Iggy Pop (August 27, 1977) – “No Lust for Iggy” Album Review – Melody Maker

Aug 27, 1977

2 min read

This Melody Maker review from August 27 1977 critiques Iggy Pop’s Lust For Life album, produced by David Bowie. The piece, titled “No Lust for Iggy,” offers a sharp and skeptical take on Pop’s second RCA release, questioning whether the record’s energy matches the intensity of his earlier work.

Publication: Melody Maker Date: August 27 1977 Country: United Kingdom

Written by one of Melody Maker’s regular reviewers, the article opens with a detailed credit list — Iggy Pop on vocals, Bowie on piano and guitar.

The reviewer argues that Lust For Life doesn’t fully capture the anarchic spirit of Pop’s persona, describing it as “a sordid second shot” following The Idiot. While acknowledging Bowie’s polished production and the album’s rhythmic drive, the piece suggests that Pop’s performance feels restrained compared to his raw stage presence.

The review contrasts the album’s professionalism with the chaotic vitality fans expected, noting that the collaboration’s discipline may have dulled Pop’s edge. A black‑and‑white photograph of Iggy Pop accompanies the text, captioned “a sordid second shot,” reinforcing the critic’s ambivalence.

CONTEXT AND NOTES

By late 1977, Iggy Pop and David Bowie were deep into their Berlin creative partnership, producing two albums that would become cornerstones of post‑punk and art‑rock.

Lust For Life was recorded swiftly after The Idiot, with Bowie co‑writing most tracks and shaping the sound toward a leaner, more accessible rock aesthetic. The Melody Maker review reflects the divided critical response at the time — some writers praised the album’s clarity and focus, while others missed the danger and unpredictability of Pop’s earlier work.

The headline “No Lust for Iggy” encapsulates this tension: admiration for the craft but skepticism about the spirit. In hindsight, Lust For Life became one of Pop’s defining records, its title track later immortalized in film and pop culture.

Yet in 1977, British critics were still adjusting to the idea of Iggy Pop as a studio‑disciplined artist rather than a self‑destructive provocateur.

This review captures that transitional moment — when punk’s chaos met Bowie’s precision, and the result was both celebrated and misunderstood.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Review of Lust For Life album by Iggy Pop

Era: 1977 – Berlin Collaboration / Post‑Punk Era Tone: Critical, analytical, and reflective Photography: Black‑and‑white portrait of Iggy Pop accompanying the review

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

Headline: “No Lust for Iggy”
Full album review listing musicians and production credits
Photograph captioned “Iggy Pop: a sordid second shot”
Adjacent reviews of other albums including American Flyer and PFM: Jet Lag

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.