ALBUM OF THE WEEK #153 - DAVID BOWIE - LET'S DANCE (1983 - 30TH ANNIVERSARY)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Artist: David Bowie

Genre: Rock

Country Of Origin: England

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Member: Yes (1996)

Album: Let's Dance

Released: April 14, 1983

Producer: David Bowie/Nile Rodgers

Best Single: Modern Love

Best Album Cut: Cat People (Putting Out Fire)

Filler: Without You/Ricochet/Shake It

Lyric Of The Week: "See these eyes so green, I can stare for a thousand years"

I've never been mistaken for a David Bowie fan.  Don't get me wrong, I like Major Tom (Space Oddity, whatever it's called), Changes, Rebel Rebel, Young Americans, Suffragette City and Golden Years.  I also like the hits from this album.  I even like his collaboration with Queen (Under Pressure).  But I've never owned a David Bowie album until I bought this one recently.

What I expected was three really good songs and some filler.  Well, I got the three good songs, I got three tracks that I would call filler, and I got two really, really good album cuts (Criminal World and Cat People (Putting Out Fire), which totally surprised me.  Here are some odds and ends regarding Let's Dance (facts taken from Wikipedia):

• Let's Dance reached number 4 on the American charts.
• It is certified Platinum by the RIAA.
• It spawned three Top 20 singes (Let's Dance #1, China Girl #10 and Modern Love #14).
• Without You was also released as a single, but didn't crack the Top 50.
• China Girl was co-written with Iggy Pop.
• I wouldn't be surprised if you noticed how cool the guitar work is on this album.  It's performed by none other than Stevie Ray Vaughan.  Give a special listen to the two album cuts I mentioned above.  Criminal World and Cat People (Putting Out Fire) are killer songs with some killer work from Mr. Vaughan.

1. Modern Love

2. China Girl

3. Let's Dance

4. Without You

5. Ricochet

6. Criminal World

7. Cat People (Putting Out Fire)

8. Shake It

[Jon]

What's interesting is the other version of "Cat People" from the soundtrack. Starts of very atmospheric and then kicks in.

 

[Jon]

This is an ok album, but if you want great David Bowie albums, you need to get "Ziggy Stardust", "Scary Monsters" and yes, his latest one. Also good are "The Man Who Sold The World" and "Lodger". There are many others that you probably won't like, they may be too "arty", but if you want rock, definitely pick "Ziggy" and "The Man....".  

[Niels (Mod)]

You forgot "Honky Dory". That's nearly as good as "Ziggy", AND "Life On Mars" is on that album.

I like this album, but it's not the Bowie-periode, that I like the best. After "Scary Monsters" it went downhill. Therefore it was a nice surprise, that the new album was/is actually pretty good.

[Scott]

I have a confession up front...  I'm not a David Bowie fan.   I think he is uninteresting vocally and he is too experimental for my tastes.  So what do you get when Bowie tries to be commercially acceptable?  This apparently...

 

I can't shake the notion that this is a collection of Duran Duran throw aways.  The Drum beats sound very Duran Duran/Power Station, and the bass lines could have come straight from Taylor himself.  And nothing about that holds up today.

 

I appreciate the listening experience, the hit songs do bring back memories of some good times and good people, but alas...  This album fails to generate any other interest from me...

[Jon]

You know you're forcing me to post more Bowie?

[Scott]

I rather hear some more Zebra...

[Jon]

Hmmm...

[Scott]

So I just ran to the store for a few things and I get in my car, turn it on, and the first song that plays on the radio is "The Reflex"...  UGH!

[Niels (Mod)]

That's a good Duran Duran-song?!!

[Scott]

I will give credit to Duran Duran for the song and video of "Girls on Film", but most of their hey day stuff is pretty forgettable....

[Niels (Mod)]

I agree somewhat, but they have done a few good songs. My favorites are probably "Save A Prayer" and "Ordinary World", and a few others, among them "The Reflex".

[RJhog (Admin)]

Come Undone...