Written by: David Bowie Recorded: 11-18 August 1974 Producer: Tony Visconti
Released: 14 May 1991
You are viewing: Who Can I Be Now 1974 1976 David Bowie
Available on: Who Can I Be Now? (1974-1976)
Personnel
David Bowie: vocals Carlos Alomar: electric guitar Mike Garson: piano David Sanborn: alto saxophone Willie Weeks: bass guitar Andy Newmark: drums Luther Vandross, Ava Cherry, Robin Clark: vocals
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‘Who Can I Be Now?’ was recorded in August 1975 for David Bowie’s Young Americans album. It was one of three songs dropped to make way for ‘Fame’ and ‘Across The Universe’.
It was taped during the first phase of Young Americans sessions, at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in August 1974.
The title was the perfect encapsulation of Bowie’s shapeshifting image throughout the 1970s, and provides an insight into his self-image during his excursion into soul music:
In the studio
The Sigma songs recorded in August 1974 were, in their original titles: ‘The Young American’; ‘Shilling The Rubes’; ‘Lazer’ (‘I Am A Laser’); ‘After Today’; ‘I’m Only Dancing’ (‘John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)’); ‘Never No Turnin’ Back’ (‘Right’); ‘Somebody Up There Likes Me‘; ‘Who Can I Be Now?’; ‘Come Back My Baby’ (‘It’s Gonna Be Me’); and ‘Can You Hear Me’, sometimes known as ‘Take It In, Right’.
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‘Who Can I Be Now?’ was one of seven songs on The Gouster, the original iteration of Young Americans. Following Bowie’s session with John Lennon in January 1975, which yielded ‘Fame’ and ‘Across The Universe’, he dropped ‘Who Can I Be Now?’, ‘It’s Gonna Be Me’, and ‘John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)’.
Prior to the Lennon session, Bowie sent producer Tony Visconti detailed notes on how he wanted the album to sound. His comments on ‘Who Can I Be Now?’ were as follows:
The release
‘Who Can I Be Now?’ was first issued on the Rykodisc reissue of Young Americans in 1991. It was the first of three extra tracks, the others being ‘It’s Gonna Be Me’ and ‘John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)’.
The Gouster – Bowie’s original vision for the 1975 recordings – was released in 2016 in the Who Can I Be Now? (1974-1976) box set. The song was also used during promotional videos for the box set.
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHO
