Young Americans

I've listened to this entire album once or twice in the past but it's like new to me again. It's short at 8 songs and 40 minutes. The title track is an absolute classic, it has it all and still gets a ton of airplay 50 yrs later. "Win" feels forced to me, it has an odd vibe and maybe should have been the final track. "Fascination" has some Stevie Wonder bass and a disco tinge going through it, by the end it's a sing-a-long. Wasn't a fan of "Right", it was busy, but 12M people disagree so it's got a fan following. "Somebody Up There..." was also ambitious and a bit busy for me, lots of layers and too long & repetitive for me. Interesting take on "Across The Universe" which is such a slow and lovely original, this one's a bit more upbeat and pleading but a tad dramatic. "Can You Hear Me" is ok, kinda boring and theatrical. The icing on the backend is the mega-classic "Fame" (100M listens) which is just funky and fun, mixed incredibly, has a bumping bassline, steller drumming and a great vocal delivery. It's almost out of place so that's why it's the final track. I don't see the reasoning behind including this in the T1001, it's just good but it's not great. Starts and finishes incredibly strong but what's in the middle isn't T1001 worthy. His influence goes without question so that gets him bonus points. 3.5 stars. Check out The Cure's version of "Young Americans" sometime, it's fun and has a unique take.

Interesting

As far as Bowie albums go this one is kind of a pass for me. Other than the title track, Right and Fame it's just OK. Compared to other records of the time it's pretty good. That's enough for a 3.

Never been a huge Bowie fan…this didn’t really change my opinion much.

Few had so purple a patch as Bowie in the 1970s. While the phrase 'purple patch' largely suggests quality, its defining characteristic is quantity - a purple patch is one of high-productivity, where good work hopefully begets good work. It finds the artist in a creative mindset with the resources to generate creative output. Bowie was in that position for a good while here. However, such creative outpouring doesn't always produce coherent or complete products. Rather, the albums produced are snapshots of that flow in motion and, depending on when that snapshot is taken, we can capture the moving artist in imbalanced pose. A few months earlier and Young Americans would have been The Gouster, a more aggressive soul-style album, with John, I'm Only Dancing Again and It's Gonna Be Me. Another version may have had Footstompin'/Shimmy Like My Sister Kate. A few months later and it all sounds more like Stay from Station to Station. While there are great songs on Young Americans, it is altogether too slow, its singles too much out-of-step with its core attributes, its Beatles cover too awful. David Bowie always photographs well, but, in this snapshot, he is in an awkward position. Whereas the Berlin trilogy of albums plays like a fluid flickbook of Muybridge images, describing a complete action, Young Americans, despite its smooth sound, is not part of a smooth transition. He's a little rigid, a bit uncertain. The plastic of plastic soul is probably right. Bowie may have been a chameleon, but a chameleon gradually changes colour, slowly shifting from one shade to another. That he stayed in this mode for only one album, with only small traces of it in the follow-up, suggest he knew himself that he wasn't at home in the environment. Would it have been better with I Am A Lazer on it? Probably. 3 Young Americans is brilliant at the start, brilliant at the end and also has a middle. The run of Fascination/Right/Somebody Up There… is listenable but a little dull; worthy enough genre exercises. Then the mesmerising abyss that is Across the Universe. I may have stared too long this weekend. I love (The Beatles’) Across the Universe a lot. It’s a really beautiful song. Credit to Bowie too for a genuine reworking rather than a dry cover; he rips parts out (‘jai guru deva om’ is gone), squares the beat into striking rigidity, changes the verse melody, adds vocal harmonies (!) and throws in a couple of minutes of nothing (‘NOTH ING, NOTH ING, NOTH ING!!!…’) Whatever Bowie was looking for in his mauling of the song, I am sure he didn’t find it. It’s truly, everlastingly, horrifying and alongside the title track it is what I think of when I think of this album. This is also one of Bowie’s worst album covers in my opinion; the fonts, the backlit hair, and smoking, which is bad for you! Still, the opening two tracks and the closing two tracks are exquisite and sure that’s half the album. 3/5

I liked this! 3 stars.

John Lennon co-penned a song, Luther Vandross managed the background vocals. Change of style for Bowie and it worked.

It's no Ziggy but i enjoyed it more this time

The 3rd (I think) Bowie album I've gotten on this list. This one is the closest to what I think of when I hear someone talking about him and I like it. Great voice, good songs and a coherent vibe throughout.

Glam Rock goes Soul/RnB. Kann man hören, ein Highlight ist es für mich nicht. 3/5

J: 2 N: 4. La canción del día del apagón #28A.

4/28/25. Not my favorite Bowie album but love that he tried funk and soul. Fame is one of my all-time favorite songs.

6/10

DB must've heard Stevie Wonder and thought he'd have a peice of that. It's all funky clavinet, gospel backup singers, smooth jazz horns and wailing RnB sax. Fame is an all time great song the rest is just a pretty fun genre tribute .

i def wanna listen again sometime

nice in the background

Bowie has so many great, groundbreaking albums, but this is not one of them. Beyond the hits, nothing sits and sticks around.

I've never listened to a Bowie record...so glad I did!

Звук показался ужасно архаичным в плохом смысле.

Not the best Bowie

Some good tunes, familiar and not, but not a greatest of all time for me.

Not his best work although there are a couple of decent songs on it

Young Americans is seemingly a tribute album to John Lennon. John shows up in several ways: the background singers in the title song singing “ I heard the news today, oh boy” which comes from the Beatles song ‘A Day In the Life”, David later covers John’s song ‘Across The Universe’, and then to cap the album off, John co-writes ‘Fame’, sings backup with David and plays the main guitar riff. They were clearly close friends at this point in time. I always wanted to love this album but I just don’t. Other than the title song and Fame, these songs lie flat. Bowie is a true artist, so the intent here is great, and it’s not for a lack of trying. This album certainly has plenty of love thrown its way. I just prefer so many of his other albums from the 70’s to this.

Solid pop album.

6/10 - good all around album with the right amount of funk and classic rock vibes

liked songs: Fascination, Fame Not a big fan of the cover of Across The Universe. This is an ok Bowie album. Far from his best. 3

Average

Kind of disappointing. I was familiar with the two big tracks: Young Americans and Fame. Of course I know the Beatles song Across the Universe, though I didn't know Bowie covered it. And it's neat that Win was sampled by Beck on Debra, though I like Beck's song a lot more. The rest of album has parts that remind me of the Rolling Stones and parts that are closer to 80's pop. But it's not an especially good album.

