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Let's Dance [ECD]

David Bowie - Let's Dance [ECD] Audio CD

A fair review of the David Bowie "Let's Dance [ECD]" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all David Bowie reviews here, or go back to the David Bowie tabs.

Band: David Bowie
Title: Let's Dance [ECD]
Rating:

Release Date: 1999-09-28
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Modern Love 2: China Girl 3: Let's Dance 4: Without You 5: Ricochet 6: Criminal World 7: Cat People (Putting out Fire) 8: Shake It

Good CD
It is a good Album and is the only one you can find the track SHAKE IT on.

Under the Moonlight..the Serious Moonlight!
After the excellent and very successful "Scary Monsters" LP + subsequent 4 singles from the aforementioned album. David Bowie's musical career was definitely "on hold" during the early 80's. Bowie's musical output was a limited affair. 1981, saw the release of "Under Pressure" w/Queen & 1982 gave us "Cat People" [putting out fire]
with Disco Wizard Giorgio Moroder. One "new" release per year. . . both collaborations, no less! As for "LP's" in 81/82. . . fans were treated to a "Changestwobowie" compilation and a "film soundtrack" to the cult film
Christian F. . . neither had any actual "new" material.

However, in January 1983, the news was out that Bowie was recording a new LP. . . . the "bowie weirdos" [I being one of them] waited eagerly. The album, of course, was "Let's Dance".

So much has been said about the album, both positively and negatively upon it's initial release and in retrospect. Some feel it was "the end" of the "Bowie Mystique" . . . . the decade long magical spell had been broken. Others, see it as a musical journeyman going on another voyage. . . while still others see it as just a good dance/pop album.

Yes,"Let's Dance" can be considered a revisit of sorts to his Young Americans "plastic soul" days. However, where as "Young Americans" was clearly influenced by the "philly soul" of the early/mid 70's. "Let's Dance", is not that
clear cut. First off, the album is far less "dancey" than what many people claim it to be There are really only two unabashed "dance tracks" on the album. The title track and "Shake It". . . which closes the second side of the album.

"Let's Dance", is a slick & sheen pop album. . . with traces of funk, rock, new wave and other oddball pop/dance sounds
of the day. Immaculately produced by Nile Rodgers and professionally played by top notch musicians.
Of note, were Tony Thompson on Drums, Carmine Rojas [who would also play on tour] on Bass
and of course Stevie Ray Vaughn. Mr. Vaughn's guitar work on "Let's Dance" was a bit of a mixed affair.
In fairness, it has aged better than expected.

Nevertheless, there were some "bad moves" on Bowie's behalf, his dismissive attitude towards his earlier work and personas was a definite turn-off then as well as now. That said, it proved to be a misstep a few years down the road.
Bowie's new, "straight" image, in hindsight, was completely laughable. Yellow coiffed hair,
pastel suits. . perpetual bronzer on the cheeks. Bowie looked like some gay, pampered movie icon
stuck somewhere in time between 1935 & 1950.

At any rate, much more can be said about the excesses of Let's Dance. From the 17 million dollar record deal, with EMI, to countless magazine covers to the 6 month long global tour that took Bowie and his "Serious Moonlight" to
Europe, Australia, Japan and beyond. With all of that said, let's get to the tunes. . .

The LP opens with the instant classic, "Modern Love" part motown throwback-part 80's pop. . . the song is dominated
by piano and horns and very precise drumming by Tony Thompson. Bowie's vocal delivery is
one of his most "unaffected" in his entire career! Thankfully, EMI decided to release this as a single and gave the song it's due on the singles chart's. . placing it at number 15 in the U. S. and number 2 in the U. K.

"China Girl", is next, and in my opinion, the strongest track on the LP. Unlike it's predecessor, it's Bowie's strongest
vocal delivery. . . plenty of drama in his performance. Stevie Ray Vaughn's guitar playing is cool and restrained. In addition, the rhythm section keeps a great groove throughout which definitely "warms up" the song. Out of
the 3 videos off "Let's Dance" this is the best. . hands down.
Not to mention,"China Girl" was an Iggy/Bowie track off-Iggy Pop's 1977's "The Idiot". Bowie,however, should have
quit while he was ahead concerning Iggy covers. Regrettably,Bowie would unleash tepid versions of recent Iggy classics on both "Tonight" & "Never Let Me Down" to the dismay of many Iggy and Bowie fans alike.

Up next, we have," Let's Dance", title track & first single off the LP. . . . and not one of my favorites. It's definitely funky and Nile Rodger's "Chic" influence is most apparent on this song. However, for all it's "grandness". . it feels uninspired and drags a bit. Although, in listening to the full length album cut the band does get to show off it's chops. . . considerably. Of interest, besides "Fame" this was Bowie's only other number 1 song in the U. S. Obviously, this pushed the album + tour to bigger heights! Closing out the first side, is the under-rated "Without You". It's placing on the album is a bit off as the preceding title track [like it or not] is still dominating the listener. That said, "Without You" sounds like a distant cousin to "Ashes to Ashes". . . musically, the song is open and spacious. . . a
"less is more" performance. . successfully executed.

