Young Americans

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.

back to back hits with only a couple of duds. Happy I finally listened to this!

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

So, yesterday I had 1999 by Prince. I don't really care for Prince. I do love David Bowie, however, and upon listening to Young Americans, I felt that 1999 took a lot of influence from Bowie. I don't know how to feel about this. Good album, but not my favorite of his.

Really enjoyed this album, great melodies, loving the bit a jazz and even better when not expecting much

Soul multiinstrumentado, con típico aire ya ochentero, adelantándose ya a su tiempo, y con un saxo que recorre todo el disco que no sé si me encanta o lo odio. Buen trabajo, se escucha y se disfruta muy bien.

David Bowie does soul. This has to be a full album experience. Definitely has some good grooves on this.

I definitely vibed with this one. I think my fave song was young americans...?

Zitten schijven bij vooral right was een toffe ontdekking

Never been my favourite Bowie album but it hit right today. Except the shit Across the Universe cover

I adore "Across the Universe" in its very many forms by the Beatles, but I have to admit this version took a bit for me to get used to. I think Bowie's vocals are just so distinct that they don't always work super well with everything. Regardless, this album was pretty damn good. The instrumentals were extremely solid and I enjoyed the listen.

Not my favorite from Bowie but it is a great reinvention of soul and my favorite song on the album was “Fame”.

Classic

Great album!

Favourite songs Young Americans and Right

Second Bowie record for me on this list and I really enjoy the funky and soulful approach he took. Great sax solos and catchy tunes.

good album, had heard a few songs. I generally like Bowie.

Enjoyable listen. Couple of tracks I immediately loved, #1 and #3. This might be the start of a long, beautiful friendship with Bowie albums!

Of course it’s good it’s bowie but it doesn’t compare to the earlier heights of hunky dory/ziggy stardust/aladdin sane. 4/5

I mean yeah this is great, feel the soul and funk and 70s influences and takes you on a journey as an album. There's a lot of Bowie in this list but this one is justified. strong 4

Young Americans is actually one of the only Bowie albums I'd already heard before this list. (Lodger was the only other one) There's a lot I appreciate about this album. It's really well paced. There are a few all time favorites and a few new favorites this time around as well. Across the Universe was already one of my favorite Beatles songs and I totally forgot he covered it here. It doesn't get much more solid than this album. Will absolutely buy it on vinyl. 4.5

Favorites: -Young Americans -Somebody Up There Likes Me -Can You Hear Me?

Listened to in the car to Vermont. Will listen again

Un altibajos de canciones de bowie, donde los altos son altisimos y los bajos zafan. La primera cancion me bolo la cabeza. 7/10

Not a big Bowie fan, but this has to be his best album right? It’s definitely my favorite. If I had to pick one of his for this list, it’d be this one.

Lovely listen!

Trip. Awesome experience (81%)

Not my favourite Bowie album and the original is better than the remaster but still a solid 3.5 stars

Bowie is generally overrated as a musician, but this album shines with it's R&B sound. Young Americans, Fame, and Across the Universe are enjoyable. The Blues/Rock feel on a few others is fun as well. And Luther is apparently on this album too!

david bowie is always top, personnaly i prefer hunky dorie, and ziggy stardust, but this one was also adorable

There's a freshness to this album that wasn't on Diamond Dogs. It sounds modern and forward thinking, even in 2023. The change of location clearly worked. Bowie was such a sponge for soaking up whatever was around him at the time. The album sounds like a time lapse. It doesn't appear to have a start, a middle or an ending. It carries you along without plodding. This would be five stars, but Fame has always dragged ever so slightly for me.

OK, I get that this is not one of Bowie's exemplary works. Despite that, I couldn't help but enjoy a majority of the LP. Soul and funk is a different angle for Bowie, and some of it doesn't quite work out ("Can You Hear Me" and "Right" were fairly average inclusions), with the backup vocals throughout the LP being a question mark. Bowie himself assessed it as “Plastic Soul,” and his assessment is mostly correct. In most senses, this album is a poor interpretation of American soul music. Needless to say, the title track is a fun intro, "Across the Universe" is a quality cover, and "Fame" still goes hard. I would return to this, despite enjoying it probably more than I should given Bowie's labeling of his own work.

