Young Americans by David Bowie

Young Americans

David Bowie

3.62
Rating
26494
Votes
1
2%
2
9%
3
34%
4
37%
5
18%
Distribution

Album Summary

Young Americans is the ninth studio album by English musician David Bowie, released on 7 March 1975 through RCA Records. The album marked a departure from the glam rock style of Bowie's previous albums, showcasing his interest in soul and R&B. Commentators have described the record as blue-eyed soul, although Bowie himself labelled the album's sound "plastic soul". Initial recording sessions took place following the first leg of his Diamond Dogs Tour in August 1974 at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia with producer Tony Visconti and a variety of musicians, including guitarist Carlos Alomar, who would become one of Bowie's most frequent collaborators. Backing vocalists included singer Ava Cherry, Alomar's wife Robin Clark and then-unknown singer Luther Vandross. After the initial sessions, the tour continued, with the setlist and design changed due to the influence of the new material recorded. This portion of the tour has been labeled the Soul tour. At the end of the tour, sessions continued at the Record Plant in New York City. After becoming friends with former Beatle John Lennon, the two collaborated on a session in January 1975 at Electric Lady Studios, with Harry Maslin producing. With Alomar, they recorded "Fame" and a cover of Lennon's Beatles song "Across the Universe". Throughout the sessions, many outtakes were recorded and the record went through numerous working titles. The cover artwork is a back-lit photograph of Bowie taken by Eric Stephen Jacobs. Upon its release, Young Americans was very successful in the US, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, with the single "Fame" becoming Bowie's first number one hit. However, it received mixed reviews from music critics and continues to receive mixed reviews. Bowie himself had mixed feelings about the album throughout his lifetime. Nevertheless, Bowie biographers have considered it one of his most influential records, mainly noting him as among the first white musicians of the era to overtly engage with black musical styles. The album has since been reissued multiple times and was remastered in 2016 as part of the Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976) box set.

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Reviews

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Length: All Short Long
Oct 17 2021 Author
2
I can't really blame Bowie for being inspired by late 60s and early 70s soul music, but Young Americans is soul the way that the Bee Gee's Main Course is soul or 3 Dog Night is soul, that is, not so much. Only Fame is genuinely funky. I remember feeling a bit queasy when the other hit on the album, Young Americans, used to come on the radio. I was uncomfortable with how much fuss people made about it when much better real soul music came and went in a matter of weeks. But ain't that always the way it is? And come to think about it, part of what bothers me so much about the 1001 list is how colonialist it is, how small-minded, how parochial, giving an inordinate amount of space to anything white, male or anglophile and when they do include music which isn't, more often than not, it's a compromised, bastardized token example. Anyway, enough of my bitching. The rest of the album, with the exception of Fame, is just as inconsequential as the title cut. I will say that the session players acquit themselves quite well, and the album is beautifully recorded. I mean, the album isn't actively unpleasant to listen to, but this is a pretty shallow take on soul. Still, the only outright stinker is the out-of-place Beatles cover Across the Universe. I know it's fashionable to venerate Bowie these days, but not everything he did was wonderful, e.g. the Thin White Puke years. I'm just glad Bowie got Young Americans out of his system and went on to make the Berlin trilogy.
Apr 27 2022 Author
2
IS it me or is Bowie just overrated?
Jul 15 2021 Author
5
Genius, Become successful doing glam rock. Then completely change the style and genre. And knock it out the park again. Album flows magnificently. Songs are all on point. Bowie did this in 1975 influenced by funk. Everyone else followed in the 80s. Peerless 5/5
Nov 12 2020 Author
5
It’s David Bowie
Nov 20 2020 Author
4
Not my favorite from him but it’s hard to go wrong with Bowie
Nov 09 2024 Author
5
Wow. Not even a full year in and I've gotten all of Bowie's albums that are on the list. I understand some people's complaints that people shouldn't need more than 3 or so albums on the list. But honestly I think Bowie really is the GOAT and I'm happy he has as many albums on the list as he does. He's my favourite of all time. I'd be fine if he had more. He had an incredible range. Experimented a lot. He's totally deserving. As for this album, it's kind of underrated and overlooked. Some of the best vocals in his career. Just great stuff. Love this album. Love Bowie.
