David Bowie: "Sound and Vision" Single (1977)

David Bowie’s "Sound and Vision" backed with "A New Career in a New Town", was released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK by RCA Records (catalog number PB 0905) on February 11, 1977.

Co-produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti, the track was recorded at the Château d'Hérouville in Hérouville, France, in September 1976, and finished at Hansa Studios in West Berlin during October and November. The song originated from a basic G major chord progression that Bowie provided to the backing musicians, with him writing and recording his vocals later. It includes backing vocals from Brian Eno and Visconti's then-wife, Mary Hopkin.

"Sound and Vision" achieved commercial success, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart, partly due to its feature in BBC television ads. It reached number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a decline in Bowie's US commercial success until 1983. Music critics and biographers regard "Sound and Vision" as one of Bowie's finest songs. He performed it just once during his 1978 Isolar II world tour but included it more often in later tours. The song has been remixed in later decades and included in several compilation albums.