Fame is one of Bowie's Top 5 for me, and Young Americans and the Beatles cover hold their own. But a lot of this is either surprisingly forgettable and even occasionally cheesy in a way I presume isn't deliberate. Sax party!

Não é o meu álbum favorito do Bowie, mas muito consistente

An interesting genre experience. It is quite conscious of its own "plasticness" which I find intriguing, but aside from Fame I found it just alright.

Classic Bowie, sounds like bowie. Not my favorite of his albums, but still has his heart and soul. Fame and Across the Universe are the best songs on the album

Couple great songs on here but Bowie never really speaks to me. Enjoyed listening though.

A couple good songs but I still just don't get the hype.

Not the best or most important album Bowie has made. But hey, he worked with John Lennon, covered the Beatles and made it all sound fresh and new, again. But no, it's not really my thing.

Bowies’s tip of the hat to American r n b. A few good songs but also some very generic and forgettable songs. Fame, Young Americans are classics and Fascination stuck out for me.

Any Bowie day is a good day! And this one has its good qualities. David Bowie, as always, was ahead of the curve - this time digging into funk/soul influences well before more other non-black musicians would do so. “Young Americans” is awesome, but my highlight here has to be “Fascination” for how much it stuck in my head and how forward-thinking it was. Bowie shows the Beatles a lot of love on this album as well, the cover of “Across the Universe” is super solid, and yet another shining example of how much he sells out on his vocal performances. At the same time, I had a hard time grasping some of the melodies and ideas in this record. All the pieces are there, excellent performances left and right. Just not the most memorable/sticky Bowie albums. I hold him to a very very high standard. Great by any other artists standard, good by Bowie standards

Good album. Didn't blow me away but good easy listening. I enjoyed the jazzy bits, wish there was more of that. Standouts: Somebody up There Likes Me Rating: 3.55/5

A couple of great songs on this album, but I'm not a big fan of David Bowie's soul era. Much prefer the glam rock side of Bowie.

Definitely a fun album with a nice vibe, but at the same time, that's nothing especially interesting or exciting about this. I enjoyed listening to it, but nothing stood out, and I don't think I'm going to return to it. 7/10

Two Bowie albums within a week. Uhm, it was good.

My first Bowie album and it's a somewhat contentious one that some like and some dislike. I feel as though this is quite hit and miss. Some decent to very good stuff and also some stuff which is just a little slow, plodding and boring. The title track opens this up and it's catchy, upbeat and cheerful. 'Fascination' for me is the best song on the album. It has a real funkiness to it, the bass is great and the electric guitar has the little frills and licks as well as the saxophone. The backing vocals really add to the song too. The next track 'Right' follows in the same vein. 'Somebody Up There Likes Me' really builds to something great during its six and a half minute runtime. Another really good bit of sax in this one. The closer 'Fame' is another very funky track. So to summarise. Eight tracks. Three very good ones, two decent ones, and three meh ones. Three stars.

6/10

There are better Bowie albums. There are better soul albums. This is unnecessary

Yet another very OK David Bowie Album.

When I first heard, Young Americans, I was already a fan of David Bowie, I love the albums with his band, The Spiders From Mars and Diamond Dogs was a good effort. He took it a set further with Young Americans, abandoning the glam-rock sound of Ziggy and the apocalyptic themes of Dogs for an American, white-boy Philly Soul sound that seemed worlds away from his previous albums. I guess, that's what set Bowie apart from the mainstream, he went beyond what might be considered a comfort-zone and explored music he had interest and passion(?) for, as the Soul Man, his next persona. My first thought when I heard this record was that I didn't like it, it felt forced and I questioned it's authenticity of soul and funk. I didn't hate it, but I avoided listening to the title track and Golden Years for years on the radio while struggling with Bowie's ever changing sound in the 70's and 80's. As time has passed, I've eased up on my non-interest in music that wasn't purely rock or punk and have come to appreciate and actually enjoy this phase of his career. Young Americans has some decent tracks on it, but a lot of it blends together (blandly) and doesn't stand out or have the impact of the "hits". I still think there's a lot better soul and funk options out there that should be listened to instead of this, but you have to credit Bowie for trying new ideas and bringing attention to this genre to the mainstream. I admit that "Golden Years" is a great song, maybe one of his best.

Not too bad. But nothing really excites me either. Was fun listening on my way home. I knew this album was old, but the production was a bit disappointing? At some point I found it almost impossible to hear his voice. I remembered I turned up the volume couples of times but still can’t hear him clearly. (I was comparing it with Boston by Boston - 1976) Musically, I think the album is beautiful and refreshing. A nice 3 star.

so, i've never actually really given David Bowie a good listen through. I get that hes big, I mean he's David fricken Bowie. dude is cemented in music legend and was one heck of an artist. I think the only album I dabbled in before this was Ziggy Stardust, which fun fact was his 5th album (released in 1972) and Young Americans was his 9th album, released just three years later. all this to say... this album is just fine for me. i enjoyed listening to it, but it didn't blow me away. even with the preconceived notion of Bowie being the weird spaceman and having this alter ego, i kept that aside for this album and just as a album released in the mid 70's... its aight. i can have it on in the background and really enjoy it, but just as easily listen to something else. I do hope we hear more Bowie, as I think he's such an important musical figure that I personally don't know a lot about... but I probably won't seek out his discography on my own.

Better than our first Bowie album, but still not a lot to take away from this one. Fame is by far the biggest hit, and the cover of Across the Universe isn't bad by any means, but the rest is mostly unremarkable. I appreciate the more R&B sound of Bowie, but so far, both albums have not been the masterpieces I expected with how people hold him and his music with such high regard.

Taking heavy inspiration from RnB/Motown/Soul, as apparent by the album title. I think this type of sound was perfected by Prince but I think there's still some bangers. Fame, Young Americans and Somebody Up There Likes Me are my favs

Decent album but I’m not sure how often I’ll go back to it

I'm quite a fan of David Bowie, but I didn't feel like there was much on this album beyond the two most well known tracks to return to.

