Young Americans

Very nice 👍

war okay

David bowey but his best foot forwards for this album, the tambre and contrapuntal textures contrasts greatly to make an objuresent album which gets my hair standing up

Fascination and Fame were my favourites, but I also enjoyed Somebody up There Likes Me probably in large part due to the fact that it was on KDST radio in GTA: San Andreas

It was good stuff, but not up there with the fivers I’ve given him in the past. Simpsons: Yes

Really really enjoyed this. Such a funky, groovy album, but one that holds so much weight behind it, too. Every new track just made me feel excited to hear it. Fascination, Life, and the title track are definite favourites. Bowie never disappoints!

Nice.

Fond

Some I knew, the others way funkier than I expected!! Autumn arrived at once today and I cycled around and went to practise listening to this. Finished it off dancing in my room. Love how gritty his voice can be!

Funky Bowie! I didn't like his version of Across The Universe though. It's strangely aggressive.

Hodeeee Super album Bowie was ook al fan van de Fame

Let this be a lesson to you: "Across the Universe" is a fucking disaster no matter who records it.

goooood

I love David Bowie so. He just has an effect on me that's hard to explain. So seeing this album over the weekend was like a little treat. I was able to set sometime aside to listen to it with attention. I had just heard the song Young Americans about an hour before being assigned this album, but when I sat down to listen through the album, I went ahead and listened to it again, because I love the song. The intro is so boisterous and bouncy and swaggy, with that hot sax, and it always fills me with joy and excitement. I just watched the first episode of SNL, from 1975, the year of this album, and this intro calls to mind 1970s New York–you can just see the steam coming up from the grates in the sidewalk. But the singing begins, and there are some cleverly written lines about our hapless couple–is this what it is to be a young American navigating courtship? Full of enthusiasm and bravado but ultimately naive and desperately clinging to an old fashioned script? Doomed? He kissed her then and there She took his ring, took his babies It took him minutes, took her nowhere Heaven knows she'd have taken anything The backup singers’ voices are rich and vivacious, summoning that R&B world for Bowie to inhabit. Bowie sounds peak Bowie with his distinctive warble, and he's letting it serve the song whether with a series of grunts as if he were doing air karate in the second chorus, or some falsetto in a later verse when he gets meta and sings about “you and your idol singing falsetto.” By the time he gets to the “you ain't a pimp…” bridge, he sounds sweaty, with his sleeves rolled up and his tie loosened, like a middle manager going too hard at happy hour. What sounds like such a bright and optimistic song is imbued with irony and critique, using a typical love story arc to talk about American society in general, full of promise and energy but ultimately disappointing. There's ambitious artistic intention, and it works so well with the music, yet the music stands on its own even without engaging with the message. These “Plastic Soul” musical elements are present throughout the rest of the album on songs that evoke many different moods (there's even a Beatles cover!), and the album ends strong with the funk banger, Fame. All in all, a pretty good offering from 1970s David Bowie.

Damn....I'd never listened to this album before, but I think it's now one of my preferred albums by Bowie. I think overall it's a funk album. I didn't know the song Fame was on here which was a big plus for me. The title track Young Americans was always an ok song for me. I think the killer track on this one is Fame. I was really impressed with the song Win and the arpeggio runs by the saxes throughout the song. I liked Fascination also.

Not as good as some other Bowie records but still good. It's really hard to hate anything this guy does. Favorites were Young Americans, Fascination, and specifically the guy playing the Saxophone on like every song.

Listened to this on my train ride into Philadelphia which felt right. Bowie calling this “plastic soul” is a very apt description. I like it, but slightly less than many of his other albums. I would like to believe that the song Fame is why David Bowie was cast in Zoolander. Don’t entirely get the hate for his version of Across The Universe. Favorite tracks were Young Americans, Fascination, Somebody Up There Likes Me, and Fame.

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

The middle album in the 'cocaine trilogy'. Listened to this a lot when I was getting into Bowie in the last few years. The opening two tracks are stunning, with the first side easily the strongest. The second side is a bit less consistent, but overall an easy four stars (as with a lot of Bowie's classic period).

I love this album. I love David Bowie.

Not his best album I don’t think but it’s up there definitely. Obviously love the 2 better known tracks and really enjoyed the Across The Universe cover with John Lennon, along with Can You Hear Me. Solid!

I would rate this in the lower 4s, but I think I liked it more than a 3.

Pretty damn good I think. Fame especially, but also also all the other funky stuff…

Terrific

Love Disco Bowie

Favourite tracks: young Americans; win; fascination; fame; who can I be now?

Pretty catchy

I adore the harmonies and funky feeling bowies put on it. the layers to the dynamics and different sections are astounding , and so obviously influenced by soul and rnb music. favourite era of bowies thus far,. I feel. like he really had a passion for this kind of music.

fav tracks: found a job, with our love thoughts: best David B. ive heard so far

01) Young Americans - 10,0 02) Win - 9,0 03) Fascination - 8,5 04) Right - 8,0 05) Somebody Up There Likes Me - 7,5 06) Across The Universe - 8,5 07) Can You Hear Me - 8,5 08) Fame - 10,0 TOTAL: 8,75 (88/100)

Very good album - some classics on here - like the move into R&B/Soul.

The sax turns like half these into the SNL theme.

Bowie don't need to say much here. Genius in many ways musically, lyrically and smart to get the right musicians around him to create great art. Ahead of the time at so many points in his career, I remember the late 90s when he was using the internet to do all kinds of stuff. Young Americans being one of his classics love it still holds up so well. Great sax work on this album, got a great soul vibe. Stand out tracks: - Young Americans - Right - Somebody up there likes me - Across the universe - Can you hear me - Fame - Who can I be now?

A soul album from Bowie, that's crazy! On top of that who would have thought it would work this well. Most songs have a choir in the back and use much more brass instruments. All of the songs work pretty well together with the exception of "Across the Universe". It ignores the soul theme of the album and isn't as good as the rest of the songs. It also doesn't help that the original version is much better and one of my favorites from "Let It Be". This album is still great overall and it's nice to see this much variety in Bowie's catalogue. Favorite songs: Young Americans, Fame, Who Can I Be Now?

Great Album Standout songs: Somebody up there likes me Can you hear me

You can definitely understand how David Bowie became one of the biggest rock stars of all time. This album is all swag...

Bowie was another artist I never really 'got'. I always considered him a bit of a freak. To give him his dues, this is a really good album, with several standout tracks.

Great album from start to finish, defo a keeper

A good time was had by all

I love Bowie so much.

This was never a fave Bowie album of mine growing up, though I always loved Win & Fame (duh). However, it's grown on me more as I oldify, particularly Right, so giving up a 4.