Jan 25 2022 Author
3
Wow. David Bowie really was decades ahead of his time. And several years behind. The title track - Young Americans - starts off sounding exactly like the opening theme of a mid-90s sitcom. The rest of the album is, as Bowie described it himself - a facsimile of soul. He does well for a white boy, but I can't help but think that he's making a gesture at the genre rather than actually contributing to it or bringing the music foward. I suspect this album is considered influential because it is a change of direction from an established artist, shining a light on music that hadn't reached white suburbanites before - at least not in a way that could have been considered acceptable at the time. Knowing Bowie and his understanding and love of music, I think this is very much a case of cultural appreciation rather that appropriation, but that being said, Bowie cannot make (and he's admitted this himself with the definition of "plastic soul") this music his own. A famous white boy putting his money and influence into expanding the listenership of the genre is commendable. I think this - today - might not fly the way it did 45 years ago. It is a good album, and a paradigm shift for Bowie, giving a shot in the arm to soul, but ultimately being derivative in a direction that wasn't mastered.
Feb 19 2023 Author
3
[Editorial Note: For this installment, I have enlisted ChatGPT to write the review. Primarily because I have love for much of Bowie’s music, but I’ve always been kind of indifferent to this record. It just doesn’t work for me in the same way that most of his other 70’s work does, even if there are few fantastic songs - like Young Americans, Fascination and Fame. So, I figured if anyone would find humor in a light-hearted, shit-talking review crafted by AI, David Bowie would probably be near the top of the list. I provided ChatGPT with a simple prompt: “write a funny review of David Bowie’s Young Americans album”. The first take wasn’t very humorous, so I provided a second prompt: “make it funnier and less reverent”. What you’ll read below is its response] Alright, buckle up, because this review is gonna be more sarcastic and less reverent than a cult meeting for David Bowie fans. So, "Young Americans." It's like David Bowie decided to go on a soul-searching trip to America, and came back with an album full of soul music. It's like the guy couldn't make up his mind whether he wanted to be Ziggy Stardust or James Brown, so he decided to be both. And let's talk about the album cover for a second. Bowie looks like he's trying to seduce you with his soulful gaze, while also wearing a shirt that looks like it was made out of an old couch from the '70s. But hey, at least he's got that perfectly coiffed hair going for him. But seriously, the sax solos on this album are off the charts. It's like Bowie decided to hire a whole band of saxophonists and just let them loose on the album. And the lyrics? Well, let's just say that if you're looking for deep, meaningful poetry, you might want to look somewhere else. But if you're looking for lines like "Do you remember your President Nixon?" and "Ain't there one damn song that can make me break down and cry?", then this album has got you covered. Overall, "Young Americans" is like a weird mix of Bowie's classic sound and a bunch of soul and funk music thrown in for good measure. It's like he was trying to reinvent himself yet again, but ended up sounding like a confused alien trying to fit in with the cool kids. But hey, at least he's got that sexy saxophone to fall back on.
Jan 13 2021 Author
4
I've never listened much to David Bowie outside of his major hits, but I was captivated by the very first song; excited to hear the rest of it! Win - Absolutely loved. Great song. Fascination - was aight. Would listen to again Right - was groovy! Loved it. Somebody up There Likes Me, the chords used here are really great. Head bopper for sure. Can You Hear Me Across The Universe cover?! Featuring John Lennon on guitar and back-up vocals? A solid take! Enjoyed. ^^Reflecting on his contribution, Lennon later said: "I thought, great, because I'd never done a good version of that song myself. It's one of my favourite songs, but I didn't like my version of it." Bowie concurred, calling the Beatles' original version "very watery" and wanting to "hammer the hell out of it." - Wikipedia Can You Hear Me - Reminded me of Jimi Hendrix. Good track. Fame - Classic Bowie track I've listened to before, sounds a bit different from the rest of the album tonally, but a fine addition to end the album on. This album just made me a David Bowie fan. Great listening experience all around. Definitely coming back to this.
