Diamond Dogs cover art

  Studio Album · No. 8

Diamond Dogs Songwriting Credits by David Bowie

1974 RCA Records 11 tracks 38 min

Produced by David Bowie  ·  Engineered by Keith Harwood

RCA Records Glam RockArt RockProto-PunkSoul
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 11 of 11 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 11 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether David Bowie carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
11 trackswritten by David Bowie 0 tracksoutside writers
David Bowie's roles on this album

Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

11
Tracks
2
Lyricists
1
Producers
3.8 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1974
Released
Data Insight

David Bowie wrote almost all of Diamond Dogs himself, the lone co-write being "Rock 'n' Roll with Me" with Geoff MacCormack. The album began as an aborted musical adaptation of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four before Orwell's widow refused permission, leaving Bowie to fold those dystopian ideas into a broader concept also drawing on William S. Burroughs. With Mick Ronson gone, Bowie played much of the lead guitar himself and produced the record, mixing it with Tony Visconti.

David Bowie's Diamond Dogs, released April 24, 1974 on RCA Records, is a dystopian glam-rock concept album rooted in a post-apocalyptic future city Bowie envisioned as an adaptation of George Orwell's 1984, a project he ultimately could not license. Bowie produced the album himself, the first record he helmed entirely without a collaborator-producer, and wrote all eleven tracks. The album's centrepiece is the glam stomp of 'Rebel Rebel,' which reached number five in the UK and became one of Bowie's signature singles, while 'Diamond Dogs,' '1984,' and 'Big Brother' develop the dystopian narrative across two sides. The extended 'Sweet Thing / Candidate / Sweet Thing (Reprise)' suite is among Bowie's most ambitious compositional constructions. Without Mick Ronson, who had departed, Bowie plays much of the guitar himself, showcasing a broader instrumental authorship than on any previous album.

Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Future Legend
David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
2
Diamond Dogs #21
David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
3
Sweet Thing
David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
4
Candidate
David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
5
Sweet Thing (Reprise)
David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
6
Rebel Rebel #5
David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
7
Rock 'N' Roll With Me
David BowieWarren Peace David BowieWarren Peace David Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
8
We Are the Dead
David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
9
1984
David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
10
Big Brother
David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
11
Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family
David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 2 contributors

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Frequently Asked Questions Diamond Dogs

Did David Bowie write Diamond Dogs himself?
David Bowie wrote nearly all of Diamond Dogs himself. The only co-write is "Rock 'n' Roll with Me," credited to Bowie and Geoff MacCormack.
Who wrote Rebel Rebel by David Bowie?
David Bowie wrote Rebel Rebel, the lead single from Diamond Dogs. It reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart and number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
What is Diamond Dogs by David Bowie about?
Diamond Dogs grew out of Bowie's abandoned stage adaptation of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, after Orwell's widow denied him the rights. The album fuses that dystopian theme with influences from William S. Burroughs into a post-apocalyptic concept.
What genre is Diamond Dogs by David Bowie?
Diamond Dogs is described as glam rock, art rock, proto-punk, and soul. It anticipated the soul direction Bowie would fully embrace on his next album.
Who played guitar on Diamond Dogs by David Bowie?
David Bowie played much of the lead guitar on Diamond Dogs himself, since Mick Ronson had left his band. Bowie also produced the album and mixed it with Tony Visconti.
How did the Diamond Dogs single by David Bowie chart?
The Diamond Dogs single reached number 21 on the UK Singles Chart in 1974. It performed less well than the album's lead single Rebel Rebel.
How many copies has Diamond Dogs by David Bowie sold?
Diamond Dogs has sold roughly 3.8 million copies worldwide. It is certified Gold by the RIAA in the US and by the BPI in the UK.

Sources