Young Americans

Untitled

Young Americans is the ninth album by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released by RCA Records in 1975.

With this LP, Bowie made a sudden and jolting step in a new direction, shedding his glam rock past and exploring Philadelphia soul with backing from a pre-fame Luther Vandross. Interviewed in Playboy magazine in 1976, Bowie described Young Americans as "the definitive plastic soul record. It's the squashed remains of ethnic music as it survives in the age of Muzak rock, written and sung by a white limey."

Young Americans contained his first number one hit in the U.S., "Fame", co-written with John Lennon (who also contributed backing vocals). The album also included work from rhythm guitarist Carlos Alomar, who would eventually work with Bowie on ten more studio albums.

Track listing

All tracks are written by David Bowie, except where noted

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Young Americans"	5:10
2.	"Win"	4:44
3.	"Fascination" (Bowie, Luther Vandross)	5:43
4.	"Right"	4:13

Side two

No.	Title	Length
5.	"Somebody Up There Likes Me"	6:30
6.	"Across the Universe" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)	4:30
7.	"Can You Hear Me?"	5:04
8.	"Fame" (Bowie, Lennon, Carlos Alomar)	4:12

CD releases

This album has been re-released on CD four times, with the first being by RCA in 1984, the second in 1991 by Rykodisc (containing three bonus tracks) on silver CD and later on AU20 Gold CD, the third in 1999 by EMI (featuring 24-bit digitally remastered sound and no bonus tracks). A fourth reissue with an accompanying DVD was released on March 19, 2007, in higher sound resolution and mixed in 5.1 surround sound, featuring "Who Can I Be Now?" and "John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)" from the 1991 Rykodisc release, an alternative version of that release's "It's Gonna Be Me" bonus track plus video footage from the Dick Cavett TV show. The Rykodisc and 5.1 surround mixes both replace "Win", "Fascination", and "Right" with alternate mixes from 1974.

1991 reissue bonus tracks

9. "Who Can I Be Now?" – 4:35
10. "It's Gonna Be Me" – 6:29
11. "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)" – 6:58

2007 Collector's Edition bonus tracks

9. "John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)"
10. "Who Can I Be Now?"
11. "It's Gonna Be Me" (alternate version, with strings)
12. "1984" (live on The Dick Cavett Show, DVD only)
13. "Young Americans" (live on The Dick Cavett Show, DVD only)
14. "Dick Cavett Interviews David Bowie" (DVD only)

Personnel

Musicians

• David Bowie – vocals, guitar, piano
• Carlos Alomar – guitar
• Mike Garson – piano
• David Sanborn – sax
• Willie Weeks – bass except on "Across the Universe" and "Fame"
• Andy Newmark – drums except on "Across the Universe" and "Fame"

Additional musicians

• Larry Washington – conga
• Pablo Rosario – percussion on "Across the Universe" and "Fame"
• Ava Cherry, Robin Clark, Luther Vandross – background vocals
• John Lennon – vocals, guitar on "Across the Universe" and "Fame"
• Earl Slick – guitar on "Across the Universe" and "Fame"
• Emir Kassan – bass on "Across the Universe" and "Fame"
• Dennis Davis – drums on "Across the Universe" and "Fame"
• Ralph MacDonald – percussion on "Across the Universe" and "Fame"
• Jean Fineberg – backing vocals on "Across the Universe" and "Fame"
• Jean Millington – backing vocals on "Across the Universe" and "Fame"

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1975	UK Albums chart	2
1975	Billboard Pop Albums	9
1975	Norwegian album chart	13
1975	Australian Kent Report album chart	9

Single

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1975	"Fame"	Billboard Black Singles	21
1975	"Fame"	Billboard Club Play Singles	2
1975	"Fame"	Billboard Pop Singles	1
1975	"Fame"	UK single chart	17
1975	"Fame"	Norway's single chart	9
1975	"Young Americans"	UK single chart	18
1975	"Young Americans"	Billboard Pop Singles	28

Certifications

Organization	Level	Date
RIAA – USA	Gold	July 2, 1975