Actors - Starman

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	Actors - Starman

"Starman" was a single by David Bowie. The song was a late addition to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
, added at the insistence of RCA’s Dennis Katz, who heard a demo and loved the track, believing it would make a great single. The song replaced the Chuck Berry cover “Round and Round” on the album.

When released as a single, "Starman" initially sold steadily rather than spectacularly, but earned Bowie a Top of the Pops appearance. His performance with the Spiders is now famous. It embedded Ziggy Stardust in the nation’s consciousness, helped push "Starman" to #10 in the UK and significantly increased the album's sales. The single stayed in UK chart for 11 weeks. In the US chart it peaked at #65. From a commercial point of view, "Starman" was arguably the turning point in Bowie’s career.

The song describes Ziggy contacting the Earth's youths through the radio, informing them of its coming doom and promising salvation. The song is described through the point of view of one of the youths who hears Ziggy.

The chorus is loosely based on Judy Garland's song Somewhere Over the Rainbow from the film The Wizard of Oz. Other evident influences on the track are the T.Rex songs "Telegram Sam" and "Hot Love" (the ‘la la la’ chorus) and The Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On” (the morse code-esque piano breaks).

In February 1999, Q Magazine listed the single as one of the 100 greatest singles of all time, as voted by the readers.

Track listing

# "Starman" (Bowie) – 4:16 # "Suffragette City" (Bowie) – 3:25

The Portuguese release of the single had "John, I'm Only Dancing" and "Hang Onto Yourself" as additional B-Sides.

Production credits

Producers:
* Ken Scott

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

Other releases

The Italian release of "John, I'm Only Dancing" from September 1972 used "Starman" as the B-side.
It appeard on numerous compilations:
*The Best of David Bowie (Japan 1974)
*Best of Bowie (1979)
*Chameleon (Australia & New Zealand 1979)
*ChangesTwoBowie (1981)
*Fame and Fashion - David Bowie's All Time Greatest Hits (1984)
*Starman (Russia 1989)
*Bowie: The Singles 1969-1993 (1993)
*The Singles Collection (1993)
*The Best of 1969/1974 (1997)

Cover versions

10,000 Maniacs – Single (1992)
Phillip Boa and the Voodooclub - Harald Soundtrack and on single (1997)
Birth Marc - Ashes To Ashes: A Tribute To David Bowie (1998)
Culture Club - Live recording and Don't Mind If I Do (1999)
Dan – Single (1996)
The Diamonds - Million Copy Hit Songs Made Famous By Elton John & David Bowie
Joe Dolan - 21st Century Joe
Bob Downe - Greatest Hits
Envoys
Freestyle - Dance Power Club Classics Vol. 1
The Glitter Band - Wham Bam, Thank You Glam (1996)
Tomoyasu Hotei
- Guitarhythm 2
iProseti - I'anore Mi Aiatera Single
Loopside – Single
Claudio Mingardi - "Star medley with Starman" – Single
Mates of State
Nenhum de Nós - O Astronauta de Mármore (The Marble Astronaut) (1989)
Nosferatu - Goth Oddity - A Tribute to David Bowie (1999)
Octopus - Come Again and Essential Interpretations (1997)
The Rockridge Synthesiser Orchestra - Plays David Bowie Classic Trax
Seu Jorge
for the soundtrack of the 2004 film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
.
Slackdaddy - Loving The Alien: Athens Georgia Salutes David Bowie
Dar Williams - Web Release

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Starman (song) ]

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Actors - Starman

Track listing

Production credits

Other releases

Cover versions

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