Absolute Beginners (single):David Bowie

"Absolute Beginners" was the theme tune to the film of the same name (itself an adaptation of the book Absolute Beginners), composed and performed by David Bowie.

Bowie was good friends with the film's director, Julien Temple (who had worked with him in 1984 on the Jazzin' for Blue Jean short film), and landed both the supporting role of Vendice Partners, and the deal to record the theme tune.

The sessions, at Abbey Road Studios, were set up in a novel way, with a group of session musicians all receiving a card to work at the studio with "Mr X", who turned out to be Bowie. The sessions were completed rapidly, but the song was delayed due to the problems with completing the film. Virgin wanted the release to tie in with the film's opening. Shortly after the sessions wrapped, Mick Jagger flew in to record "Dancing in the Street", which used many of the same musicians. The song fused 1950s-style doo-wop[citation needed]  with Bowie's 1980s sound.

The single reached No. 2 in the UK charts, and No. 53 in America. Bowie has since performed it live on his Glass Spider and 2000 tours.



Contents
[hide]  *1 Track listing  ==Track listing[ edit] == All tracks by David Bowie ===3" CD: Virgin / CDT 20 (UK)[ edit] === ===CD: Virgin / CDF 20 (UK)[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">]  === ===7": Virgin / VS 838 (UK)<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===12": Virgin / VSG 838–12 (UK)<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">]  === ===12": EMI America / SPRO 9623 (US)<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===Download: EMI / iVS 838 (UK)<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">]  === ===Download: Amazon.com (US)<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ==Music video<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.363636016845703px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Julian Temple shot the music video, which echoed the 1950s style of the movie. The video was a homage to an old British advert for Strand cigarettes. The ill-fated advertising tagline "You're never alone with a Strand." is quoted by Partners in the film. The video also uses footage from the film. ==Production credits<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.363636016845703px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Gil Evans sings the refrain of the song in the film. ==Live versions<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ==Other releases<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ==Cover versions<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ==Chart positions<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ==
 * 1.1 3" CD: Virgin / CDT 20 (UK)
 * 1.2 CD: Virgin / CDF 20 (UK)
 * 1.3 7": Virgin / VS 838 (UK)
 * 1.4 12": Virgin / VSG 838–12 (UK)
 * 1.5 12": EMI America / SPRO 9623 (US)
 * 1.6 Download: EMI / iVS 838 (UK)
 * 1.7 Download: Amazon.com (US)
 * 2 Music video
 * 3 Production credits
 * 4 Live versions
 * 5 Other releases
 * 6 Cover versions
 * 7 Chart positions
 * 8 References
 * 9 External links
 * 1) "Absolute Beginners" - 8:03
 * 2) "Absolute Beginners (Dub Mix)" - 5:40
 * 1) "Absolute Beginners" - 8:03
 * 2) "Absolute Beginners (Dub Mix)" - 5:40
 * 1) "Absolute Beginners" – 5:36
 * 2) "Absolute Beginners (Dub Mix)" – 5:42
 * 1) "Absolute Beginners (Full Length Version)" – 8:00
 * 2) "Absolute Beginners (Dub Mix)" – 5:42
 * issued in a gatefold sleeve
 * 1) "Absolute Beginners (Edited Version)" – 4:46
 * 2) "Absolute Beginners (Full Length Version)" – 8:00
 * includes exclusive "edited version"
 * 1) "Absolute Beginners" – 5:36
 * 2) "Absolute Beginners (Full Length Version)" – 8:00
 * 3) "Absolute Beginners (Dub Mix)" – 5:42
 * 1) "Absolute Beginners" – 5:37
 * 2) "Absolute Beginners (Full Length Version)" – 8:03
 * 3) "Absolute Beginners (Dub Mix)" – 5:39
 * 4) "That's Motivation" - 4:14
 * 5) "Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)" - 3:13
 * Original release date (of E.P. download with added tracks 4 and 5): 28 May 2007
 * Producers:
 * Alan Winstanley
 * Clive Langer
 * Musicians:
 * David Bowie: vocals
 * Rick Wakeman: Piano
 * Kevin Armstrong: Guitar
 * Matthew Seligman: Bass
 * Neil Conti: Drums
 * Luis Jardim: percussion
 * Mac Gollehon: Trumpet
 * Don Weller, Gary Barnacle, Paul "Shilts" Weimar, Willie Garnett, Andy MacKintosh, Gordon Murphy: Saxophone
 * Steve Nieve: keyboards
 * Janet Armstrong: Backing vocals
 * The song was performed live during David Bowie's 1987 Glass Spider Tour.
 * A live version recorded at BBC Radio Theatre, London, on 27 June 2000 was released on the bonus disc accompanying the first release of Bowie at the Beeb in 2000.
 * In 1995 the full-length version appeared as a bonus track on the Virgin Records rerelease of the album Tonight.
 * The single version appeared on the following compilations:
 * Bowie: The Singles 1969-1993 (1993)
 * The Singles Collection (1993)
 * ChangesTwoBowie (1998 reissue)
 * Best of Bowie (2002)
 * Info Riot - Ashes to Ashes: A Tribute to David Bowie (1998)
 * Saint Etienne - Live recording
 * Carla Bruni in We Were So Turned On: A Tribute to David Bowie (2010).