David Bowie: Aladdin Sane (1973)

David Bowie released the iconic "Aladdin Sane" on April 13, 1973. The album was recorded at Trident Studios in London and RCA Studios in New York, with Ken Scott and David Bowie serving as producers.

By Martin Johannessen

Ken Scott was one of the five sound engineers The Beatles used most in the 1960s. In 1969, he began working at Trident Studios and was the sound engineer on "Space Oddity" (1969) and "The Man Who Sold the World" (1970), and was co-producer on "Hunky Dory" (1971) and "Ziggy Stardust" (1972).

When he wasn't working with Bowie, he was a producer or sound engineer for artists such as John Lennon, Elton John, Jeff Beck, George Harrison, and Lou Reed. The 70s were definitely a great time for music!

After the breakthrough with "Ziggy Stardust," David Bowie was now in a completely new situation; he had to follow up on a major commercial success.

The album was recorded both in London and New York during breaks in the Ziggy tour. Most of the songs were written on the road. That's why the same band that played on this album as well: Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder, and Mick "Woody" Woodmansey, plus some guests, including pianist Mike Garson.

"Aladdin Sane" is a bit more rough around the edges than its predecessor, but with the single "The Jean Genie" released in November the year before, the album was a commercial success in the USA. Exactly what Bowie had hoped for. Bowie himself said that the new album was "Ziggy goes to America."

"Raw energy with explosive rock," Billboard wrote.

Ziggy didn't stop playing guitar
Many consider this to be Bowie's most important album. The cover is iconic - a kind of "Mona Lisa of Pop". Bowie is creative, the songs are brilliant. The superstar sparkled and the fans cried.

"The importance of 'Aladdin Sane' cannot be underestimated. It was the first release from an artist who had transformed from this promising and exciting figure to someone who was a true star."

You could say that Ziggy didn't exactly stop playing guitar, he just changed his name and clothes and became Aladdin Sane. "I'm a collector of personalities," said Bowie.

Watch the David Bowie Special (1973) with live recordings from a concert at the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth, May 25, 1973:

The Singles
Four songs were released as singles: "The Jean Genie," "Drive-In Saturday," "Time," and the Rolling Stones cover "Let's Spend the Night Together." While one of the best tracks, "Panic in Detroit," wasn't released as a single.

"The Jean Genie" was one of the songs recorded in New York and released as a single almost five months before the album came out. It was the first song Bowie wrote for the album. Bowie later described it as "a smorgasbord of imagined America." The video was filmed in San Francisco.

"Drive-In Saturday" was released as a single a week before the album, and both reached the top 3 in England. The song is heavily inspired by 1950s doo-wop. Some consider it an example of Bowie's futuristic nostalgia, where the protagonist of the future looks back on what has happened.

Bowie wrote "Time" in New Orleans while the band was on tour. Here, the inspiration from cabaret and Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht, and Jacques Brel is layered thickly. An excellent song! Watch "Time" live from Hammersmith Odeon 1973 below:

Bowie quickly and decisively blasts through "Let's Spend the Night Together". NME wrote that the cover version was better than the original: "The unprecedented feat of beating the Stones on one of their own songs." Watch the song live from Hammersmith Odeon 1973 below: 

No. 1 in England

The album was a huge success, reaching number 17 in the USA, its highest chart position up to that point. In England, it reached number one.

However, critics in the USA were more positive than those in England.

Rolling Stone wrote: "Bowie's provocative melodies, audacious lyrics, masterful arrangements (with Mick Ronson) and production (with Ken Scott)."

In England, he was accused of selling out, and Let It Rock Magazine wrote that the album had "more style than substance."

Everything Bowie did in the 70s is brilliant in my opinion. "Aladdin Sane" included.