6/10

THINKIN: Go white boy go. PERSONALLY: on one level it’s a 5 out of 5 for sentimental reasons, but on this listen through I found I couldn’t stand the Across the Universe cover. ALT TITLE: Rubber Soul

geht so

Solid album but not one I'll listen to again ant time soon. Fame is great

If you are a fan of the glam rock scene this is an album for you.

Highly overrated.

The album was okay...not my kind of music, but it was decent to listen to.

fame was prolly the only song i had heard before

Bowie has a base level of competence but I'm not going to return to this. It's not surprising that Fame and Young Americans are the two songs which have entered the Bowie canon.

Another classic album that I know 2 songs from (title track and Fame, well of course I know Across the Universe but never heard Bowie's version). This album is OK, I love the title track, always have, Bowie's soulful free form on the outro is unmatched. And he shows a lot of that throughout the album, focusing heavily on soul stylings. But unfortunately, not much of it really grabs me.

Young Americans and Fame

This foray into smith R&B feels weak, aside from Fame the songs feel mired in style while lacking the essence of what makes R&B pop fun.

I really enjoyed the title track to this, which was a great start because I had an idea in my head that I don’t really like Bowie from what I’ve heard before. This sounded so much different to his other stuff I’ve heard initially, then his typically odd shit creeps in, but thankfully not to the extent I feel it usually does I enjoyed the song ‘Right’ too. Fame was proper cool. Felt like a black man in the 70s wearing flared green trousers and stomper boots with them big star shopped sunglasses when it was just the beat. Then he started singing and those green trousers suddenly became assless, and rather than the glasses seeming all groovy and jive, they suddenly represented more of an Elton John aesthetic. But still, didn’t mind it tbh. Up and down this album for me, but not to the extent I loved anything or hated anything… Even though he’s rocking a proper Donald trim on the artwork, I’m giving it a harsh 3

The style and arrangements on this sound very soul and motown influenced. You can imagine Stevie or Smokey singing Young Americans. Great funky riffs, girl group backing vocals, sharp snare sound, cool basslines and saxophones going off the rails. Yet again another testament to Bowie's ability to wander between styles from one album to the next. Not my favourite, and the Across The Universe cover was bad, but a respectable 3.

As much I appreciate this album for the versatility it displays - Bowie can sustain a basic soul/pop record w/o weirding out all that much - I find it thin if I'm being honest, as well as incoherent: 'Fascination, takes a part of me'; 'Fame bully for you chilly for me / Got to get a rain check on pain.' It's not that he can't be soulful - he certainly can be - it's that if he was going for 'plastic soul,' he got something closer to the real thing, and just didn't quite make the cut. 'Young Americans' has an undeniable chorus, his cover of 'Across the Universe' is capable, and 'Fame' is a justifiable favorite. But I don't know what to do with: 'Can you hear me? / Can you feel me inside? / Show your love, love.' If it's sincere, it's bad; if it's ironic, what's alleged?

Typical David Bowie tunes. A good album overall with a couple of memorable tracks.

It’s pretty good, but I honestly can’t stand the cover of Across the Universe

Definitely not the best of Bowie.

In the eloquent words of my beloved friend, Emma, this album was: Ok

Ok

Gostei de Young Americans. Achei interessante o cover de Across The Universe, e algumas outras músicas. Bom álbum

Bowie. Solid 3.

Not my favorite Bowie. Lots of saxophones, I mean a lot. But it’s still Bowie.

Day 88 - Feb 16th, 2025 Call me a homophobe, but David Bowie is so fucking mid

This could definitely get to 4 stars on more listens, but for one listen Bowie's interpretation of Philly Soul/R&B is a 3.5

Some good songs here.

Fame doing a lot of heavy lifting on this album

Plenty good, not earth-shattering. Fifth Bowie album so far.

Fun vibe a couple of bops. Fame is crazy!

Classic

Feel the same as any other bowie. Good production, dislike everything else

-wow a fifth David Bowie album and not even 1/4 done this… they really gonna have me listen to this man’s whole catalogue -I actually kinda liked this one even though it apparently gets a bad rap.. it’s not amazing but it’s much more interesting than The Next Day at least. it’s a different yet largely abandoned direction from Bowie, and there are some decent songs on here -Favorites are Young Americans and Win

En del goa låtar, med rätt tydligt Bowie-sound, en del tråkigare låtar och nån enstaka 80tals-saxofon-konstighet. Det mesta går att lyssna på men det är bara Fame som sticker ut för mig

Pretty good. Funky

Young Americans and Fame are highlights for me, but the rest is kind of meh to average.

I didn't love this.

Bowie does his best attempt at soul without abandoning his glam/pop rock sensibilities. Relative to all music, Young Americans is fun, short, and inoffensive. Bowie takes a back seat in favor of the music, and to his credit the instrumentation/orchestration is well done. However, I think Bowie's contributions get overshadowed by the other vocalists and performances. It is nowhere near the best that the genre has to offer, and, frankly, what Bowie has to offer. Can't be a hater if this is an album you really enjoy, but I was largely unmoved. A+ album cover though. 3.5/5

I like "Young Americans" plus the nice saxophone tunes on this. But even the second well-known track "Fame" is not my favour. It is a shame to say - but this album from his Bowieness doesn´t convince me at all.

Good album. Give Bowie credit where credit is due: he never rested on his laurels. He always tried different things; from his ever-changing personas to tackling different genres of music. I think he is a little over his skis on some of these songs on this album and he struggled a bit with his take on soul. However, he has a nice voice and it is a very listenable album.

Ich mag seine Stimme sehr, die Musik an sich plätscherte eher vor sich hin, nervte aber nicht aktiv, die Songs waren etwas lang und gingen alle in die gleiche Richtung. 2 1/2, runde auf.

It pains me to give Bowie only 3 stars, but here we are. Despite a couple of classics, most of the songs on this album were kinda forgettable. I did not enjoy the Beatles cover. His voice juts felt wrong for it.

Bowie goes funk Favorite song: Fame

The first 3-star Bowie album I’ve listened to. “Fame” is awesome, but the other songs just feel sterile. Why cover “Across the Universe” if you can’t improve on it somehow?

Some bangers in here, but far from Bowies best imho.

first track is a banger, groovy album overall

niet slecht... maar ik raak meer en meer overtuigd dat Bowie meer een singles man is ipv een album man

I think Bowie is officially in the Queen tier of their singles being really good but for the most part I don't care for their albums 6/10

It’s good. I have heard it a long time ago.