It’s good, not perfect. Young Americans is great, Fame is an awesome tune, Across the Universe as well. Right is definitely about butt stuff though right? 3.5 stars

Superrr

As someone who is not an enthusiast of either Bowie nor soul music as such, I don’t care much for the debates around authenticity that surround this record. All I know is this album fucking slaps. Bowie settles surprisingly well in the soul/funk genre, which was slightly jarring at first. Like I say, I am not Bowie’s greatest fan. But to make a statement like this, such a radical departure from what his fans were expecting by this point, and do it successfully is testament to something truly enigmatic. “Fascination” and “Fame” are standouts, but overall I just love the way Bowie streamlines (some would say “dilutes”) the sometimes pedestrian structures of soul music. It’s not a masterpiece to me, but it is significant in the trajectory of this most unique artist. Finally, a Bowie record I really truly like.

Dit was erg tof!

Lekker swingen met David! Love it.

Good album, class first 4 songs. Bowie always bangs. Pas mal. Young Americans song slaps

Yup

70s Jazzy-Funk Bowie isn't my favorite, but it's still Bowie. Fame is my favorite off this album with John Lennon on backup vocals.

De l'androgyne rock extrêmement bien exécuté. L'album dressera un tableau ultraréaliste d'une jeunesse américaine prise en sandwich entre le soda et le baseball. Très sympa.

All killer with no filler! They're all great songs and a fantastic version of the Beatles "Across the Universe" 1975 didn't sound any better ;)

Yet again Bowie shows he was years before his time. Such a change from RAFOZS and only two years in between. Fame is just top, top tier. Got to say though, I really don’t like the Across The Universe Cover, but he’s allowed a slip every now and then.

Never heard fascination before, quality song. Only the 2nd bowie album i've listened to other than compilations, disgrace. Fame as the final track was boss.

Bowie is the man He’s a fucking alien I bloody love him Haiku for the Starman

Quite a good Bowie album. I didn't know he co-wrote Fame with John Lennon until just now. The funk influences are strong. I liked it.

I hate that I liked this. You lot knew I would. 3.5, rounding up to 4.

not the kind of bowie i really dig but bowie’s gold even when he’s not

Bowie could do anything, including this funky music. Ashame of the raping of Across The Universe and no Blackstart/Ziggy/Earthling but 4 stars easily.

David you are not American

like it was good, it just wasn’t anything special in my opinion

Some classic sounds

4.5

8/10

Young Americans (the song) has a great upbeat start with the funky sax. The chorus is great on that one. Overall I liked the feel of this album. It's a great album to lift your mood

Mixed feelings when I drew this one. I’m sure David Bowie loved a lot of young Americans. It was pretty good but I didn’t listen to it to deeply, and I feel like I should listen again.

Great tunes, but just over played in my opinion

Bowie's soul/R&B era. Really cool album, songs like Young Americans and Fame are such bangers.

I really liked this album. It may be heavily influenced by real soul and r&b artists but I still found Bowie's interpretation technically excellent. The Beatles cover was a weak point in an otherwise strong album.

Finally a Bowie album that I really enjoyed.

Young Americans sees David Bowie leave glam rock behind and fully embrace funk and soul. This album is explosive and fun, showing Bowie at a transitionary period before he fully launched his experimental phase with the Berlin trilogy. John Lennon’s contributions are noteworthy, but Bowie’s chameleon like nature is what makes this album great.

Young Americans is like a sandwich where the bread is just absolutely delectable, enchanting. Not that the insides are bad, but just that by comparison, the bread of this album—being opener "Young Americans" and closer "Fame" in this half-baked metaphor—are out of this world. Some of the best bread I've ever had. Seriously. This album is also great because it's got Bowie exploring deeper into funk and soul and then weirdly, simultaneously manages to be a strange Beatles crossover album with John showing up on Bowie's rendition of "Across the Universe" and of course (famously) on the ever-groovy "Fame." Young Americans also boasts Bowie's sexiest appearance on an album cover. I feel like he was doing a bit with this pose, but damn does he look good. The sparkle in his bracelet, the hair light, the thin plume of smoke from the cigarette...so good. There are other highlights in this sandwich for sure. "Win" is weird and groovy. I do like where he takes "Across the Universe," but wouldn't necessarily listen to it over the original. "Right" is super funky. And "Somebody Up There Likes Me" is fantastic. Not his best, but certainly a classic.

