Let's Dance (David Bowie album)

Untitled

David Bowie scored his first truly commercial blockbuster with Let's Dance (1983), a slick dance album with co-production by Chic's Nile Rodgers. It was a departure from Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) for which Bowie received a bit of inside criticism; rather than joining the musical revolt against 1980s dance music, he had definitely joined the scene. Its title track has become a standard, and the album also featured the singles "Modern Love" and "China Girl", the latter causing something of a stir due to its suggestive promotional video. Oddly enough, "China Girl" was actually a new version of a song which Bowie had co-written with Iggy Pop for The Idiot. Let's Dance is also notable as a stepping stone for the career of the late Texan guitar virtuoso Stevie Ray Vaughan, who played on the album.

Track listing

All songs written by David Bowie except China Girl lyrics and music by David Bowie and Iggy Pop, Criminal World lyrics and music by Peter Godwin, Duncan Browne and Sean Lyons, Cat People lyrics by David Bowie, music by Giorgio Moroder.

1. "Modern Love" - (4:46)
2. "China Girl" - (5:32)
3. "Let's Dance" - (7:38)
4. "Without You" - (3:08)
5. "Ricochet" - (5:14)
6. "Criminal World" - (4:25)
7. "Cat People" - (5:09)
8. "Shake It" - (3:49)

Production credits

• Producers:
  • David Bowie
  • Nile Rodgers

• Musicians:
  • Carmine Rojas: Bass
  • Omar Hakim, Tony Thompson: Drums
  • Nile Rodgers: Guitar
  • Stevie Ray Vaughn: Lead guitar
  • Rob Sabino: Keyboards
  • Mac Gollehon: Trumpets
  • Robert Arron, Stan Harrison: Tenor, Flute
  • Steve Elson: Baritone, Flute
  • Sammy Figueroa: Percussion
  • Frank Simms, Geoge Simms, David Spinner: Vocals
  • David Bowie, Nile Rodgers: Horn arrangements
  • Bernard Edwards: Bass on Without You