Actors - Aladdin Sane

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	Actors - Aladdin Sane

Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) is the title track from the album Aladdin Sane
, by David Bowie. The dates in the song's title refer to the years preceding World War I and World War II, with the third unknown date reflecting Bowie's belief in an impending World War III. Bowie has said that the song is about the madness of nationalism, which sent generations of men off to die on the battlefield with false promises of glory. The insanity theme also links the song closely to Bowie's half-brother, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The name is a pun on A Lad Insane. An early alternate title was Aladdin Vein or Vain, a pun on A Laden Vein, which highlights the song's pervasive drug undertones. An early, instrumental recording of this song, called (probably by the bootleggers) A Lad In Vain, was released on the bootleg album Naked & Wired.

Live versions

A live version from the 1974 tour was released on David Live
. This version was also released on Rock Concert. Another live version from the same tour was released on A Portrait in Flesh.

Other releases

It appeared on several compilations:

The Best of David Bowie (Japan 1974)
Chameleon (Australia/New Zealand (1979)
Changestwobowie (1981). Although the version of "Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)" is the same as that found on the Aladdin Sane
album, it is actually listed in some liner notes as "Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)/On Broadway" with the credits for "On Broadway" being assigned to Weil, Mann, Leiber and Stoller.
The Best of 1969/1974 (1997)

Cover versions

Toni Basil
- Live at the Roxy
Ebn Ozn - Renamed "Homicidal Schizophrenic: A Lad Insane" on Telecommunication Breakdown in 1995
Whorgasm - Smothered

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