Young American // Fascination // Right // Somebody Up There Likes Me // 4.5/5

David Bowie has a very large presence on this list. Maybe one of the highest number of albums of any artist. But after hearing 4 of them, including today, I think that presence is well justified. Few artists have as diverse and varied of a career. So each major project he released has something worthwhile to hear in it. Except for most of the 80s. Instead of continuing with the glam rock he had been making almost his entire career so far, he decided to switch things. And considering he was nine albums deep at this point, maybe that change was needed. Another thing I’ve learned about Bowie is that he always seemed to be a little bit ahead of the curve. I really think he was just that forward thinking of an artist. So instead of glam rock, we get funk and soul. I’m not really sure why this received so many mixed reviews upon release. It doesn’t seem like its reputation has improved over time either. In my opinion, this album slaps. At first I almost couldn’t even tell the lead singer was Bowie, but his vocal delivery sounds slightly off compared to other albums I’ve heard. And the backup vocalists, who I believe are on every song, do an amazing job. Bowie really showed off his inner Prince here. Or maybe some Parliament too. Maybe not as funk focused as you could be led to believe, but it’s that genre with a Bowie pop twist on it. Except when you think about it, Prince’s first record hadn’t even been released yet. So you could argue that this album really was the precursor to a lot of Prince’s music. Soul and funk are also obviously genres that get associated with black groups and musicians. And Bowie was one of the first popular white artists of the time period to involve himself with that musicianship. I think it turned out great. Just more examples of him being ahead of everyone else. Bowie himself wasn’t even a huge fan of this when looking back. That hurts, because it’s a blast from start to finish, and just as good as the stuff he was making earlier in the 70s. Rating: 8/10

Another classic.

Iconic

**Young Americans by David Bowie: An In-Depth Review** **Introduction** David Bowie's ninth studio album, *Young Americans*, released in 1975, marked a significant departure from his earlier glam rock sound, venturing into what he termed "plastic soul." This album is a notable experiment in genre, showcasing Bowie's versatility and willingness to push musical boundaries. Here, we will delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, providing a comprehensive review of its strengths and weaknesses. **Lyrics** *Young Americans* is lyrically rich, reflecting Bowie's astute observations on American culture and his personal experiences. The title track, "Young Americans," serves as a social commentary on the disillusionment of the American Dream. Bowie paints a vivid picture of young love and the struggles of the working class, encapsulating the era's socio-political climate. Lines like "Do you remember your President Nixon?" evoke a sense of historical context, anchoring the song in a specific time period. "Fame," co-written with John Lennon and Carlos Alomar, critiques the superficial nature of celebrity. The lyrics are both cynical and reflective, exposing the darker side of fame that Bowie was intimately familiar with. The repeated refrain "Fame, makes a man take things over" highlights the consuming and often destructive power of stardom. **Music** Musically, *Young Americans* is a blend of soul, funk, and R&B, a stark contrast to Bowie's previous rock-centric work. The album features lush arrangements, with prominent use of saxophones, provided by David Sanborn, and backing vocals, most notably by Luther Vandross. The title track is a prime example of Bowie's foray into soul, with its smooth rhythm, soulful backing vocals, and a saxophone solo that adds depth and texture. "Win" showcases a more subdued, introspective side, with a dreamy melody and melancholic tone. "Fame" stands out with its funky groove and innovative production techniques. The song's syncopated rhythm, combined with Bowie's distorted vocals, creates a unique sound that was ahead of its time. **Production** Produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti, *Young Americans* is a testament to meticulous studio craftsmanship. The album was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, known for its "Philly Soul" sound. Visconti's production is polished, yet it retains a raw edge that adds to the album's authenticity. The use of innovative recording techniques, such as the varispeed effect on Bowie's vocals in "Fame," showcases a willingness to experiment and push sonic boundaries. The production quality is consistently high, with each track offering a distinct auditory experience while maintaining a cohesive overall sound. **Themes** *Young Americans* explores themes of identity, love, disillusionment, and the search for meaning. The title track delves into the complexities of American identity, juxtaposing idealism with reality. This theme of duality runs throughout the album, reflecting Bowie's own experiences as a British artist immersing himself in American culture. Songs like "Somebody Up There Likes Me" and "Can You Hear Me?" explore love and relationships, but with a sense of longing and melancholy. "Fascination" and "Right" delve into personal introspection and the quest for self-understanding. **Influence** *Young Americans* had a profound impact on both Bowie's career and the broader music landscape. It marked his successful transition from glam rock to soul, expanding his artistic palette and demonstrating his versatility. This album influenced the evolution of the blue-eyed soul genre and paved the way for artists blending rock and soul. The collaboration with John Lennon on "Fame" not only yielded a hit single but also symbolized a passing of the torch between two of rock's greatest innovators. Bowie's influence on the post-disco era is evident, with many artists drawing inspiration from his ability to fuse genres seamlessly. **Pros** 1. **Innovative Sound**: *Young Americans* showcases Bowie's ability to reinvent himself, embracing soul and R&B influences to create a unique sound that was both contemporary and forward-thinking. 2. **Strong Production**: The album benefits from Tony Visconti's polished production and the top-tier musicianship of the session players, resulting in a rich, textured sonic experience. 3. **Lyrical Depth**: Bowie's lyrics are sharp and insightful, offering a mix of social commentary and personal introspection that adds depth to the music. 4. **Versatility**: The album demonstrates Bowie's versatility as an artist, successfully transitioning between genres and styles. 5. **Cultural Impact**: The album had a significant influence on the music industry, contributing to the evolution of the blue-eyed soul genre and impacting future artists. **Cons** 1. **Inconsistent Cohesion**: Some critics argue that the album lacks a cohesive sound, with certain tracks feeling disjointed from the overall theme. 2. **Mixed Reception**: At the time of its release, the album received mixed reviews from critics, with some feeling that Bowie's venture into soul was inauthentic or "plastic." 3. **Commercial Performance**: While it produced hits like "Fame" and "Young Americans," the album's commercial performance was modest compared to some of Bowie's earlier and later works. 4. **Nostalgia Dependency**: For some listeners, the album's heavy reliance on nostalgic elements of American soul may come across as derivative rather than innovative. **Conclusion** *Young Americans* stands as a bold and ambitious chapter in David Bowie's illustrious career. The album's exploration of soul and R&B marked a significant departure from his glam rock roots, showcasing his ability to adapt and innovate. While it received mixed reviews upon release, its influence on music and culture is undeniable. The strengths of *Young Americans* lie in its innovative sound, strong production, and lyrical depth, which offer a rich and textured listening experience. However, its inconsistent cohesion and mixed reception at the time of release highlight some of the challenges Bowie faced in this artistic transition. In retrospect, *Young Americans* is celebrated for its boldness and its role in expanding the boundaries of popular music. It is a testament to Bowie's restless creativity and his perpetual quest for reinvention, solidifying his status as one of the most influential artists in music history.

Really good

I never really listened to David Bowie as a kid. I didn't think he could sing, and he was weird. Amazing what almost 40 years will do to you...ha ha. I thoroughly enjoyed this album. So many great moments, and the album opener and closer are just fantastic.

Ironically, Young American is the worst song on this album lol

Gear: Fostex TH610 Artwork: cineastisch, verträumt, besonders wertvoll Mix (2007 Remaster): detail- und abwechslungsreich Musik: leichfüßige Soul, RnB & Funk Ära. Bowie bleibt ein faszinierendes Chamäleon. Wertung: 🚬🚬🚬🚬(🚬)/5

Fav: Can You Hear Me Least Fav: Young Americans

I'm not above just automatically granting every Bowie album I get a 4 or a 5. Not my favourite record of his but definitely shows off his drive to experiment and I admire his effort to dip his toe into a new genre. Highlights: Fame, Can You Hear Me, and the Across the Universe cover.

Bowie always has a way of drawing me in. I’ll start by saying that I somehow never knew that Young Americans was by him. I’d definitely heard the song before, and after listening now it is so very obviously his voice, but I guess it just never clicked before. I enjoyed all of this album, but there were definitely some tracks that stood out more than others. It stays interesting throughout though which I definitely appreciated.

