BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983
“Let’s Dance” is the title song from English singer-songwriter David Bowie’s 1983 album of the same name. It was also released as the first single from that album in 1983, and went on to become one of his biggest-selling tracks. Nile Rodgers founder of the funk band Chic produced the single. Stevie Ray Vaughan played the guitar solo at the end of the song.
The single was one of Bowie’s fastest selling to date, entering the UK Singles Chart at number five on its first week of release, staying at the top of the charts for three weeks. Soon afterwards, the single topped the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Bowie’s second and last single to reach number 1 in the U.S. In Oceania, it narrowly missed topping the Australian charts, peaking at number two, but peaked at number one for 4 consecutive weeks in New Zealand.
The b-side “Cat People (Putting Out Fire) is a re-recording of the 1981 track recorded for inclusion on the Let’s Dance album.
SIDE A:
Let’s Dance (Long Version) 7:38
SIDE B:
Let’s Dance (Short Version) 4:09
Cat People (Putting Out Fire) 5:10
Written-By – Giorgio Moroder
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Let’s Dance | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #1 |
| 1983 | Let’s Dance | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #1 |
| 1983 | Let’s Dance | U.S. Billboard Hot Top Rock Tracks | #8 |
| 1983 | Let’s Dance | U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles | #14 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI America – SPRO-9904
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Engineer – Bob Clearmountain
Producer – Nile Rodgers
Producer, Written-By – David Bowie
NOTES:
From the LP “LET’S DANCE”
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
broken link can replace please.
ty
Thank you very much Paul. David was one of my idols growing up in the 70’s. My favourite period was the “Berlin” trilogy plus Scary Monsters.
still sad for the news, im not a big fan of bowie, but always follows his music! have a lots of vinyls and cds, i think the world was NOT ready for this!! thank for Paul and very exciting for the upcoming Bowie series (hope you can put Love the Alien 12″!!!) all the best
Like many people I gravitated towards Bowie in the 80s and thought of his earlier work as being somewhat more esoteric. But over time I have come to better appreciate how ground breaking his early catalog really was. It is remarkable how much his work has evolved over the years. Thank you for this wonderful rip.
I always considered him a fascinating artist and personality, but only now while watching
all this reports on TV, from all over the world, about people deeply grieved by his death,
as well ordinary as famous people, and by reading all this moving comments on this friendly blog, I realise what an amazing and influential artist and personality /personalities he was , and always will be. Just amazing!
Thanks for this Paul. I had tears in my eyes yesterday on the way to work, I worshiped this guy…
Glad I saw him live (1973) in his heyday.
Do you have a 12 inch of Heroes?
http://www.discogs.com/David-Bowie-Heroes/release/729458
That’s my favourite Bowie song.
I think I have this one.
http://www.discogs.com/David-Bowie-HeroesHelden-HeroesH%C3%A9ros/release/609639
Never knew there was a german and french version..
Waiting for that 😉
No words to describe how sad I’m these days…
Thank you once again Paul!
Best wishes from Argentina.
Gonzalo
You’re welcome Gonzalo 🙂
His body has gone, but his soul and his music will be immortal.
Thanks Paul.
You’re welcome Diego 🙂
The world is a little less cool now. Thanks Paul.
Indeed David. You’re welcome 🙂
Reading these outpourings of love to David Bowie is such a comfort. And you dear Paul, thanks for this posting too, as it really was the first song since his “Fame” single that really moved me. And there are so many other songs that I just loved. Like his “Fashion” and “Dancing With The Big Boys” and “Magic Dance” and “The Heart’s Filthy Lesson.” Gosh, it’s so surreal that he’s gone. Over the weekend Karen and I watched the Blu-Ray edition of “The Hunger” of which I received as a Christmas present. Then, on Sunday, I had the CD in… Read more »
I had kind of the same experience Jeff. Jeremy and I watched the blu-ray’s of “The Man Who Fell To Earth” and “Merry Christmas Mister Lawrence” on Friday night. Saturday the mail came and my copy of “Blackstar” was in the box which I had ordered a few days before. Monday morning I was fast a sleep only to be awakened by the stereo playing “Changes” Jeremy had gotten the news on his AP app. That began a sad day.
Wow Paul, that is really interesting. I do believe in signs and Omens and this is so true, as of late. Thanks for sharing and again for being such a blessed individual and friend. I cherish you for being in my life!!!
Jeff
R.I.P. Mr Bowie…
I think like you, David Bowie was such a huge part of my youth. And while I was introduced to him in his radio-friendly 80’s, it didn’t take much time to explore everything before his Modern Love. I was hypnotized immediately, with Diamond Dogs probably being one of my favourite records of all time.
A sad day indeed yesterday and today in fact. I guess it will take time to sink in. I’m glad you’re planning a Bowie series.
Thanks for this Paul.
The world somehow seems different today know Davis is not here. You’re welcome Junior 🙂
Whatever your taste is, no one can deny David Bowie was a true artist. Like Kubrick, he never did the same thing twice. He never sold out either, and he is with the Japanese writer Mishima one of the extremely few who turned his death in the same work of art as his life was.
So true Martijn Van Heeringen.
So many singles I have of him and they are all so different. Hard to determine which is the favorite. But it has to be Heroes. Some say pop music is for the young and that youth has the perfect sensors for their unease with the world at that time. This gave us a perfect heartache ballad Since I Don’t Have You from the Skyliners in the 50s, Vietnam and anti War stuff of the 60s and Dan Hartman with We Are The Young in the 80s. But nothing tops Heroes of the 70s. It probably helped to eventually tear… Read more »
Very sad …
Thanks Paul , the timeless Music of Bowie was part of my Childhood and school times , My favorite was This is not America !
That is a great single Jonathan 🙂
Still in shock. I cannot fathom how the music industry will be after losing one of its biggest innovators. Thanks Paul.
I am too Omar I think we all are. After working on this record I think it is really just now hitting me.
I knew that you’d give us a DB post today. Predicted as much yesterday on the DB post you made here. RIP genius
I originally had something else planned for yesterday but when I woke and heard the sad news my plans suddenly changed. David Bowie is such a fabric of all of our lives it is still hard to imagine that he is no longer with us in flesh. His spirit and music love on 🙂
Out of curiosity will what you had planned see the light of day? I’m also intrigued how you decide what to post next!
Usually when I wake up in the morning I decide what I am posting that day. It’s usually just whatever strikes me. So while you are refeshing the page waiting for the new post I am hard at work. Some records are harder to do than others that is why some posts come late in the day/night. I was planning to post Phil Collins “Sussudio” but now it’s on hold for a bit 🙂
I would love a Phil Collins series following the David Bowie series.
As nice poignant choice for upload , his biggest hit.
Though my exposure to David Bowie’s music is very limited , whatever I have heard has been great.
And lastly thanks Paul for your hard work in making someone like me who was not born in the 80’s and in a non english speaking country , aware of these lovely music experiences.
That made me smile. Bowie dismissed much of his 80s output as his “Phil Collins years”
Cool. Just interested!
The day after. Still very strange he isn ‘t there anymore.
Nice tribute Paul. You are more than welcome to post more Bowie this week.
Thanks Stefano planning to do a Bowie series 🙂