May 02 2022 Author
2
From Young Americans to The Worst version of Across the Universe ever. How can such a great talent be so extremely hot or cold?
Sep 30 2021 Author
5
👨🏻‍🎤🤩🎸⭐️
Jun 30 2023 Author
5
What a blast! From the iconic opening track all the way through to the equally iconic closer, this album is just such a treat. You get jazzy funky fun Bowie, crooning emotional weirdo Bowie, smouldering intensity soul Bowie, and boldly venturing into R&B Bowie too! It's an ever shifting sonic kaleidoscope of tones, moods, and styles that blend together with effortless cool. It's about as buttery as Bowie ever gets; we need a biscuit to sop him up! The perfect album for a night owl summer cruise on a hot sticky night with the windows down and nobody else on the road.
Mar 08 2021 Author
5
:)
Aug 24 2021 Author
5
An album not talked too much about, though I believe it was his best. Love this album and wish even more people would listen to it.
Jun 19 2021 Author
5
Bowie does it again. A masterpiece and an ESSENTIAL soul reinvention in his discography. "Fame" is a PERFECT song.
Jan 25 2022 Author
3
I wish the rest of the songs on this album lived up to Fame, which is an unbelievably amazing song. I felt like Bowie was trying a style that didn't really fit as well with his voice...I liked it but didn't love it.
Aug 13 2024 Author
5
A serious contender for my favourite Bowie album. The only blemish being the inclusion of the lacklustre Across the Universe cover (Bowie loves doing a cover of a 60s band and making it shit - see Let's Spend the Night Together and God Only Knows) and worse, the exclusion of the earth-shatteringly great Who Can I Be Now, one of his greatest ever songs. The backers are the stars here. What an album. What a band. Bowie is the best at almost always having the right people around him. I guess if you don't like sax you won't like this, but I don't know what to say to you. Right is so low key brilliant. Somebody Up There Likes Me is high key brilliant. So is Win.
Dec 23 2021 Author
5
“It remains a beloved bright spot in a discography with more than its share."
Dec 08 2021 Author
5
The Thin White Duke at his best, post Heroin, pre Berlin and cleaning up his act this is a special album. His experiment with white boy soul and with the backing of Carlos Alomar on guitar and the wonderful Luther Vandross on backing vocals, highlights here The Eponymous "Young Americans" and of course his Lost Weekend output "Fame" co written by John Lennon. You can hear the influence of Gamble & Huff and TSOP throughout the album, the rock chameleon doing what he did the best. Love the whole thing and deservedly on the list in my opinion.
Nov 20 2020 Author
5
Some of his classics and a very Bowie Beatles cover is on this album. He’s a legend for a reason
Aug 08 2023 Author
3
First and last songs outstanding. Album is very consistent but seems kind of dated.
May 12 2025 Author
3
Talking strictly about Bowie's songs without everything else his persona/career encompassed is a bit reductive, but here we are. This just reinforces my view of him as a "greatest hits" kind of artist. Album opens and closes with a couple bangers, does OK with a Beatles cover and then shuffles through whitesy funk a lot with a bunch of songs I've already mostly forgot about. I think it's the "I'll forget about this" that makes this seem so flat as an album.
Nov 04 2025 Author
2
This is not good. From the rampant commercialism of young Americans to the oh so ironic fame. This is an exercise in posturing. To cap it all there is a ghastly cover of across the universe to sit through. There are much better albums of his caterwauling. This is not one of them.
Apr 15 2025 Author
2
I know Bowie is considered one of the all-time greats, but Young Americans just didn’t do it for me. I can respect the shift into “plastic soul” and how experimental this was for him, but most of it felt flat. “Fame” is alright — probably the only track I’d revisit — but the rest just kind of blends together in a way that didn’t stick. And I have to dock a star for his version of “Across the Universe.” Some things are better left untouched, and that cover didn’t do Lennon/McCartney any favors.