This was a phenomenal album. I don't typically go for this one, but I'm going to be putting it on the go-to list. I loved it.

I love this funky Bowie stage..

4/5

It’s Bowie I mean duh

A rewarding and interesting album. I didn't now Bowie at all before doing this list. The transition to blues/soul from glam sounded great to me. Others seem to be mixed on it. Once again, the arrangements and production stand out and excellent backing vocals.

Solid Bowie. Not my favorite but got a few classics and it catapulted Luther Vandross's career, so that's nice. Also, the groove on "Fame" is the only groove I have ever heard James Brown shamelessly rip off, so respect!

Nice to get a classic David Bowie album (especially right after a classic Aretha Franklin album)! I'm really impressed at how solid the collection of songs is, both the ones I've heard before and the ones new to me. Very entertaining, great band members, and a lot going on in each song (and fun to have the John Lennon collaboration with the "Across the Universe" version). I know it's not really fair to try to cast David Bowie's ever-evolving style and sound over the decades, but this album sounds very much like the classic sound that I associate with David Bowie (apparently self-described at one point as "plastic soul"). And now having read the Wikipedia entry for this album, I realize my impression is more a statement on my unfamiliarity with Bowie's body of work than an accurate description of Bowie's "classic" sound. But I still enjoyed the album quite a bit, even if it's more of a tangent to David Bowie's career.

First Bowie album I’ve heard so nothing to compare it to. I really like the band’s groove and every song had something to offer. Fame is a great climax to the album and if only it had a few other real bangers this would be almost perfect.

Bowie is so consistently good

I liked the album. I can understand Bowie's own description of his music on the album as Plastic Soul. I am always impressed by his voice. Overall, this album is not one of my top favorites, but it was still good to listen to. 4/5

Plastic soul era David Bowie, they could never make me hate you. An imperfect album that I've always had a soft spot for. The "Across the Universe" cover is unfortunately Not Good, and Bowie is often out-sung by the backup singers. (Which, to me, is fine, because they sound fantastic.) It is helped tremendously by its title track and, of course, "Fame": an undeniable, all-time, knock-out banger. Highlights: Young Americans, Fascination, Somebody up There Loves Me, Fame

Bops all the way down! This isn't my favorite Bowie era but the album is still solid as hell.

A solid Bowie album, not my favorite of his, but it's still a classic. More groovy than a lot of his earlier work, and certainly stands on it's own in the middle of an incredible run of albums (Ziggy was less than 3 years prior with Aladdin Sane, Pin Ups, and Diamond Dogs between them!). Just on the topic of sheer output, Bowie released at least 1 album a year from '69-'80 and not a flop among them. Young Americans gives you the title track and "Fame" as the 2 massive singles, an interesting take on the Beatles "Across The Universe", a fun collab with Luther Vandross in "Fascination", and in my opinion, not a skip on the album. 4 out of 5 only because by Bowie standards, it's not his best and most influential album that he's released, but that's hard to do with his catalog surrounding this album.

Classic Bowie! Fame is probably my second favorite song of his.

I remember hearing Young Americans at the end of Dogville by Lars von Trier. It fit so well with the film because it felt like a sharp commentary on American life (much like Dogville itself). Young Americans feels so snarky and feels like it is almost making fun of the black backup singers and the soulful music. I didn't expect to learn that Bowie loved that sound and was basically making an entire album in that style. And then I find out Luther Vandross is one of the backup singers. And the Across the Universe cover actually has John Lennon playing guitar and singing backup. Oh and Lennon helped write Fame and plays on that as well?! Insane. Those three songs are probably my favorites, but while listening I also enjoyed Win and the titular Right. I'm honestly not keen on the soul, R&B sound Bowie was emulating but I definitely understand it's place in music history. It's just not my style. But there are enough songs that either seem snarky to the style or are just bizarre enough for me to enjoy here.

Lovely bit of GTA San Andreas nostalgia with "Somebody up there". That Saxophone <3 Rest of the album pretty solid too.

Bowie!

Easily one's favorite Bowie record, largely because the posturing/affectation factor is way down, as it would have to be to do soul music and/or hang with John Lennon. Title track is an all-timer and “Win” is very good, too, and the other cuts are pleasing and satisfying throughout. The subtle sax flourishes are a consistent highlight, especially on the surprisingly authentic and affecting “Can You Hear Me” – who knew Bowie could be so raw and relatable? “Fame” is not a favorite and doesn’t mesh very well with other tunes. “Across the Universe” is the only blemish, but even that is way less offensive than the god-awful “Let’s Spend the Night Together” from Aladdin Sane. (What was his motivation to cover Beatles and Stones songs? One wonders because it's rather unlike one so obsessed with fashionable originality -- who seems to equate the one (fashionability) with the other (originality) in fact. There’s a certain tiredness about the proceedings, which translates to him not trying too hard, and dialing back on the abstraction, role-playing and high aesthetic ambition. In this case, less is very much more.

I didn't have particularly high expectations given the last 2 David Bowie albums (and there's 6 more??). The songs on this one have a lot of stuff going on, so it took repeated listens to enjoy most of the tracks. Interesting listen, his vocals and instruments took some getting used to, background vocals were nice. Giving it a low 4.

Good! Felt more grounded and less out there than some of his other stuff. 8/10

7/10 - I was going to say the best Bowie album so far in the first half but the second kind of let me down. Young Americans and Fascination were both great, but fame was not my favorite. I think Bowie albums are going to be about the same level of goodness for all of them.

Some really good songs, some weird ones though

This app has transformed me into a BowieHead. He can do no wrong and everything he touches turns to gold. PRAISE BOWIE

I like this album. It's not his best, his most influential, nor his most popular but I think it's a weird, jacked up album.

Great album.

Fame and Young American are both real good and Across The Universe is a nice tribute. Not Bowie's best but that bar is really high.

Love David Bowie. Fun to hear this album all the way through.

Not the best bowie

- Die Platte bestätigt mal wieder, wie wahnsinnig vielseitig David Bowie war - Ich kannte lediglich 2 Tracks (Young Americans, Fame) - Dass es sich um eine Soul- und Funkplatte handelt, hätte ich vorher nicht vermutet - Trotzdem haben die meisten Songs natürlich einen klaren Bowie-Einschlag - Mega, dass Bowie hier an zwei Songs mit John Lennon zusammen gearbeitet hat, bei seinem Cover des Beatles Songs "Across The Universe" sogar zusätzlich mit Paul McCartney. - Als Beatles-Fanatic ging mir bei besagtem Song natürlich das Herz auf - ich wusste von diesem Feature nichts. Und ich finde die Version muss sich vor dem Original echt nicht verstecken. - "Fame" ist einfach ein absolut geiler Track - Insgesamt ganz anders, als ich es gedacht hätte und doch hat es mir doch gut gefallen. - Dennoch gibt es einige Bowie Alben die ich deutlich lieber mag und viele Elemente, die ich an Bowie so schätze fehlen mir zeitweise auf der Platte Rating: 3,5/5

Under-rate Bowie. Mad cool

4 - I was always a tad worried about this album, because I only know three of the tracks, and one of them I don't really like, that being Across the Universe. But some of the deeper cuts were actually pretty good, I'm happy to say. Across the Universe isn't awful, it just does the thing that I don't like covers doing where the vocals, timing wise, are lagging behind. I get why people do it, but it's always bothered me. But yeah, not quite as bad as I remember. The album definitely has more of a soul feeling to it than I anticipated, but maybe I should've expected that given the two singles? I never really thought about it. It was still pretty solid. I'm always happy to listen to more Bowie.