Opens with one of the greatest songs of all time. Ends with a great song. Some very good to passable material in between. Truly, a sandwich with some fucking family heirloom sourdough starter bread right there. Let's go back to the first song. This is one of those songs that packs the same punch as an hourlong session with your long lost childhood therapist. Whenever I hear that drum intro and piano glissando I am on my feet and ready to play the air saxophone. Beyond a 5 star song, elevating the whole rest of the album.

Somebody!

I was excited to see one of what I would assume are multiple David Bowie albums on this list! The thing about being a legend is that your great songs sound just good next to the brightest gem. That is what seems to happen in this album. It's good, but it's not Bowie's best - I'd say say far from it, but I was pleased by the consistent sound (the background vocals really help with this). I was also shocked to see Fascination, one of my favorite Bowie songs, as one of the songs with fewer listens!

Should be more critically acclaimed

- Heard this before - Nowhere near my favourite Bowie, but it's 70s David Bowie so it's an automatic 4* - Fav songs: Young Americans, Right, Fame

Yay more Bowie.

Good Bowie album. There’s better but good the title track stands out the most

i love it

Pretty Iconic stuff. Great grooves and social commentary

I have always though of this as a tribute to Philly International. As with most tributes, there is the line between homage and appropriation. People spend a lot of time discussing Bowie's shifts. The move from Diamond Dogs to what was referred to as "plastic soul" was so abrupt that many focus on the shift as opposed to the music. At times Bowie seems to be doing this himself - showing off in a way. Removed from that narrative, the music is very good. I prefer Station to Station as a whole, but the high points here are exceptional (Fascination, Fame, Young Americans).

David bowie har swag!

I was ready to rag on this for being inessential Bowie and not needing to be on this list but, as it turns out, it’s actually a good album. Still didn’t need to be on this list

Helt trevligt att lyssna på.

It’s not the Thin, White Duke’s best, or even top 5 album.

Tres cool album, du coup je suis allé écouter plus de sons de lui et il est vraiement trop fort 4.5/5

Was a really good album to listen to, musicalities where sometimes really funky but also sometime chill. Also the vocals made it seem like it was not a bowie's album which was refreshing. 4/5

Fascination Fame Across the universe

Good listen

the mid sections isn't as strong as the beginning or end song but as a whole is real groovy

Mira, no es mi favorito de DB, pero tiene a Fame y Young Americans, así que 4 estrellas.

Thoroughly enjoyed. Always loved “Fame”. After hearing “Win” now I know where Beck got the inspiration for “Debra”.

Our 6th Bowie album!

Never listened to it in full before but really enjoyed it

Good and funky

A very high 4

Not my favorite Bowie album, probably my fourth or fifth favorite album from 1975. Highlights are the two hits, "Fame" and the title track. Lowlight is the unnecessary "Across The Universe" cover. 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4).

Damn! Those opening notes are just so damn iconic. I assumed that I've heard this album in its entirety but yet all the songs in between Young Americans and Fame were unfamiliar. How in the world have I reached this age and not known Bowie did a cover of Across the Universe!? And Luther Vandross on this album! Also no idea. Hearing Bowie's Beatles' cover was a real joy for me. Bowie's interpretation and intonations reminded me again why I love that song so much. Everything in between Young Americans and Fame is just OK. Hard to say if it's just OK because those two songs are just so damn great. I can't rate this a 3 because it's Bowie and because of the bookend songs. I'd probably give it a 3.8.

