David Bowie: Young Americans

Day two of our tribute to David Bowie, who passed away on Sunday, takes us back again to 1975 with another Bowie hit – “Young Americans.” It was a tongue-in-cheek look at these United States and was recorded two days after Richard Nixon’s resignation on August 9, 1974. Thus Bowie immortalized Tricky Dick in song. However, it wasn’t the first time, though. Neil Young did it on “Ohio” in 1970 and Lynyrd Skynyrd mentioned Watergate on 1974’s “Sweet Home Alabama.”

“Young Americans” features killer saxophone work by the legendary David Sanborn and a backup vocal arrangement courtesy of Luther Vandross. Luther, Ava Cherry, and Robin Clark were the backup singers on this song that Bowie termed as “Plastic Soul.” “Young Americans” peaked at #28 in early 1975.