May 16 2025 Author
5
Classic! I guess you can tell I was a teen in the 70’s
May 13 2025 Author
5
Sick.
May 07 2025 Author
5
This is great. The saxophone in this album on point. Makes me wanna do some cocaine and party with bowie!
May 05 2025 Author
5
own
Nov 10 2024 Author
5
Holy shit, what an amazing album. This was one of the few Bowie albums I wasn't familiar with; in my mind I think I'd dismissed it as a 'lesser' album between two great periods, and it was definitely under-represented on my 3-disc Greatest Hits collection I had growing up. Bowie is soulful and in fine form. The band is on point, the saxophone is borderline poronographic. 'Young Americans' is a bonafide banger and amazing way to open. 'Fame', 'Fascination', and 'Somebody...' are all funk masterpieces. The rest of the album is very, very strong and 'Across the Universe', for all its 70s excess, absolutely works for me. There's nothing artificial here, it still might not be my favourite Bowie album, but on its own merits, an easy 5/5 and one of the funnest ways to spend 40 minutes.
Oct 11 2024 Author
5
David Bowie slaps
Oct 08 2024 Author
5
Bowie was an alien, sent to earth to make records like this. Only he could make a soul album, have it sound nothing like soul, but instead create something this unique and generally awesome. I’ve read a lot of the criticisms of this, which are basically that it’s not soul? Who the fuck cares! We have plenty of soul - we need more Bowie! The Beatles liked Elvis, but as great as Elvis was I’m glad their music didn’t sound like his. Personally this album has grown on me over the years. I wrote off the title track as “too poppy” and on the day I got married heard it in a convenience store in VT and was overcome with gratitude and joy. Since then I’ve been borderline obsessed. Last night I was listening to it with my 4yo daughter. Pretty cool!! This time through Win, Fascination and Right stood out. Certain songs you “need to listen to with headphones” and that is exactly how I’d describe “Somebody up There Likes Me”. Hearing it today I was shocked by the number of layered tracks. The hand clap at 4 mins in, Bowie doing 3 or 4 different backing vocals to close the song, the guitar fills. Sick sick sick. Also sick, having John Lennon feature on your album. This does make me feel guilty for being critical of The Next Day. This man can do no wrong and it’s surely my dumb ears that couldn’t handle The Next Day. Bravo!
Oct 08 2024 Author
5
One of the great weirdo masterpieces. Normally a white dude playing funk would come off inauthentic or kitschy, but w/ Bowie the artificiality is part of the appeal, and he embraces it so hard that it somehow loops back around to feel authentic again. That plus every single song is a jam in its own right. I fucking love David Bowie.
Jun 17 2024 Author
5
If I could give this album more stars, I would. Truly one of the greatest artists to ever live and this album exemplifies his musical versatility and willingness experiment with new sounds. Obviously, Young Americans and Fame are the standout tracks, but this album has no misses.
Jun 21 2023 Author
5
Fascinating move by Bowie into an American soul sound whilst retaining an outsider’s sceptical eye. And no imitation here, but influence, making a fresh new sound. The constant reinvention Bowie had over his career whilst remaining a captivating artist is extraordinary. I suspect there’s an extra star here buy what can you do? It’s Bowie.
Oct 05 2022 Author
5
Amazing is the only word that does this album justice. The versatility of Bowie is just remarkabe and this album is like many of his pure masterpieces
May 27 2022 Author
5
Is it enough that the title track is possibly the greatest album opener in the history of music? It might be but it doesn't have to be because this album also contains "Fascination" perhaps the grooviest song of all time (or at least the grooviest Bowie tune.) Also, "Fame" features an actual Beatle, so there's that. I know this isn't as beloved as the Berlin trilogy or as iconic as the Ziggy Stardust stuff or as popular as the "Let's Dance" album (I absolutely love all that stuff too by the way) but if I had to pick one favorite Bowie album, it would be this one and maybe that's weird but I don't care, "Young Americans" is my favorite David Bowie album.