Never my favorite artist

title track is brilliant, rest is disappointing

Bowie was brilliant. But after perfecting his own incredible sound, his subsequent dabbling in other genres (electronica, Philly Soul) produced some mediocre albums. Bowie's vocal stylings were always more Joe Strummer than Donny Hathaway. Excepting the bookends, which are incredible tracks, his punk-rock vocal instincts simply don't work over the lush, beautifully recorded (if occasionally by-the-numbers) Philly-Soul tracks. Had this album been sung by any of the backing singers, Solomon Burke, Hathaway, Darryl Hall or one of a thousand other Soul singers, it may be worth listening to. With Bowie's voice it isn't. Definitely another of this list's mediocre albums by a brilliant artist, joining Metallica, U2, Bruce Springsteen, the Cure, the Black Keys, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, Paul Simon, Prince, Miles Davis, and the Go-Betweens. Given the GREAT music that those acts are responsible for, It's remarkable. A whole start for the title track; the rest earns a D.

I can appreciate the music for the time it came out and the artistry. However, I find myself listening to this similarly to how I listen to jazz. It’s great to have on and I thoroughly enjoy it when I focus in, but a majority of the time it doesn’t keep my attention and acts as really good background music

Young Americans is David Bowie's ninth studio album, and his break through LP in the United States. This was a departure from his previous work; with Young Americans, Bowie wandered into "white soul," his version of American R&B and soul. The album includes "Fame," Bowie's first #1 single in the US. Amongst Bowie's extensive catalog, this is not regarded as his best work. However, Young Americans is a significant milestone in his career, not only for the success in the US, but also for the beginning of Bowie's career as a musical chameleon. His exploration of sounds and styles - beyond his early "Ziggy Stardust" phase - continued throughout his career.

This record doesn’t match the absolute greatness Bowie is capable of. I would be lying if I said it was shit or that I didn’t enjoy it, but the whole time it felt like something was missing, I really didn’t feel Bowie’s character in these tracks at all. The call-and-response Bowie does with the back vocals is hilarious at times, and sometimes it does work… when it’s not awkwardly placed. However the quality is still there and the album does have its moments, if you take it just for what it is you get a very good, very enjoyable soul record, but, for me at least, not a very good Bowie record. Best: Young Americans, Fame, Fascination Worst: Win 3/5

A couple of hits. It's condescending to suggest he crossed the color lines in music and broke through those barriers when we're3 talking about a wildly successful white musician working "down" while ignoring everyone in black culture who were breaking through going "up". Weird album, but this whole list is biased toward Bowie. I won't be surprised if I listen to his entire discography before I'm through.

This is my fourth Bowie album I've been handed so far (and I believe there's still more to come!). I love the man. I love a lot of his music and I love the fact that he never let himself be put into a box and labeled. He did his thing when he wanted to do it and wouldn't let anyone tell him otherwise. This was such an interesting choice for him. The overall sound of this album is tough to describe. It's hard at times, floaty in others, but it always has these incredibly strong backing singers attached to it, almost always has horns involved, and it always finds a groove. I really didn't need his cover of "Across the Universe." It's kind of a funky, gospel take on an otherwise thoughtful and hopeful song. I don't think it worked, personally. I don't begrudge him for trying, but I don't think it added much to the album and I don't think it was necessary. This was such a weird offering from Bowie. It definitely isn't one of the ones that stands out from the pack of his I've heard so far, nor will it be at the end when I've heard all his entries on this list, either. But it's still Bowie, and there are some damn fine grooves on this album. Three stars. Standout Tracks: Young Americans, Fascination, Somebody up There Likes Me, Fame

Not Bowie’s finest imo but enjoyable all the same. Can I please have something that isn’t late 60s-Mid 70s tomorrow please

Three or four songs are ok.

David Bowie rock, nothing really stood out

5/10. Not many highlights. he just has better works

I wasn't a big fan of this Soul / R&B / Funk period in David Bowie's musical evolution, and have mixed feelings about the title track. However, the final track, "Fame", (written in collaboration with John Lennon), is one of my favourite Bowie tracks. Even with the collaboration of John Lennon, I'm not overly impressed with the cover of "Across the Universe", but that's possibly because I'm so familiar with the original version by The Beatles.

I’ve like lots of the Bowie albums from beginning to end. This album feels like it was before its time. It was at the front of disco and some of the songs feel that way. I like a couple of songs…don’t love the Across the universe cover very much. It’s an okay album, just not on par with some of his other stuff.

Better Bowie than most.

Alright music. Great sounds on guitar.

It’s the one with Fame in it

This is where Bowie began to lose me

3/5

It's Bowie, so it's obviously good, but I can name 10 or more albums I like better than this. Good time though.

Some ups and downs to talk about here. The album covers is so horrendously low-budget that it wraps around to being kind of good. It's a grainy close-up of Bowie putting on an unconvincing seductive face, two fonts that are ugly and hard to read, and some cheap sparkly plastic stuff from your local dollar store for good measure. The music itself is very strong, though until the final track, the songs feel just a little incomplete somehow. It doesn't help that Bowie's singing is wavery, lazily theatrical (even more than usual for mid-70s Davie), and can barely hold a melody. It's also mixed uncomfortably, sounding both in-your-face and partially muffled by the other instruments at the same time. Anyone who thinks his vocal here sounds better than on Low or Hunky Dory has a very odd taste in vocals. And I know there's at least one of you in the list of reviews here. The album really shines when you focus on all the instruments other than Bowie's voice, as well as the compositions in general. The backing vocals are gorgeous in just about every track. Incredibly tasteful sax solos are sprinkled throughout the album and I'm mesmerised every time they appear. The guitar style and especially the dynamic bass playing are clearly influenced by funk, and showcase the prototype of what would later populate much of 80s funk, pop, soul, and early R&B. This is the first album, chronologically, where Bowie commits to a setlist of jam sessions. I think it works pretty well, though Bowie's voice brings it down significantly. 3/5 Key tracks: Young Americans, Fascination, Fame

solid. not bowies best, but a good sound. didn’t know he covered across the universe. didn’t need to know that either. sorry.

