David Bowie (July 6, 1979) "D.J." / "Repetition" Single 7" (RCA Victor BOW 3 UK)
RELEASE INFORMATION
Released July 6, 1979
7" Vinyl Single
Reference: UK: BOW 3 / PB 9412
7" UK Vinyl
A. D.J. (David Bowie, Brian Eno, Carlos Alomar)
B. Repetition (David Bowie)
Notes
RCA UK officially released about 3000 copies in green vinyl.
UK Variants
Demonstration printed label with four prongs
Commercial four prongs and solid center
CHART PERFORMANCE
UK: Peak position 29
First Chart
Date: July 21, 1979
Weeks on chart: 5
July 21, 1979 – 29
July 28, 1979 – 31
August 4, 1979 – 36
August 11, 1979 – 56
August 18, 1979 – 70
INTERNATIONAL VARIANTS:
• Australia - RCA Victor – 103420 - 1979
• Brazil - RCA – 101.4096 - 1979 (Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM)
• Brazil - RCA – 101.4096 - 1979 (33 ⅓ RPM)
• Canada - RCA – PB-11661 - 1979
• Europe - RCA – BOW 516 / BOW 3 - 1983 (Reissue)
• France - RCA – BOW 3 / PB 9412 - 1979
• Ireland - RCA – BOW 516 / BOW 3 - 1983 (Reissue)
• Spain - RCA Victor – PB-9412 - 1979 (Promo)
• Spain - RCA Victor – PB-9412 - 1979
• US - RCA – PB-11661 - 1979
• US - RCA – JH-11661 / PB-11661 - 1979 (Promo, Stereo/Mono)
UK VARIANTS
• UK - RCA Victor – BOW 3 / PB 9412 - 1979 (Stereo)
• UK - RCA Victor – BOW 3 / PB 9412 - 1979 (Promo)
• UK - RCA Victor – BOW 3 / PB 9412 - 1979 (Green Vinyl)
• UK - RCA Victor – BOW 3 / PB 9412 - 1979 (Utopia)
• UK - RCA Victor – BOW 3 / PB 9412 - 1979 (Solid Centre)
• UK - RCA – BOW 516 / BOW 3 - 1983 (Reissue, Solid Centre)
• UK, Europe & US - Parlophone – DBDJ 40 - 2019 (Picture Disc)
PERSONNEL
David Bowie – lead and backing vocal, Chamberlin, piano
Adrian Belew – lead guitar
Carlos Alomar – rhythm guitar
George Murray – bass guitar Dennis Davis – drums Simon House – violin
The single charted at number 29 in the UK and has received positive reviews.
BACKGROUND
"D.J." released on June 29, 1979 as the second single from the album Lodger.
A cynical comment on the cult of the DJ, the track includes a guitar solo by Adrian Belew.
Its accompanying music video, directed by David Mallet, features Bowie casually walking down London's Earl's Court Road as passersby recognise him and follow him, interjected with Bowie as the tortured DJ destroying his studio.
RECORDING
"D.J." was written by David Bowie, multi-instrumentalist Brian Eno and guitarist Carlos Alomar during the sessions for Lodger (1979); its original working title was "I Bit You Back".
Co-produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti, the backing track was recorded at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland in September 1978, while vocals and overdubs were completed at the Record Plant in New York City in March 1979.
MUSIC AND LYRICS
"D.J." takes a sardonic look at the world of the disc jockey.
On the song, the DJ is looked at solely for what he is on the outside: "I am a DJ, I am what I play". Bowie mimics David Byrne of Talking Heads in his vocal performance. Bowie described the song in a 1979 radio interview as his natural response to disco.
RELEASE
"D.J." first appeared on Lodger on May 25, 1979. RCA issued the song in slightly edited form as the second single from the album. In the UK, it was released on June 29, 1979, with album track "Repetition" as the B-side. Initially available only on limited-edition green vinyl, the single charted at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart.
RECEPTION
On release, "D.J." was deemed one of the album's best tracks by several reviewers. Retrospective reviews have been positive. The song was voted number 76 in a 2015 list compiling Bowie's best songs by Mojo magazine. One year later, Ultimate Classic Rock placed the single at number 16 in a list ranking every Bowie single from worst to best.
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