Black Tie White Noise

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Black Tie White Noise
Studio album by David Bowie
Released	April 5, 1993
Recorded	1992
Genre	Blue-eyed soul, Rock
Length	68:16
Label	BMG
Producer(s)	David Bowie and Nile Rodgers
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (B-) link
David Bowie chronology
Tin Machine: Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby (1992) - Solo: Changesbowie (1990)	Black Tie White Noise (1993)	The Singles Collection (1993)

Black Tie White Noise is an album by David Bowie. Released in 1993, it was his first solo release in the 1990s - after a critically disappointing experiment in his hard rock band, Tin Machine, and a new marriage with super model Iman Abdulmajid in 1992. This album featured his old guitarist from the Ziggy Stardust era, Mick Ronson, who died of cancer later in the year. In Bowie's own words, this album was inspired by his own wedding, and includes tracks such as "The Wedding" and its reprise at the end of the album as a song reflecting the occasion.

The title track, "Black Tie White Noise," is inspired by the riot in Los Angeles, provoking the issue of racism in the legal system. This track is controversial amongst fans for departing into the stream of hip-hop and included a duet with singer Al B. Sure!

The track "Jump They Say" is apparently a tribute to Bowie's half-brother, Terry, who committed suicide after being hospitalised for schizophrenia in the 1980s. The lyrics question mass conformity, in line with some of his earlier works including "All The Madmen", from The Man Who Sold The World and "Mass Production", from Iggy Pop's The Idiot.

Though considered by some critics to be musically far superior to Let's Dance, the public was still unsure whether or not it was ready to be receptive to Bowie again. The album, however, met the number one spot on the UK charts with singles such as "Jump They Say" and "Miracle Goodnight". However, until re-releases later in the 1990s, the album was extraordinarily rare after the fledgling Savage Records on which it had been released suddenly went bankrupt. Though often considered Bowie's oddest departure, Black Tie White Noise marks the beginning of his modern era.

It has been suggested by many critics that it was Bowie's name rather than the music which prevented a bigger commercial success; to prove a point, in 1993, anonymous club remixes of the album track "Pallas Athena" were released to American dancefloors and became big hits.

To mark the album's 10th anniversary in 2003, a re-release consisting of the original album, a second disc of remixes and rarities and a bonus DVD of the Black Tie White Noise video was released. Songs like "Real Cool World" (a soundtrack single released prior to the album in 1992) and "Lucy Can't Dance" (a bonus track on the original album) were included alongside dance mixes of many of the album tracks.

Contents 1 Track listing 1.1 Bonus tracks on CD version 1.2 Bonus tracks on 10th Anniversary version 1.3 Bonus DVD with 10th Anniversary version 2 Production credits

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by David Bowie, except where noted.

1. "The Wedding" – 5:04
2. "You've Been Around" (Bowie/Reeves Gabrels) – 4:45
3. "I Feel Free" (Jack Bruce/Pete Brown) – 4:52
4. "Black Tie White Noise" – 4:52
5. "Jump They Say" – 4:22
6. "Nite Flights" (Noel Scott Engel) – 4:30
7. "Pallas Athena" – 4:40
8. "Miracle Goodnight" – 4:14
9. "Don't Let Me Down & Down" (Tahra/Martine Valmont) – 4:55
10. "Looking for Lester" – 5:36
11. "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday" (Morrissey/Mark Nevin) – 4:14
12. "The Wedding Song" – 4:29

On the Indonesian release, Bowie sang "Don't Let Me Down & Down" in Indonesian.

[edit] Bonus tracks on CD version

• "Jump They Say" (Alternate Mix) – 3:58
  • This mix is not included on the 10th Anniversary version
• "Lucy Can't Dance" – 5:45

The Japanese release featured the "Don't Stop Praying" remix of "Pallas Athena" as an additional bonus track.