Great album. Added a couple songs to my library

Bowie is sometimes meh

Today it’s the beginning of summer holidays, and we listened to this in the pool (along with PJ’s Ten). Funky! Reminder to check where it slots in with Parliament and Television, which this record feels poised between. I would listen to it again. I don’t feel like I’ve ever totally connected with Bowie, and this wasn’t the moment either. Let’s see what else is in store … (Dot liked it.)

3/5 stars, overall dull but fame pushed it up right at the end

I love Bowie, but soul is not his wheelhouse. Title track is great, the rest was fine. Not offensive, but not particularly captivating.

Good listen.

I just don’t get Bowie. Besides “Young Americans” and “Fame,” this was just dull (aside from a truly annoying cover of “Across the Universe”).

I liked the consistency of this album. Best tracks: Young Americans, Fame, and (new to me) Right.

Im a Bowie fan, but sometimes the shapeshifting isnt 100% successful. This album had some obvious classics, but the rest of the album doesnt really stand out.

Young Americans ok muzika, taka chill za neki kafič in ima dobre back vokale. Across the universe ga kr slappa samo ni neki presežek. 5/10 album, nič posebnega, kar bi si moral zapomnit ali da bi se mi vtisnilo v spomin

Rapidly oscillates between incredible and meh

Fascination is a dope track Right intro is really good I dont like fame as much as i thought i would

Bookended by two massive hits, the rest of this album meanders through just-okay to better-than-okay soulful soft pop sounds of the decade. The weight of the bookends alone can't drag it up to a 4, but it's a solid 3+ overall.

Fame is fantastic, but the rest of the album is just okay.

Good album. Not one of his best, but, good, nevertheless.

Young Americans is a decent album, though I feel like the only reason it was included is because it's Bowie doing soul & funk. It's neither groundbreaking for the genre nor particularly outstanding for Bowie. I do like Bowie though, so I enjoyed this album, although I wasn't blown away by it. Fame, Young Americans, Win and Fascination are the standout tracks, the rest is okay, but I wouldn't return to the album as a whole. 3.5 stars

This album is the beginning of the Thin White Duke Bowie, which means he’s trying to reinvent himself as an artist has a weird mashup of styles-pop, rock, disco- and performers, including a then unknown, Luther Vandross and post-Beatles John Lennon, who helped collaborate on both the cover of Across the Universe and Fame, which was always a favorite song of mine. Overall, this album is a good one, but it’s not his best. For Bowie aficionados it’s a must as a significant part of this journey, but for fair-weather fans you are allowed to skip this.

Een Bowie album waar het niet zo vaak over gaat, en die ik volgens mij ook vaak in de LP-bakken laat liggen. Ik was me er niet zo van bewust dat deze plaat zo'n andere sound heeft. Volledig de soul-koers opgegaan, en dat is eigenlijk best geinig en natuurlijk classic-Bowie reinventing himself. Dat hij dit kan en doet, ver voorlopend op de jaren 80 valt hem de prijzen. Ik vraag me wel af of het ook béter is dan de echte soul en funk artiesten. Daarvoor zou ik nog wat dieper in deze plaat moeten duiken. Daarom blijf ik voor nu wat op de vlakte. 7/10 Highlights Right Fame

I cannot really get away with this. It doesn’t sound like the Bowie I love, perhaps this reinvention of himself isnt quite for me. There are plenty of times I thought ‘this is good’, but there’s just something missing. Something not quite there. Undeniably a decent record, but it aint Bowie for me

- This goes hard in the Barnes & Noble. No seriously, I'm being deadass. The old Barnes & Noble I used to go to would play David Bowie constantly, but then they went out of businesses and got replaced by some bullshit. I Miss it. - When people talk about Bowie being a legend, as someone that hasn't gotten around to flipping through his entire discography, I listen to an album like this and I get it. - First half was stronger than the second.

only bowie can make me appreciate a lennon track

Not one of my top Bowie albums but still pretty good.

Even as a big Bowie fan, this one’s a mixed bag. Bookended with some amazing tracks, but nothing else stands out. Happy it paved the way for Station to Station, though.

album sucks

A couple of good songs

Really liked a few of the singles. A pretty odd album overall, funky Bowie

Definitely a 3 star album for me, some of these tracks I've never heard before. Fame and Young American's really carry this album and I love a lot of David Bowie.

It opens with the title track, which is good, but not my favorite of his. the rest of the album is strongly competent music that isn't particularly interesting or memorable. Until the closing track: Fame. That song is one of my favorite Bowie tunes. The cover of Across The Universe is bizarre; not a fan. I love the original. This turns it into a mid-tempo snoozer. 3 stars, just because of Young Americans and Fame.

Good album

Not a favourite Bowie album but a couple of good songs

I enjoy David Bowie but found this album a bit hit and miss; I really liked some tracks but actively disliked others. Rating: 3

é melhor do que o outro álbum do bowie que brotou por aqui, mas ainda assim, é mediano. acho que eu só não curto as música do homi mesmo.

acho esse divertido! tem umas pedrada, mas não é dos melhores da década de 70 dele não.

Eerste en laatste nummer echt briljant. Toch wederom niet echt een favoriet van mij. Vind Bowie echt een briljante artiest, al helemaal voor zijn tijd, maar vind veel van z'n werk ook saai en echt hetzelfde.

I really don't know whether it's the familiarity factor, but the first and last tracks, being the title track and 'Fame'. Are the best bits about this album. And to be honest I am more of an early Bowie fan. Sorry, but it's a very low 3, only just scrapes in. Nearly gave it a 2.

For a Bowie album, it’s pretty good.

Finally a David Bowie album I enjoyed listening to all the way through. I don't know why, maybe because of his change in direction to a soul inspired album, or because it had no amazing highs and crappy lows like the albums I've had to listen to so far. DB has never been a go to artist for me and he never will, but it was good enough for 3 stars.

Didn't love it, didn't hate it. Bowie is fun and still has a unique sound even by modern tastes. Fav Track: Young Americans

Bowie is very beloved, but he's also just weird and experimental and that's sometimes good and sometimes bad. This album for me is alright but doesn't really hit anything super special Standouts Young Americans Fame 3/5

Best songs are the classic Fame and Young Americans. Everything else was okay. I didn't hate it but it has a very dated sound now.

