8 - Young Americans

I can't improve upon the words of the man himself. Young Americans is "the squashed remains of ethnic music as it survives in the age of Muzak rock, written and sung by a white limey." In other words, Plastic Soul. Hello Luther Vandross and John Lennon.

Music first, lyrics after had always been the way Bowie preferred to work, but he took it to the next level on this record. He'd bring in funk and soul musicians, they'd work up the shape of a piece and once it was put together Bowie would write lyrics that night and they'd just record it live. The band didn't really know what a song was going to be until it was already done and they had moved on to the next one. He even invited the die hard fans who congregated outside the studio in to hear previews of finished tracks.

Bowie wanted Norman Rockwell to do the cover art, but didn't want to wait 6 months for him to actually paint it, so scrap that; gotta get it done quick so i can run away for a while.

Obviously, running away from the direction rock was heading is the whole point, but it's another one of those good across the board albums. Once you're used to the style and mindset, it's great stuff. Different, but high quality.

And right on cue, Fame tells us the super funk mixed with Krautrock is coming next....

9 - Station To Station

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