Black Tie White Noise cover art

  Studio Album · No. 18

Black Tie White Noise Songwriting Credits by David Bowie

1993 Savage Records 12 tracks 56 min

Produced by Nile Rodgers, David Bowie  ·  Engineered by Jon Goldberger, Mike Greene, Dale Schalow, Michael Thompson

Savage Records Art RockElectronicSoul
67%
Authorship
Songwriter

Holds writing credit on 8 of 12 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 8 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether David Bowie carries a lyricist or composer credit.

67%
8 trackswritten by David Bowie 4 tracksoutside writers
David Bowie's roles on this album

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist67%
Composer67%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
10
Lyricists
2
Producers
1.7 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1993
Released
Data Insight

David Bowie wrote most of Black Tie White Noise himself, framing it as a personal record shaped by his 1992 marriage to Iman and the 1992 Los Angeles riots. He co-wrote "You've Been Around" with guitarist Reeves Gabrels and balanced his originals with three cover versions: Cream's "I Feel Free," the Walker Brothers' "Nite Flights," and Morrissey's "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday." The album marked his reunion with Let's Dance producer Nile Rodgers and his first proper solo studio release after the Tin Machine years.

David Bowie's Black Tie White Noise, released April 5, 1993 on Savage Records, marked his solo comeback after the Tin Machine project, a wedding gift album for his marriage to Iman, blending jazz, soul, electronic, and art-rock influences with producer Nile Rodgers, who had produced Let's Dance a decade earlier. Bowie wrote eight of the twelve tracks himself, with covers including Cream's 'I Feel Free,' Scott Walker's 'Nite Flights,' and Morrissey and Mick Ronson's 'I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday.' 'Jump They Say', inspired by the death of Bowie's half-brother Terry, reached number nine in the UK and was his first UK top-ten single in years. Mick Ronson plays guitar on 'I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday' in what became one of his final recorded appearances before his death from cancer in April 1993. The album reached number one in the UK, demonstrating that Bowie's solo fanbase remained strong even after years away from the format.

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
The Wedding
David Bowie David Bowie Nile RodgersDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
2
You've Been Around
David BowieReeves Gabrels David BowieReeves Gabrels Nile RodgersDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
3
I Feel Free
Pete BrownJack Bruce Pete BrownJack Bruce Nile RodgersDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
4
Black Tie White Noise #36
David Bowie David Bowie Nile RodgersDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
5
Jump They Say #9
David Bowie David Bowie Nile RodgersDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
6
Nite Flights
Noel Scott Engel Noel Scott Engel Nile RodgersDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
7
Pallas Athena
David Bowie David Bowie Nile RodgersDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
8
Miracle Goodnight #40
David Bowie David Bowie Nile RodgersDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
9
Don't Let Me Down & Down
Tahra Mint HembaraMartine Valmont Tahra Mint Hembara Nile RodgersDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
10
Looking for Lester
David BowieNile Rodgers David BowieNile Rodgers Nile RodgersDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
11
I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday
MorrisseyMark E. Nevin MorrisseyMark E. Nevin Nile RodgersDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
12
The Wedding Song
David Bowie David Bowie Nile RodgersDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 10 contributors

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1974 100%
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1975 88%
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1976 83%
Station to Station
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1977 100%
Heroes
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1977 100%
Low
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1979 100%
Lodger
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1980 90%
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
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10 tracksProd. David Bowie
1983 88%
Let's Dance
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8 tracksProd. Nile Rodgers
1984 67%
Tonight
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1987 91%
Never Let Me Down
EMI Records
11 tracksProd. David Bowie
1993 100%
The Buddha of Suburbia
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10 tracksProd. David Bowie
1995 100%
Outside
Arista Records
14 tracksProd. David Bowie
1997 100%
Earthling
Arista Records
9 tracksProd. David Bowie
1999 100%
'hours...'
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2002 75%
Heathen
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2003 82%
Reality
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11 tracksProd. Tony Visconti
2013 100%
The Next Day
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2016 100%
Blackstar
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Frequently Asked Questions Black Tie White Noise

When was David Bowie's Black Tie White Noise released?
Black Tie White Noise was released on 5 April 1993 by Savage Records. It was Bowie's first solo studio album after disbanding the band Tin Machine.
Who produced Black Tie White Noise?
The album was produced by David Bowie and Nile Rodgers. It reunited the pair for the first time since Rodgers produced Bowie's 1983 album Let's Dance, though Bowie steered this record toward a more experimental direction.
What inspired the album Black Tie White Noise?
The album was inspired by Bowie's 1992 marriage to the model Iman and by the 1992 Los Angeles riots, which shaped the racially themed title track. Several instrumental pieces originated from music Bowie wrote for his wedding.
Which songs on Black Tie White Noise are cover versions?
The album includes three covers: Cream's "I Feel Free," the Walker Brothers' "Nite Flights," and Morrissey's "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday." The Cream cover features former Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson in one of his final recordings.
What was the lead single from Black Tie White Noise?
"Jump They Say" was the lead single, released in March 1993. It reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Bowie's first UK top-10 hit in several years, and the song addressed his half-brother Terry's struggles with mental illness.
Did Black Tie White Noise reach number one in the UK?
Yes, the album debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart. In the United States it reached number 39 on the Billboard 200, and worldwide sales reached around 1.7 million copies.
Did David Bowie co-write any songs on Black Tie White Noise?
Bowie co-wrote "You've Been Around" with guitarist Reeves Gabrels, his bandmate from Tin Machine. He wrote the remaining original songs on the album himself.

Sources