antiMusic.com: David Bowie - Young Americans Review

David Bowie - Young Americans Review
by Zane Ewton

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David Bowie's public sacrifice of Ziggy Stardust confused the mascara-smeared masses. The elaborate Diamond Dogs American tour inspired Bowie to make a left turn that helped him break big in the U.S. A refashioned, stylish Bowie crooned his own version of Philly soul, "plastic soul".

Young Americans was Bowie's first hit record in the states riding the strength of two absolute classic tracks, "Fame" and the title track. The funny thing is that Young Americans is not the major stylistic departure that Bowie is credited with conceiving. Compared with the two aforementioned songs most of the record is forgettable.

That is not to say it is unnecessary. Bowie surrounded himself with incredible musicians and the performances are outstanding. A cover of the Beatle's "Across the Universe" may have been a nod to "Fame" co-writer John Lennon than actually a necessary component of the album.

The "plastic soul" period ended in a blaze of cocaine and the infamous Nazi salute incident. Then Bowie was off to something else.

This special edition release of Young Americans includes the bonus tracks "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)", "Who Can I Be Now" and "It's Gonna Be Me". The extras will please the Bowie completist and few others. A bonus DVD includes a 1974 appearance on the Dick Cavett Show. Bowie's performance of "Young Americans" and "1984" is riveting. His interview is not. Twitchy and obviously uncomfortable, Cavett puts Bowie in some uncomfortable positions but fails to ask anything interesting.

David Bowie is definitely an essential artist. Start somewhere else if you are unfamiliar with him.

Disc 1:

Young Americans (5.11)
Win (4.44)
Fascination (5.44)
Right (4.15)
Somebody Up There Likes Me (6.30)
Across The Universe (4.50)
Can You Hear Me (5.03)
Fame (4.15)
John, I'm Only Dancing (Again) (7.00) (Bonus Track)
Who Can I Be Now? (4.36) (Bonus Track)
It's Gonna Be Me (with strings) (6.26) (Bonus Track)
Disc 2:

Young Americans (5.11) (5.1 mix)
Win (4.44)(5.1 mix)
Fascination (5.44)(5.1 mix)
Right (4.15) (5.1 mix)
Somebody Up There Likes Me (6.30) (5.1 mix)
Across The Universe (4.50)(5.1 mix)
Can You Hear Me (5.03) (5.1 mix)
Fame (4.15) (5.1 mix)
John, I'm Only Dancing (Again) (7.00) (Bonus Track) (5.1 mix)
Who Can I Be Now? (4.36) (Bonus Track) (5.1 mix)
It's Gonna Be Me (with strings) (6.26) (Bonus Track) (5.1 mix)
1984 (live performance on Dick Cavett Show, 1974)
Young Americans (live performance on Dick Cavett Show, 1974)
Dick Cavett interviews David Bowie, 1974

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David Bowie - Young Americans
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