This is a fun album! My favorite Bowie so far, still missing a special something that I can’t put my finger on. I dig the American though

i was slightly disappointed by this album, and i’m not really sure why. bowie is always good, and i liked his use of soul music, but there was something missing. i didnt love the beatles cover, even though that seems to be the focal point of the album. it’s a 4, but a weak 4 for me

ikkje da besta av bowie men ikkje da versta heller

I will forever be a Bowie fan. This is probably one of his most accessible albums for new fans as well.

Young Americans is an all timer

Bowie's genre break album, an outstanding interpretation of his own for soul music.

Probably the 'least best' of Bowie's mid- to late-70s albums, but still far ahead of most other artists of the time.

I only ever knew Fame off of this album, which is still such a bop. But the rest is still really groovy. Across The Universe is so good.

I swear his voice was at its peak here. Nothing like a mountain of cocaine to add character. His Beatles cover is in the running for worst of all time, although I think that accolade goes to John Farnham for his histrionic attempt at "Help." Despite the critical love for the boring Berlin trilogy this is his last good album until Scary Monsters. I was debating whether it was 4 or 5 stars, but that dismantling of "Across The Universe" knocks it down a peg.

"Young Americans" is the ninth studio album by David Bowie and was a transition to more soul and R&B from glam rock. It was called "blue-eyed soul" or as Bowie put it "plastic soul." The album was recorded at the end of "The Diamond Dog's" tour in both Philadelphia and NYC. Bowie recruited musicians and singers with two of the more prominent ones being Luther Vandross and guitarist Carlis Alomar. It also brought back producer Tony Viscoti who last worked with Bowie on "The Man Who Sold the World." The album got and still gets mixed critical reviews. "Young Americans" starts the album with horns and prominent background singers giving it definitely a soulful feel. The lyrics are great tongue-in-cheek with trying to attain the great American dream - Ford Mustangs and a Barbie doll and all you get is a divorce and alimony. "Win" has more of a soulful, jazzy and smooth feel, something Bowie would fully realize on "Blackstar." This sounds like an early 80's Prince song. "Fascination" takes it in a funky direction influenced by a Luther Vandross song "'Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)." Horns, the funky keyboards, background singers, Bowie's vocals: this is where the "plastic soul" totally works. "Right" starts off taking a middle ground between the last two songs with respect to funk and jazz. The song really starts to work the longer the listen and really gets the groove going. My favorite song on the first side. "Somebody Up There Likes Me" begins the second side with strong sax by David Sanborn. The song has a darker tone with lyrics appearing to be about fame and its repercussions. Bowie really goes all out with soulfully-stressed vocals. I am not sure Bowie added anything to the Beatles' cover of "Across the Universe." Although, John Lennon is in the backing vocals. The extended jam ending the song...Why? "Take It In Right" Is a song Bowie had written for Lulu and then recorded it as "Can You Hear Me?" after she failed to use it. Great strings, background vocals and sounds like a late 70's R&B pop single. The album ends with "Fame" and a great guitar riff by Carlos Alomar; this is where Bowie and Visconti really succeed with that funky groove and production. Apparently, contributions from John Lennon as well. This ends the album with the same way it started and the disillusion of fame and success. I don't know where I'd rank this album in the Bowie catalog. It's highs are great with "Fame," "Fascination" and "Young Amercians" and pretty low to me with that Beatles' cover. This is one of those albums I'd have to give more listens and time for a final assessment. Hats off to him for going after that soulful and R&B album which mostly succeeds. And with most Bowie, at the very least, it's an interesting listen!

This is a Classic. Smooth and assured- Jazzy and cool. Neatly framed by the two hits.

Having laid Ziggy Stardust to rest, David Bowie turns his exacting gaze to the world of blue-eyed soul. Full of swagger, biting lyrics, and a loose jam-like atmosphere.

I love David Bowie. This album is very enjoyable.

