This entire Young Americans album is from Bowie's R&B/Soul phase and most of it was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, The home of the Sound of Philadelphia. That was saxophone great David Sanborn and Carlos Alomar on guitar (he played guitar in the Apollo house band). Luthor Vandross sang backup and did the vocal arrangements for the album and credited Bowie for giving him his first big break. The whole album is incredible including Fascination, Right, Somebody Up There Likes Me and the magnificent Fame. My favorite Bowie album!
This was the first hit record that Luther Vandross was on. He was one of the backup singers and he arranged all the backing vocal parts. I don't know what you thought you heard, but the line that seemed to raise your eyebrows was "Have you been the un-American? / Just you and your idol sing falsetto / 'bout Leather, leather everywhere / And not a myth left from the ghetto" The song doesn't have any slurs or anything, but there is definitely mention of race, as the whole Young Americans LP was a concept album about "Plastic Soul" which is what he called white attempts to capture the magic of African American music - this case, the song was a direct tribute to the Philly Soul sound that was so huge at the time (and which immediately preceded Disco). Unlike a lot of "Blue Eyed Soul" artists, he wasn't striving for authenticity or mimicry. He was making social commentary on how white artists colonize black creations - and he still ended up being one of the first white artists to star on Soul Train. Mentioning the show in the lyrics probably helped. It was all pretty heady stuff in an era when white people "talking jive" was seen as solidarity and racial colorblindness was considered allyship.
Really good analysis: thank you. I’d add that the idol and leather references relate to Elvis. Bowie wrote “Golden Years” with Elvis in mind as the singer. And it all circles back to Elvis appropriating Black music.
Last night I watched the movie about the artist jean-Michel Basquiat.David Bowie play the role of Andy Warhol. If you’ve never seen it, you should. so many amazing actors and the director was Julian Schobel. Who is also a famous artist.
Bowie married to Iman from 95-2016.... Ran with John Lennon during lost weekend and dropped in on Macca. Pleasant visit. Allegedly talked about forming Super Groupvduring visit.... then fizzled out with no action.
Check out Led zeppelin Dazed and Confused During the interview, Bowie directly confronted MTV's lack of diversity in its programming, stating: "I'm just floored by the fact that there are so few black artists featured... Why is that?"
For Bowie soul and funk: Try cuts from Bowie's Young Americans album with Luther Vandross back-up singers and David Sanborn on killer alto saxophone, like Somebody Up There Likes Me, Win, Fascination, Right and Can You Hear Me. [Luther and David both on Dick Cavett talk-show video...and Bowie did Soul Train video] ...Also Carlos Alomar funk on Secret Life of Arabia (Heroes album). … Sample his Let’s Dance album produced by Chic’s Nile Rogers (and it’s all good!). From Station to Station album: Stay. Also Black Tie, White Noise with Al B. Sure.…Tonight with Tina Turner (also with him in one of her concert videos)... Knock on Wood (David Live, 1975). “1984” (Sounds like “Shaft.” Recorded by Bowie, later by Tina Turner) A friend of the the Black community - complained to MTV about Black videos being relegated to early morning. Married to Somali super-model Iman.
GREAT 75 ALBUM ( YOUNG AMERICANS ) ACE!😊MY FAVORITE BOWIE ALBUM AND ALSO THE SAME ALBUM THAT HAS THE BIG HIT ( FAME ) 👍THIS WAS HIS ALBUM RIGHT AFTER HIS GR88888 CONCEPT 74 ALBUM ( ZIGGY STARDUST ) TYPE IT INTO ( GENIUS ) ACE AND CHECK IT OUT! 😊
Ace, you ought to read the lyrics. I did, and if I'm right about the word you're referring to, then it's not in the lyrics. It's easy to mistake some words of a song, in any of the Rock genres. That's why it's important to read the lyrics, so as not to mistake what is said, for what we think was said. Thanks.
