Young Americans [Remastered] - David Bowie

Advantages: It's David Bowie
Disadvantages: None

...unearthing new talent and a young soul singer the now late Luther Vandross who was called on to be a backing singer, he co-wrote one of the this albums best tracks "Fascination", this album was a calculated attempt after years of relative commercial failure to produce a hit in the American market place, but in doing so Bowie would alienate some of his British audience this is exactly what happen. Looking back with hindsight and with a few miles ...
...a curious album; in places it sounds like an authentic reconstruction of the current music trend at the time and in others an oddity as Bowie's self-conscious jiving betraying a parody of British style, Bowie himself called this album "Plastic Soul". It was during these recording sessions that Bowie would meet a rhythm guitarist who had at one point had played for James Brown, Carlos Alomar would fill the shoes left empty by Mick Ronson and become ... Read review

Advantages: Soul and funk and groove and stuff
Disadvantages: Soul and funk and groove and stuff

...close to not being called Young Americans at all. If you’re interestd, early working titles included: ONE DAMNED SONG SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME FASCINATION THE GOUSTER It just wouldn’t have been the same, would it. Anyway, whilst I like the first two songs very much, the album does not captivate me to the extent that I rip off all my clothes, paint a lightning-streak on my face, and dance wildly around an effigy of David Bowie ...
...I realise you’re disappointed, but I’m afraid your just going to have to live with it. Now if it was Hunky Dory, that would be a different matter… ***THE SONGS*** ~Young Americans~ A great first track that combines a strong melody with some wonderfully convoluted lyrics. Perhaps the strongest song on the album and certainly one of the most accessible. The bouncy, cheerful music contrasts well with the prosaic and disillusioned ... Read review

Advantages: Slick sweet polished
Disadvantages: The production

After relocating to the USA after the dark glam of "Diamond Dogs" The Man ditched his rock and roll sound of the early 70's and moved to a slicker more mature sound, personified in this classy looking and sounding album, recorded for the most part in Philadelhia, the city where Gamble and Huff were producing classic soul music updated a little with better recording equipment. The catchline at the time was supposed to be Bowie making a "photograph ...
...much of this is just PR rubbish or his actual intention is open to question. It's still a classy album to listen to, though let down a little by a rather claustrophobic production. The cover is even lusher, showing a beautifully coiffered Bowie in moody 1950's film star mode. This album is perhaps the finest vocal performance of his career. The two singles, the title track and Fame, get most of the attention. DB's pop at the disgraced Richard Nixon ... Read review

Advantages: Bowie at his peak
Disadvantages: Not one of his best

...big hits were Fame and Young Americans. Before this he was a glam rocker and soon after went to Berlin and worked with Brian Eno on Heroes and Low. So for me it's always been a rather strange and inaccessable record. However, the singles mentioned above are very good and more recently I have come to quite like this album. Partly because I was never particularly familiar with it before. There are some interesting stories about this album, or facts ...
...years ago. The title track Young Americans is a truely great song especially very loud. The other tracks are somewhat sedate in my opinion. I like Can You Hear Me, its slightly doleful ( "can you hear me, can you feel me inside") and rather longing, and very nice for that reason. Win is also good, quite a slow number and very 70's, lots of rising and falling( not sure what the instrument is ). Across The Universe as I said is an old Beatles number ... Read review