Studio Album · No. 12
Low Songwriting Credits by David Bowie
Produced by David Bowie, Tony Visconti · Engineered by Tony Visconti, David Richards, Jonathan Wyner
Holds writing credit on 11 of 11 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 11 / 11 documented
Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether David Bowie carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Low, the first of David Bowie's Berlin Trilogy, splits into Bowie's fragmented song sketches on side one and longer instrumental pieces on side two developed with Brian Eno. Eno co-wrote "Warszawa" with Bowie and shaped much of the album's synthesizer textures, though he was a contributor rather than a co-producer. The lead single "Sound and Vision" shows the method, with Mary Hopkin's backing vocals recorded before lyrics existed and Bowie's own vocal not entering until well into the track.
David Bowie's Low, released January 14, 1977 on RCA Records, is the first and most celebrated album of the Berlin Trilogy, recorded in Berlin with producer Tony Visconti and synthesizer pioneer Brian Eno, and representing one of the most radical genre reinventions in rock history. Bowie co-wrote all eleven tracks, dividing the album between short, broken pop songs on Side 1 (including 'Sound and Vision,' 'Breaking Glass,' and 'Be My Wife') and longer, largely instrumental ambient pieces on Side 2 co-written with Brian Eno, including 'Warszawa' and 'Subterraneans.' The album was a commercial disappointment upon release but is now consistently ranked among the greatest albums ever made, and its influence on post-punk, new wave, and ambient music is incalculable. 'Sound and Vision' reached number three on the UK Singles Chart despite its unconventional, nearly lyric-free structure. The Berlin Trilogy represented the most experimental period of Bowie's songwriting career, yet his authorship of the underlying melodies and concepts remained total throughout.
Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Speed of Life
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieTony Visconti | David Bowie (Vocals) |
| 2 |
Breaking Glass
|
David BowieDennis DavisGeorge Murray | David BowieDennis DavisGeorge Murray | David BowieTony Visconti | David Bowie (Vocals) |
| 3 |
What in the World
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieTony Visconti | David Bowie (Vocals) |
| 4 |
Sound and Vision
#3
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieTony Visconti | David Bowie (Vocals) |
| 5 |
Always Crashing in the Same Car
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieTony Visconti | David Bowie (Vocals) |
| 6 |
Be My Wife
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieTony Visconti | David Bowie (Vocals) |
| 7 |
A New Career in a New Town
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieTony Visconti | David Bowie (Vocals) |
| 8 |
Warszawa
|
David BowieBrian Eno | David BowieBrian Eno | David BowieTony Visconti | David Bowie (Vocals) |
| 9 |
Art Decade
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieTony Visconti | David Bowie (Vocals) |
| 10 |
Weeping Wall
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieTony Visconti | David Bowie (Vocals) |
| 11 |
Subterraneans
|
David Bowie | David Bowie | David BowieTony Visconti | David Bowie (Vocals) |