Absolute Beginners (David Bowie song)

"Absolute Beginners"
Single by David Bowie
from the album Absolute Beginners: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
B-side	Absolute Beginners (Dub Mix)
Released	March 1986
Format	7"/12" single, 3"/5" CD single, Digital download
Recorded	Shepherds Bush, London, June 1985
Genre	Rock
Length	8:03 (full-length album version) 5:36 (single version)
Label	Virgin VS838
Writer(s)	David Bowie
Producer(s)	David Bowie Alan Winstanley Clive Langer
David Bowie singles chronology
"Dancing in the Street" (1985) "Absolute Beginners" (1986) "Underground" (1986)
Music video "Absolute Beginners" on YouTube

"Absolute Beginners" is a song written and recorded by David Bowie. It was the theme song to the 1986 film of the same name (itself an adaptation of the book Absolute Beginners).

Bowie was good friends with the film's director, Julien Temple (who had worked with him in 1984 on the Jazzin' for Blue Jean short film), and landed both the supporting role of Vendice Partners, and the deal to record the theme tune.

The sessions at Shepherds Bush, London, were set up in a novel way, with a group of session musicians all receiving a card to work at the studio with "Mr X", who turned out to be Bowie. The sessions were completed rapidly, but the song was delayed due to the problems with completing the film. Virgin wanted the release to tie in with the film's opening. Shortly after the sessions wrapped, Mick Jagger flew in to record the charity cover of "Dancing in the Street" with Bowie, which used many of the same musicians.

Although the film was not a commercial success, the song became one of Bowie's most successful 1980s singles in the UK, reaching No. 2 in the charts. It was less successful in the US, peaking at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100. Bowie performed it live on his Glass Spider and 2000 tours. The song featured Rick Wakeman on piano, who had previously performed on Bowie's "Space Oddity" single and Hunky Dory album.

Track listing

All tracks by David Bowie

3" CD: Virgin CDT 20 (UK)

1. "Absolute Beginners" - 8:03
2. "Absolute Beginners (Dub Mix)" - 5:40

CD: Virgin CDF 20 (UK)

1. "Absolute Beginners" - 8:03
2. "Absolute Beginners (Dub Mix)" - 5:40

7": Virgin VS 838 (UK)

1. "Absolute Beginners" – 5:36
2. "Absolute Beginners (Dub Mix)" – 5:42

12": Virgin VSG 838–12 (UK)

1. "Absolute Beginners (Full Length Version)" – 8:00
2. "Absolute Beginners (Dub Mix)" – 5:42

• issued in a gatefold sleeve

12": EMI America SPRO 9623 (US)

1. "Absolute Beginners (Edited Version)" – 4:46
2. "Absolute Beginners (Full Length Version)" – 8:00

• includes exclusive "edited version"

Download: EMI iVS 838 (UK)

1. "Absolute Beginners" – 5:36
2. "Absolute Beginners (Full Length Version)" – 8:00
3. "Absolute Beginners (Dub Mix)" – 5:42

Download: Amazon.com (US)

1. "Absolute Beginners" – 5:37
2. "Absolute Beginners (Full Length Version)" – 8:03
3. "Absolute Beginners (Dub Mix)" – 5:39
4. "That's Motivation" - 4:14
5. "Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)" - 3:13

• Original release date (of E.P. download with added tracks 4 and 5): 28 May 2007

Music video

Julian Temple shot the music video, which echoed the 1950s style of the movie. The video was a homage to an old British advert for Strand cigarettes. The ill-fated advertising tagline "You're never alone with a Strand." is quoted by Partners in the film. The video also uses footage from the film.

Production credits

• Producers:
  • Alan Winstanley
  • Clive Langer
• Musicians:
  • David Bowie: vocals
  • Rick Wakeman: piano
  • Kevin Armstrong: guitar
  • Matthew Seligman: bass
  • Neil Conti: drums
  • Luis Jardim: percussion
  • Mac Gollehon: trumpet
  • Don Weller, Gary Barnacle, Paul "Shilts" Weimar, Willie Garnett, Andy MacKintosh, Gordon Murphy: saxophones
  • Steve Nieve: keyboards
  • Janet Armstrong: backing vocals

Gil Evans sings the refrain of the song in the film.

Live versions

• The song was performed live during David Bowie's 1987 Glass Spider Tour.
• A live version recorded at BBC Radio Theatre, London, on 27 June 2000 was released on the bonus disc accompanying the first release of Bowie at the Beeb in 2000.
• It was performed live on several occasions on the 2002 Heathen tour as a duet with bassist Gail Ann Dorsey (Mark Plati would play bass while she sang); usually the song would end with Bowie and Dorsey dancing.

Other releases

• In 1995, the full-length version appeared as a bonus track on the Virgin Records rerelease of the album Tonight.
• The single version has appeared on the following compilations:
  • Bowie: The Singles 1969-1993 (1993)
  • The Singles Collection (1993)
  • ChangesTwoBowie (1998 reissue)
  • Best of Bowie (2002)
  • The Platinum Collection (2006)
  • The Best of David Bowie 1980/1987 (2007)
  • Nothing Has Changed (2014) (3-CD and vinyl editions)
• A 4:46 promo singles edit was included on the 1-CD and 2-CD editions of Nothing Has Changed.

Cover versions

• Info Riot - Ashes to Ashes: A Tribute to David Bowie (1998)
• Saint Etienne - Live recording
• Carla Bruni in We Were So Turned On: A Tribute to David Bowie (2010).
• Scott Lucas and the Married Men Absolute Beginners EP (2010)
• Cary Brothers on Covers Volume One (2012)

Charts

Chart	Position
UK Singles Chart	2
Canada Singles Chart	45[1]
Norway Singles Chart	4
US Mainstream Rock Tracks	9
US Billboard Hot 100	53

References

1. Library and Archives Canada: Top Singles – Volume 44, No. 7, May 10, 1986, 10 May 1987, retrieved 11 July 2014

Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics