Sound and Vision
Encyclopedia
"Sound and Vision" is a song and single by David Bowie
which appeared on the album Low in 1977.
The song is notable for juxtaposing an uplifting guitar and synthesizer
-led instrumental track with Bowie’s withdrawn lyrics. These were drawn from the cocaine
-fueled paranoia the singer had lived in while residing in Los Angeles
.
In keeping with the minimalist approach of Low, Visconti
and Bowie originally recorded the track as an instrumental, bar the backing vocal (performed by Visconti’s wife, Mary Hopkin
). 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 to do nothing to promote the single himself, and helped the song to #3. In the US, “Sound and Vision” was less of a hit. At the time in America, the general record-buying public saw Bowie as a disco artist, with the song too much of a departure from his recent singles, and “Sound and Vision” stalled at #69.
The track was initially performed live only once, at Bowie’s concert at Earl’s Court
on July 1, 1978. However, in 1990, for Bowie’s Sound + Vision Tour
, it was a regular number – as well as obviously giving name to Bowie’s greatest hits tour. The name had also been used for Rykodisc
boxed set anthology in 1989.
In 1991 808 State
released an EP of remixes of “Sound and Vision” in America, credited to David Bowie vs. 808 State.
In 2008 the Sea and Cake's cover of this song from their 2003 album One Bedroom
was used by Rhapsody
in one of their ads.
In March 2010, it was announced on http://www.davidbowie.com that a digital Sound And Vision Remix EP would be made available in June 2010.
David Bowie vs 808 State (1991)
David Bowie vs 808 State - Sound And Vision Remix EP (2010)
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...
which appeared on the album Low in 1977.
The song is notable for juxtaposing an uplifting guitar and 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...
-led instrumental track with Bowie’s withdrawn lyrics. These were drawn from the cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
-fueled paranoia the singer had lived in while residing in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
In keeping with the minimalist approach of Low, Visconti
Tony Visconti
Anthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
and Bowie originally recorded the track as an instrumental, bar the backing vocal (performed by Visconti’s wife, Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin , credited on some recordings as Mary Visconti, is a Welsh folk singer best known for her 1968 UK number one single "Those Were The Days". She was one of the first musicians to sign to The Beatles' Apple label....
). 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
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
on trailers at the time. This provided considerable exposure, much needed as Bowie opted to do nothing to promote the single himself, and helped the song to #3. In the US, “Sound and Vision” was less of a hit. At the time in America, the general record-buying public saw Bowie as a disco artist, with the song too much of a departure from his recent singles, and “Sound and Vision” stalled at #69.
The track was initially performed live only once, at Bowie’s concert at Earl’s Court
Earls Court Exhibition Centre
The Earls Court Exhibition Centre is an exhibition centre, conference and event venue located in west London, United Kingdom in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea . It is the largest exhibition venue in central London. It is served by two underground stations, Earl's Court and West...
on July 1, 1978. However, in 1990, for Bowie’s Sound + Vision Tour
Sound and Vision Tour
The David Bowie Sound+Vision Tour was billed as a greatest hits tour in which Bowie would retire his back catalogue of older songs. It opened at the Colisée de Québec - Quebec City, QC on 4 March 1990 before reaching its conclusion in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 29 September 1990, spanning five...
, it was a regular number – as well as obviously giving name to Bowie’s greatest hits tour. The name had also been used for Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
boxed set anthology in 1989.
In 1991 808 State
808 State
808 State are a British electronic music outfit, formed in 1987 in Manchester, taking their name from the Roland TR-808 drum machine and their common state of mind...
released an EP of remixes of “Sound and Vision” in America, credited to David Bowie vs. 808 State.
In 2008 the Sea and Cake's cover of this song from their 2003 album One Bedroom
One Bedroom
-Track listing:# "Four Corners" – 5:44# "Left Side Clouded" – 3:15# "Hotel Tell" – 4:01# "Le Baron" – 4:04# "Shoulder Length" – 3:09# "One Bedroom" – 3:58# "Interiors" – 4:19# "Mr. F" – 4:19# "Try Nothing" – 2:56...
was used by Rhapsody
Rhapsody (online music service)
Rhapsody is an online music store subscription service, launched in December 2001, and available in the United States only. On April 6, 2010, Rhapsody officially declared its independence from RealNetworks. Downloaded files come with restrictions on their use, enforced by Helix, Rhapsody's version...
in one of their ads.
In March 2010, it was announced on http://www.davidbowie.com that a digital Sound And Vision Remix EP would be made available in June 2010.
Track listing
Original 7" single- "Sound and Vision" (Bowie) – 3:00
- "A New Career in a New TownA New Career in a New Town"A New Career in a New Town" is an instrumental piece by David Bowie for his 1977 album Low.The piece, which has no lyrics, is still autobiographical, like many of Bowie's other pieces on this album. The title, "A New Career in a New Town," reflects Bowie's move to the USA from Europe...
