Suffragette City
“Suffragette City” is a song by David Bowie. Originally from the 1972 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars album, it was later issued as a single in 1976 to promote the Changesonebowie compilation in the UK, with the US single edit of “Stay” on the B-side. The single failed to chart.
Recorded towards the end of the Ziggy Stardust sessions, “Suffragette City” features a piano riff heavily influenced by Little Richard, a lyrical reference to the film A Clockwork Orange (the word “droogie”) and the sing-along hook "Wham bam thank you ma'am!”.
Before recording it himself, Bowie offered it to the band Mott the Hoople if they would forgo their plan of breaking up. The group refused, but recorded Bowie's "All the Young Dudes" instead.[1]
Track listing
- “Suffragette City” (Bowie) – 3:25
- “Stay” (Bowie) – 3:21
Production credits
Other releases
- It was released as the B-side of the singles "Starman" in April 1972 and "Young Americans" in February 1975.
- A picture disc release appeared in the RCA Life Time picture disc set.
- It also appeared on the following compilations:
Live versions
- Bowie recorded the song for the BBC radio programme "Sounds of the 70s: John Peel", and this was broadcast May 23, 1972. In 2000, this recording was released on the Bowie at the Beeb album.
- A live version recorded at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 20 October 1972 was released on Santa Monica '72.
- The version played at the famous concert at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, July 3, 1973 was released on Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture.
- A recording from the 1974 tour was released on David Live. This version was also released in the Sound and Vision box set. Another live recording from the 1974 tour was released on the semi-legal A Portrait in Flesh.
Cover versions
References
- Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5
Notes
- ^ Roberts, David (1998). Guinness Rockopedia (1st ed.). London: Guinness Publishing Ltd.. p. 282. ISBN 0-85112-072-5.
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- discography
- Book:David Bowie / Part 2 Singles and songs
- Category:David Bowie
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