A pleasant enough listen, but each of these tracks are really quite repetitive, more jam tracks than anything. I enjoyed my time with it but I won't go back.

I'm less of a fan of the R'n'B phase of Bowie. The album is good nonetheless and the most knows tracks are real bangers (Young Americans, Across the Universe, Fame).

Blue-eyed soul from the White Duke. Some of this feels overwrought, but some of it is really interesting.

For all the absolute genius sprinkled through it, it has to be said that there are quite large chunks of the Bowie catalogue that aren’t much cop, actually. Exhibit A…

Didn’t really capture my attention, and Across the Universe was just bad. Overall pleasant, but not my favorite by Bowie.

Not a whole lot of memorable songs, outside Fame of course :)

10/10/24 Average listen.

tolles album von david bowie, stellenweise dann aber wirklich „clean“, technisch perfekt und fast emotionslos. ob es am remaster liegt?

Is this known as Bowie's saxophone album? Man that thing is WAILING for half this album. The backup singers are pretty fun – gives it a Gladys Knight and the Pips feel. It isn't my favorite Bowie album, but Young Americans and Fame are classics. Bowie's stylistic range was pretty impressive, even if musically most of the stuff on here isn't too inventive. On the negative side, I could have done without the Across the Universe cover, and some songs are corny and shitty (Can You Hear Me). 3 stars in my book.

Soul and funk... by far not as bad as the other Bowie albums I've had to listen to.

3/5. I think this album has a lot going for it. It is definitely has the most grooves throughout, just smooth soul and rhythm. The choice of background singers at first does seem out of place but they provide the vibe that Bowie could never bring. He almost allows them a lot of the spotlight in songs, which is cool choice. The issue though is that some of the songs definitely drag on and some are just not great. I think the first half is definitely better and the only song that is okay on the second side is Fame really. Best Song: Young Americans, Fascination, Fame

Nice record. First time listening to it. Don't know any song but cool nevertheless.

🎧Bowie takes a crack at blue-eyed soul producing mixed results. Title track is terrific, nothing else to write home about here. Fascination is decent, Fame is fine but overrated.

Fame was the only song I really cared for and it sounded totally different than the rest of the album.

Really good songs at the very beginning and the end but the rest was pretty mediocre.

Ok I guess. Never quite got Bowie's style.

Really, another David Bowie.

Good album but not Bowie's best. A few low points but Fame is one of the best of all time. 7/10 (3.5/5)

величия не увидел тут

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I enjoyed the soul influences and something about Bowie's voice impressed me more here than on most of his other records I've gotten.

Bowie himself described this album as "Plastic Soul", which is difficult to disagree with. Having listened to a couple of proper soul and funk albums because of this list, this album very much feels like a hollow imitation of those. It feels... appropriative coming from a white British dude. This was my introduction to David Bowie's music. It wasn't bad, but in the context of American music and how music from Black Americans has been historically treated, it doesn't feel right. The saxophone throughout is excellent though.

you did well, david. especially on Fascination!

Bowie has some high heights, and he has Low, but I’d say this is pretty mid.

Make I’m just getting Bowie fatigue from this list, but this album didn’t do much for me. It was fine.

Very cool songs that have unpredictable chord changes and melodies, along with much more sax playing than most pop bands. Across the Universe was a cool cover.

3.5/5 I enjoyed it, however I find it difficult to distinguish most of Bowie's works.

The Bowie education continues. Really enjoying the soul influences; a really rich record. Have to take 0.5* for butchering across the universe. 3.5* Highlights: young americans, somebody up there likes me, fame (1 and 3 I didn't even know were Bowie's)

Wasn't really paying attention but I kinda liked what I heard. 3/5

Classic Bowie

Not Bowie's best!

Bowie is a chameleon. He changes throughout the decades. This one fits perfefectly in the 70's. It isn't my favorite album, but it does have one of my favorite songs, Fame. If you haven't done so, check out the God Lives Underwater cover of that song. Good stuff. Again, not my favorite Bowie album. But I'll give this a 3.99

This album really showcases Bowie’s ability to adapt to different styles of music and still pull it off in a complementary way. Bowie wanted to do his own reinterpretation of American Soul and R&B music. The production is sleek and polished, with a sophisticated approach and complex rhythms. He also worked with a lot of great musicians, including one of my favorites, Mike Garson.

David bowie taikaa taas kerrakseen

A short album but very very good! Young Americans a great find for me. Never thought much of Bowie but that changes here.

Solid but not super.

This was a fun listen, but I’m deducting a star for the worst version of Across the Universe that I’ve ever heard.

Great Bowie album with maybe my favorite song from him. High 3.

I like this okay a different sound for him but a couple of really enduring songs.

Saxophone galore

Shocking across the universe cover.

Well it isn't the worst thing he ever did.

Not a huge Bowie fan in general. This album was more enjoyable than some of his later stuff. I wasn't crazy about his cover of Across the Universe, but this wasn't a bad listen. I've heard Fame on the radio ad nauseum for years, but otherwise I wasn't familiar with any of the songs.

Not bad, but not really the typical Bowie music that I am used to. Liked songs: Young Americans, Fame

Certainly has some bops on here but it's ultimately lower tier Bowie. That said, lower tier Bowie is still good 7/10

Young Americans and Fame are quite good, but not as great as other big singles of his (Let’s Dance, or Suffragette City). The other songs weren’t anything special.

Я не слышал этот альбом Боуи раньше, хотя песни известные. Альбом неплохой, но конечно будто слабее его реальных шедевров. Очень понравилось ревью на rym: "one of the greatest albums of the 1980s. And yes, I know it was released in 1975. Think about it." Лучшая песня - Young Americans.

It was alright, nice Beatles references

For a Bowie Album its pretty pretty mid, BUT Fame is a catchy Banger who in itself outscores some other Albums of the last week.

Kinda pleasantly surprised by this one. I dislike the title track and the wiki write up didn’t sound like something up my street. But actually Bowie’s voice and ear for a tune really shine through and I liked the backing, particularly the gospel/soul style parts. I even didn’t mind the sax too much, which is usually my kryptonite of the instruments. All in all, not amazing, but will likely listen again.

ok, not my favourite Bowie stuff though

It’s okay I guess

ok

Not one of my favorite Bowie albums, but one I've grown to appreciate more over the years. I quite like the concept of a self-consciously artifitial soul album, like stripping the actual soul from the music that gets its name from it. In the end, the idea is better than the execution and also some of the best songs were unfortunatelly relegated as B-sides. Key tracks: Young Americans Fame

Not the best Bowie album in this list in my opinion, I enjoyed the occasional funkyness but overall it is a bit forgettable

Occasional brilliance surrounded by mediocrity. Covering the Beatles was a low point.

