David Bowie Let’s Dance (1983)

Let's Dance is the fifteenth studio album by David Bowie, released in 1983, with co-production by Chic's Nile Rodgers. The title track of the album became one of Bowie's biggest hit singles, reaching No. 1 in the UK, US and various other countries. Further singles included "Modern Love" and "China Girl", which both reached No. 2 in the UK.
"China Girl" was a new version of a song which Bowie had co-written with Iggy Pop for the latter's 1977 album The Idiot.
The album also contains a rerecorded version of the song "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" which had been a minor hit for Bowie a year earlier. Let's Dance is also notable as a stepping stone for the career of the Texas blues guitar virtuoso Stevie Ray Vaughan, who played on it.
The album was also released as a limited edition picture disc in 1983. Let's Dance has sold at least 7 million copies worldwide, making it Bowie's best-selling album.

Vinyl / LP

A1. Modern Love - Lyrics & Music By – David Bowie 4:46
A2. China Girl - Lyrics & Music By – David Bowie, Iggy Pop 5:32
A3. Let's Dance - Lyrics By & Music By – David Bowie 7:36
A4. Without You (Bass – Bernard Edwards) - Lyrics & Music By – David Bowie 3:09
B1. Ricochet - Lyrics & Music By David Bowie 5:13
B2. Criminal World - Lyrics By, Music By – Duncan Browne, Peter Godwin, Sean Lyons 4:24
B3. Cat People (Putting Out Fire) - Lyrics By David Bowie & Music By – Giorgio Moroder 5:05
B4. Shake It - Lyrics & Music By David Bowie 3:51

CD

Track listing

01 "Modern Love" – 4:46
02 "China Girl" (Bowie, Iggy Pop) – 5:32
03 "Let's Dance" – 7:38
04 "Without You" – 3:08
05"Ricochet" – 5:14
06 "Criminal World" (Peter Godwin, Duncan Browne, Sean Lyons) – 4:25
07 "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" (Lyrics: Bowie; music: Giorgio Moroder) – 5:09
08 "Shake It" – 3:49

Label: EMI America – CDP 7 46002 2
Format: CD, Album, Stereo, PolyGram Hanover
Country: Europe
Released: 1983
All songs written by David Bowie, except where noted.

Reissues

In 1995 Virgin Records re-released the album on CD with "Under Pressure" as a bonus track. EMI did the second re-release in 1999 (featuring 24-bit digitally remastered sound and no bonus tracks).

01. David Bowie– Modern Love 4:49
02. David Bowie– China Girl - Written By David Bowie, Iggy Pop 5:33
03. David Bowie– Let's Dance 7:38
04. David Bowie– Without You - Bass – Bernard Edwards 3:11
05. David Bowie– Ricochet 5:14
06. David Bowie– Criminal World - Written By Duncan Browne, Peter Godwin, Sean Lyons 4:25
07. David Bowie– Cat People (Putting Out The Fire) - Written By David Bowie, Giorgio Moroder 5:11
08. David Bowie– Shake It 3:54
09. David Bowie With Queen– Under Pressure - Producer David Bowie, Queen Written By May*, Bowie*, Mercury*, Deacon*, Taylor* 4:05

Label: Virgin – CDVUS 96, Virgin – 7243 8 40982 2 3
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: Europe
Released: 1995
Note 1: Issued with 8-page booklet containing credits and lyrics
Note 2: In 1998 there was a reissue in the UK which was similar to the 1995 re-release but did not include the bonus track.

The Canadian version of the 1999 EMI release includes a data track, so that when the CD is loaded on a Windows PC, the user is presented with a promotion of internet access services and other premium content from the davidbowie.com website. This marks one of the earliest attempts by a mainstream artist to combine internet and normal promotion and distribution methods.

There was a further reissue in 2003 when EMI released the album as a hybrid stereo SACD/PCM CD.

SINGLE RELEASE

"Lets Dance"

"Modern Love"

"China Girl"

"Without You"

Personnel
Performance
David Bowie – lead vocals, horn arrangements
Carmine Rojas – bass guitar
Omar Hakim, Tony Thompson – drums
Nile Rodgers – guitar, horn arrangements
Stevie Ray Vaughan – lead guitar
Rob Sabino – keyboards
Mac Gollehon – trumpet
Robert Aaron, Lenny Pickett, Stan Harrison – tenor saxophone, flute
Steve Elson – baritone saxophone, flute
Sammy Figueroa – percussion
Frank Simms, George Simms, David Spinner – backing vocals
Bernard Edwards – bass guitar on "Without You"