"Never Let Me Down" is the title track on David Bowie

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...

's album Never Let Me Down

Never Let Me Down

Never Let Me Down is an album by David Bowie, released in April 1987. Written over a 3-month period and recorded in Switzerland, Bowie regarded the album at the time as a "move back to rock 'n roll music...

. It was issued as the third single from the album in August 1987 – it would be Bowie's last solo single until 1992's "Real Cool World

Real Cool World

"Real Cool World" is a song from the soundtrack of the film Cool World, performed by David Bowie. Released in August 1992, it represented his first new solo material since Tin Machine dissolved....

", barring a remix of "Fame".

Jean-Baptiste Mondino

Jean-Baptiste Mondino

Jean-Baptiste Mondino is a French fashion photographer and music video director. He has directed music videos for Madonna, David Bowie, Sting, Björk, Neneh Cherry and Les Rita Mitsouko...

 directed a dream-like video of a 1950s-style ‘Dance Marathon' for the single, described by at least one critic as "creative and engaging." The single rose to #34 in the UK chart, and #27 in America.

The song is about Bowie's long-time personal assistant, Coco Schwab. Bowie described their relationship, saying "It's platonic. But there is a romance in it, I guess, inasmuch as it's hard for two people to feel totally at ease in each other's company for that period of time and not expect too much from each other. Always being prepared to be there if the other one needs someone, you know? There's not many people you find in life that you can do that with, or feel that way with."

Track listing

• "Never Let Me Down" written by Bowie/Alomar, "'87 and Cry" written by Bowie
• Some releases refer to a "'87 and Cry (Single Version)" while others refer to "'87 and Cry (Edit)"; these are the same version

7": EMI America / EA 239 / EAP 239 (UK)

1. "Never Let Me Down (Album Version)" – 3:58
2. "'87 and Cry (Single Version)" – 3:53

• Note that while the sleeve and label list the title track as a "Single Version," it is in fact the regular album version.
• "'87 and Cry" is the shortened version otherwise found only on the vinyl release of "Never Let Me Down."
• A picture disc (catalogue EAP 239) was released for this single.

MC: EMI America / TCEA 239 (UK)

1. "Never Let Me Down (Album Version)" – 3:58
2. "Day-In Day-Out (Groucho Mix)"
3. "Time Will Crawl (Extended Dance Mix)" - 6:00
4. "'87 and Cry (Edit)" – 3:53

12": EMI America / 12EA 239 (UK)

1. "Never Let Me Down (Extended Dance Mix)" – 7:00
2. "'87 and Cry (Edit)" - 4:18
3. "Never Let Me Down (Dub)" – 3:55
4. "Never Let Me Down (A Cappella)" – 2:03

• "'87 and Cry" was deleted from the 12" in some territories.

12": EMI / V-19255 (US)

1. "Never Let Me Down (Extended Dance Remix)" – 7:00
2. "Never Let Me Down (7" Remix Edit)" - 3:58
3. "Never Let Me Down (Dub)" - 3:55
4. "Never Let Me Down (A Capella)" - 2:03
5. "Never Let Me Down (Instrumental)" - 4:00
6. "'87 and Cry (Edit)" - 3:52

CD: Toshiba-EMI / CP20-5520 (Japan)

1. "Never Let Me Down (Extended Dance mix)" - 6:11
2. "Never Let Me Down (7" remix)" - 3:58
3. "Never Let Me Down (Dub)" - 4:18
4. "Never Let Me Down (A Cappella)" - 5:35
5. "Never Let Me Down (Instrumental)" - 5:14
6. "'87 and Cry (Edit)" - 3:53

CD: EMI America / DPRO-31352 (US)

1. "Never Let Me Down (Edit)"
2. "Never Let Me Down (Extended Dance mix)" - 6:11
3. "Never Let Me Down (Dub)" - 4:18
4. "Never Let Me Down (A Cappella)" - 5:35
5. "Never Let Me Down (Instrumental)" - 5:14
6. "Never Let Me Down (LP version)" - 6:11

• Promo CD

Download: EMI / iEA239 (UK)

1. "Never Let Me Down" – 3:58
2. "'87 and Cry (Edit)" – 3:53
3. "Never Let Me Down (Extended Dance mix)" - 6:11
4. "Never Let Me Down (Dub / A Cappella)" - 5:57
5. "Shining Star (12" Mix)" - 6:27

• released 2007

Production credits

• Producer
  Record producer
  A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
  
  s:
  • David Bowie
    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...
    
    
  • David Richards
    Dave Richards
    Sir Dave Richards is the chairman of the FA Premier League, member of the Football Association 's Board, chairman of the FA's international committee, president of the European Professional Football Leagues organisation, chairman of UEFA's Professional Football Committee and former chairman of...
    
    

• Musician
  Musician
  A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
  
  s:
  • David Bowie
    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...
    
    : Vocals
  • Carlos Alomar
    Carlos Alomar
    Carlos Alomar is an American guitarist, composer and arranger best known for his work with David Bowie, having played on more Bowie albums than any other musician...
    
    : Guitar
    Guitar
    The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
    
    
  • Erdal Kizilcay
    Erdal Kizilcay
    Erdal Kizilcay is a multi-instrumental musician of Turkish birth who has worked with, among others, David Bowie. He lives in Aegerten, Switzerland.-With David Bowie:*Never Let Me Down...
    
    : Bass
    Bass guitar
    The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
    
    , Drum
    Drum
    The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
    
    s, Keyboards
    Keyboard instrument
    A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
    
    
  • 'Crusher' Bennett: Percussion

• Additional musicians on Extended Dance Mix, Dub and Acapella:
  • David Eiland: Alto Sax
  • Steve Hodge
    Steve Hodge
    Stephen Brian Hodge is a retired English footballer who enjoyed a high-profile club and international career in the 1980s and 1990s.- Playing career :...
    
    : Keyboard
    Keyboard instrument
    A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
    
    s
  • Spencer Bernard
    Spencer Bernard
    Spencer Bernard is a long-time associate of hitmakers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and a well-known songwriter/record producer/musician that was a part of the Flyte Tyme Productions crew. Throughout his career, he has done session work for Janet Jackson, Cherrelle, Nona Hendryx, New Edition...
    
    : Synthesizer
    Synthesizer
    A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
    
    s

Other releases

• It appeared on the following compilations:
  • Bowie: The Singles 1969-1993 (1993) (in some regions)
  • Best of Bowie
    Best of Bowie
    Best of Bowie is a career-spanning greatest hits album by multi-platinum recording artist David Bowie. The songs range from his second album to 2002. It was released 35 years after his first album, David Bowie....
    
    (2002) (in some regions)

Chart positions

Chart	Position
Canada Singles Chart	9
US Mainstream Rock Tracks	15
US Hot Dance Music/Club Play	17
US Billboard Hot 100	27
UK Singles Chart	34