May 13 2022 Author
5
I've not listened to much of this bit of Bowie and it’s long overdue. This is brilliant.
Apr 29 2022 Author
5
Superb. I'd rate it six stars if that was an option.
Apr 25 2022 Author
5
Loved this. Really did. Was better than expected, and I expected good things. Bowie, at his peak, was a musical genius. This, from start to finish, was fantastic
Nov 26 2021 Author
5
Wow. This album is awesome. Again I found myself completely unfamiliar with the work of the artist, and I seriously dug this album.
Jul 26 2021 Author
5
Probably one of the few instances where Bowie’s voice made something worse. The instrumentals were all so good but the timbre of his voice is so nasal and thin that it just doesn’t fit over the funky/soulful beats. Still great though. 9
Feb 23 2021 Author
5
Fantastic album. Listened to as a whole, you can hear the influence from 70's funk and r&b. When I think of 80's multiculturalism, I think of this album.
Jan 13 2021 Author
5
Really enjoyed how free and emotional everything felt. All the songs were pretty long which I don’t always like, but the music was given a lot of time to breathe in between the lyrics which really just fit the feel of everything really well. Great album ❤️
Jan 29 2026 Author
4
The "plastic soul" album. Some interesting vocal arrangements. Perhaps Across The Universe could have been replaced by one of many outtakes from sessions but a solid piece of work nonetheless.
Dec 28 2025 Author
4
Great musicianship, groove, and vibe. Funky musicians make funky music. Each song is unique but the record is still cohesive.
May 16 2025 Author
4
Enjoyed this one, different sounding Bowie from other albums of his I have listened to
May 13 2025 Author
4
Enjoyable album to listen to. A pivotal career moment (but so many).
May 12 2025 Author
4
He's the goat
May 09 2025 Author
4
‘‘Twas smooth, catchy, lyrical, wonderful
May 09 2025 Author
4
This album taught me that there really is no such thing as too much saxophone.
Nov 09 2024 Author
4
4/5
Nov 09 2024 Author
4
A solid Bowie album, meaning it’s really good and better than the best record from most artists. For Bowie I’d rank it somewhere in the middle of his discography: it’s a good album start to end, but he certainly has several albums with higher highs. I highly doubt he was sober for the making of this record, this is David Bowie in 1975, but it is the most sober sounding of his albums from the 70’s in my opinion. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it also subdues this from standing out from others like Ziggy Stardust, Station to Station, or Low. The opening title track is great, as is Fame of course. In between are solid songs, none of which are particular highlights.
Sep 23 2024 Author
4
Young Americans Probably the album from his imperial phase I’ve listened to the least and probably the album I think about listening to the least, despite loving the title track and Fame, so I’m not as familiar with it as I probably should be, so it’s nice giving it a considered listen now. Win and Fascination are great, fascination in particular really stuck with me on this listen. Love the clavinet on Right and the harmonies/backing vocals are great. Somebody Up There Likes Me and Across the Universe are an undoubted dip, the latter particularly seems an odd choice and an odd arrangement. Can You Hear Me is great and of course Fame is superb too. You can really hear elements foreshadowing Station to Station, but without that album's darker and more complicated atmosphere Young Americans’ take on soul music has an air of detachment, of arms length aloofness that doesn't quite land fully. Still great though and a solid 4 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Playlist submission: Fame
Aug 27 2024 Author
4
Good album
Apr 02 2024 Author
4
I really dig this plastic soul era Bowie. Young Americans and Fame are two of his best ever songs and the two Bowie songs most likely to get a spin when I'm DJing. It's not his best album or even my favourite, but the band is hot and funky and soulful. There is a cocaine sheen over everything, but I really like 70s soul and so this album fits right into a sweet spot for me. Is it pastiche, or homage, or actual (blue-eyed) soul? Hard to tell, but I can listen to this all the way through very happily any time. The cover of All Across the Universe is the least essential track on the record.
