"" is a 1974 single by
David Bowie , and the title track of the
Album Of The Same Name .
The lyric introduces the listener to Bowie’s latest persona and his environment; Halloween Jack dwells on top of tenement buildings in a post-apocalyptic
Manhattan . The guitar sound is heavily influenced by
The Rolling Stones , and signalled Bowie moving away from
Glam Rock and closer to a
Proto-punk Stooges -influenced sound.
The track was considered by many commentators to be an unconventional single, and only reached UK #21. According to ''
NME '' critics
Roy Carr and
Charles Shaar Murray , "As a potential hit single, the title track from ''Diamond Dogs'' was something of a non-event. Too long, too bleak in vision, too tough to dance to... you know the drill."
Roy Carr &
Charles Shaar Murray (1981). ''Bowie: An Illustrated Record'': p.64
While it failed to make the
US charts, the song became a central part of Bowie’s North American tour in 1974.
The B-side was a version of Bowie’s 1971 single "
Holy Holy ", re-recorded during the ''
Ziggy Stardust '' sessions the same year.
# "Diamond Dogs" (Bowie) – 5:26
# "
Holy Holy " (Bowie) – 2:20
- A live version from the 1974 tour was released on '' David Live ''. This version was also issued on the Dutch release ''Rock Concert''. Another live recording from the 1974 tour was released on the semi-legal album ''A Portrait in Flesh''.
- Beck recorded a cover version of "Diamond Dogs", produced by Timbaland , for the film '' Moulin Rouge! '' in 2001 . The dancers in the film were also called the Diamond Dogs, as were the dancers on Bowie's 1974 tour.
- Blind Willie's Johnson - ''Only Bowie'' (1995)
- Dramarama - Live recording (1992)
- Duran Duran - '' Thank You '' (Japanese version 1995)
- Rancid Vat - "Bowiecide" single
Pegg, Nicholas , ''The Complete David Bowie'', Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5
