Hunky Dory cover art

  Studio Album · No. 4

Hunky Dory Songwriting Credits by David Bowie

1971 RCA Records 11 tracks 42 min

Produced by Ken Scott, David Bowie  ·  Engineered by Ken Scott

RCA Records Art PopPop Rock
91%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 10 of 11 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 11 documented

Who wrote the songs?

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

91%
10 trackswritten by David Bowie 1 trackoutside writers
David Bowie's roles on this album

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

Lyricist91%
Composer91%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

11
Tracks
3
Lyricists
2
Producers
3.6 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1971
Released
Data Insight

David Bowie wrote ten of the eleven songs on Hunky Dory, with the sole exception being "Fill Your Heart," composed by Biff Rose and Paul Williams. The album is among his most personal and literate sets, featuring tributes to Bob Dylan, Andy Warhol, and the Velvet Underground's Lou Reed. Bowie co-produced with engineer Ken Scott, and pianist Rick Wakeman supplied much of the record's distinctive keyboard work.

David Bowie's Hunky Dory, released December 17, 1971 on RCA Records, is widely considered the first masterwork of his career: a lush, piano-led art-pop album produced by Ken Scott and featuring Mick Ronson's arrangements alongside Rick Wakeman on piano. Bowie wrote all but one track, with ten originals spanning from the glam-rock premonition of 'Changes' and 'Oh! You Pretty Things' to the cinematic orchestral sweep of 'Life on Mars?,' consistently cited among the greatest songs ever written. Songs dedicated to Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, and Lou Reed show Bowie's deep engagement with avant-garde culture, while personal cuts like 'Kooks' (written for his newborn son Zowie) and 'The Bewlay Brothers' reveal the more intimate, confessional songwriter beneath the theatrics. Rick Wakeman's piano contributions on 'Life on Mars?' and 'Changes' are among the most celebrated session performances in rock history. With Hunky Dory, Bowie's authorship score solidified: he would write virtually every significant piece of material on every album for the rest of his career.

Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Changes #66
David Bowie David Bowie Ken ScottDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
2
Oh! You Pretty Things
David Bowie David Bowie Ken ScottDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
3
Eight Line Poem
David Bowie David Bowie Ken ScottDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
4
Life on Mars? #3
David Bowie David Bowie Ken ScottDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
5
Kooks
David Bowie David Bowie Ken ScottDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
6
Quicksand
David Bowie David Bowie Ken ScottDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
7
Fill Your Heart
Biff RosePaul Williams Biff RosePaul Williams Ken ScottDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
8
Andy Warhol
David Bowie David Bowie Ken ScottDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
9
Song for Bob Dylan
David Bowie David Bowie Ken ScottDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
10
Queen Bitch
David Bowie David Bowie Ken ScottDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)
11
The Bewlay Brothers
David Bowie David Bowie Ken ScottDavid Bowie David Bowie (Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 4 contributors

More from David Bowie

1967 100%
David Bowie
Deram Records
14 tracksProd. Mike Vernon
1969 100%
Space Oddity
Philips Records
9 tracksProd. Tony Visconti
1970 100%
The Man Who Sold the World
Mercury Records
9 tracksProd. Tony Visconti
1972 91%
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
RCA Records
11 tracksProd. David Bowie
1973 90%
Aladdin Sane
RCA Records
10 tracksProd. David Bowie
1973 0%
Pin Ups
RCA Records
12 tracksProd. Ken Scott
1974 100%
Diamond Dogs
RCA Records
11 tracksProd. David Bowie
1975 88%
Young Americans
RCA Records
8 tracksProd. Tony Visconti
1976 83%
Station to Station
RCA Records
6 tracksProd. Harry Maslin
1977 100%
Heroes
RCA Records
10 tracksProd. David Bowie
1977 100%
Low
RCA Records
11 tracksProd. David Bowie
1979 100%
Lodger
RCA Records
10 tracksProd. David Bowie
1980 90%
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
RCA Records
10 tracksProd. David Bowie
1983 88%
Let's Dance
EMI / Parlophone
8 tracksProd. Nile Rodgers
1984 67%
Tonight
EMI Records
9 tracksProd. David Bowie
1987 91%
Never Let Me Down
EMI Records
11 tracksProd. David Bowie
1993 67%
Black Tie White Noise
Savage Records
12 tracksProd. Nile Rodgers
1993 100%
The Buddha of Suburbia
Arista Records
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...'
Virgin Records
10 tracksProd. David Bowie
2002 75%
Heathen
ISO / Columbia Records
12 tracksProd. Tony Visconti
2003 82%
Reality
ISO / Columbia Records
11 tracksProd. Tony Visconti
2013 100%
The Next Day
ISO / Columbia Records
14 tracksProd. Tony Visconti
2016 100%
Blackstar
ISO / Columbia Records
7 tracksProd. Tony Visconti

Frequently Asked Questions Hunky Dory

Did David Bowie write Hunky Dory himself?
David Bowie wrote ten of the eleven tracks on Hunky Dory himself. The only outside song is "Fill Your Heart," written by Biff Rose and Paul Williams.
Who wrote Life on Mars? by David Bowie?
David Bowie wrote Life on Mars? for Hunky Dory. When released as a single in 1973 it reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.
Who wrote Changes by David Bowie?
David Bowie wrote Changes, the opening track of Hunky Dory. As a single it peaked at number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and did not chart in the UK on its original 1972 release.
What genre is Hunky Dory by David Bowie?
Hunky Dory is described as art pop and pop rock. It blends piano-led balladry with more theatrical and literate songwriting.
Who produced Hunky Dory by David Bowie?
David Bowie co-produced Hunky Dory with Ken Scott, who also served as recording and mixing engineer. It was recorded at Trident Studios in London in 1971.
Which song on Hunky Dory by David Bowie is a cover?
"Fill Your Heart" is the only cover on Hunky Dory. It was written by Biff Rose and Paul Williams, while every other track was written by Bowie.
How many copies has Hunky Dory by David Bowie sold?
Hunky Dory has sold roughly 3.6 million copies worldwide. It is certified Platinum by the BPI in the United Kingdom.

Sources