It’s a good album. I listened to it 4 times through. David Bowie was a very talented songwriter, musician and entertainer. The album has a soulful sound to it, which I preferred to his earlier albums.

I love David Bowie, never really listened to this album in particular but I will now that I’ve heard it.

Love the bowie

Pretty good

It was quite fun tho not too much. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could

In 1975, David Bowie found himself standing at the intersection of music's past and future, peering into the abyss of Glam Rock's fading allure while simultaneously glimpsing the neon-lit promise of new sonic frontiers. "Young Americans" emerges as a paradoxical testament to Bowie's chameleonic genius, a sonic odyssey that both embraces and eschews the glitter-drenched excesses of its era. With "Young Americans," Bowie deftly navigates the treacherous waters of musical evolution, shedding the sequined skin of Glam Rock to reveal a soulful, funk-infused underbelly pulsating with raw, unfiltered emotion. Tracks like "Fame" and "Young Americans" exude an infectious vitality, capturing the zeitgeist of an era teetering on the brink of cultural upheaval. Yet, beneath the veneer of glossy production and slick hooks lies a profound sense of existential unease, as Bowie grapples with the fleeting nature of fame and the soul-crushing weight of societal expectations. In "Fame," he confronts the Faustian bargain of celebrity with biting wit and incisive insight, while "Somebody Up There Likes Me" offers a haunting meditation on the ephemeral nature of success. As the final notes of "Fame" fade into the ether, Bowie bids adieu to the glittering excesses of Glam Rock, embarking on a daring voyage into uncharted musical territory. With "Young Americans," he leaves an indelible mark on the annals of music history, a testament to his unparalleled ability to transcend genre constraints and redefine the very fabric of popular culture. In the end, Bowie's departure from Glam Rock heralds not just the end of an era, but the dawn of a new musical epoch.

I feel like there are too many David Bowie albums on the list, but that said, I did quite enjoy this one

Favorite Tracks: Young Americans Somebody up There Likes Me Fame

Best Song: Fame Weakest Song: Can You Hear Me Underrated Gem: Fascination Album Score: 7/10

Classic. Pretty good.

Chill listen this morning.

Two amazing songs show that experimentation can lead to pop hits and move the genre forward.

Bowie tiene muchos primes. Este es muy bueno pero no es prime.

Not my favorite of Bowie's, but I appreciate his endless capacity for experimentation and reinvention.

Love when Bowie brings the funk. Starting with Young Americans ending with Fame is solid bookends

Fascinating! The bookends are really good. Some of the middle songs just muddled along. Right and Fascination didn't really capture me. The next three songs were of more classical Bowie style.

Probably the least "challenging" Bowie album i've heard. The funk angle for these songs works, and tracks like Win, Fascination, Somebody Up There Likes Me and Can You Hear Me maintain a cool Bowie vibe would being a bit soulful. Cleary Fame and Young Americans stand out as obviously catchy and cool, but the rest of the album holds its own. Decent cover of across the universe, as well.

David Blowie more like. Good album. The Beatles cover doesn't really work with the vibe, and Bowie is almost overdoing it with the vocals there. The rest of the album though is sleek, luscious, and sexy. The production is immaculate, so many great little details. Best Song: Somebody up There Likes Me Worst Song: Across The Universe Score: 8/10

Love this album. Bought it new, and tore it new grooves. Good choice.

Young Americans is my favorite Bowie song and this is probably my favorite album. Admittedly I haven’t listened to a lot of Bowie and didn’t really get Ziggy Stardust, but really enjoyed this.

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Young Americans, Fascination, Across the universe, Fame

Nunca falla

Headed into the center of the Berlin period after this, Young Americans is a great record from Bowie, but for me not one of his upper-upper-tier ones.

It's Bowie. Not my fave Bowie, but good stuff.

not his best, but still Bowie! mellower

Funky

3.8 - I really enjoyed some of the songs on this, but wasn't blown away by the album as a whole

This album is (one) of the biggest turning point in his carrer, because he not only change his look, but he completly change musicale direction from Glam Rock to soul. The album is self describe by Bowie as plastic soul wich mean soul but whitout a real autenticity as the music genra is more associated with black peoples. Young americans is the title track, it talk about american society with a lot of pop culture reference and show the way to the rest of the album the song being influenced by philadelphia soul. Another terms associated with the album is blue-eyed soul, wich mean Soul perfomed by a white artist Win is very gospel influenced and classical RnB. Fascination have more of a funky sound Right is also a Soul and Funky track, very reoetitie but very groovy and fun Somebody up there like have a saxophone intro and contain lyrics about a futurisitc super hero, almost a messiah (a mix between diamonds dogs and Ziggy Stardust). Across the universe is a cover by the Beatles, with off course a more soul musical aproche, but John Lennon contributed to the album with more than just the writing credit he also play the guitare on this song. I honnestly like more the Beatles version but its always cool to see a Beatles cover especially by Bowie. Can you hear me is another soul song, but i don't find anything special with it. Fame is THE best song of the album by a mille, co-written with John Lennon, with incredible lyrics and musical direction its clearly the best used of funk and soul in the album. The lyrics about stardom and disapointement with his famous status with the incredible funky groove is just magical, and its his first top 1 hit in the US, kinda ironic. The album explore various music genra, primaly black music and i really like it, we still feel David Bowie's talent all over the place, his presence is as important as the music in itself and its enjoyable. The album gave Bowie his breaktorugh in america, it give us incredible songs, it gave Bowie the proof he can do everything and it gave blakc music a major push by a established white artist, and probably help the genra becoming mainstream at the time. But i don't think its one of the best Bowie's album, his peak in music was in the 70's and this album have a lot of good points, but is a bit sterile compared to album like Diamonds dogs, heroes, Aladine Sane, Hunky Dory or Ziggy Stardust.

I'm really digging this Bowie sound. It's different, but refreshing compared to his previous (at the time) works. His work leading up to Young Americans is good, don't get me wrong, I just tend to prefer funk/soul if it's being compared to glam rock. Definitely a prominent sax sound throughout that sounds straight from the 80s. I'm sure most will agree that there is nothing particularly groundbreaking found in this album, but it's still fun throughout.

accessible , enjoyable, and rythmic, easy to like. happy party vibes, with 2 especially strong tracks - Young Amercians, and the brillaint Fame. nothing defines him, so this album doesnt either.

Oh man what a winning streak, yesterday I get The Dark Side Of The Moon, and today I get Bowie. There's very little that makes this album stand out from this era of his music, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. This album is just classic Bowie, through and through.

I find the addition funk / r&b to his glam style interesting and for the most part works amazingly well. There are a couple of instances where his voice wasn't really suited for the song though.

Even lesser Bowie is still better than most music

4/5 One of his best overall albums. (Ziggy Stardust will always be the best.)

Pleasantly surprised by this Bowie album. I really enjoyed the more soul/r&b sound on this one. Nice cover of a Beatles song and soulful background vocals.

Nice production to this one. Gospel and funk undertones. Dig it.

Not my favourite Bowie album, but still a good album with no bad tracks.

Great Bowie album...just a fun soulful vibe through out the whole thing. Young Americans the song is a super underrated piece in his entire catalogue. 4/5

Vrf e bowie grym på o göra soulmusik?!

