Bowie PDF Book from JFK247

Low
Recorded: September – early October 1976;
Château D’Hérouville, Paris. Overdubbed and mixed
Hansa Studio 2, Berlin.
Released: RCA, January 1977.
Chart Peak: 2 (UK); 11 (US).
Key Personnel: Brian Eno (vocals, kbds and
treatments); Carlos Alomar, Ricky Gardiner (gtr);
Dennis Davis (dms); George Murray (bs); Roy Young
(pno, organ).
Producers: David Bowie and Tony Visconti.
Its title was a reference both to being low profile, and
to David’s mental state – beset by marital and
management problems. Yet those troubles were
offset by the thrill of a new beginning, and an album
that was dismissed by many on release as inhuman
and inaccessible stands today as joyous, uplifting
and optimistic. The glacial beauty of Brian Eno’s
EMS synthesiser, which dominates side two, is
balanced by the zest and humanity of side one.
Bowie’s voice is rendered naked and unaffected,
with many songs enlivened by distinctive soul
references – for instance, the melody from ‘Stand By
Me’ that echoes ‘Always Crashing in the Same Car’.
As if to help orientate the listener, the album follows
an impeccable internal logic, with concise, up-tempo
instrumentals bookending side one, which was
chockfull of catchy melodies and rhythms, to contrast
with the icy languor of side two. As Bowie intended,
this is great art, but it’s great pop music, too.