Actors - 1984

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	Actors - 1984

"1984" is a song from David Bowie's 1974 album Diamond Dogs
. The song is based on and inspired by the George Orwell book Nineteen Eighty-Four. George Orwell's widow would not give Bowie the rights to make a play based on 1984, but many of the songs intended for the play ended up on the album Diamond Dogs, including "Diamond Dogs", "Candidate", "We Are the Dead", and "Big Brother". Featuring a funk/disco rhythm not unlike that of the theme from Shaft
by Isaac Hayes, the song has been seen as a clear indicator of where Bowie's sound was headed on his next album, Young Americans
.

"1984" was also recorded in a medley with "Dodo" (referred to as "1984/Dodo"). This medley was the last recording with Mick Ronson and Trevor Bolder at Trident Studios, London, November 1973. The medley was also played live, and was the first song played at the The 1980 Floor Show.

Track listing

# "1984" (Bowie) – 3:27 # "Queen Bitch" (Bowie) - 3:13

Production credits (1984)

Producers:
* David Bowie

Musicians:
* David Bowie
: vocals, moog, mellotron and guitar
* Alan Parker: guitar
* Herbie Flowers: bass
* Mike Garson
: piano
* Aynsley Dunbar: drums

Production credits (Queen Bitch)

Producers:
* Ken Scott (1971)

Musicians:
* David Bowie: vocals, guitar
* Mick Ronson: guitar
* Trevor Bolder: bass
* Mick Woodmansey: drums

Live versions

A live version from the 1974 tour was released on David Live
and another recording from the 1974 tour was released on the semi-legal album A Portrait in Flesh.

Other releases

It appeared on several compilations:
* Chameleon (Australia/New Zealand 1979)
* ChangesTwoBowie (1981)
* Fame and Fashion (1984)
* The Best of 1974/1979 (1998)
The "1984/Dodo" version was released in the Sound + Vision box set in 1989, and in 2004 on the bonus disc of the 30th Anniversary Edition of Diamond Dogs
.

Cover versions

Tina Turner - Private Dancer (1984)

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