Decent album, but that Across the Universe cover is atrocious and almost lowered my rating to 3 stars.

Funk and R&B filled jams with several gems!

Classic

A short album, as a biased Bowie fan I do like this album it’s not his finest work but he shows off his usual song writing skills, I would put hunky dory or rise and fall of ziggy stardust over this anyday but this album is still good, the title song is still strong and I could easily see in my playlist.

impressed. i knew Bowie took many stylistic approaches through his career, but this is one that i didn't expected. really enjoyable, hopeful and good to me right now

8/10 It's not among my favorite David Bowie albums, but...David Bowie none the less. 3-1-2024

2024-03-01...

Listening to this just makes me want more of Bowie doing soul. Great mix, too.

This was a nice listen. I'm not a huge Bowie fan, but he HAS been there, putting out good music for most of my life. Of course there's Young American's and Fame, and to listen to any classic radio station, you would think that's all he did. Wish there was a classic station that played 'the rest of' the music.

Souly, R&B inspired Rock

Solid album. Easy to listen to. Should make it into the rotation.

I love this phase of Bowie. I like all the saxophones and saucy background singing. Almost five stars but not quite. "Young Americans" is always a banger.

Przyjmene bardzo, znowu 4/5

1) young americans- I know this song, I faved it 2) Win - cool song, jazzy backup vocals. The breakdown cool as shit 3) fascination - I'm into it, proper cacophony of noise, overwhelming but cool 4) right - annoying, skipped 5) somebody up there likes me - fun, I liked it a lot from the start, bit gospel 6) across the universe- thought this was Bowie but it's a Beatles cover? Cool 7) can you hear me - cool r&B take 8) Fame - what a fuckin banger need I say more Largely a soul record so very cool and influential 7/10

tá bom

to call a david bowie album bad would be objectively wrong sure this isn't his best album but man its still good everything just works, he truly is a talent some heater tracks overall like a 3.8/5

7th Bowie album on this list (and after this, I will only have Pin-Ups and Diamond Dogs as 70s Bowie albums I haven't yet heard). Not as necessary as other Bowies, but I enjoy it all the same. Chillest 70s jams I’ve ever heard from this guy (Station to Station infuses the funk with some icy paranoia) …though the album’s distinction of being traditionally black music (funk, soul) being interpreted through a white British lens doesn’t sound much like a distinction. Weren’t Eric Burdon, Zeppelin, the Stones, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Elton John, etc. also kinda doing that by 1975? HL: title track, “Win”, “Fascination”, “Fame”

Interesting that the first Bowie is his biggest transition. From glam superhero to crooner, sort of like he's glamming Elvis. Young Americans the song is an all timer for me, I particularly love how the pronoun of who wants the Young American changes. The rest of the album is nicely funky with amazing backing vocals, but none of the tracks really stick with me away from the album. Even Fame is a bit too basic funk. To me this is a Bowie 3, but any other artist would call this a 4.

I saw David Bowie in concert the year this album came out, so listening to the “Young Americans” and “Fame” tracks brought back fond memories. However, I don’t think I ever listened to this album in its entirety, because there are a lot of songs I didn’t recognize. I know Bowie is better known for his glam rock, but I really liked this album. Daryl Hall certainly is a better singer, but Bowie pulls off the blue eyed soul vibe very well. I will listen to this album again.

I like this lot the first and last tracks are for sure the standouts and I love the dynamic way Bowie does his lyrics. Not all the songs hit but in order they stand well. I think Bowie is also the most prevalent artist on this so get used to praise. This album would be perfect if i was not sick

Bowie dipping his toes into soul. Good stuff.

I love the soul influence on this record. Bowie is the ultimate songwriter in that he can take any kind of musical idea and incorporate it into his own style, and Young Americans might be the perfect example of that.

I really like this album—Bowie was definitely going for an R&B/Soul sound for it, and succeeds in doing so while still remaining indisputably Bowie. He has one of the most distinctive voices as a songwriter. I also find the John Lennon connection interesting: quoting “A Day in the Life” during the title track, covering “Across the Universe,” and then fully having him featured on “Fame”—which, by the way, is such an amazing track. It feels like everyone in the band had a stank face on while playing. We do need to talk about how overrepresented Bowie is on this list. I love him and think he’s amazing, but should he really make up nearly 1% of all the albums when so many other incredible artists are completely omitted?

Enjoyed the listening, nice album

What a dancing jam vibe Young Americans has. I'm glad to give this album a more detailed listen. Win has a beautiful sound and some of the soul and funk throughout has a unique feel with Bowie doing it. Not his best but you can hear the growth from doing this in his later albums.

I had not listened to very much David Bowie before starting on this journey. This is not the strongest album of his I have listened to so far but it interestingly kept me engaged. I would like to figure out how some of his songs can come close to losing me but for some reason I stick around. Like the Cover of Across the Universe isn't better than the original, but what he does with his vocals; I'm interested in the emotion he's conveying. Fame is a great song

No idea what to expect! I've never actually sat down and experienced Bowie. Overall, I really enjoyed it and was surprised by the funky sound. The album was short with no need for skips. The live sound really contributed to the groove very well. This has to go into the rotation for when I'm wanting something a little funky. Track by track: 1 - Certainly has a live vibe. High energy and seemingly some improvisation. I can get into this. 2 - It is so Pink Floyd and yet not at all. I dig it and love the hints of brass. 3 - Certainly a groove. Feels like a mix of psychedelic and funk? I don't know genres but I like it. 4 - Brass is a little more prominent here. That background chorus is powerful. 5 - Another groove. This has been a really consistent album! 6 - I know this one! I hope that "I prefer The Beatles version" is not too much of a critique. This is still very listenable. 7 - Not my favorite track but it's not a skip by any means. 8 - THIS IS A BOWIE SONG? I had no idea. Liked it a lot!

Young Americans and FAME are such classics, it was good to finally listen to the whole album. A cool story about how Bowie hung out with John Lennon and began exploring more African-American musical influences. Though the album is defined by the bookends, it's still as meticulously crafted as much of Bowie's other work.

entertaining, not too long

i quite liked this

The album with Fame on it. This would be the crossover hit into the US that Bowie needed. This success can be attributed to a shift from glam rock to soul music, which is often referred to as "plastic soul" in the context of Bowie's music. "Plastic", here, means "inauthentic", but the only inauthenticity I see is in his middling cover of Across the Universe. Once you lose Across the Universe, you have an album full of incredible songs. It's kind of the most plain Bowie since his 60's works but not in a boring way. The theatrical elements of his glam albums get transmuted into instrumentally-rich songs that are otherwise straightforward. His ability to channel the dynamism of performers like James Brown or George Clinton helps give a new dimension to his style, thus fleshing out the artist David Bowie as we know him today. With that, another building block of the house of Bowie comes into frame. Another sign of excellence.

all

Though Bowie's ' Plastic Soul' period isn't my favourite in his back catalogue, this is still a lovely album. Standout track for me is the beautiful 'Win' ("Someone like you should not be allowed to start any fires"), though the unfairly maligned cover of 'Across the Universe' is rather good in my opinion. It's interesting to compare this album with 'The Gouster' which was finally released as part of a boxset a few years ago. That was apparently set for release in 1975 before being replaced by "Young Americans" and contains different mixes and outtakes, including 'John, I'm only dancing (again) which was a single in about 1979. A good solid album which really demonstrates the chameleon-like nature of Bowie's artistry.