This was my introduction to Bowie. This album feels Paul McCartney-like. The songs are a bit longer than usual pop songs. The first song feels very generic, but it does switch up a little in the middle. It also has a Beatles reference. It's nothing complex. It's easy-listening. I like the "hints" of saxophone. The effects on the sax on track 3 are neat. Fourth track has a clavinet on it, the funky bastard. The track is groovy as hell even if it only uses two chords. David knows how to build on one song. The fifth track has a strange chord progression. The string synth plays quite a strange melody in the "chorus". Probably the most progressive song on the record. The sixth track is a melancholy bluesy-country song with an acoustic guitar. It's a song that sticks out of the album the most. The chord progressions are just wonderful. The second last song has real strings. Sounds like it would have been played at the end of a prom night. It has key changes in it which sound pleasant. Also the sax is appreciated. The "take-it-in-right" has a nice upward melody, first sung later played on the strings. This is the first and only song which doesn't fade out. The album ends on a very funky note with a song that has a distored electric guitar, which doesn't really take control of the song, instead it gives it texture. Also there's some experimentation at the end with pitched vocals and a reversed piano. A very swingy song. It's a decent, funky record. The timbres on the album are well chosen. I was never a fan of songs fading out. The album is nothing extraordinary in my opinion. If you like Paul McCartney and funk, you should like this.

Funky. Calm. Good vibes. Sexy. Like it

Noice

Love Bowie.

first real listen to any of bowie's stuff in a meaningful way. really have no way to contextualize it in his discography or the time period but it bangs, some songs i didnt care for but the ones i did bridge the gap on the project more or less

Hard-hitting bass lines, layered vocals, and Bowie's usual charm deliver nearly 60 minutes of groovy soul-funk-art-pop goodness.

Call this whatever you like. A blue eyed soul phony. A sell out. An experimental transitional period. Regardless of your thoughts, this is another excellent entry in Bowie's prime. Not a masterpiece, but Bowie gives an excellent performance, the production is fantastic, and I find the gospel back vocals and funky instrumental to be interesting and never too generic. We also have the famous tracks "Young Americans" and "Fame." Nowhere near the best or my favorite Bowie album, but nevertheless incredible.

Not my favorite DB, but thanks to 1001 albums I have discovered that I really like his music.

Young Americans é clássico. Fame tem um baixo bem gostoso de ouvir.

Fabulous album. Would have first heard the single young americans when I was 13 and liked it then (although probably liked his glam stuff more). YA plus Fame still sound great, I really like the cover of Across the Universe (never heard this before) and Right and Someone up there likes me are also worth a repeated listen

listened to again it's good

er ikkje så glad i young americans songen

Some Bowie is hit or miss. This was a hit!

Great record

Olis varmaan pitäny antaa Ziggy Stardustille 5/5, kun tääkin on nyt 4/5 mutta sitä huonompi. Pehmeää Bowieta, toimiihan tämä.

David Bowie pourrait faire un album de pets et j’aimerais ça. 😂 En fait c’est comme un exercice de style mais sa touche rend le tout intéressant. Ce n’est pas son meilleur album, mais ça s’écoute très bien. Young Americans et Fame sont des incontournables.

Hmm, 5 Bowie albums and this is my first as I continue my journey backwards currently at 199. 5 in the first 200 albums. I do enjoy Bowie and Young Americans and Fame are great tracks. But this album doesn't fully grab me.

What's this?? Me not immediately slapping a 5 on our first Bowie album? I ADORE this album, there are bops from start to finish, attempting to sing all of the bits from Right all at once is one of my favourite past times, songs like Young Americans and Fame are absolutely top tier, BUT!!! I think it's just a little bit off from the other Bowie albums on this list! (also the cover of Across the Universe has always grated me a little bit, perhaps I've been spoiled by the Fiona Apple version which will always be my favourite version)

Awesome!

Bowie's Funk/Soul record. I love the singles. A pretty good listen all the way through. Not my favorite Bowie record.

Some brilliant tracks, not quite 10/10 for me though.

Few can make a sax sound cool on a rock album, but by jove Bowie’s done it!

Great album! Who doesn’t like Fame. Why didn’t the album start with that song? Also, Bowie makes saxophones sound good unlike Springsteen.

It's Bowie! - First in I am sure a list of. Didn't really care for the cover of Across The Universe, Young Americans and Fame are just standard classics now but I like Win quite a lot as well.

