David Bowie (July 9 1976) — Suffragette City Single 7" UK

David Bowie

Label: UK RCA Victor

Country: UK

Catalogue: RCA 2726

Release Date: July 9 1976

Type: Vinyl Record

Format: 7" Single

TRACK LISTING

A: Suffragette City

Composer: David Bowie

Producers: Ken Scott, David Bowie

B: Stay

Composer: David Bowie

Producers: David Bowie, Harry Maslin

SLEEVE & PRESSING DETAILS

Issued in picture sleeve, four‑prong centre, and demonstration four‑prong printed label in company sleeve.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Originally released April 28 1972 as the B‑side to Starman. Reissued July 9 1976 to promote Changesonebowie.

Singles chronology:

Stay (1976),

Suffragette City (1976),

Sound and Vision (1977)

VARIANTS

Australia 1976

• Suffragette City — 7" Single — RCA Victor 102813

• Suffragette City — 7" Single Picture Sleeve — RCA Victor 102813

France 1976

• Suffragette City — 7" 45 RPM Stereo — RCA Victor 42576 / RCA 42576

Germany 1976

• Suffragettecity / Stay — 7" 45 RPM Stereo — RCA Victor XB‑01 015 / 26.11453

• Suffragette City — 7" 45 RPM Single — RCA Victor XB‑01015

New Zealand 1976

• Suffragette City — 7" 45 RPM Single — RCA Victor RCA 2726

United Kingdom 1976

• Suffragette City b/w Stay — 7" 45 RPM Single — RCA Victor RCA 2726

• Suffragette City — 7" Single Promo — RCA Victor RCA 2726

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Originally released April 28 1972 as the B‑side to Starman. Reissued July 9 1976 to promote Changesonebowie. Singles chronology: Stay (1976), Suffragette City (1976), Sound and Vision (1977).

COMPOSITION & RECORDING

Recorded February 4 1972 at Trident Studios, London. Other tracks recorded that day: Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide, Starman. Backing band: Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder, Mick Woodmansey. Originally offered to Mott the Hoople, who declined and recorded All the Young Dudes instead.

MUSICAL ANALYSIS

Glam rock, proto‑punk, hard rock. Little Richard‑style piano riff. ARP synthesiser used to mimic saxophone. Backing vocals shift channels between verses. Chord spacing F–G–A gives the track its drive. False ending punctuated by “wham bam, thank you, ma’am!”.

CULTURAL REFERENCES

Includes A Clockwork Orange reference: “Ah droogie, don’t crash here”. Hook previously used by Charles Mingus and Small Faces. Velvet Underground vocal phrasing. Marc Bolan boogie influence. Jerry Lee Lewis swagger.

CRITICAL RECEPTION

Rolling Stone: Bowie’s “supreme moment as a rock & roller”. AllMusic: Ronson’s “maverick flair”. Louder: “glam rock in excelsis”. PopMatters: “endlessly addicting and pleasantly infectious”. NME: Listed among Bowie’s greatest songs.

CHART PERFORMANCE

First Chart Date: July 21 1979

Weeks on Chart: 5

July 21 1979 — 29 (Peak)

July 28 1979 — 31 August 4 1979 — 36 August 11 1979 — 56 August 18 1979 — 70LIVE PERFORMANCE LEGACY

Appears on: Live Santa Monica 72 Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture David Live Cracked Actor Live Nassau Coliseum 76 Stage Welcome to the Blackout

COMPILATION & REMASTER HISTORY Changesonebowie (1976) Changesbowie (1990) The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974 (1997) Best of Bowie (2002)

Remasters: 1990 Rykodisc 2012 40th Anniversary 2015 Five Years (1969–1973) including Ken Scott’s 2003 remix

COLLECTOR NOTES

Picture sleeves Demonstration labels Four‑prong centre variants UK RCA 2726 copies International catalogue variations

SINGLE CHRONOLOGY

April 28 1972 — B‑side to Starman

July 9 1976 — Reissued as A‑side for Changesonebowie

INFLUENCE & LEGACY

A major Ziggy‑era rocker, widely regarded as one of Bowie’s most powerful tracks. Handwritten lyrics displayed in David Bowie Is (2013–2018) and auctioned in 2023.

PERSONNEL David Bowie — vocals, 12‑string acoustic guitar, producer

Mick Ronson — electric guitar, piano, ARP 2600, backing vocals T

revor Bolder — bass

Mick Woodmansey — drums Ken Scott — producer

TRACK TIMINGS 1972 B‑Side Single Starman — 4:10 Suffragette City — 3:25

1976 A‑Side Single Suffragette City — 3:25 Stay — 3:21

SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts.

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