After the Berlin Trilogy Bowie was aiming at a more commercial direction. He was finally divorced from Angie (Angela Barnett) in February 1980 after which he received custody of his son Duncan. The album was recorded in New York and also London. The same musicians who helped with the Berlin Trilogy returned for this album including Robert Fripp. They were Dennis Davis (drums), Carlos Alomar (guitar) and George Murray (bass). Also Pete Townshend of the Who had a guest appearance on the album. The pianist Roy Bittan, a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, also joined for the second time. He also assisted Bowie in 1976 for Station To Station. The album introduced a look on the past of his career for example that in the late 60's he played in theaters performing the Lindsay Kemp musicial Pierrot in Turquoise and put on the pierrot costume again. In the first single from the album "Ashes To Ashes" he revisited Major Tom. It reached #1 in the UK, #15 in the Netherlands and #101 in the US.
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| Ashes To Ashes - single cover |
More singles were released from the album: "Fashion" (UK #5 , US #70), Scary Monsters (UK #20) and "Up The Hill Backwards" UK #32). It would become his last album for RCA records and also his last collaboration with Tony Visconti who co-produced the album with David. The album reached #1 in the UK, #3 in the Netherlands and #12 in the US.
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| Picture used for the Japan only release of the single "Crystal Japan" |
After the album he did a duet with Queen we all know "Under Pressure" (UK #1, NL #1, US #29) in 1981. Bowie was given the lead role in the BBC's 1982 televised adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's play Baal. Another release by RCA was an EP made out of this TV show. He also did the soundtrack title song for the ""Cat People" (UK #26, US #67) in 1982 released by MCA produced by Giorgo Moroder before signing with EMI America Records for a reported $17 million. He also appeared in the movie "Christiane F." in 1981 appearing as himself live on stage. A chance for RCA 2 release a sort of compilation/soundtrack for this movie as well as a compilation titled ChangesTwoBowie to exploit the success of Bowie for the very last time. The last release RCA managed to release before his contract with EMI started was a duet with Bing Crosby dated from 1977 of a TV appearance was released as a single around christmas 1982.
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| Baal's Hymn EP cover |
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| Up The Hill Backwards / Crystal Japan - single cover |
SONGS
The songs all had working titles before the final titel was given:
- "People Are Turning to Gold" ("Ashes to Ashes") - Inspired by the New Romantics music and a return to his earlier alter ego Major Tom
- "It Happens Everyday" ("Teenage Wildlife") - The longest track on the album that is structurally similar to "Heroes"
- "Jamaica" ("Fashion") - Included the Beep Beep from his song "Rupert The Riley" from 1970
- "Cameras in Brooklyn" ("Up the Hill Backwards") - Including a three-way vocal by Bowie, Visconti and Lynn Maitland. It probably refers to the divorce of Bowie and Angie
- "I Am a Laser" ("Scream Like a Baby") - This song was from 1973 by the Astronetes. The Astronettes were Bowie's backing group during the "Young Americans" album including Ava Cherry. An album by this group was recorded in 1973 but never released until 1995 as "People From Bad Homes". The Astronettes were: Ava Cherry, Geoff MacCormack and Jason Guess
- "Is There Life After Marriage?" - unused track
- "I Feel Free" - Cream cover also unused
- "Kingdom Come" - The cover that made it on the album from Tom Verlaine (Television). It was Carlos Alomar who suggested that David should cover Tom Verlaine's "Kingdom Come"
- "It's No Game" - Included lines from the song "Tired Of My Life" a song David wrote when he was 16 years old. It also included the line "People From Bad Homes" from a song by the Astronettes
- "Scary Monsters" - A psychodrama about “a criminal with a conscience who corrupts a young mind”
- "Because You're Young"
- "Fuji Moto San" ("Crystal Japan") - Instrumental song only released as a single in Japan and it was used in a Japanese commercial for the shochu Crystal Jun Rock, which also featured an appearance by Bowie. It was intended to close the album. It also appeared as the B-Side to "Up The Hill Backwards"
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| Back of the cover including images of the Berlin Trilogy albums |
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| Another pose from the Pierrot |
ALBUM COVER
Bowie was displayed in a pierrot costume referring to his early career in the 60's in theater. The sleeve art was taken from an 8 by 4 foot painting by Vogue/Tatler illustrator Edward Bell based on a photographic picture by Brian Duffy. The back of the cover referred to the Berlin Trilogy.
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| Original album cover |
Scary Monsers (And Super Creeps) - 1980
It's No Game (No. 1) / Up the Hill Backwards / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / Ashes to Ashes / Fashion / Teenage Wildlife / Scream Like a Baby / Kingdom Come / Because You're Young / It's No Game (No. 2)
SINGLES
- Alabama Song / Space Oddity (1979 version) (1979)
- Crystal Japan / Alabama Song (1980 Japan only release)
- Ashes To Ashes / Move On (1980)
- Fashion / Scream Like A Baby (1980)
- It's No Game (Part 1)/ Fashion (1980 Japan only release)
- Scary Monsters / Because You're Young (1981)
- Up The Hill Backwards / Crystal Japan (1981)
- Under Pressure / Soul Brother (1981 with Queen)
- Baal's Hymn / Remembering Marie A. / Ballad of the Adventurers / The Drowned Girl / The Dirty Song (1981)
- Wild Is The Wind / Golden Years (1981)
- Cat People (Putting Out Fire) / Paul's Theme (Jogging Chase) (1982)
- Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy / Fantastic Voyage (1982)
AUDIO/VIDEO
Ashes To Ashes - Promo Video
Up The Hill Backwards
Scream Like A Baby
Under Pressure (with Queen)