David Bowie: Suffragette City

One of the first Bowie songs that I heard on the radio was an album cut from the “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” album in 1972. In addition, “Suffragette City” had the notoriety of being released by RCA Records three times as a single in the UK – twice as a “B” side and once as an “A” side. In the US, its only 45 release appeared as the flip of “Starman” in 1972. It failed to chart in both the US and the UK.

Rumor has it that Bowie first offered the song to Mott the Hoople to record it before he laid down his own glam rock version, but they passed on the song. This is unfortunate, as they did an excellent version of Bowie’s “All the Young Dudes.” I would have liked to hear their interpretation. As for Bowie’s recording, Mick Ronson’s really added to the cut with his lead guitar, the rocking piano, and the ARP synthesizer; all of of which, in my estimation, makes the song.