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Saturday, June 30, 2018

Another in the series of singles or sounds bought when they came out. I have the 12" of this and I am still not entirely sure whether this is cool, funny or embarrassing. Or all three!
It has David Bowie on it so it must be cool huh?
I loved the original and am not ashamed to say I loved this too when it came out  .   .     .   so there!


On this day in music history: June 29, 1985 - “Dancing In The Street” by David Bowie & Mick Jagger is recorded. Written by Marvin Gaye, Ivy Hunter and William “Mickey” Stevenson, it is the lone pairing of the two rock icons. The idea to record a cover of Motown classic (originally recorded by Martha & The Vandellas in 1964), comes when Bowie and Jagger are both asked to perform at the Live Aid concert, organized by Bob Geldof. The pair had intended to perform “Dancing In The Street” live with Mick Jagger performing in Philadelphia at JFK Stadium, and David Bowie at Wembley Stadium in London, linking the two up by satellite. When too many technical issues make the long distance duet not possible, the pair decide to go into the studio and quickly record the song. Jagger flies to London to meet with Bowie, who at the time is working on music for director Julien Temple’s film “Absolute Beginners” (in which he also stars) at Abbey Road Studios. Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (Madness, Elvis Costello, Dexys Midnight Runners) produce the track which is recorded and mixed in less than twelve hours. Immediately after the song is recorded, Bowie and Jagger film a music video for the song with director David Mallet at the London Docklands, which is completed in only four hours. The music video makes its debut during the broadcast of the Live Aid concert on July 13, 1985. The single is released worldwide on August 13, 1985, with all royalties generated from sales being donated to the Band Aid Trust for Ethiopian famine relief. The Bowie/Jagger duet is a hit, spending four weeks at number one on the UK singles chart beginning on September 7, 1985, and peaking at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 12, 1985.

with thanks to the most excellent Behind The Grooves by Jeff Harris

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