🔘 Cat People (Putting Out Fire) – Single: Apr. 1982

David Bowie
Apr 9, 1982
3 min read

Updated: Apr 9

By early 1982, David Bowie was entering a transitional period between the experimental Scary Monsters era and the commercial reinvention that would follow with Let's Dance. His collaboration with Giorgio Moroder on “Cat People (Putting Out Fire)” placed him inside the world of cinematic synth‑driven tension, recording the track at Mountain Studios in Montreux for Paul Schrader’s erotic horror film *Cat People*. Bowie supplied the lyrics, Moroder the music, creating a brooding, slow‑burning performance that became one of Bowie’s most distinctive early‑80s recordings.

Released in the UK on April 9 1982 by MCA Records, the single appeared in multiple edits across territories. The UK 7" featured a 4:08 edit backed with Giorgio Moroder’s “Paul’s Theme (Jogging Chase)”. The 12" edition expanded the A‑side to 6:41, while international markets issued further variants, including a misprinted edition crediting Bowie on the B‑side label. The single entered the UK charts on 10 April 1982, peaking at No. 26 during a six‑week run.

🔘 Personnel

• David Bowie – vocals, lyrics

• Giorgio Moroder – composer, producer

• Session musicians – uncredited (Montreux soundtrack sessions)

🔘 Key Highlights

• UK release: 9 April 1982

• UK peak: No. 26

• Multiple edits issued across territories

• Produced by Giorgio Moroder for the *Cat People* soundtrack

🔘 The Story

“Cat People (Putting Out Fire)” was recorded in July 1981 at Mountain Studios, Montreux, with Bowie writing lyrics that mirrored the film’s themes of desire, danger and transformation. Moroder’s production leaned heavily into atmospheric synth textures and slow‑burn tension, giving Bowie space for one of his most dramatic vocal performances of the decade. Although Bowie later expressed dissatisfaction with the soundtrack version, leading him to re‑record the track with Nile Rodgers and Stevie Ray Vaughan for *Let’s Dance*, many critics and fans continue to regard the original as the definitive take. The UK single’s modest chart performance belies its long‑term legacy, with the track later appearing on compilations and receiving a 2017 remaster for *A New Career in a New Town (1977–1982)*.

Label: MCA Records

Format: 7" Vinyl, 45 RPM, Single

Released: 9 April 1982 (UK)

🔘 Track List

UK 7"

A. Cat People (Putting Out Fire) – 4:08

B. Paul’s Theme (Jogging Chase) – 3:51

UK 12"

A. Cat People (Putting Out Fire) – 6:41

B. Paul’s Theme (Jogging Chase) – 3:51

Australian 12"

A1. Cat People (Putting Out Fire) – 4:08

A2. Cat People (Putting Out Fire) – 9:20

(Note: Label incorrectly states 6:41)

🔘 Variants

• MCA Records – MCAT 770 (UK 12", 45 RPM, Stereo)

• MCA Records – MCAT 770 (UK 12", Misprint — credits Bowie on B‑side label)

• Australian 12" — includes rare 9:20 extended edit

🔘 Chart Performance

• UK Singles Chart Peak: No. 26

• Total Weeks on Chart: 6

First Chart Date:

10/04/1982

Chart Run:

45 — 10/04/1982

32 — 17/04/1982

26 — 24/04/1982 (peak)

28 — 01/05/1982

29 — 08/05/1982

37 — 15/05/1982

Last Chart Date:

15/05/1982

Peak Position on the chart:

26 (1 week)

🔘 Context & Notes

• Original soundtrack version produced by Giorgio Moroder

• Bowie later re‑recorded the track for *Let’s Dance* (1983)

• Numerous edits issued internationally, including rare promo cuts

• Considered one of Bowie’s strongest early‑80s vocal performances

🔘 Discography

Under Pressure — 1981

Cat People (Putting Out Fire) — 1982

Let’s Dance — 1983

🔘 Glam Flashback

A slow‑burn inferno of synth, shadow and cinematic tension — Bowie at his most dangerous and hypnotic.

#ReleaseChronicle #DavidBowie #CatPeople #1982

🔘 Sources

Discogs, 45cat, Wikipedia, Billboard

🔘 Copyright Notice

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.