Solid album, but what do you expect from Bowie? It’s not a 5 star level but still excellent.

Couple bangers, better than modern Bowie.

Some great rock and fuck fusion. Fame is the best track

Nice one. Soft rock. Across the universe!!

Slow and steady wins the race. Not his best, no lives were changed, but it's solid and it's Bowie.

an amazing opening track, a fantastic closer, a pretty good beatles cover, and some other songs i don't quite remember

“I don’t want to be gay. I just want to be sexy” - David Bowie, 1975

Really Funky and upbeat and kinda sexy!

Another Bowie album. So soon? This album was pretty damn good. More cohesive than Heroes. Honestly, maybe not a bad song in this album. Bowie does some pretty interesting stuff with vocal phrasing. I wonder how much I put he had with the music that accompanies his vocals because it's so good. The use of instruments are well placed within the songs. The writing is next level, in my opinion. There's a reason why Bowie is timeless and recognized as a force within music. Each album sounds different, but sounds Bowie. That's a feat many try to replicate and often come up short. Or their fans abandon ship. Perhaps this album pissed off some die hard Bowie fans, perhaps Heroes did the same. I know Blackstar was WAY different than anything he's done. And that album is a masterpiece. Anyways. Bowie is great. You should listen to Bowie.

I've always found Bowie hit and miss, but this was more hit. A lot different to his usual sound but shows he can smash it out the park even when changing genre for an album or two. Fair play. Few duds but mostly hits. Beatles cover feeling completely out of place being the worst sin.

This album was a Win. Somebody Up There Likes Me.

cba to write a review today, just know i liked it likes yessss get ur soul/funk bag bowie!!!

This one is fun

Really enjoyed this one, there are a lot of songs on here that I loved before and some new ones to me that I enjoyed as well too.

I like this album very much. I don't necessarily like any particular song more than any other, but I like David Bowie, and how he arranges his music and his delivery as well.

Has better albums but I was still groovin

love this album, Bowie's early-to-mid 70s output is my absolute fav and such a big part of my teenage years. bowi(e)ng down to the legend.

Has young Americans and Fame which are straight up bangers. The rest of the album is surprisingly groovy and funky

I’ve never been sure if Bowie is good or if he just surrounds himself with the best available musicians. This album doesn’t change that mindset.

The 4 odd songs I recognise are great

Love David Bowie

Is this record more successful than many other Bowie efforts because he plays it relatively straight – you know just making a pop/rock record and not some high-art statement or playing around with some silly and unnecessary personae? A credible case can be made. Sax playing is a strength throughout and title cut is an all-time personal fave. Much else seems an outlier in the Bowie canon because of its seeming authenticity and rather straightforward relatability.

3.5

The worst from Bowie is still great and better than 90% of all other stuff.

Оу вау, Боуи ударился в соул... это забавное. Но вообще, звучит конечно как-то искусственно. То есть мы уже слушали прям достойные соул пластинки, а здесь... попытались содрать всё лучшее из них. Ну, такое.

A true classic. Plain and simply a classic.

Great discovery, I enjoy funky Bowie!

Obwohl ich eigentlich kein Bowie Fan bin gefällt mir diesen Album doch außerordentlich gut. Ich denke ich werde es jetzt öfter mal hören und auch andere Alben von ihm antesten.

Great but not his best

Not my jam

so much LOVE LOVE LOVE for Mr. Space Oddity!! short but sweet, this album had almost all bangers but my clear favorite was Right, just the minor key gave such a funky vibe

Quiet and nice. Bowie is different

One of the better Bowie albums I've heard. Short album but liked it.

There is a lot to love about this one, it's Bowie's soul album. Fame (the single was his first number 1 single). It's not my favorite Bowie album so i sincerely hope that there are a few more coming up in this challenged. I love Young Americans (the single) and John, I'm only dancing. It's unfortunate that he decided to cover Across the Universe because its an awful version! It gets a 4 just because its Bowie.

Time was this was my favourite Bowie album. But over time I can see it was precursor to Station to Station, which is my favourite and possibly the greatest album of all time. Two monumental songs, the title track and Fame, but elsewhere a bit shallow at times.

Good, but not a favorite. I definitely appreciate that he expanded and experimented so much throughout his career, running to where the ball was going instead of where it currently was. It makes listening to multiple albums more enjoyable, because he moves on before the style gets really stale.

good songs

Test

Young Americans Fame It's Gonna Be Me

Really nice listening. I listen to him with the heart:) my first album from 1001 collection. Thanks

Figo, molto mood, non saprei classificarlo, tipo semi pop? Sicuramente non contemporaneo, ho apprezzato la varietà di strumenti e il groove

Very close to a 5

I can’t think of anything clever to say about this good album and multiple great songs because I’m still mad at Aerosmith for tricking me into giving their album four stars.

Decent enough, but not Bowie's best showing.

Enjoyed the album a lot. Great vibe

Ur spoiling me w all these Bowie albums! Another great album, not as good as the last one but I still loved it and always perfect for a wee groovy boogie.

David Bowie's conversation with Black American music - and typically for Bowie, it's conducted on his terms. On this album Bowie tries on a few different voices, a few different poses and mostly gets away with it. Young Americans is a bit of a detour album. The songs are not as immediate as much of his previous material, nor as wrought in weirdness and mystery as those that would follow. Production is quite thin and flat - I believe this is the album Bowie described as 'plastic soul' - but again, it works. Pretty much everything here works, in fact. The whole shebang is bookended by two wonderful songs - the title track and 'Fame' - but 'Fascination' deserves reappraisal within the Bowie canon too. He always kept his listeners on their toes.

Lil db action

It was good. Not my favourite Bowie but still good.

It was Bowie so it was good, but not his best. Still had fun.

My first complete Bowie album. It will not be my last!

Bowie, in any form, brings me joy. With that said, YOUNG AMERICANS would not be my first pick if I was able to be choosy. The difference is negligible, like choosing a non-Allstar NBA player over a high school b-ball star for your pick up basketball game. It is still a W.

After the Fall of Ziggy Stardust DB went to NY and fell in love with a saxophone player.

Good! A few songs I hadn't heard on here that were good. Not great 100% of the way through but Fame is a classic and a few others.

this is the type of Bowie i can get along with. However that cover of across the universe is bobbins. .

Young Americans - Scott Kelly's Noncing World Cup 2023

I really really like the soul moments of this album, like on "Somebody up There Likes Me". The backing singers and that screaming saxophone are really so captivating. "Across the Universe" was a nice and unexpected cover right in the middle. "Fame" is such a great song. Personally I feel like this is a song that when I hear it it stays in my head for months at a time on loop... in a bad way unfortunately. I don't know why.. I think everyone has some songs like that? that are earworms? Love this album cover. Bowie at times either looks like a model or like an awkward kid going through puberty trying to fit into his clothes.

I loved this album so much, reminds me of growing up in the 70's.