Not sure why i was surprised to enjoy it so much. Great stuff

When this album came out I would have given it 5 stars. But now that it's been out 47 years the novelty has worn off. The high lights out weigh the mediocre here. With the worst song being "Across The Universe" Other wise a splendid time for all

Another solid David Bowie album. This one is more pop heavy and nothing too crazy but it’s succinct and enjoyable. A good cover of a Beatles song and a couple of classics on this. Bowie is pretty special when it comes to consistent albums. 7.9/10

Bowie's "plastic soul" album was overall just a fun album to listen to. You can hear the R&B and Soul influences, and yet it also sounds very Bowie. There isn't a track on the album that feels out of place! Definitely recommend listening!

Amazing album by Bowie.

There's so charming about this record. Not this best, but pretty solid. Bowie can't miss!

A much stronger album than I thought. There's four or five really first-rate songs on the two biggies plus fascination, win and Right. 4 🌟

Nobody did it better than Bowie. 4.5/5

A few amazing songs, but feels flat in a lot of places

Classic Bowie

Oh hell yes. Young Americans is a GROOVE. This whole album is a great reinvention of Bowie out of the glam and into soul. again proves that Bowie is the ultimate musical chameleon. The Across The Universe cover is killer. Fame is a great funk closer.

Better than I was expecting. Kind of funky, bits of disco, and not as cheesy as I thought. Beatles cover not for me though...

"Have been the un-American? (ooh) Just you and your idol sing falsetto (ooh) 'Bout Leather, leather everywhere, and Not a myth left from the ghetto Well, well, well, would you carry a razor (ooh) In case, just in case of depression? (ooh) Sit on your hands on a bus of survivors Blushing at all the Afro-Sheeners Ain't that close to love? Well, ain't that poster love? Well, it ain't that Barbie doll Her hearts have been broken just like you" (Young Americans) "Wear your wound with honor, make someone proud Someone like you should not be allowed To start any fires" (Win) No es de los discos de Bowie que más me gustan, pero sigue siendo estupendo y yo me voy a pasar pensando en la cita de "Win" el resto del día.

Can't go wrong with Bowie. "Young Americans" is such a good song. I might actually like this album more than Hunky Dory. I can't choose which song is the best. "It's Gonna Be Me" Is actually so good. Need more time to think about this one. High, high 4

Album gustoso. David magnetico.

It might not be his greatest, but it's very good

I have loved David Bowie since I was a child (he’s my most scrobbled artist at over 8k) and the Young Americans album has only gotten better with time. It is a frequent go-to for me. Also, “Fame” on great headphones is an experience.

Well it is certainly obvious the stark themes of Bowie albums. This is certainly funk and soul and I certainly liked it a lot and enjoyed listening to some news ones to me. A couple blurred in a bit for me, hard differentiate, which is why its a 4*

classic vibes

Ofboðslega góð plata ! Kom mér eiginlega á óvart hvað platan í heild sinni var góð!

It's ridiculous really... Any other artist, and this would be a career high. With Bowie it might just scrape the top 10 (better than Heathen, worse than Earthling...) It's a bit fixed in its tempo, too much sax, not enough invention. It's almost as if cocaine affects quality control. However, with Bowie this means a four star album - if you compare with Oasis or the Stone Roses who went from 5 stars to 1 in the space of an album for the same reason it's a testament to his talent! Ultimately, the only track I'd make my first choice to listen to off this album is Fame. There's more great stuff on there, but that's it - Bully for you, chilly for me.

Yndislegt stöff <3

Classic and amazing.

not my favorite bowie album but its great

Cool smooth Bowie with very little lowlights. Fame is an absolute banger👌🙌

Everything sounds like goodbye moonmen

First Bowie album since I've started. The Sax player and the backup singers definitely earned their paycheques on this album. Opens with Young Americans, closes with Fame, and then in between are songs most people may not be familiar with. Overall this album is less "weird" Bowie and more songs that would be considered traditional 80s jazzy/soulful rock ballads. Didn't like the Beatles cover, the original has a great dreamlike tone and this one there's a lot of force behind which I don't think translates well. Overall good album.

