Ashes to Ashes - 2017 Remasterby David Bowie

Bowie's label, RCA Records, released a promotional single in 1980 titled "The Continuing Story of Major Tom." On it, "Space Oddity" was mixed smoothly into "Ashes to Ashes," creating a nine-minute epic. The end of the first song meshed uncannily with the start of the second: The lonely beeping at the conclusion of "Space Oddity" bled into the high-pitched, pizzicato-like melody at the beginning of "Ashes to Ashes." It was as if that had been Bowie's intention all along. Read a fascinating NPR feature on how "Ashes to Ashes" marked the end of stage one of Bowie's career: www.npr.org

In his 2003 interview with Performing Songwriter magazine, Bowie explains that the song "Inchworm," which was sung by Danny Kaye in the 1952 movie Hans Christian Andersen, was a big influence on "Ashes To Ashes." Said Bowie: "I loved it as a kid and it's stayed with me forever. I keep going back to it. You wouldn't believe the amount of my songs that have sort of spun off that one song. Not that you'd really recognize it. Something like 'Ashes to Ashes' wouldn't have happened if it hadn't have been for 'Inchworm.' www.songfacts.com

This song is also about David Bowie’s own experiences with addiction. In 1977, David Bowie’s friend and producer Brian Eno brought David Bowie to Berlin to begin recovery. This journey resulted in three seminal David Bowie albums: Low, “Heroes”, and Lodger. They are known as The Berlin Trilogy, also called his “Berlin Period.”

Ashes to ashes, funk to funky We know Major Tom's a junkie Strung out in heaven's high Hitting an all-time low ----- “Ashes to Ashes” is a follow up to “Space Oddity,” and in this song, Major Tom is revealed to be a drug addict. This song is also about David Bowie’s own experiences with drug addiction. In 1977, David Bowie’s friend and producer Brian Eno brought David Bowie to Berlin to kick his drug addiction. This journey resulted in three seminal David Bowie albums: Low, “Heroes”, and Lodger. They are known as The Berlin Trilogy, also called his “Berlin Period.”

Major Tom junky funky

Ashes to ashes, funk to funky We know Major Tom's a junkie Strung out in heaven's high Hitting an all-time low ----- “Ashes to Ashes” is a follow up to “Space Oddity,” and in this song, Major Tom is revealed to be a drug addict. This song is also about David Bowie’s own experiences with drug addiction. In 1977, David Bowie’s friend and producer Brian Eno brought David Bowie to Berlin to kick his drug addiction. This journey resulted in three seminal David Bowie albums: Low, “Heroes”, and Lodger. They are known as The Berlin Trilogy, also called his “Berlin Period.”

David Bowie's birthday is Sunday, January 8th. He was born in 1947. Here's a reprint of a 2021 article, "10 Times David Bowie Was the Coolest Man Who Fell to Earth": yhoo.it

In 1980, David Bowie was in the middle of a new kind of transformation. After launching himself to stardom in 1969 with his first hit single, ""Space Oddity,"" he spent a decade morphing from Major Tom to Ziggy Stardust to Aladdin Sane to Halloween Jack to The Thin White Duke — a series of characters that also emblemized radically different approaches to rock music, from sci-fi glam to stark experimentalism. By the end of the '70s, however, he dispensed with such alter egos. Instead, he absorbed them all into a single if mercurial persona, one known simply as David Bowie. And that persona hinged on ""Ashes To Ashes."" n.pr vimeo.com

Couple of requests for Bowie from opposite sides of the USA - this goes out to Bridget in Yakima and Dave in Florida. Thanks for listening!

This song can be seen as a sequel to Bowie's 1969 hit, "Space Oddity." bit.ly

In 1980, David Bowie was in the middle of a new kind of transformation. After launching himself to stardom in 1969 with his first hit single, "Space Oddity," he spent a decade morphing from Major Tom to Ziggy Stardust to Aladdin Sane to Halloween Jack to The Thin White Duke — a series of characters that also emblemized radically different approaches to rock music, from sci-fi glam to stark experimentalism. By the end of the '70s, however, he dispensed with such alter egos. Instead, he absorbed them all into a single if mercurial persona, one known simply as David Bowie. And that persona hinged on "Ashes To Ashes." "...the mix dramatically demonstrated just how far he'd progressed in the '70s. His voice was now deeper and more profound. The music was jagged, jarring, and richly textured in a completely different way than "Space Oddity" had been. Rather than psychedelically spacious, it carried a sterile air of computers, androids and off-kilter motorization. Guitarist Chuck Hammer conveyed this feeling with layers of synthesized guitar. Flangers gave a grand piano an alien quality. Dennis Davis' drums were disorienting yet mathematical, a funk beat from another dimension." www.npr.org

Bowie's first post-Berlin Trilogy LP

This sequel to "Space Oddity" revisits the fictional astronaut, Major Tom, who is now in space. He has regained communication with Ground Control and tells them he is happy, but they deem him nothing but a "junkie, strung out in heavens high, hitting an all-time low." Fans believe this to be Bowie's autobiographical piece about his fight against drug abuse and other personal demons. The British BBC TV series, "Ashes to Ashes," was named after this song. The series served as the sequel to "Life on Mars," which was also named after the Bowie song of the same name.

"Ashes to Ashes" returns to the story of Major Tom. The video for the song was also the most expensive music video ever made at the time: www.youtube.com

Major Tom's second appearance in David Bow song becomes more autobiographical, with references to drug addiction that parallel Bowie's struggles: Major Tom is described as a "junkie, strung out in heavens high, hitting an all-time low".

In his 2003 interview with Performing Songwriter magazine, Bowie explains that the song "Inchworm," which was sung by Danny Kaye in the 1952 movie Hans Christian Andersen, was a big influence on "Ashes To Ashes." Said Bowie: "I loved it as a kid and it's stayed with me forever. I keep going back to it. You wouldn't believe the amount of my songs that have sort of spun off that one song. Not that you'd really recognize it. Something like 'Ashes to Ashes' wouldn't have happened if it hadn't have been for 'Inchworm.' There's a child's nursery rhyme element in it, and there's something so sad and mournful and poignant about it. It kept bringing me back to the feelings of those pure thoughts of sadness that you have as a child, and how they're so identifiable even when you're an adult. There's a connection that can be made between being a somewhat lost five-year old and feeling a little abandoned and having the same feeling when you're in your twenties. And it was that song that did that for me."

David Bowie released his album “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)” on this day in 1980.

"Ashes to Ashes" was the lead single from the 1980 album Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) and became Bowie's second UK No. 1 single. It is also known for its innovative video, directed by Bowie and David Mallet, which at the time was the most expensive music video ever made. Here it is: www.youtube.com The lyrics revisit Bowie's Major Tom character from 1969's "Space Oddity" in a darker theme, which he referenced once again in 1995 with "Hallo Spaceboy." The song's original title was "People Are Turning to Gold."

'Scary Monsters' was released on this day in 1980. David Bowie’s long-term friend and producer Tony Visconti has confirmed that new material from the late musician will be released over the next few years. After Bowie passed away earlier this year, it was confirmed that he finished five tracks for a follow-up to his recent 'Blackstar' release just two days prior to his death.

Here's the music video which was directed by Bowie and David Mallet and was the most expensive music video ever made at the time! www.youtube.com