Love bowie

Really enjoyed this project even if it’s a bit more mainstream Bowie. The Across the Universe cover is great and Fame is a banger still. (3.5/5)

Liked more than first Bowie album we listened to. More rock

Enjoyable but lacking the grandeur of other Bowie albums

Nicht das beste Bowie aber nice

David Bowie rarely put a musical foot wrong and this is no exception. It’s not my very fav Bowie — that’s obviously Ziggy Stardust — but it’s still high quality Bowie. 4/5

Good album but personally like Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust better

Uno de los trabajos más sólidos de Bowie y una demostración de por qué lo comparan con un camaleón. El radical cambio de estilo que realizó en medio de un frenesí de drogas y enfermedades mentales creó a un nuevo personaje, el "Thin White Duke", quien se codeó con el mismísimo John Lennon para crear la legendaria pista "Fame". Aún así, este no es la mejor obra de este corto y problemático periodo de Jones, pero es una gran adición a su catálogo y al panorama del "Plastico Soul" en general.

cant hate on bowie, fame is definitely my favorite track from this

As a Bowie fan, I have to admit I have never fully listened to this album. In Bowie's lore, this was positioned as the radical break from Bowie's glam past into his new soul era, but also as an awkward transitional phase to his artsy era. But in reality, what Bowie sets out to do here is plain: create 'plastic soul', a good if maybe inauthentic replications of the soul and funk sound Bowie was falling (back?) in love with. And these are some damn fine songs, 'Win' and 'Can You Hear Me' have a nice smooth sound to them, while 'Fascination', 'Right' and the famous 'Fame' have that funk edge to them. But the real distinctive quality is Bowie's performance. He sounds less passionate and more desperate and exhaustive, his highs and sustains creaking along the edge. You can immediately hear it in the opening track 'Young Americans', and the undertone pervades the entire album. It's a type of distant paranoia that Bowie would further indulge in in his next album, Station to Station (a personal favourite), although for obvious reasons that paranoid path is not one to walk long term. What is long term is the strong backing band that Bowie has assembled here, which he will play with for the rest of the 70s and his classic era, such as the Berlin era, and which will form the really secret sauce of those albums (it's not Brian Eno, well known people are not secret sauces). Fans of Bowie's artistic records do themselves a misfavor by skipping this record. Strong 4

Again it's Bowie entering a new period, here embracing some disco sounds.

Very solid album. A lot more energy and funk than `Low` and 2 absolute banger singles.

Good

i liek across the universe cover

Class. Never knew there was a Beatles cover on it.

Not bad. A bit more "funk" than I might have expected, but certainly appropriate for the time. "Fame" is a classic tune. For the overall quality, I'd give it a 3.5, but for this album, I'll round up.

I love Bowie and this is a solid album with lots of good songs on it. There are two massive tracks on here ('Young Americans' and 'Fame') in particular. That being said, this isn't one of my top Bowie albums and I rarely listen to it as a whole, like I do a number of his other albums. Still really great record though. Standout Tracks: Young Americans, Win, Somebody Up There Likes Me, Across the Universe, Fame

It's no Ziggy Stardust, but I love Bowie and it's great hearing him try his hand at a soul sound. It's soul, but it's been twisted a bit by Bowie. Very fun.

(Previously Heard) Highlights: Young Americans, Win, Fascination, Somebody Up There Likes Me, Fame Really wish he had spent more time exploring the "plastic soul" sound he was going for here (perhaps earlier instead of the underwhelming "Diamond Dogs"?), as it has some of my favorite Bowie songs ever. As it stands, the pretty bad "Across The Universe" cover and just okay "Can You Hear Me" drags it a bit down. Still one of Bowie's best records tho.

- "Somebody up There Likes Me" is amazing. Great solo! - Never head his version of "Across the Universe" before.

Fame is fucking banger.

Svängig.

i couldn't tell you how many david bowie albums i've gotten on this list thus far (5 at least), but i will say that young americans fulfills bowie's trend of creating a different sound for each album. i appreciate it! his music is varied and keeps my interest, even when i am not his biggest fan. young americans has a soulful, funk sound to it that is so delightful. this album marks a turn from art, glam, progressive rock to some great soul and funk music. the title song has a touch of jazz, "fascination" (with the wonderful luther vandross as a co-songwriter) has a disco feel, and "fame" is fun but also soooo funky. two songs in particular grabbed my attention. "young americans" lyrically is great (and it's also a good song, period) and is kind of a sarcastic look at american society, especially coming from a british musician. "across the universe" was the other song. i didn't know bowie covered this song! it's quite a soulful rendition and does justice to the original song, especially with john lennon providing the guitar.

After so many David Bowie albums received on this project with more to come, I can say at this point that I'm not even mad that there is so much Bowie on here. Every single one of his albums on this project is well thought out and brings something different to music. Not to mention, none of them have gotten less than a 3 rating from me. It really is like looking into the mind of a genius musician at different phases of music. I love the presence of funk and disco here. Bowie gets it just right on this album. After hearing the entire album, it's no surprise that the incredibly popular "Fame" comes from this album. Anyway, not much to say here, but while Bowie isn't my absolute favorite, I've always admired him, and this project is just increasing that admiration!

Can’t really go wrong with a bit of Bowie. He has a way of making every style his own. Even ‘plastic soul’. So listenable and you can’t ask for more than that

Some big classic songs on there with some other solid songs.

Pretty solid album. Definitely had some big hits and the cover of across the universe was cool.

Standouts: Fame, Young Americans, Win. Others: Across the Universe 3.5

Overall great tracks and instrumentals, not at all of them are a hit for me but there’s definitely a couple songs I enjoyed in there. The tracks are good soul now Bowie’s quality of interpretation lies in the ears of the beholder as it’s such a unique voice and way of expression. Very hit and miss, for me his version of across the universe is a huuuge miss but a lot of the A side is really nice

Bowie’s voice has always been a bit off-putting for me, but the R&B sound is awesome. Songs are a bit too long.

Good album, like Bowie Hunky Dory is better but it feels like a coordinated piece. Fascination is the highlight

Bowie apparently refers to this album as "plastic soul", and I think that's an apt description. There's a coldness to this, kind of like a lounge singer who has totally disassociated from his reality. It's kind of an interesting listen, and I correctly guessed that the album following this was "Station to Station", which keeps that coldness up to a shocking degree. It hits some slow points at times, and that Beatles cover is... something, but the roboticness of this won me over in the end, especially on closer "Fame". Call it a 3.5. Favorite tracks: "Fame", "Young Americans", Fascination"

Young americans and fame are classics. Classic Bowie sounds, great album. Interesting across the universe cover (Beatles). The first album I did with this website.

4-4.5

Contains my all-time favorite Bowie song ("Right"), as well two of his hits that I've tired of (although "Young Americans" finds a way back into my good graces from time to time, and I'll never not believe "Fame" still isn't a great song). Great moments aside, overall it's not among Bowie's best work. The presence of David Sanborn pushes this more into Yacht Rock territory and away from "plastic" or "blue-eyed" soul or whatever faux-soul label some attempt to put on it. But fuck labels, and even next level Bowie is still better than most other artist's top tier efforts. He even out does the Beatles with his version of "Across The Universe" (with help from John Lennon, natch). It's an interesting, satisfying detour in a brilliant career that we're appreciating even more with each passing year.

There are a lot of David Bowie songs I love and I think he's great as a musician and a person. But I've got to admit, there's a lot of his songs that are hard for me to appreciate. I'm still acquiring the taste, I guess.

This is my first David Bowie album for this project. The production on this thing sounds like it was made 5 years after it! Sounds great. Good songs and David Bowie has a good voice. But it’s not his best work.

