10 Great David Bowie Songs
No one in Rock was more consistently influential than David Bowie.
He effectively adopted (and discarded) images (Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane & The Thin White Duke) and styles creating an incredible and varied body of work.
Here is the list of Great Songs:
#10. Space Oddity
It was first released on July 11th, 1969, as the opening track of Bowie’s self-titled second studio album.
#9. Under Pressure w/ Freddie Mercury and Queen
Both Bowie and Queen were recording at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland. Bowie had contributed unused backing vocals for a Queen song before work then began on “Under Pressure.” Queen bassist John Deacon came up with the original riff which was altered during the recording process.
#8, Blue Jean
Written by Bowie for his sixteenth studio album “Tonight” (1984). It was one of only two tracks on the album written entirely by Bowie.
#7. Modern Love
The song, co-produced by Nile Rogers of Chic who had hoped to make a “very noncommercial, avant-garde album” with Bowie. After recoding “Let’s Dance,” the album’s title track, and “Modern Love,” Bowie asked Rodgers to “make (a) great commercial record.
#6. Cracked Actor
The track, written during Bowie’s stay in Los Angeles while on the American leg of the Ziggy Stardust Tour, is from his sixth studio album “Aladdin Sane” (1973).
#5. Fame
Written by Bowie, Carlos Alomar and John Lennon, the song features backing vocals by the former Beatle. Bowie said that Lennon was the “energy” and the “inspiration” for “Fame”, and that’s why he received a co-writing credit. “Fame: became Bowie’s first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
#4. Rebel Rebel
The song has been described as Bowie’s farewell to the Galm Rock movement.
#3. Changes
Released in 1971, it featured Rick Wakeman (Yes) on piano along with the future Spiders From Mars – guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey.
#2. The Jean Genie
The lead single from his 1973 album “Aladdin Sane” it was recorded with his backing band The Spiders From Mars.
#1. Suffragette City
Released in ’72 as the B-side of “Starman,” it subsequently appeared on Bowie’s fifth studio album “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars” (1972).
“Suffragette City” was originally offered to Mott The Hoople who declined it and recorded Bowie’s “All The Young Dudes” instead – which became the band’s biggest commercial success.
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