David Bowie – Scary Monsters

David Bowie – Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)

Released in September 1980, Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) is one of David Bowie's defining albums and a remarkable culmination of the restless experimentation that characterised his work throughout the 1970s. Following the acclaimed Berlin Trilogy of Low, "Heroes" and Lodger, Bowie returned with a record that combined the adventurous spirit of those releases with sharper songwriting, powerful guitar arrangements and a more immediate rock sound.

Produced by Bowie alongside longtime collaborator Tony Visconti, the album brings together art rock, new wave, post-punk and experimental pop in a distinctive, often unsettling musical landscape. Its sound is driven by Carlos Alomar's precise rhythm guitar, George Murray's bass and Dennis Davis's dynamic drumming, while the extraordinary guitar contributions of Robert Fripp add an abrasive, unpredictable edge. Other notable guest appearances include Pete Townshend, Roy Bittan and Chuck Hammer.

The opening track, 'It's No Game (No. 1)', establishes the album's confrontational atmosphere, with Bowie's urgent vocal delivery set against a tense arrangement and spoken Japanese contributions from Michi Hirota. The record then moves through the angular rhythms of 'Up The Hill Backwards', the dark theatricality of the title track and the atmospheric storytelling of 'Ashes To Ashes', one of Bowie's most celebrated recordings. Its return to the character of Major Tom from 'Space Oddity', now viewed through a more troubled and introspective lens, remains one of the album's defining moments.

Elsewhere, 'Fashion' delivers a striking mixture of funk, electronic textures and clipped guitar work, while 'Teenage Wildlife' stands as an expansive, emotionally charged highlight, featuring some of Robert Fripp's most memorable guitar playing. 'Scream Like A Baby' explores themes of repression and psychological control, and the album also includes Bowie's interpretation of Tom Verlaine's 'Kingdom Come', bringing a connection to the New York art-rock and punk scene into the record's wider musical vocabulary.

Reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart, Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) reaffirmed Bowie's commercial and artistic standing at the beginning of a new decade. It remains a landmark of early-1980s art rock: adventurous without sacrificing memorable songwriting, experimental without losing its rock'n'roll intensity, and full of the restless creativity that made Bowie such an influential figure in modern music.

An essential David Bowie album for fans of art rock, new wave and post-punk, as well as collectors looking to explore one of the most compelling records of his extraordinary career.

Tracklist

Side A

1. It's No Game (No. 1)

2. Up The Hill Backwards

3. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)

4. Ashes To Ashes

5. Fashion

Side B

1. Teenage Wildlife

2. Scream Like A Baby

3. Kingdom Come

4. Because You're Young

5. It's No Game (No. 2)