Jan 14 2021 Author
4
David Bowie sure had an ability to sense trends in music and remake himself on the turn of a dime. I appreciate this album and its more soulful feel, but I'm more of a Ziggy Stardust kind of guy where the music felt a little more experimental and less derivative.
Jan 20 2021 Author
4
Was a huge fan of this "Plastic Soul" album during my Bowie phase (I spent the lion's share of my graduation gift money on his albums). This one made him something of a favored son in Philly which made it kind of special when I saw him twice there on his "farewell" tour. "They've cleaned up the Italian Market!" he shouted from the stage. Favorite is Win. Cassette flip side was tvc15 I believe.
Jan 07 2026 Author
3
The “Plastic Soul” album. It stands because it helped introduce soul and R&B to a much larger audience, but it’s also clear that Bowie was wading foreign waters. ‘Fame’ is an all-time favorite of mine, the cultural significance is there, the songs are largely middling.
Oct 24 2025 Author
3
Not a favourite Bowie album. He’s not a soul artist. It’s no Low. Maybe repeated listens would help because the stand out tracks for me were the two big ones. Across the Universe (which has less of a soul vibe) is not good. Somebody up there likes me must have been listened to by George Michael.
Oct 24 2025 Author
3
This was a slog for me, most songs just chugging along with no great melody and a semi soul sound. I suppose at least it wasn't Tin Machine
Sep 02 2025 Author
3
Are you forcing me to listen to all his albums in a month?
Apr 24 2025 Author
3
I don't like this that much actually. I have a lot of respect for Bowie as an artist but I don't really like this? nevermind this is banging just slow which is nice I'm sure this album is fine I'm just stuck in the torment nexus
Mar 09 2026 Author
2
Heard Before? Yup. One of the several times I've tried to get into Bowie. Notes: - production is more or less perfect. great sounds, well placed. - so many ingredients i love: lots of keyboard work, cheesy sax, group background vocals, long vamps, false endings, compositional variety. - so why don't i care? - the problem, as often, lies in how despite my heart admiration for Bowie's stylistic risks, everything he did was done in a more interesting way by someone else. - i take that back about the long vamps. these songs are mostly underwritten and endless. kind of grating. Verdict: Bowie Bowie Bowie. And more Bowie. Your mileage may vary. Listen Again? Nope.
Nov 04 2025 Author
2
I know he's known for re-invention and innovation. This album does just sound like a mid 70's pop rock album though. Maybe Fame pushes the boundaries, or maybe I'm just an ignorant slut? Across The Universe is not a great cover either.
May 03 2022 Author
2
mäh, i dont care for bowie
Nov 16 2021 Author
2
Thought I liked Bowie. Oh yeah, I do, but not this album. Falls into that category of over-produced 70s popular music, that I truly do not enjoy. Not really even any highlights in it for me. Bowie is a bit of a chameleon. He released the album Earthling in 1997, which I bought and really liked of course, but it had a real 90s sound.
