Actors - Black Tie White Noise

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	Actors - Black Tie White Noise

Black Tie/White Noise is an album by David Bowie. Released in 1993, it was his first solo release in the 1990s - after a critically disappointing experiment in his hard rock band, Tin Machine, and a new marriage with super model Iman Abdulmajid in 1992. This album featured his old guitarist from the Ziggy Stardust
era, Mick Ronson, who died of cancer later in the year. In Bowie's own words, this album was inspired by his own wedding, and includes tracks such as "The Wedding" and its reprise at the end of the album as a song reflecting the occasion.

The title track, "Black Tie/White Noise," is inspired by the riot in Los Angeles, provoking the issue of racism in the legal system. This track is controversial amongst fans for departing into the stream of hip-hop and included a duet with singer Al B.

The track, "Jump They Say", is apparently a tribute to Bowie's half-brother, Terry, who committed suicide after being hospitalised for schizophrenia in the 1980's. The lyrics question mass conformity, in line with some of his earlier works including "All The Madmen", from The Man Who Sold The World and "Mass Production", from Iggy Pop's The Idiot.

Though considered by some critics to be musically far superior to Let's Dance, the public was still unsure whether or not it was ready to be receptive to Bowie again. The album, however, met the number one spot on the UK charts with singles such as "Jump They Say" and "Miracle Goodnight". However, until re-releases later in the 1990s, the album was extraordinarily rare after the fledgling Savage Records on which it had been released suddenly went belly-up. Though often considered Bowie's oddest departure, Black Tie/White Noise marks the beginning of his modern era.

It has been suggested by many critics that it was Bowie's name rather than the music which prevented a bigger commercial success; to prove a point, in 1993, anonymous club remixes of the album track "Pallas Athena" were released to American dancefloors and became big hits. Only once the true artist behind them was revealed did the mixes become unpopular.

To mark the album's 10th anniversary in 2003, a re-release consisting of the original album, a second disc of remixes and rarities and a bonus DVD of the Black Tie/White Noise video was released. Songs like "Real Cool World" (a soundtrack single released prior to the album in 1992) and "Lucy Can't Dance" (a bonus track on the original album) were included alongside dance mixes of many of the album tracks.

Track listing

All songs written by David Bowie except You've Been Around by Bowie/Reeves Gabrels, I Feel Free by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown, Nite Flights by Scott Walker, Don't Let Me Down & Down by Tahra and Martine Valmont, I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday by Morrissey and Mark Nevin.

# "The Wedding" - (5:04) # "You've Been Around" - (4:45) # "I Feel Free" - (4:52) # "Black Tie White Noise" - (4:52) # "Jump They Say" - (4:22) # "Nite Flights" - (4:30) # "Pallas Athena" - (4:40) # "Miracle Goodnight" - (4:14) # "Don't Let Me Down & Down" - (4:55) # "Looking for Lester" - (5:36) # "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday" - (4:14) # "The Wedding Song" - (4:29)

On the Indonesian release, Bowie sang "Don't Let Me Down & Down" in Indonesian.

Bonus tracks on CD version

"Jump They Say (Alternate Mix)" - (3:58) — '

"Lucy Can't Dance" - (5:45)

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Black Tie White Noise ]

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