David Bowie (May 18/25, 1979) Lodger - Album
- David Bowie
- May 25, 1979
- 3 min read
RELEASE DETAILS
Artist: David Bowie
Label: RCA Records
Date: May 18, 1979 (UK) / May 25, 1979 (US)
Catalogue: PL 13254
Format: LP
Country: United Kingdom / United States
THE STORY
Lodger was released as the final chapter of David Bowie’s acclaimed Berlin Trilogy, following Low and “Heroes”. Recorded with Brian Eno and produced by Tony Visconti, the album moved away from the ambient and instrumental leanings of its predecessors toward more structured art rock, avant-pop, world music, and new wave influences.
CONTEXT & NOTES
Sessions took place in Switzerland in September 1978 and New York in March 1979. The recording heavily utilized Eno’s Oblique Strategies cards, encouraging experimentation such as instrument swapping and playing tracks backwards. Adrian Belew joined the sessions after impressing on the Isolar II tour. Lyrically the album is split between themes of travel (Side One) and critiques of Western society (Side Two). The striking gatefold cover by Derek Boshier portrays Bowie as an accident victim.
"possible titles considered for the album were "Planned Accidents" and "Despite Straight Lines".
TRACK LIST Side One
Fantastic Voyage
African Night Flight
Move On
Yassassin
Red Sails
The original UK release comes in an outside laminated gatefold cover with orange RCA Victor labels, and includes a paper insert featuring credits, lyrics, and photos. The first catalogue number appears on the cover, insert, and labels; the second is on the labels and in parentheses on the cover and insert; and the third (US catalogue number) is in parentheses on the labels. It was recorded at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland, mixed at Record Plant Studios in New York City, and mastered at Sterling Sound Studios in New York City.
Side Two
D.J.
Look Back in Anger
Boys Keep Swinging
Repetition
Red Money
℗ 1979 RCA Corporation [labels] © 1979, RCA Records, Bedford Ave., London W1 [insert] Sleeve © 1979 RCA Ltd. [cover]
A1, A2, A5, B3: © 1979 Bewlay Bros Music, Fleur Music, and E. G. Music Ltd A3, A4: © 1979 Bewlay Bros Music and Fleur Music B1: © 1979 Bewlay Bros Music, Fleur Music, E. G. Music Ltd., and 100 MPH Music
Track A4 is subtitled "(Turkish For: Long Live)" on the lyric insert.
RCA Limited, Record Division, 1 Bedford Avenue, London WC1 Also available on cassette BOW K 1 Printed in England by Delga Press Ltd., Bromley, Kent
1979 WEEKLY CHART PERFORMAN
Chart (1979) | Peak Position | |
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) | 11 | |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) | 13 | |
Canadian Albums (RPM) | 15 | |
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts) | 5 | |
French Albums (SNEP) | 11 | |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) | 32 | |
New Zealand Albums (RIANZ) | 3 | |
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) | 11 | |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 9 | |
UK Albums (OCC) | 4 | |
US Billboard Top LPs & Tape | 20 |
Highest Charting: No. 3 in New Zealand and No. 4 in the UK.
PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS
Dramatic gatefold sleeve designed by Derek Boshier
Bowie depicted as an accident victim across the cover
Lyrics printed on inner sleeve
WHAT THE SLEEVE SHOWS
A powerful and unsettling image of David Bowie lying injured on the ground, continuing across the gatefold. The design gives the album a theatrical, almost cinematic feel that perfectly matches the experimental nature of the music
CREDITS / PERSONNEL
Production
Producer – David Bowie, Tony Visconti
Main Performers
Vocals, Keyboards, Chamberlin, Guitar – David Bowie
Synthesizer, Piano, Effects, Backing Vocals – Brian Eno
Lead Guitar – Adrian Belew
Rhythm Guitar – Carlos Alomar
Bass – George Murray
Drums – Dennis Davis
Violin, Mandolin – Simon House
Piano – Sean Mayes
Additional Musicians
Backing Vocals – Carlos Alomar, Dennis Davis, George Murray, Simon House, Tony Visconti
Saxophone – Stan
Bugle / French Horn – Brian Eno
Percussion – Dennis Davis
Synthesizer – Roger Powell
Technical
Engineers – Tony Visconti, David Richards, Rod O’Brien, Gregg Caruso
Assistant Engineers – Eugene Chaplin, Gregg Caruso
Lacquer Cut – GC*
Engineer [Mastering] – Greg Calbi (Sterling Sound)
RELATED MATERIAL
Low (1977)
“Heroes” (1977)
Boys Keep Swinging (Single)
For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.
SOURCES
Discogs
45cat
BBC Official Charts
Wikipedia
All album artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.
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