" (Bowie) – 2:50
David Bowie vs 808 State (1991)
- "Sound + Vision (808 Gift mix)" - 3:58
- "Sound + Vision (808 'lectric Blue remix instrumental)" - 4:08
- "Sound + Vision (David Richards remix 1991)" - 4:40
- "Sound + Vision (Original version)" - 3:03
David Bowie vs 808 State - Sound And Vision Remix EP (2010)
- "Sound + Vision (808 Gift mix)" - 3:58
- "Sound + Vision (808 'lectric Blue remix instrumental)" - 4:08
- "Sound + Vision (David Richards remix 1991)" - 4:40
- "Sound + Vision (Original version)" - 3:03
- This 2010 release is a digital download only
Production credits
- ProducerRecord 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...
s:- 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...
and Tony ViscontiTony ViscontiAnthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
- David Bowie
- MusicianMusicianA 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 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, SaxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, Synthesizer - Carlos AlomarCarlos AlomarCarlos 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...
: GuitarGuitarThe 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... - Ricky GardinerRicky GardinerRicky Gardiner is a guitarist and composer.He has played in his own outfit, Beggars Opera, and also with David Bowie and Iggy Pop. For Bowie he played lead guitar on the 1977 album Low. He worked with Pop on Lust for Life the same year. The album included "The Passenger", regarded as one of Pop's...
: GuitarGuitarThe 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... - George MurrayGeorge Murray (musician)George Murray is an American bass guitarist best known for his work with David Bowie as a part of his regular ensemble , on a number of Bowie's albums released in the 1970s.-Selective Discography:Weldon Irvine...
: BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Dennis DavisDennis DavisDennis Davis is an American drummer and session musician best known for his work with David Bowie.He was born and raised in Manhattan, New York City and studied with the late drummers Max Roach and Elvin Jones. He met guitarist Carlos Alomar when they were both playing with Roy Ayers...
: Percussion - Brian EnoBrian EnoBrian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
: SynthesizerSynthesizerA 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...
, Backing Vocals - Mary ViscontiMary HopkinMary Hopkin , credited on some recordings as Mary Visconti, is a Welsh folk singer best known for her 1968 UK number one single "Those Were The Days". She was one of the first musicians to sign to The Beatles' Apple label....
: Backing vocals - Roy Young: PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
- David Bowie
Live versions
- A live version, recorded at Earl’s Court, London on July 1, 1978, was released on RarestOneBowieRarestOneBowieRarestOneBowie is a David Bowie compilation. This semi-legal release was one in the series of mid-nineties releases by MainMan, Bowie's former management company during the seventies...
.
Other releases
- It appeared on the following compilations:
- Best of Bowie (1980)
- ChangestwobowieChangestwobowieChangestwobowie, released in 1981, was a David Bowie compilation album issued by RCA Records. Its title and packaging followed the format of RCA's first Bowie compilation, Changesonebowie in 1976. As well as post-1976 singles, the album collected songs from earlier in Bowie's career that had not...
(1981) - Sound and Vision box set (1989)
- Bowie: The Singles 1969-1993 (1993)
- The Singles CollectionThe Singles Collection (David Bowie album)The Singles Collection is a compilation album by David Bowie, released in 1993 in the UK and as The Singles 1969 to 1993 in the United States...
(1993) - The Best of 1974/1979The Best of 1974/1979The Best of David Bowie 1974/1979 is a compilation album by David Bowie released in 1998 . This album was also included as the second disc of the compilation The Platinum Collection .-Track listing:...
(1998) - Best of BowieBest of BowieBest 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)
- It was released as a picture discs in the RCARCARCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
Life Time picture disc set and the Fashions Picture Disc Set. - A remixed version was released as a bonus track on the RykodiscRykodiscRykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
rerelease of Low in 1991. This is the same remix as "David Richards remix 1991" on the David Bowie vs. 808 State single release.
Cover versions
- Bad Soup - Ashes to Ashes: A Tribute to David Bowie
- Book of Love - Lovebubble (1993)
- The Good, the Bad and the Bassline - Single
- QuasiQuasiQuasi is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by ex-husband and wife Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss . Since 2007 the group has been a trio, following the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme.-History:In 1990 , Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat...
- Crash Course for the Ravers - A Tribute to the Songs of David Bowie (1996) - The Sea and CakeThe Sea and CakeThe Sea and Cake is an indie rock band with a pronounced jazz influence, which formed in the mid-1990s in Chicago out of the ashes of local bands The Coctails and Shrimp Boat. The group's name came from a willful reinterpretation of "The C in Cake", a song by Gastr del Sol...
- One Bedroom (2003) - Red Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
- Numerous Live Concerts (including Live At Madison Square Garden) - Press - .2 Contamination: A Tribute to David Bowie (2006)
- Franz FerdinandFranz Ferdinand (band)Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
with Girls AloudGirls AloudGirls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
- Radio 1. Established 1967 (2007) - Matthew DearMatthew DearMatthew Dear is an American music producer, DJ and electronic avant-pop artist.-History:Texas- born Dear moved to Michigan as a teenager, where he was inspired by the sound of Detroit Techno...
on Life Beyond Mars: Bowie Covered.