Cat People (Putting Out Fire)

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"Cat People (Putting Out Fire)"
"Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" cover
Single by David Bowie
from the album Cat People
B-side(s) Paul’s Theme (Jogging Chase)
Released March 1982
Format 7"/12” single
Recorded Mountain Studios, Montreux, July 1981
Genre Rock
Length 4:08
Label MCA
770
Producer(s) Giorgio Moroder
Chart positions
  • #26 (UK)
  • #67 (US)
David Bowie singles chronology
Baal
(1982)
Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
(1982)
Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy
(1982)

"Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" is a song by David Bowie. It was recorded for Paul Schrader’s 1982 remake of the film Cat People with producer Giorgio Moroder.

Schrader engaged Bowie for a theme song in 1981, with Moroder having already recorded most of the music. Bowie was to put lyrics to the main theme. The words only had a basic relation to the film. The B-side is a Moroder-only instrumental which featured no input from Bowie.

The song itself, in keeping with the dark tone of the film, has some slight goth rock influences, with Bowie singing in a deep croon while being backed up by a female chorus, a combination that The Sisters of Mercy would commonly employ years later.

Due to Moroder’s contract, the single as issued by MCA. The full-length version would appear on the soundtrack album, and the 12” single, while a 4:08 edited version was made for the 7” release. The single would reach #26 in the UK, and #67 in America - Bowie's biggest hit there since "Golden Years". The single was released three separate times by MCA. First with "Cat People" as the A-side, then again two months later with "Paul's Theme" as the A-side, and finally in November 1982 with "Cat People" back on the A-side.

In 1983, Bowie would re-record the song for his Let's Dance album. This version would also be released as the B-side to the title track’s single release, and be performed on Bowie’s Serious Moonlight Tour.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

7” version: -

  1. "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" (Bowie, Moroder) – 4:08
  2. "Paul’s Theme (Jogging Chase)” (Moroder) – 3:51

12” version: -

  1. "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" (Bowie) – 6:41
  2. "Paul’s Theme (Jogging Chase)” (Moroder) – 3:51

[edit] Production credits

[edit] Other releases

[edit] Cover versions

  • Big Electric Cat - Goth Oddity: A Tribute to David Bowie (1999)
  • Cruciform - Goth Oddity 2000: A Tribute to David Bowie (2000)
  • Terror Pop - Live recording
  • Tina Turner

[edit] References

Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5