This is an important album for David Bowie (in terms of moving from glam to other styles, developing his voice, working with artists from alternate musical styles) and it produced some excellent singles (Fame) and deep cuts (Win). It sounds decent altogether, but doesn't stand out particularly well from other soul albums. A strong 3

While the ending of this record slowly loses my interest, this is the record that solidifies that Bowie really can't do any wrong. A true music chameleon. He has his glam, his psychedelics, his singer songwriter nature, his good old rock and roll, his ambience and now a soul record? I never knew the name of the title track but when I heard it I just couldn't believe it. It's definitely not his best record but for a man with so many classic albums and timeless tunes it is impressive that he can switch genres so easily.

Hit and miss

Not his best but Miles ahead of his worst

3.5 rounded down highlights: young americans, fame (aug 3 2024)

B- Young Americans 4 Win 3 Fascination 3 Right 3 Somebody Up There Likes Me 3 Across The Universe 3 Can You Hear Me 3 Fame 4 Honestly, I expected more.

Soul and funky Davie Bowie is my favourite David Bowie.

Not Bowie’s best IMO. I enjoyed some songs like Fame and Fascination, and the concept seems fairly well thought out, but overall I feel this doesn’t really work as an album. As individual songs, they’re great. I’d listen to them anytime. But it seems to be too much of the same to be a whole 40 minute record. In addition, just a personal gripe of mine, but Across the Universe pales in comparison to the Beatles original and doesn’t really do the song or the band justice. All in all, I don’t have many problems with this record or each of its songs, but it just doesn’t have the same energy or gravitas as other Bowie projects, so for that it’s a 3.

Good, but better bowie albums out there 3*

This Bowie is especially jazzy and leaning into the American choral gospel sound, I like! Nice to hear Fame and Youn g Americans again.

Probably not the best Bowie album on here. But still somewhat enjoyable.

Very good. 3.5

I've never actually listened to a David Bowie album in its entirety before this morning. It was a nice listen, with just a song or two that I already knew - the perfect amount. I liked this just about as much as I expected to.

Let’s face it here, David Bowie had better music when he was on drugs. This album could have been written by Stevie Wonder as in it has a very Stevie Wonder funk sound. Solid musicianship, typical Bowie lyrics, great delivery. I really can’t sit here and explain a Bowie album. Everyone knows who he is and how he sounds. Choice cut: Fascination

Definitely not Bowie's best work, but certainly not a bad album. Middle of the road stuff here.

Best David Bowie album so far but still not quite for me

This album’s fine. I’ve always found it to be one of Bowie’s most overrated. His venture into R&B and soul was daring and was pulled off well, at least through the instrumentation. Where the album fall short for me is in the songwriting, which in my opinion gets tedious with several tracks on here. Don’t get me wrong, there are some sure standouts, a couple of which are some of my favorite tracks Bowie ever made, specifically the final track “Fame.” I also adore his cover of Lennon’s “Across the Universe,” which is a perfect example of how Bowie took his sound, as well as the common sounds of the time, and transformed it into something that felt new, yet natural. However, aside from those two songs and the title track, there isn’t a lot to note of the rest of the tracks. “Win” stays pretty stagnant through its runtime, and the same goes for “Somebody up There Likes Me.” “Fascination” and “Right” have groovy riffs but just like the other two songs I mentioned, they definitely overstay their welcome. While I’d like to say this record is a little inconsistent, I almost can’t even say that because it sticks to and commits to its sound very well, even if the end results are a little bit of a mixed bag. All in all this is certainly not a bad album, and it’s a sound Bowie improves upon in nearly every way on his following record. This was a respectful experiment, even if it’s not a personal favorite

Nothing stood out to me but it was enjoyable

My perspective as a Middle Aged Canadian commenting on a 20-Something Brit's album Young Americans is...not bad man, not bad.

I was feeling Somebody up there likes me, Across the universe and of course Fame. The backing vocals and percussion adds to the soulfulness of this record.

Rock, Pop, 1975 -> 3

3.5

Young Americans Fascination Across The Universe Fame

FAME

пойдет под фон

Young Americans Can You Hear Me Fame

Not Bowie’s best, but not bad. Super funky

David Bowie continues to be a little boring for me? I can see what's going on, and why people may like it, but it's not doing it. There's a lot of instruments, a lot going on musically, and good variety in the songs, but none of them really manage to capture me. I really don't enjoy his voice or style of singing very much, and it never feels like a song pulls me in. I wouldn't listen to this again, sorry David. 5/10

This sounded a bit forgettable on first listen, but hit me hard on subsequent plays. Perhaps not quite as 'out there' as some of his other stuff, but it's solid. Favourite tracks: Young Americans, Fascination, Right, Across the Universe (that damn offbeat snare that kicks in around 3:15 is sick), Fame

Decent Bowie. Not my favorite of his stuff, but I’d listen again.

Not the strongest Bowie album but still pretty good. Fav Songs: Somebody Up There Likes Me & Fame.

Solid album, bookended with two big hits and some uneven material in between. The two big singles from this album, Young Americans and Fame, are also the best songs, but I have a soft spot for the cover of Across the Universe which is one of my favorite Beatles songs and Bowie's take is interesting, even if I like Fiona Apple's cover more.

not my favorite bowie album but "fame" alone is worth the price of admission

Solid album, it’s not anything special, but it isn’t really trying to be. The Beatles references were cool and the genre switch was also interesting and handled well, it just felt like it didn’t have a lot of depth, especially with the 40 minute runtime (2 minutes longer than Ziggy stardust).

it’s decent not the best bowie

Nice, but nothing outstanding

decent but not my favourite bowie

beter dan verwacht, meer nummers dak al kende dan gedacht ook: 2,5 of 3/5

Fame stuck out from the rest but apart from that this one didn't wow me. 3/5

Good funk.

hay algo con él que no puedo terminar de quererlo lo siento tantísimo. 7,5 porque me encantaría quererlo pero no se da

Okay

This was a new Bowie album for me and for whatever reason it just wasn't hitting. A few enjoyable tracks on here but not really enough to push my rating higher than 3.5.

