983.ĭespite the album's success, Let's Dance began a period of low creativity for Bowie. "Let's Dance" and "China Girl" were supported by music videos that received heavy airplay on MTV. The album received mixed reviews from critics whose opinions on the artistic content varied. The record's four singles, including the title track, were all commercially successful. Let's Dance was released to massive commercial success, reaching number one in numerous countries, and turned Bowie into a major superstar it remains Bowie's best-selling album. The album contains three cover songs: Iggy Pop's " China Girl", which Bowie and Pop had recorded together for the latter's The Idiot (1977) Metro's "Criminal World" and a reworking of " Cat People (Putting Out Fire)", originally recorded by Bowie and Giorgio Moroder in 1982 for the film of the same name. Musically, Let's Dance has been described as a post-disco record, with elements of dance-rock, dance-pop and new wave. For the first time ever, Bowie only sang and played no instruments. The sessions featured players from Chic and then-unknown Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan on lead guitar. The album was recorded in December 1982 at the Power Station in New York City. Wanting a fresh start, he chose Nile Rodgers of the band Chic to co-produce his next record. By 1982, he left RCA Records out of dissatisfaction and signed with EMI America. After the release of Scary Monsters (1980), Bowie began a period of numerous musical collaborations and film appearances. Let's Dance is the 15th studio album by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released on 14 April 1983 through EMI America Records. " Let's Dance" / " Cat People (Putting Out Fire)".
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