Never Let Me Down (song)

"Never Let Me Down"
Single by David Bowie
from the album Never Let Me Down
B-side	'87 and Cry
Released	August 1987
Format	7"/12" single
Recorded	Mountain Studios, Montreux, Autumn 1986
Genre	Rock/Pop
Length	3:58
Label	EMI EA239
Writer(s)	David Bowie, Carlos Alomar
Producer	David Bowie, David Richards
David Bowie singles chronology
"Time Will Crawl" (1987) "Never Let Me Down" (1987) Tin Machine: "Under the God" (1988) David Bowie: "Fame '90" (1990)
7" Picture Disc Cover EAP 239

"Never Let Me Down" is the title track on David Bowie's album Never Let Me Down. It was issued as the third single from the album in August 1987 – it would be Bowie's last solo single until 1992's "Real Cool World", barring a remix of "Fame".

Jean-Baptiste Mondino directed a dream-like video of a 1950s-style ‘Dance Marathon' for the single, described by at least one critic as "creative and engaging." The single rose to #34 in the UK chart, and #27 in America.

The song is about Bowie's long-time personal assistant, Coco Schwab. Bowie described their relationship, saying "It's platonic. But there is a romance in it, I guess, inasmuch as it's hard for two people to feel totally at ease in each other's company for that period of time and not expect too much from each other. Always being prepared to be there if the other one needs someone, you know? There's not many people you find in life that you can do that with, or feel that way with."

Track listing

• "Never Let Me Down" written by Bowie/Alomar, "'87 and Cry" written by Bowie
• Some releases refer to a "'87 and Cry (Single Version)" while others refer to "'87 and Cry (Edit)"; these are the same version

7": EMI America / EA 239 / EAP 239 (UK)

1. "Never Let Me Down (Album Version)" – 3:58
2. "'87 and Cry (Single Version)" – 3:53

• Note that while the sleeve and label list the title track as a "Single Version," it is in fact the regular album version.
• "'87 and Cry" is the shortened version otherwise found only on the vinyl release of "Never Let Me Down."
• A picture disc (catalogue EAP 239) was released for this single.

MC: EMI America / TCEA 239 (UK)

1. "Never Let Me Down (Album Version)" – 3:58
2. "Day-In Day-Out (Groucho Mix)"
3. "Time Will Crawl (Extended Dance Mix)" - 6:00
4. "'87 and Cry (Edit)" – 3:53

12": EMI America / 12EA 239 (UK)

1. "Never Let Me Down (Extended Dance Mix)" – 7:00
2. "'87 and Cry (Edit)" - 4:18
3. "Never Let Me Down (Dub)" – 3:55
4. "Never Let Me Down (A Cappella)" – 2:03

• "'87 and Cry" was deleted from the 12" in some territories.

12": EMI / V-19255 (US)

1. "Never Let Me Down (Extended Dance Remix)" – 7:00
2. "Never Let Me Down (7" Remix Edit)" - 3:58
3. "Never Let Me Down (Dub)" - 3:55
4. "Never Let Me Down (A Capella)" - 2:03
5. "Never Let Me Down (Instrumental)" - 4:00
6. "'87 and Cry (Edit)" - 3:52

CD: Toshiba-EMI / CP20-5520 (Japan)

1. "Never Let Me Down (Extended Dance mix)" - 6:11
2. "Never Let Me Down (7" remix)" - 3:58
3. "Never Let Me Down (Dub)" - 4:18
4. "Never Let Me Down (A Cappella)" - 5:35
5. "Never Let Me Down (Instrumental)" - 5:14
6. "'87 and Cry (Edit)" - 3:53

CD: EMI America / DPRO-31352 (US)

1. "Never Let Me Down (Edit)"
2. "Never Let Me Down (Extended Dance mix)" - 6:11
3. "Never Let Me Down (Dub)" - 4:18
4. "Never Let Me Down (A Cappella)" - 5:35
5. "Never Let Me Down (Instrumental)" - 5:14
6. "Never Let Me Down (LP version)" - 6:11

• Promo CD

Download: EMI / iEA239 (UK)

1. "Never Let Me Down" – 3:58
2. "'87 and Cry (Edit)" – 3:53
3. "Never Let Me Down (Extended Dance mix)" - 6:11
4. "Never Let Me Down (Dub / A Cappella)" - 5:57
5. "Shining Star (12" Mix)" - 6:27

• released 2007

Production credits

• Producers:
  • David Bowie
  • David Richards

• Musicians:
  • David Bowie: Vocals
  • Carlos Alomar: Guitar
  • Erdal Kizilcay: Bass, Drums, Keyboards
  • 'Crusher' Bennett: Percussion

• Additional musicians on Extended Dance Mix, Dub and Acapella:
  • David Eiland: Alto Sax
  • Steve Hodge: Keyboards
  • Spencer Bernard: Synthesizers

Other releases and appearances

• The song appeared on the following compilations:
  • Bowie: The Singles 1969-1993 (1993) (in some regions)
  • Best of Bowie (2002) (in some regions)

Bowie performed the song on BBC's Top of the Pops on 16 September 1987, and it was aired on the first broadcast of the American version of the show.

Cover versions

• Birth Marc - Ashes to Ashes: A Tribute to David Bowie (1998)

Chart positions

Chart	Position
Canada Singles Chart	9
US Mainstream Rock Tracks	15
US Hot Dance Music/Club Play	17
US Billboard Hot 100	27
UK Singles Chart	34

References

Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5