Apr 29 2025 Author
1
DNF, just very boring and very unlike any other music by Bowie I know. Surprising in a not good way! Not a single favorite out this album, sorry
Apr 21 2025 Author
1
Awful
May 01 2026 Author
5
I was never a big fan of Bowie, even if there are certain songs that I just love by him (e.g., Let's Dance, China Girl, Suffragette City). And when I had his first record from this list, Low, I didn't think it was all that special, only reaffirming my position. Since then, surprisingly, I've really changed my tune. It started with the Ziggy Stardust album, which had incredible songwriting. Earlier this week, I had Blackstar, a fascinating album with heavy electronic and jazz bents. That he was able to recreate himself that late in his career was astounding to me. This album is only further entrenching my new position and that recreation theme could really apply to this album as well, as he moved away from glam rock and towards more of a R&B / soul inspired rock sound. The title track has a great sound to it, including from some of the support players (Luther and David Sanborn, most notably). I liked the way his vocals offset vs. the soaring background singers. Nice toss to A Day In The Life by The Beatles too. Win answers the question, what if George Michael was around in the 70s. The breathy points of this make it for me. A cool, sultry track. Fascination is a great song. This starts with a strange combination of early 70s funk and some early disco types of sounds. It's bass heavy approach reminds me of Shaft a bit. You can just picture him getting into singing this. This song is the best find I've had in the last week on this countdown. 3 for 3 and an amazing start to this record. Right wasn't quite as good for me, but it was a solid track with continued good base work and more David Sanborn, neither of which are ever bad things. Somebody Up There Likes Me had some of Bowie's best impassioned vocals on it, along with a series of gorgeous harmonies throughout. Totally dug this tune. Listening to Across the Universe, I can't believe a song like this wasn't part of any of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, as it would have fit perfectly. Cool, sweeping track. I was wondering why it sounded like a Beatles song and then I read that it was a Lennon-McCartney tune, which made total sense. I'm just ignorant to many things Beatles, as I am not a big fan of them. Can You Hear Me was a somewhat subdued track compared to some of the rest of the album. Liked the soul bent to this and I have mentioned that I am fan of the David Sanborn work on this record yet? Yeah, more of that is a good thing. Also, the a cappella ending of this was great. The closer, Fame, is a track that we have all heard a bunch before, but admittedly I've generally just let it sit there when it's on the radio, not really paying too much attention to it. Upon actually listening, the funk, the syncopation, the movement between various vocal parts, all of it is great. A really well constructed track. Blown away by how excellent this album ended up being. Even the couple that I didn't think were excellent songs are still good listens. Basically a complete album. 5-stars.
Apr 28 2026 Author
5
In terms of genres bowie has worked in, this is the one thats most up my street. Title track is a banger. Fascination is so good Maybe this is his best album, certainly feels top 3. Im gonna go 5 because its great
Apr 28 2026 Author
5
Goodbye Horses er verdens beste pop-låt. Fascination er ikke langt unna. Er jeg Liberty Rock Radio pilled, eller er jeg bare samme archetype som den/de som kurerte den kanalen...? Det får vi aldri vite. Det er noen duds på skiva. Jeg elsker Across the Universe, men dette coveret hopper jeg med glede over. Can You Hear Me er helt ok, men er ikke låta skiva trenger på dette punktet. Om det ikke var for dudsa, hadde dette vært Bowie's sterkeste verk bar none. Jeg liker vel når hvite rocke-musikere bestemmer seg for å lage sitt Motown album. Skal det få fem? Young Americans, Fascination, Right, og Fame veier tungt nok til at jeg lander på ja, men det er på hengende håret.
Apr 28 2026 Author
5
Pop rock un peu jazzy par moment, difficile de mettre moins à Bowie
Apr 24 2026 Author
5
I'd always thought Young Americans was one of Bowie's lesser 1970s albums. Now I’m wondering what I was basing that on because I loved this.
Apr 24 2026 Author
5
First time listening to a David Bowie album. I'm very impressed, not only because the music was good but because I figured Ziggy to be more of a metal head - that was the generally preconception I had of him. This album was very different than what I had anticipated and it's very nice.
Apr 24 2026 Author
5
Man this was so good. From the Beatles cover, to the two major hits, it's a great R&B album from one of the most prolific artists in the 70s. I don't think I'd ever listened front to back, but it was a great listen with no bad ones in there.
Apr 22 2026 Author
5
It's hard to be objective about Bowie
Apr 21 2026 Author
5
If you ever catch me giving Bowie fewer than 5 stars on here, assume that I've been bodysnatched.
