Studio Album · No. 6
Aladdin Sane Songwriting Credits by David Bowie
Produced by David Bowie, Ken Scott · Engineered by Ken Scott
Holds writing credit on 9 of 10 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 9 / 10 documented
Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether David Bowie carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
David Bowie wrote nine of the album's ten songs himself, picturing the record as "Ziggy goes to America" after touring the United States. The exception is a cover of "Let's Spend the Night Together," written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. Bowie produced the album with Ken Scott, while guitarist Mick Ronson handled arrangements and shared mixing duties, and pianist Mike Garson's jazz-leaning playing shaped the title track.
Aladdin Sane is the sixth studio album by David Bowie, released in April 1973 on RCA Records and produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott. The album was Bowie's first to debut at number one in the UK and cemented his commercial breakthrough following the success of Ziggy Stardust. Aladdin Sane (the title is a pun on 'a lad insane') explored Ziggy Stardust's journey to America, with Mike Garson's jazz-influenced, atonal piano work providing a dissonant and thrillingly unexpected counterpoint to the glam rock arrangements. Tracks like 'The Jean Genie,' 'Drive-In Saturday,' and 'Cracked Actor' combined hard rock energy with avant-garde musical ideas in ways that were genuinely unprecedented. The album's iconic cover photograph, Bowie in white makeup with a lightning bolt across his face, became one of the most recognizable images in rock history.
Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Watch That Man
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieKen Scott | David Bowie (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieKen Scott | David Bowie (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
Drive-In Saturday
#3
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieKen Scott | David Bowie (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Panic in Detroit
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieKen Scott | David Bowie (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Cracked Actor
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieKen Scott | David Bowie (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
Time
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieKen Scott | David Bowie (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
The Prettiest Star
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieKen Scott | David Bowie (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
Let's Spend the Night Together
|
Mick JaggerKeith Richards | Mick JaggerKeith Richards | David BowieKen Scott | David Bowie (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
The Jean Genie
#2
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieKen Scott | David Bowie (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
Lady Grinning Soul
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieKen Scott | David Bowie (Lead Vocals) |