Side two, begins with "Ricochet"; probably the darkest song on the album. Bowie's vocal has a tinge
of the old menace on this track. Ricochet, is an inspired piece of "early 80's" ska/reggae that
was quite vogue at the time. "Criminal World", originally recorded by "The Metro", was the
standard [till this point in his career] one Bowie cover on an LP. It's "new wave lite" but does include
the classic "gender bender" line. . . "The Boys are like baby faced Girls". Very appropriate for the day
and for Bowie fans too.

Following these two solid tracks is the "2nd version" of "Cat People". Why Bowie decided to redo this song
is a mystery. . . he does not improve on the original. And, in closing, we have "Shake It". . this song has grown on me throughout the years. . . . a bit of a throwaway and probably the most "dated" song on the LP. That said, it's fun and
has a sense of humor and you can dance to it.

Well,there you have it. . . . 8 songs on the back-then "new" Bowie album of 1983. In all honesty, it was more
like "5 songs" as most self-respecting Bowie fans had already bought the single. . . released about a
month prior to the LP.

"Let's Dance", will forever be the bridge between what is generally considered "classic" Bowie and what came
after in the 80's & 90's. Perhaps, it's been judged unfairly. . . not only from the fans and critics alike
but by Bowie himself. Personally, I see it as a bit of both. . . it's not "Hunky Dory" or Scary Monsters" etc etc. . But,it's definitely "good" and you can listen to it through & through without cringing.

However,all personal feelings aside, it's impact on Bowie's career is undeniable and it's influence on future
rock/dance/pop hybrid acts was and is paramount! Now, go and dust off those pointy red shoes. . .

Out of a 5 star rating. . 4 Stars!

Michael T.

.

Okay--I'll just wait for the music to start
But the years have exposed the record for what it is: thin as ice and about as fun to be around. Amid records from artists like Duran Duran, Madness, and Haircut 100, "Let's Dance" must have seemed pretty good back in the Eighties. I'm not among those Bowie diehards that think Bowie going pop is equivalent to Jesus making a pact with the Devil--in fact, I like the idea. I mean, Bowie's always been pop, he's just had enough talent to make one think otherwise. That said, "Let's Dance" is not a pop Bowie record: it's an uninspired, emotionally-constipated and mechanically-constructed assemblage of flat grooves and straight beats that are too straight to ever take off. "Modern Love" is interesting (chiefly for the home-run lyrics "Modern love gets me to the church on time/Church-on-time terrifies me"), "Without You" is interesting, "Ricochet" is sort of interesting, and "Criminal World" is good. None of them make me want to dance, or make me feel anything at all, for that matter, except fed up with this album. .

David Bowie - Let's Dance
His interest in R&B/dance music began with the Young Americans album and ended with the Station to Station album - or so we thought. David Bowie never stays with one musical style for very long; however, I think this may be the first time he has revisited a previous approach. David teamed up with famous R&B producer Nile Rodgers to create Let's Dance. The first three tracks on this album; "Modern Love", "China Girl", and the title track "Let's Dance", all got a lot of air time on radio and the music videos for "Let's Dance" and "China Girl" went into heavy rotation on MTV. All three of these tracks are fine examples of how well David Bowie can assimilate musical styles and still make them sound like he invented them. Some of the other track don't fare as well. "Without You" is a love song with a softer melody and somewhat slower pace. It's a good song, but somehow seems out of place on this album. Then there are tracks like "Richochet", "Shake It", and "criminal World" - the only track on this album David didn't write or co-write. None of these really stand up to repeated listenings. There is a version of the song "Cat People" here as well, but be aware that it isn't the version David recorded for the movie of the same name. He has re-worked it to a large degree and not for the better in my opinion. I like the original version better. One note of interest here is that some of the great guitar licks heard on this album were provided by the late, great R&B legend Stevie Ray Vaughan. To sum things up there is some great music on this album, but there is also some junk. If you're not strapped for money, then this is a good item to have for your Bowie collection.

Definitely listenable and worth picking up, but it was all downhill from here....
This was Bowie's biggest album commercially, infuriating many longtime fans and gaining a lot of new ones. This was actually the first Bowie album I ever bought (!), and I still like it, despite listening to his much more adventurous and creative music that preceeded this album. Is is awful? No, absolutely not. Is it commercial? Compared to most of his other work, yes, but that doesn't diminish the fact that it's a very well crafted album, very danceable, great vocals, very good songwriting, and great arrangements.

I've always loved Modern Love, China Girl, the title track (the full version), Ricochet, and Cat People. They all still hold up remarkably well. It's also interesting to note that after this commercial watershed for Bowie, his music declined sharply, both in artistic interest and commercial interest. The only really good album he did after this was the first Tin Machine album (even though some hate that album). His followups to this one were uneven and sometimes downright awful. I never thought of this album as a complete sellout, but it's not as adventurous as Bowie's early work, and he was never the same after this one.
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You can see a complete list of all David Bowie discography, or go back to the David Bowie tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.