Apr 21 2026 Author
5
primeira vez realmente escutando david bowie e to vendo q demorei até demais
Apr 20 2026 Author
5
I have been WAITING for my first Bowie album I love this one The Beatles' cover is so important to me, although I like it slightly less than the original The saxes throughout!!!!!!!!! Fame is just a banger
Apr 14 2026 Author
5
YESSSSSSS
Apr 13 2026 Author
5
i love u david bowie u never disappoint <3
Apr 13 2026 Author
5
I loved young Americans and Across the Universe. The jazz elements were fun and soulful 10/10 good flow between it all and god I would live for this one
Apr 12 2026 Author
5
deep cuts are enjoyable. lot of saxophone. bangers beginning middle and end
Apr 11 2026 Author
5
David Bowie's album is a soul, what's better than that? Like the instruments of Luther Vandres and John Lennon, this plastic soul, as Bowie would say, is sensational with lyrics on often romantic and political themes, so come on
Apr 11 2026 Author
5
Another Bowie, another classic. Surprisingly (?) I like Fame the least of this bunch.
Apr 11 2026 Author
5
Genius, great saxophone
Apr 08 2026 Author
5
Bowie has sort of a funny voice. It isn't really pretty in a conventional sense, but that isn't to say he isn't a technically sound singer. Do half the stuff he does, singing the lines he sings, and making them sound good is an accomplishment. Bowie also just oozes charisma on this. It probably helps that huge portions of this are built out of recorded jam sessions. Bowie always had good taste in collaborators and this album sees him picking up a good portion of the major figures he could with for like a decade. It leaves on an absolute banger of a note with Fame, but the whole thing is strong.
Apr 08 2026 Author
5
Shame about Bowie as a person but… come on man. It’s good. You know it’s good, I know it’s good, hell yeah. The horns…. The HORNS! The production, mixing, mastering!
Apr 07 2026 Author
5
Miss him
Apr 07 2026 Author
5
Iconic!
Apr 07 2026 Author
5
I don’t think the Across the Universe cover is anything special really (is that a hot take?) but good lord the rest is FANTASTIC.
Apr 01 2026 Author
5
gran introducción de Bowie en el funk y el soul. un álbum que definitivamente volvería a escuchar. Fame y Fascination son tope de gamuza (creo que a Bowie le hubiese gustado esa expresión)
Mar 30 2026 Author
5
A classic, but not my favorite Bowie album.
Mar 27 2026 Author
5
I like it A LOT
Mar 23 2026 Author
5
Один из моих любимых альбомов раннего Боуи. Когда его космическое альтер-эго исчерпало себя, поиски нового себя привели его к американской музыке. Хотя он уже заигрывал с этой стороной в другом обожаемом мной альбоме Aladdin Sane, написанным как раз во время тура по Америке. Но там он больше черпал вдохновение в рок-н-ролле, а здесь больше в соуле и олдскульном джазе. Тягучая атмосфера прокуренного бара вкупе с его оверсайз пиджаком неожиданно удачно создали новый образ, который подкрепился отлично написанной и исполненной музыкой. Это как раз из тех альбомов, где нет бэнгеров, но которые прекрасно и ровно слушаются от начала до конца.
Mar 23 2026 Author
5
Лучшая песня: Fascination Худшая: хз Понравилось, нескучно
Mar 23 2026 Author
5
loved it. fav: across the universe. 9/10
Mar 17 2026 Author
5
Gee I like Bowie. I love that this is such a departure from what he had been doing. Somehow I'd never come across this album. Obviously, Young Americans and Fame are the standout tracks, but really, I liked it all.
Mar 14 2026 Author
5
This one may be on the lower end of 5 for me but still a 5. It started really hitting me that we’re listening to like… 1000+ albums and so if I find 150 albums to be 5s, that’s fine. So although this is not my most favorite Bowie album, it’s for sure a re-listen. It reminds me of when I first got my car and would play Bowie whenever my parents were in it because I didn’t have any other playlists that felt appropriate to play with them around. Which was mostly funny because they listened to tons of much more explicit music around me. Anyways, my older sister was a big fan of NASA stuff and Bowie always makes me think of being a kid and watching rocket launches. Nostalgia album. Season: Start of School (Early Autumn) Favorite Song: Across The Universe
Mar 11 2026 Author
5
Bowie #2 on the list - The soul-funk years. It's great. End of.