[edit] Bonus tracks on 10th Anniversary version

1. "Real Cool World" - 5:27
2. "Lucy Can't Dance" - 5:48
3. "Jump They Say" (Rock Mix)- 4:30
4. "Black Tie White Noise" (3rd Floor US Radio Mix) - 3:44
5. "Miracle Goodnight" (Make Believe Mix) - 4:30
6. "Don't Let Me Down & Down" (Indonesian Vocal Version) - 4:56
7. "You've Been Around" (Dangers 12" Mix) - 7:40
8. "Jump They Say" (Brothers in Rhythm 12" Remix) - 8:26
9. "Black Tie White Noise" (Here Come Da Jazz) - 5:33
10. "Pallas Athena" (Don't Stop Praying Remix No. 2) - 7:24
11. "Nite Flights" (Moodswings Back to Basics Remix) - 10:01
12. "Jump They Say" (Dub Oddity) - 6:18

[edit] Bonus DVD with 10th Anniversary version

1. Introduction
2. With Lester Bowie
3. On Reeves Gabrels
4. "You've Been Around" (Hollywood Center Studios, L.A., 5/8/93)
5. Expanding and Experimenting
6. "Nite Flights" (Hollywood Center Studios, L.A., 5/8/93)
7. Otherness
8. "Miracle Goodnight" (Hollywood Center Studios, L.A., 5/8/93)
9. On Marriage
10. "Black Tie White Noise" (Hollywood Center Studios, L.A., 5/8/93)
11. With Mick Ronson
12. "I Feel Free" (Hollywood Center Studios, L.A., 5/8/93)
13. With Nile Rodgers
14. "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday" (Hollywood Center Studios, L.A., 5/8/93)
15. "Miracle Goodnight" (Promo Video)
16. "Jump They Say" (Promo Video)
17. "Black Tie White Noise" (Promo Video)
18. Credits

[edit] Production credits

• Producers:
  • David Bowie
  • Nile Rodgers

• Engineering:
  • Jon Goldberger
  • Gary Tole
  • Andrew Grassi
  • Louis Alfred III
  • Lee Anthony
  • Neal Perry
  • Andy Smith

• Musicians:
  • David Bowie: Vocals, Guitar, Sax, Dog alto
  • Pugi Bell: Drums
  • Barry Campbell: Bass
  • Sterling Campbell: Drums
  • Nile Rodgers: Guitar
  • Richard Hilton (musician): Keyboards
  • John Regan: Bass
  • Michael Reisman: Harp, Tubular bells
  • Dave Richards: Keyboards
  • Philippe Saisse: Keyboards
  • Richard Tee: Keyboards
  • Gerado Velez: Percussion
  • Fonzi Thorton, Tawatha Agee, Curtis King, Jr., Dennis Collins, Brenda White-King, Maryl Epps: Background Vocals

• Soloists:
  • "Wedding Song"
    • David Bowie: Saxophones
  • "You've Been Around"
    • Lester Bowie: Trumpet
    • Reeves Gabrels: Guitar
  • "I Feel Free"
    • David Bowie: Saxophone
    • Mick Ronson: Guitar
  • "Jump They Say"
    • David Bowie: Saxophone
    • Lester Bowie: Trumpet
  • "Pallas Athena"
    • David Bowie: Saxophone
    • Lester Bowie: Trumpet
  • "'Don't Let Me Down & Down"
    • Lester Bowie: Trumpet
  • "Looking for Lester"
    • David Bowie: Saxophone
    • Lester Bowie: Trumpet
    • Mike Garson: Piano
  • "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday"
    • Wild T. Springer: Guitar

• Vocal Duet on "Black Tie White Noise"
  • David Bowie
  • Al B. Sure!

• Choir on "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday"
  • Fonzi Thorton
  • Tawatha Agee
  • Curtis King, Jr.
  • Dennis Collins
  • Brenda White-King
  • Maryl Epps
  • Frank Simms
  • George Simms
  • David Spinner
  • Lamya Al-Mughiery
  • Connie Petruk
  • David Bowie
  • Nile Rodgers

v • d • e David Bowie
Discography
Studio albums
David Bowie | Space Oddity | The Man Who Sold the World | Hunky Dory | The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars | Aladdin Sane | Pin Ups | Diamond Dogs | Young Americans | Station to Station | Low | "Heroes" | Lodger | Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) | Let's Dance | Tonight | Never Let Me Down | Black Tie White Noise | Outside | Earthling | 'hours...' | Heathen | Reality
With Tin Machine
Tin Machine | Tin Machine II
Live albums
David Live | Stage | Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture | Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby | Santa Monica '72 | Bowie at the Beeb | LiveAndWell.com
Soundtracks
Christiane F. | Labyrinth | The Buddha of Suburbia | Lost Highway |
Related articles
Tony Visconti | Brian Eno | Mick Ronson | Iggy Pop | Mike Garson