David Bowie releases “Sound And Vision” in 1977
One of Bowie’s most revolutionary songs was released on this day
David Bowie releases “Sound And Vision” in 1977
On February 11th, 1977, David Bowie releases “Sound And Vision”, the first single of his acclaimed and revolutionary album “Low”. The song it’s the perfect sample for what the album was, a fantastic electronic-rock track that still sounds fresh to this day, maybe even more than in 1977. Written by Bowie, keeping with the minimalist approach of Low, co-producer Tony Visconti and Bowie originally recorded the track as an instrumental, bar the backing vocal (performed by Visconti’s wife, Mary Hopkin, one of the first artists to be signed by The Beatles label Apple in 1968, who scored a hit with her debut single, “Those Were the Days”, produced by McCartney) Bowie then recorded his vocal after the rest of the band had left the studio, before trimming verses off the lyric, and leaving a relatively lengthy instrumental intro on the finished song. Selected as a first single from the album, “Sound and Vision” was used by the BBC on trailers at the time. This provided considerable exposure, much needed as Bowie opted o do nothing to promote the single himself, and helped the song to No. 3. The song was also a top ten hit in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. However, it failed to commercially succeed in North America, and only managed No. 69 in the United States where it signaled the end of Bowie’s short commercial success until his 1983 “Let’s Dance”. “Sound And Vision” has been present in almost every Bowie greatest hits compilation and it’s one of “Low” most famous songs. In 2017 was reissued as a vinyl picture disc single, part of the David Bowie 40th Anniversary reissues.
Watch a fan made video of “Sound And Vision” featuring Bowie’s footage from the movie “The Man Who Fell The Earth”
Watch more David Bowie related videos
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