On This Day in 1975, David Bowie Ushered in the Age of the Thin White Duke with ‘Young Americans’

On this day (March 7) in 1975, David Bowie released Young Americans. The release marked a major turning point in Bowie’s career and brought him his first No. 1 single in the United States. Additionally, the album contains songs written and co-written by former Beatle John Lennon.

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Bowie kicked off his glam rock era with the 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. That album also introduced his Ziggy Stardust persona. However, after three more glam albums–Aladdin Sane, Pin Ups, and Diamond Dogs–he was ready for a change. The tracks “Rock ‘n’ Roll with Me” and “1984” on Diamond Dogs, which contained elements of soul and covers of songs from the Ohio Players and Eddie Floyd on David Live (1974) telegraphed where he wanted to go with his sound.

[RELATED: In February of 1976, David Bowie’s Thin White Duke Saunters Onto the Scene]

Bowie had long been a fan of soul music and decided to tap into that sound with Young Americans. Preparation for the album saw him collaborating with Carlos Alomar, a guitarist who was a session musician at the Apollo Theater and had played with the likes of Chuck Berry and James Brown. Additionally, he struck up a collaborative partnership with singer/model Ava Cherry who would later perform with the likes of Chaka Khan and Luther Vandross.

Critics called Bowie’s sound on Young Americans “blue-eyed soul.” Bowie, however, referred to it as “plastic soul.” The album also saw the introduction of Bowie’s controversial “Thin White Duke” persona.

David Bowie Finds His First United States No. 1 with “Fame”

David Bowie remains one of the most influential artists in rock and roll. He retains a massive following that continues to grow years after his passing. However, his popularity among genre fans wasn’t always reflected in his chart performance, especially in the United States. That changed when he released “Fame” as the second single from Young Americans in June 1975. Co-penned by Bowie, John Lennon, and Carlos Alomar, it was destined to be a hit.

Before releasing “Fame,” Bowie had never cracked the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. It went on to be a massive success across North America, going to No. 1 on the Hot 100 and the equivalent chart in Canada.

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