Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
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| "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by David Bowie | ||
| from the album Cat People | ||
| B-side(s) | Paul’s Theme (Jogging Chase) | |
| Released | March 1982 | |
| Format | 7"/12” single | |
| Recorded | Mountain Studios, Montreux, July 1981 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 4:08 | |
| Label | MCA 770 |
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| Producer(s) | Giorgio Moroder | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| David Bowie singles chronology | ||
| Baal (1982) |
Cat People (Putting Out Fire) (1982) |
Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy (1982) |
"Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" is a song by David Bowie. It was recorded for Paul Schrader’s 1982 remake of the film Cat People with producer Giorgio Moroder.
Schrader engaged Bowie for a theme song in 1981, with Moroder having already recorded most of the music. Bowie was to put lyrics to the main theme. The words only had a basic relation to the film. The B-side is a Moroder-only instrumental which featured no input from Bowie.
The song itself, in keeping with the dark tone of the film, has some slight goth rock influences, with Bowie singing in a deep croon while being backed up by a female chorus, a combination that The Sisters of Mercy would commonly employ years later.
Due to Moroder’s contract, the single as issued by MCA. The full-length version would appear on the soundtrack album, and the 12” single, while a 4:08 edited version was made for the 7” release. The single would reach #26 in the UK, and #67 in America - Bowie's biggest hit there since "Golden Years". The single was released three separate times by MCA. First with "Cat People" as the A-side, then again two months later with "Paul's Theme" as the A-side, and finally in November 1982 with "Cat People" back on the A-side. Notable contribution as orchestrator was made by Hungarian-born composer, Sylvester Levay.
In 1983, Bowie would re-record the song for his Let's Dance album. This version would also be released as the B-side to the title track’s single release, and be performed on Bowie’s Serious Moonlight Tour.
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
7” version: -
- "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" (Bowie, Moroder) – 4:08
- "Paul’s Theme (Jogging Chase)” (Moroder) – 3:51
12” version: -
- "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" (Bowie) – 6:41
- "Paul’s Theme (Jogging Chase)” (Moroder) – 3:51
[edit] Production credits
[edit] Other releases
- The Let's Dance version was released as the B-side of the single "Let's Dance" in March 1983.
- It also appeared on the compilation Bowie: The Singles 1969-1993 in 1993.
- The Let's Dance version contains lead guitar work by a then little known Stevie Ray Vaughn.
[edit] Cover versions
- Big Electric Cat - Goth Oddity: A Tribute to David Bowie (1999)
- Cruciform - Goth Oddity 2000: A Tribute to David Bowie (2000)
- Terror Pop - Live recording
- Tina Turner
- Gosling for the Underworld: Evolution Soundtrack
[edit] References
Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5
