David Bowie - Let's Dance

After summing up his maverick tendencies on Scary Monsters, David Bowie aimed for the mainstream with Let's Dance. Hiring Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers as a co-producer, Bowie created a stylish, synthesized post-disco dance music that was equally informed by classic soul and the emerging new romantic subgenre of new wave, which was ironically heavily inspired by Bowie himself. Let's Dance comes tearing out of the date, propulsed by the skittering "Modern Love," the seductively menacing "China Girl," and the brittle funk of the title track. All three songs became international hits, and for good reason -- they're catchy, accessible pop songs that have just enough of an alien edge to make them distinctive. However, that careful balance is quickly thrown off by a succession of pleasant but unremarkable plastic soul workouts. "Cat People" and a cover of Metro's "Criminal World" are relatively strong songs, but the remainder of the album indicates that Bowie was entering a songwriting slump. However, the three hits were enough to make the album a massive hit, and their power hasn't diminished over the years, even if the rest of the record sounds like an artifact. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Bernard Edwards Bass Bob Clearmountain Engineer, Mixing Bob Ludwig Mastering Carmine Bojas Bass Carmine Rojas Bass Dave Greenberg Assistant Engineer David Bowie Mixing, Keyboards, Guitar, Arranger, Horn Arrangements, Saxophone, Producer, Vocals, Assistant David Spinner Vocals, Vocals (Background) Denis O'Regan Photography Derek Boshier Paintings, Cover Painting Frank Simms Vocals, Vocals (Background) George Simms Vocals (Background), Vocals Greg Gorman Cover Photo, Photography Kevin Cann Design, Package Design Mac Gollehon Trumpet Mick Haggerty Cover Art, Logo, Photography, Design, Package Design Nigel Reeve Remastering, Project Coordinator Nile Rodgers Horn Arrangements, Mixing Assistant, Arranger, Guitar, Assistant, Producer Omar Hakim Drums Peter Mew Digital Remastering, Remastering Queen Performer, Producer Robert Aaron Tenor (Vocal), Flute Robert Arron Flute, Saxophone, Sax (Tenor) Robert Sabino Keyboards Sammy Figueroa Percussion Stan Harrison Tenor (Vocal), Saxophone, Flute, Sax (Tenor) Steve Elson Baritone (Vocal), Flute, Baritone, Sax (Baritone) Stevie Ray Vaughan Guitar Tony Thompson Drums