'Hours...'
Encyclopedia
'Hours...' is a 1999 album by British musician David Bowie
. It was released on Virgin Records
. This was Bowie's final album for the EMI sub-label.
A lot of the material that ended up on 'Hours...' was originally used, in alternate versions, for the video game Omikron: The Nomad Soul
, which also featured two characters based on Bowie, as well as one on his wife Iman
, one on 'Hours...' collaborator Reeves Gabrels
, and one on bassist Gail Ann Dorsey
.
To drum up interest in the impending album, a "Cyber Song" contest was held on Bowie's personal website BowieNet to compose lyrics to an early instrumental version of the song "What's Really Happening." The winning lyrics would be featured on 'Hours...' . Contest winner Alex Grant also won a trip to Philip Glass
' Looking Glass Studios on 24 May 1999 to watch Bowie record the final vocal during a live Webcast. There, Grant contributed backing vocals to the song, along with a friend who accompanied him. Bowie also gave a "special creativity award" to Derek Donovan of Love Among Puppets for his entry, which Donovan posted on the Web after combining elements of the original instrumental track with his own new recording.
The album cover, designed by Rex Ray
with photography by Tim Bret Day and Frank Ockenfels, depicts the short-haired Bowie persona from the intensely energetic previous album Earthling
resting exhaustedly in the arms of a long-haired, more youthful version of Bowie. Indeed, 'Hours...' is a much mellower album than its predecessor, and features numerous references to earlier parts of Bowie's musical career (particularly the early 1970s). For the album's initial release, a number of copies featured a lenticular
version of the cover, lending a three-dimensional effect to the image.
In January 2005, Bowie's new label ISO Records reissued 'Hours...' as a double CD set with the second CD comprising remixes, alternate versions, and single B-sides.
It was the first Bowie studio album to miss the US Top 40 since Ziggy Stardust
and peaked at number 47.
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
. It was released on Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. This was Bowie's final album for the EMI sub-label.
A lot of the material that ended up on 'Hours...' was originally used, in alternate versions, for the video game Omikron: The Nomad Soul
Omikron: The Nomad Soul
Omikron: The Nomad Soul is a Microsoft Windows and Dreamcast 3D adventure game developed by French developer Quantic Dream and published in 1999 by Eidos Interactive. It was released on October 31, 1999 for PC and on June 21, 2000 for Dreamcast...
, which also featured two characters based on Bowie, as well as one on his wife Iman
Iman (model)
Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid , professionally known as Iman , is a Somali-American fashion model, actress and entrepreneur. A pioneer in the field of ethnic cosmetics, she is also noted for her charitable work. She is married to David Bowie.-Early life:Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Iman is the daughter...
, one on 'Hours...' collaborator Reeves Gabrels
Reeves Gabrels
Reeves Gabrels is an American guitarist, known for virtuosity, versatility, and originality. His compositions and improvisations defy genre and "explore sonic extremes with a great, adaptive intuition for what each song needs most."...
, and one on bassist Gail Ann Dorsey
Gail Ann Dorsey
Gail Ann Dorsey is an American musician considered one of the premier bass guitarists and vocalists within the alternative rock scene. With a distinguished career as a session musician, it has been most notably her long association performing in David Bowie's band, from 1995 to the present day,...
.
To drum up interest in the impending album, a "Cyber Song" contest was held on Bowie's personal website BowieNet to compose lyrics to an early instrumental version of the song "What's Really Happening." The winning lyrics would be featured on 'Hours...' . Contest winner Alex Grant also won a trip to Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
' Looking Glass Studios on 24 May 1999 to watch Bowie record the final vocal during a live Webcast. There, Grant contributed backing vocals to the song, along with a friend who accompanied him. Bowie also gave a "special creativity award" to Derek Donovan of Love Among Puppets for his entry, which Donovan posted on the Web after combining elements of the original instrumental track with his own new recording.
The album cover, designed by Rex Ray
Rex Ray
Rex Ray is an American fine artist and graphic designer based in San Francisco. His work has been exhibited at galleries and Museums throughout the US and Europe including Turner Carroll Gallery, Gallery 16, Crocker Museum, San Jose Museum of Art, MCA Denver...
with photography by Tim Bret Day and Frank Ockenfels, depicts the short-haired Bowie persona from the intensely energetic previous album Earthling
Earthling (album)
Earthling is an album by David Bowie released in February 1997 via BMG. The album showcases an electronica-influenced sound partly inspired by the Industrial and drum and bass culture of the 1990s.-Album background and development:...
resting exhaustedly in the arms of a long-haired, more youthful version of Bowie. Indeed, 'Hours...' is a much mellower album than its predecessor, and features numerous references to earlier parts of Bowie's musical career (particularly the early 1970s). For the album's initial release, a number of copies featured a lenticular
Lenticular printing
Lenticular printing is a technology in which a lenticular lens is used to produce images with an illusion of depth, or the ability to change or move as the image is viewed from different angles...
version of the cover, lending a three-dimensional effect to the image.
In January 2005, Bowie's new label ISO Records reissued 'Hours...' as a double CD set with the second CD comprising remixes, alternate versions, and single B-sides.
It was the first Bowie studio album to miss the US Top 40 since Ziggy Stardust
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is a 1972 concept album by English musician David Bowie, which is loosely based on a story of a rock star named Ziggy Stardust. It peaked at number five in the United Kingdom and number 75 in the United States on the Billboard Music...
and peaked at number 47.
Original release
2005 reissue
Singles
- "Thursday's Child"
- "The Pretty Things Are Going to HellThe Pretty Things Are Going to Hell"The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell" is a song written by David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels for the album hours... in 1999. The first single release from the album in Australia and Japan, while the rest of the world got "Thursday's Child" as their first single. The first appearance of the song was on...
" - "SurviveSurvive (David Bowie song)"Survive" is a song and single written by David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels for the album hours... in 1999.-UK CD version 1:# "Survive " - 4:18# "Survive " - 4:11...
" - "Seven"
Production credits
- ProducersRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
- David Bowie
- Reeves Gabrels
- Mixed by:
- Mark PlatiMark PlatiMark Plati is a New York-based musician, record producer, and songwriter, widely acclaimed for his work in the 1990s with David Bowie. An in-demand producer, Plati also has worked with Spookey Ruben, The Cure, Duncan Sheik, Hooverphonic, Robbie Williams, Joe McIntyre, and Natalie Imbruglia...
- Mark Plati
- Additional Recording by:
- Kevin Paul
- Musicians:
- David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
: Vocals, Keyboards, 12 string acoustic guitar, Roland 707 drum programming. - Reeves GabrelsReeves GabrelsReeves Gabrels is an American guitarist, known for virtuosity, versatility, and originality. His compositions and improvisations defy genre and "explore sonic extremes with a great, adaptive intuition for what each song needs most."...
: Electric guitar and acoustic 6 and 12 string guitars, Drum loops and programming, Synth. - Mark PlatiMark PlatiMark Plati is a New York-based musician, record producer, and songwriter, widely acclaimed for his work in the 1990s with David Bowie. An in-demand producer, Plati also has worked with Spookey Ruben, The Cure, Duncan Sheik, Hooverphonic, Robbie Williams, Joe McIntyre, and Natalie Imbruglia...
: Bass guitar, Acoustic & electric 12 string guitar, Synth and drum programming, MellotronMellotronThe Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
on "Survive" - Mike Levesque: drums
- Sterling CampbellSterling CampbellSterling Campbell in New York City, New York, is an American rock drummer who has worked with numerous high-profile acts. He rose to attention in 1986, touring with Cyndi Lauper on her her True Colors World Tour, in 1986, and in 1987, joined Duran Duran...
: Drums on "Seven", "New Angels of Promise" and "The Dreamers" - Chris HaskettChris HaskettChris Haskett is an American guitarist. He is probably best known for his membership in the Rollins Band from 1986 to 1997 and again for the band's reunion in 2006...
: Rhythm guitar on "If I'm Dreaming My Life" - Everett Bradley: percussion on "Seven"
- Holly PalmerHolly PalmerHolly Palmer is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. She has released four albums as a solo artist, and has toured extensively as a vocalist with acts including David Bowie and Gnarls Barkley. She is also the "Cheesecake" partner in Bubbles & Cheesecake, an...
: Backing vocals on "Thursday's Child"
- David Bowie
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Norway | 4 |