I was never a big David Bowie fan, but I can't deny he was a musical genius. This album is from his "plastic soul" days, but I think the plastic soul label is a bit misleading as these songs are quality work. Didn't care for the cover of Across the Universe, which is one of my all-time favorite songs, but otherwise good stuff. Play that funky music white boy! 4 stars.

Not peak peak Bowie, but still peak Bowie.

A great Bowie album. I enjoy the foray into plastic/blue eyed soul.

Bowie does "plastic soul"? Yeah, I'm here for it! I do love an artist that explores different genres, and Bowie's somewhat of an archetype in that area. Fave track - "Fame" is awesome, obvs. The overwrought cover of "Across the Universe" is good for a laugh. "John, I'm Only Dancing" is a bonus track, but it's great, so I'm mentioning it...

I’m a bigger fan of the Thin White Duke than other Bowies, but Luther Vandross was a backup singer on this album. I mean, damn.

I love Bowie. This one is a good one, can't wait for his next in the list. He was just showing off on this album. What an artist.

Fame was the outstanding track for me but I did enjoy the album so low 4*

This was pretty good

It's David bowie. It's a 4 event if It's garbage. This one is not garbage.

grande bowie

Man, there' s a lot of juicy sax on this album. And a trippy Beatles cover. And even a John Lennon collab. This is about as 70s Bowie as it gets.

Not one of my favourite Bowie albums (except for the title track, which I love) but still better than most albums or there.

Good!

Surprisingly loved this one.

Bowie in transition. Always surprised he didn't stick with this sound for a couple more albums being as it was successful commercially, but he just kept on mutating. This is like a sort of musical palette cleanser between main courses/phases of his career. Also, definitely worth pairing this with the "Gouster" outtakes of the same period from the "Who Can I Be Now" box set.

Bowie doing Philly soul? What's not to like?

Love Bowie but prefer Diamond Dogs.

Love a bit of Bowie, sounds quite experimental for its time. Not my favourite album of his but still got some great tunes on there.

This is a different type of Bowie album. It is still really good.

Very enjoyable. Title track is great, other songs are slightly below it quality-wise but are still quite good. Overall good album I will definitelly return to.

If you refer to my Heroes review you’ll note my assertion that Young Americans is one of my fave Bowie albums. So now you’re thinking, ‘alright big shot, pull down your kecks and swing it for us.’ The real charm of this is the whole thing is so damned fun. It all feels like a big old celebration. There are some beautiful soul like backing vocals across the whole thing. It’s hella 80s but doesn’t feel stuck in the time or formulaic. I’ve gotta be in a certain mood to stick this on so it doesn’t make a 5 as I believe 5s must transcend moods.

Always interesting and the title track is all timer. Demented cover of Across The Universe also a positive

Never got into all of Bowie's stuff but his hits are timeless.

Canvi de paradigma per Bowie, que malgrat les novetats i la influència de les drogues continua inspirat al màxim i en plena època per emmarcar dins la seva carrera. N'hi haurà millros discos abans i després, però continua sent dels més reivindicables de la seva carrera

I was a little disappointed by this compared to Ziggy Stardust, but it was still a very good album. 8/10

Even though this isn't the genre I typically listen to, the energy of this album made me want to get up and dance. Particularly liked the trumpet/brass instruments and the powerful vocals.

It's not one of his most iconic albums but but I do like a bit of Bowie. Nothing mindblowing but a solid, enjoyable album that I'd probably buy if I came across in a charity shop

Fame is my favourite song, I think I might do it for karaoke. Maybe not. But I love the lush American glam vibe Bowie has in this album of the late 70s. V sexy.

Classic, not one of my favourites but I love the sound of this Bowie era.

Can’t go wrong with Bowie

Cool. Bowie exudes cool throughout this whole record. Lots of funk, soul and jazz influences on every track. Plus, we get a Beatles cover AND a Beatle!

Not my favourite Bowie, but still good Bowie

It's Bowie, what more can you say

Bowie does soul. Solid album! “Fame” is a banger and a half!

Certainly a solid Bowie album. 8.4/10 Best Tracks: "Young Americans" "Fame"

Really liked this, love the title track and Fame. Didn't like the cover of Across the Universe, but the drums on it were good

Good. Not the best Bowie has to offer course- heavily funk influenced some songs were forgettable though

Not my favorite entry of Bowie's, but blue-eyed soul Bowie is more than a novelty. He does the genres justice, and I think blends R&B, Soul, and Rock typically deftly, even if the songwriting isn't on par with previous or subsequent records. I love it, but it's without a doubt a cocaine-driven transitional record between the Ziggy era and the Berlin Years-two iterations i prefer to this one. Fascination stood out to me as a forgotten bop.

Blue eyed soul and plastic funk. Best Tracks, Young Americans, Somebody Up There Likes Me , Fame.

David Sanborn really adds a lot to the album from the very first song. His licks in the background make the song so much better. Although I didn’t dislike any songs, so though Win was kind of boring. Fascination is a great funk song and I love the effects on the sax. The cover of Across the Universe is good although I don’t like it as much as the Beatles version. Favorite songs: Young Americans, Fascination, Somebody up There Likes Me, Fame Least favorite song: Win Decent 8/10

The regular hits are great, plus I really like the song Win. Apparently not a well-liked Bowie album but considered very influential.

A Bowie high mark

Released in 1975 it moved away from Glam and you can hear influences from blues, soul mixed with rock origins. Standout tracks for me title track and Fame.

Fine? Spotify didn’t have all of it. Not sure I love Fame from that album

Already have listened❤️

Loved it! Great stuff!

this album straight fucks

Not really my jam, but a couple good tunes

It's Bowie. It's good.

4.2 classic Bowie, 2 songs I couldn’t listen to

Este Bowie es mucho más fácil de consumir y me gusta mucho. Buenos arreglos con el piano y el sax. No todas las canciones son extraordinarias, resaltan para mi Right y Fascination. Young Americans y Fame son las obligadas y eso es la mitad del disco ya, sin embargo el cover de Across no me encanta y las demás están bien. 4 estrellas.

loved his cover of across the universe.

Bowie is always great

Half good

The hits from this album are as big as ever but I’m surprised by some that I hadn’t ever heard. “Right” is great, funky bass and rhythm. No Ziggy on this one. For better or worse. 4.5

Finding out that a) I know more Bowie than I realized and b) he’s got a haunting sound similar to that of Jeff Buckley...

More "funk" than other Bowie. The saxaphone is smooth and not as piercing. Easy listening compared to what I usually listen to..

Good, not my kind of album

Started out this album thinking what is it with Bowie and this kind of jazzy overproduced pop, why is this the huge deal but as a whole it really is such an iconic rock sound of it's era. Superb deceptively simple lyrics too.

Could’ve been a 5 if not for that Across The Universe massacre

Aunque Bowie es raro creo que este disco es el mas raro, su incursión por la música dominada por Afroamericanos es magnífica. Si no fuera por su peculiar voz y estilo ni me hubiera percatado de que era un disco de Bowie. Gran disco y deja claro lo multifacético que era el cabrón.

Es un gran disco que en primer lugar demuestra la capacidad de Bowie de prácticamente cambiar de género y seguir haciendo algo que suena perfecto. En lo personal me gusta más la época de Glam o Rockandroll, pero de todas maneras el sonido de R&B, Soul y Funk que trae este disco es una chulada. Me encanto el cover a Across The Universe porque transofrma una canción que es hippie y con su onda hindú a algo totalmente Soul súperelaborado. Por otro lado, Fame tiene un algo, que no sé identificar, que hace que me caiga mal.

Soulful

Classic.

Funky, cool, classic Bowie.

Favorite so far. Short and sweet, only 8 songs. I'd heard the title track, fame, and the original 'across the universe'. I like all those a lot, otherwise the album was average. More upbeat rock then the other albums I've gotten

Funky, First Bowie listening experience too late in life. Didn't know what to expect but weird, creepy, psychedelic vibes are working for me

My kind of Bowie. You can see where Elastica got some of their inspiration from

This was a good listen but some of the funky tracks were a little same-sounding to each other

This is probably my favorite Bowie album.

7.5/10 Ft: fascination