Really enjoyed this one. Fame is a great song. 4/5

Favourite songs: Young Americans, Fame, Fascination, Somebody Up There Likes Me, "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)" Least favourite songs: Across the Universe 4/5

Pretty far from Bowie's best, but he is at peak form in his vocal approach on this album. Some of the middle tracks get to be a bit of a slog, but there's certainly a strong start and finish (Young Americans and Fame, respectively). The Beatles cover is a welcome addition, even if it fits better on an earlier record. Wouldn’t put it in his top 5, but certainly required listening for any fan.

The Thin White Duke experiments with Black soul and R&B, and the results are compelling, even if it was just a passing phase.

Not the biggest Bowie fan but I can appreciate what he did here.

4.75

Clasico, algunas medias raras entremedio pero bueno

So. I'm a big Bowie fan. I'm also a little picky. I think this is a great record, particularly fantastic saxophone LOL but that said, it's not in his top five.

Very lighthearted and enjoyable listen. Quite like how the backing vocals go along with Bowie's voice, great groove on the last track.

my favorite track is RIGHT, followed by FAME

Not my fave Bowie album but I don’t think I’ve ever listened to it all the way through. Fave song: Fame (easy answer but idc) Honorable mention: Across the Universe

Luther Vandross arranged vocals on the album. Very cool. No wonder they sounded so great. Young Americans: Iconic opening drum riff. Sanborn riffing throughout - alternating with backup singers. Great opening. To album. Win: soulful and quite saturated. Weird guitar riff in there. 10 beats? Fascination: classic 70s intro. This is becoming a soul album. This one sticks around a little too long Somebody up there likes me: and even more Sanborn. John I’m Only Dancing: I could see playing this at a party. Love that bass. Fun with synths and saxes. Again sticking around a little too long. Fame: Here we go. In your face good music. I can feel my age in not hearing all of the low bass notes but I know they’re there. John Lennon singing backups.

David Bowie in all his incarnations is to me one of the most interesting artists of my lifetime. This album is another outstanding destination along his fascinating path. Such soul and depth in these tracks and he assembled an incredible group of musicians for it. The arrangements are superb and the performances are incredible, even with many of the tracks involving so many instruments and layers. And his voice. Just love it. Miss him.

Some very solid tracks. With so many Bowie albums so close together they are starting to blur together in my mind, but I enjoyed the listen.

Good album, maybe my favorite Bowie album. Seems like every album has a couple of bangers and other songs I don’t get but this was all good.

3.5/5 mostly good, has a lot of flaws

Great album, but I have a weird relationship with Bowie. It is in this “really good, I like to come around to him once in awhile”-space, but it is not something I get really sucked into (not a guilty pleasure of mine).

Great Album. It has a raw sound that I really like. I wish Bowie’s vocals were more clear at times, but the vibe was still cool.

So so cool.

I liked it. Very funky, especially the amazing Saxophone parts. There are definitely some tracks that just fell flat for me. The ones i really enjoyed were: Fascination Somebody up There Likes Me Fame

Plastic soul

Two Bowie albums in a row. This album is also not that bad, but I’m not a fan of the Beatles cover.

One really great song and the rest of the album pretty good too.

Classic. Young Americans and Fame. Killer Bowie album.

Can't go wrong with Bowie. All time favorite.

Solid, not expected.

He makes it look easy

I loved this one.

This album grew on me the further it went

A Bowie album I haven't actually listened to before. Expecting 4-5 territory going in, because Bowie. Young Americans is a great tune. Slow hopping baseline with some soulful sax in the background and Bowie doing his thing on top. This song always evokes a happy montage in my mental image. Win takes a turn into a smokey number with languid guitar. I had this as background noise for the rest of the middle of the album. Standouts I recall were Somebody up There Likes Me and Across the Universe. Fame is such an amazing song -- almost earns this album a 5 on its own merit. This is a hard-4 for me. Doesn't have quite the playback appeal of Hunky Dory or Ziggy Stardust, but it is a clean album that sandwiches two of my favorites from his catalog with some other more forgettable numbers. Not my favorite Bowie record, but I have not yet to experience a "bad" Bowie album; only good and great.

Plastic Soul. Fake in every regard. Bowie’s own interpretation of selling out.

The 9th studio album from David Bowie, released in 1975. Well mixed, casual funk/soul throughout.

I love Bowie’s lyricism, my favorite track here in particular is Across the Universe. I love the use of saxophone on this album, it may not be a very long record but it never gets bogged down with any bad tracks and there is no fat on the bone.

ok

Bowie’s best work feels timeless. Young Americans, however, seems particularly rooted in the mid-70s and it doesn’t benefit from it.

It's definitely not my favorite Bowie joint but it's still shockingly good. While the critics call it "blue-eyed soul", Bowie himself dubbed the sound "plastic soul" which tells you he knew exactly what he was doing. In fact, he described the album as "the squashed remains of ethnic music as it survives in the age of Muzak rock, written and sung by a white limey". And he ain't wrong. But this is Bowie. And, while that sounds like an excuse to give it a higher rating than it deserves, what it means is that the man desperately respected the source material. He was a lover of music and, while he self-deprecatingly describes his work here in derogatory terms, the love of the music that he's pulling from comes through with blinding clarity. Add to that the sheer, unearthly skill with which Bowie builds songs and I'd argue that it's worth every bit of its 4-star rating. If I could give it 4 and a half stars, I would.

Bookended by 2 of Bowie's biggest tracks with a few gems in between. Still a pretty attempt at white man funk/soul at the end of the day.

Only got through first half but I get why early Bowie is still considered iconic

Once again David Bowie proves himself capable of being able to master whatever genre of music he feels like making an album of. This time it’s soul/r&b and it’s unsurprisingly good. However, fame is one of my favorite Bowie songs and it honestly feels a little out of place here because the rest of the album has a bunch of backing vocals and sounds more r&b then fake comes at the end and is nothing like what came before it.

Solid album. There's better versions of Bowie though

Very good

Not bowies best album but still one that has quite a few good tracks on it

Opening track is easily my least favorite which had me uneasy. But it quickly improves from there with colorful writing and particularly arrangement/production which buoy even the moments where things start to feel annoyingly pastiche. Not something I'd always be in the mood for but plenty of good-great material. Of course 'Fame' is undeniable.

David Bowie as a soul artist. It's a little weird to think about him that way, but he really did reinvent himself like that. I just don't think about this album a much as I should. Still, it has two big hits on it: "Young Americans" and "Fame" (although when I first started listening to Bowie I had heard the 1990 remix of Fame more.) The one thing that didn't work on this album is his cover of "Across The Universe." The song is supposed to have a dream-like quality, and I just didn't get that from his performance. Still, it's a pretty solid album but not definitely not one I go to as my favorite of his.

Funky and soulful, a different take for Bowie given what I know of his work. Which isn't a ton, but I know him as an eclectic rocker. This qualifies. It's cool, and I mean that both in that it's interesting and that it fits that motif of being cool (chic, smooth). Not his best, as I wouldn't say there's a song between Young Americans and Fame that I'm particularly gaga over. But those two that open and close the album are fantastic and show off his ability to tackle this alternative genre. And the stuff in the middle fits even if I don't have another showstopper to single out. A very solid effort from a virtuoso talent.

Top 3 Songs: 1 - Fame (8) 2 - Young Americans (1) 3 - Across the Universe (6)

Great bowie Album. Height of funky bowie. Standouts are title track, Right, and Somebody Up there Like Me

It’s a Bowie album, there’s not really much room for error.

Not a perfect album but still great