Let's Dance

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Lore & Background

Bowie chose Nile Rodgers of Chic as producer, wanting a commercial sound and a fresh start with a new label. The two met in autumn 1982 in New York City and found they shared influences in old blues and R&B music. Rodgers was initially surprised Bowie wanted hits, saying 'David, I really want you to make hits.' The album was recorded in 17 days at the Power Station. Stevie Ray Vaughan was brought in after Bowie saw him at the 1982 Montreux Jazz Festival; Rodgers was initially unimpressed, but Bowie insisted Vaughan had 'a whole other thing going on.' Vaughan recorded his guitar overdubs towards the end of the sessions using an old Fender Stratocaster plugged into an old Fender amplifier.

In Their Own Story

The album's massive commercial success turned Bowie into a major superstar, reaching number one in numerous countries. The four singles, including the title track, were all commercially successful. 'Let's Dance' and 'China Girl' were supported by music videos that received heavy airplay on MTV. The album was supported by the successful Serious Moonlight Tour throughout 1983. Despite the success, critics accused Bowie of pandering to his newly acquired audience, reflected in poor reviews for his follow-up albums, Tonight (1984) and Never Let Me Down (1987). Bowie later reflected poorly on the period, referring to it as his 'Phil Collins years.'

Reader's Guide

Musically, Let's Dance has been described as a post-disco record, with elements of dance-rock, dance-pop and new wave. The album contains two cover songs: Iggy Pop's 'China Girl', which Bowie and Pop had recorded together for the latter's The Idiot (1977), and Metro's 'Criminal World'. It also includes a reworking of 'Cat People (Putting Out Fire)', originally recorded by Bowie and Giorgio Moroder in 1982 for the film of the same name. The album was remastered in 2018 and included in the box set Loving the Alien (1983–1988).

Did You Know?

• For the first time on an album, Bowie only sang and played no instruments.
• Stevie Ray Vaughan was an unknown 27-year-old blues guitarist from Texas when Bowie enlisted him; his debut album with Double Trouble was still unreleased.
• Bowie recorded all of his vocals in two days.
• The album was completed in 17 days.
• Bowie later referred to this period as his 'Phil Collins years'.