This was okay, but it just felt kind of ~off~ to me, like Bowie is going out of his way to try an entire genre on and see if it fits him (it doesn't). The result is an album that reinvents a sound that didn't need to be reinvented, and is sort of an awkward elephant in the room for everyone else. i liked the two songs that felt the most unique and well-done on the album (both of which i had heard before). i also really enjoyed the bowiefication of the beatles track, though a lot of reviewers here seem to despise it. the other tracks just last too long and don't go anywhere special for me. favorites: young americans, across the universe, fame

I was expecting to really like this, but I was disappointed. I really love 'Fame' though! 3/5

Not my favourite Bowie album

Not my favourite Bowie album

I enjoyed this more than some of the other Bowie albums I think. I’m still not a huge fan of his music, appreciate it but not totally my thing and I don’t know why. 7/10

Another mid as hell performance from Bowie. The original across the universe performed by the Beatles is a pretty good song, but it sounds like ass on this album.

A mostly forgettable-but-solid outing immortalized by two all-time-great singles in Bowie’s catalogue bookending the record. Enjoy the sound, but lacking in substance. Young Americans and Fame are fantastic tracks though.

Young Americans, fascination, and fame are so good it almost warrants a 4

- fand ich ganz gut - entspannt

There is defintely a competition on the 1001 list for albums that include Bowie of Lou Reed. I think this edges David in front for me. It sounds like an 80s record so it's fairly typical of the man that it was released in 1975. It's defiantly the sound of a (very) white man doing soul, but it kind of leans into it. At first I wasn't sure, but I really warmed to it as an album. It all works and feels like a very complete experience. I don't think I loved it, but I now see it in a completely different light.

This album was OK, but I'm really not so keen on Bowie.

Not his best, but some stuff.

A couple great songs. Not what I expected for Bowie.

I like that Bowie was always evolving. I didn't necessarily enjoy every change of style but you had to admire him for never standing still. Here we have soulful Bowie. This album has a lot to enjoy without actually blowing me away. I really like the horns & backing vocals that weave throughout this album. Favourite track is 'Right', I just love that guitar riff. Solid 3 stars.

Classic Bowie. Bit more R&B

Better than the previous Bowie recommendation I've gotten here, but I think this is an artist that I enjoy listening in a more 'random song pops up in playlist' way than sitting down and listening to a full album.

way better than blackstar, an album that was so boring and musically uninspired that I considered giving it one star, but this album is still not really to my liking. don't get the hype and am not looking forward to 6 more albums

Jazzier/funkier/groovier than my preference but I respect it.

I just don't get Bowie, and I've come to accept this about myself.

I think I liked it a lot more when I was giving through my Bowie phase a couple of years ago. Today it’s just ok. Maybe I’ve become more exposed to other kinds of music and it doesn’t impress me that much anymore. It’s still great that Bowie was trying different kinds of music without being constrained by race especially right after his Thin White Duke era. There are some parts that are a bit cringe though (the sax on the title track makes me think of an intro to a 90s sitcom for example). Nice step away from glam but what lies ahead in Bowies catalogue is way better than this. 3/5

couple of good songs, loved the opener but was not a fan of his Across the universe cover. I dont think this is a one listen album. Need more times to truly form an opinion

Meh

A few awesome ones and the overall feel of the album was enjoyable. Rating: 3.5

Another Bowie album. This is the second David Bowie I have gotten so far from this list (out of 8!) and once again it's a solid album but I am yet to be truly impressed by his work. Fame is the best and most famous song on this record, but Fascination, Right, and the title track are also quite good. I still feel as if I'm missing exactly what makes Bowie so renowned. Maybe by the time I listen to 6 more of his albums I'll get the appeal.

Bowie described this album as "plastic soul", which means soul music that is believed to lack authenticity. It's certainly not that often for an artist to be self-critical of their work within a year after its release, and he would later soften his stance while still aware that it was an attempt at soul music from a white man. Having listened to this album, that is exactly what we get. It's not a bad album, as it's aesthetically pleasing and bookmarked well enough by the title track and "Fame". Bowie was helped through the recording thanks to funk guitarist Carlos Alomar, saxophonist David Sanborn, backing vocalists Ava Cherry and Luther Vandross, and John Lennon. But at the end of the day, most of the tracks permeate with this sense of a white man trying to adapt to a style of music that he wasn't comfortable with. From a historical standpoint, this is one of the first notable instances of such a phenomenon. Young Americans as an album certainly has its place in Bowie's discography, albeit as an odd little phase. Make of that what you will.

Not bad

A couple good songs, but some just sounds like music from a 70’s porno

3.4 My uninitiated take with Bowie is that the great songs are so good it overshadows the B-Sides. You have such high expectations of what bowie should be and some of deeper cuts fall short. Thats how I feel about this album. Still pretty, pretty good

jazzity ziggity bop

Dit is een leuk album. Sommige nummers van David zijn erg excentriek, maar dit album is meer popmuziek. ***

Not bad, not a ton of hits. It I love the sound of it.

Not my favorite Bowie album but not awful, a style change from Bowie but like most of his music it’s still listenable

I can recognize talent, but I’m just not a Bowie fan

Starts with a classic and ends with a classic. Good album, but I know there's far better Bowie albums to come.

Feels like another solid David Bowie album, but missing the big hits. I’m not particularly into Young Americans or Fame. Considering how many entries he has on the list, is this one really necessary? Fave Tracks: Right 3.1/5

While it's not his best work, Bowie still manages to create a cohesive and engaging project in a genre which he wasn't known for. One of his many explorations and a good one at that. Fav songs: - Young Americans - Win - Fascination - Somebody Up There Likes Me -

Always enjoy a bit of Bowie. A decent 3.5 stars, this one.

Not my favorite Bowie album, but not bad.

The singles are fantastic. The album tracks are ok. Really, the only Bowie album which has consistently great songs is Ziggy. Fight me. Bowie could do great singles. But his albums tend to be patchy. Wanna try it out? Take out the singles and then sequence the rest. What stands out? Yeah, thought so. Not much. Sigh. 3 stars.