Fascination (David Bowie song)
"Fascination" | |
---|---|
Song by David Bowie | |
from the album Young Americans | |
Released | 1975 |
Recorded | December 1974 |
Studio | Record Plant, New York City |
Genre | |
Length | 5:43 |
Label | RCA |
Songwriter(s) | David Bowie, Luther Vandross |
Producer(s) | Tony Visconti |
"Fascination" is a song written by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie and the American musician Luther Vandross for Bowie's Young Americans album in 1975. The song originated from a Vandross song called "Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)" which The Mike Garson Band used to play before Bowie concerts in 1974.
An alternate mix appeared on the 1989 Sound + Vision box set, though this was replaced with the original on the 2003 reissue of the compilation.
While Bowie never performed this track live in concert, it was rehearsed for potential inclusion in Bowie's set at the 1985 London Live Aid concert, though, along with "China Girl," it was eventually dropped from his final set list.
Origin
Luther Vandross had written a song entitled "Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)" and was serving as a backup singer to Bowie's live tour in 1974.[1][2][3] Vandross would sing "Funky Music" during the supporting portion of the shows on the tour. Bowie retained Vandross as a backup singer for the sessions of Young Americans.[1] During those sessions Bowie and Vandross reworked "Funky Music" into "Fascination," including mostly brand new lyrics by Bowie, and included it on the album.[1][2] When Bowie asked Vandross for permission to record "Funky Music" himself, Vandross responded "What do you mean 'let' you record it. I'm living in a building with an elevator that barely works and you're asking me to 'let' you record one of my songs."[4] "Fascination" thus became Vandross' first published songwriting credit.[2]
When Vandross formed his own group
Music and lyrics
Bowie biographer Nicholas Pegg describes the music of "Fascination" as "the most unabashed homage to
Pegg describes the lyrics as "opaque."
Reception
Personnel
According to Chris O'Leary and Benoît Clerc:[4][12]
- David Bowie – lead vocal
- Carlos Alomar – rhythm guitar
- Mike Garson – clavinet, piano, organ
- David Sanborn – alto saxophone
- Emir Kassandra – bass guitar
- Andy Newmark or Dennis Davis – drums
- Pablo Rosario – cowbell, shaker
- Luther Vandross, Ava Cherry, Robin Clark, Geoff MacCormack, Anthony Hinton, Diane Sumler – backing vocals
Technical
- Tony Visconti – producer
- Harry Maslin, Carl Paruolo – engineer
Cover versions
References
- ^ ISBN 9780814758366.
- ^ ISBN 9781785655333.
- ISBN 9781617137372.
- ^ ASIN B00VSEQM2C.
- ^ Walters, Barry (April 1987). "Soul God". Spin. p. 33.
- ^ ISBN 9780062024664.
- ^ ISBN 9781448132478.
- ^ ISBN 9780525433866.
- ^ a b Raggett, Ned. "Fascination". Allmusic. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
- ISBN 9780275992453.
- ISBN 0380779668.)
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ISBN 978-0-7624-7471-4.