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"Young Americans"
Single by David Bowie from the album Young Americans
B-side	”Suffragette City”
Released	21 February 1975
Format	7" single
Recorded	Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia; 11 August 1974
Genre	Soul/Disco/Rock
Length	5:10
Label	RCA 2523
Producer	Tony Visconti
David Bowie singles chronology
Rock 'n' Roll With Me (1974) Young Americans (1975) Fame (1975)

"Young Americans" is a single by David Bowie.

The first studio result of Bowie’s mid-1970s obsession with soul, “Young Americans” was a breakthrough hit for the artist in America (where the single was released in an edited 3:11 version). The sound, often later reflected on by Bowie as “plastic soul”, was matched by a cynical lyric, making references to the Watergate Scandal, McCarthyism and black repression via Rosa Parks, as well as a near direct lift from The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” with the line “I heard the news today oh boy!” In falsetto, Bowie asks the question: "Ain't there one damn song that can make me...break down and cry?". The backing vocal arrangement came at the suggestion of Luther Vandross. The "all night/all right" chorus is virtually identical to Bowie's 1972 song, "Lady Stardust".

The song was a massive breakthrough in America, where glam rock had never really become very popular. The song reached #28 in the Billboard charts, making it his biggest success there up until that point.

1. "Young Americans" (Bowie) – 5:10
2. "Suffragette City” (Bowie) – 3:45

The US release had "Knock on Wood" as the B-side.

Producers

• Tony Visconti on “Young Americans”
• Ken Stott on “Suffragette City”

Musicians

• David Bowie: Vocals, Guitar
• Willie Weeks: Bass
• Mike Garson: Piano
• Andy Newmark: Drums
• David Sanborn: Saxophone
• Pablo Rosario: Percussion
• Larry Washington: Conga
• Ava Cherry, Robin Clark, Luther Vandross: Backing vocals
• Mick Ronson: Guitar on “Suffragette City”
• Trevor Bolder: Bass on “Suffragette City”
• Mick Woodmansey: Drums on “Suffragette City”

• It appeared on several compilations:
  • ChangesOneBowie (1976)
  • Best of Bowie (1980)
  • Fame and Fashion (1984)
  • Sound + Vision (1989)
  • Changesbowie (1990)
  • Bowie: The Singles 1969-1993 (1993)
  • The Singles Collection (1993)
• The US single edit appeared on the The Best of 1974/1979 and Rare.
• It was released as picture disc in the RCA Life Time picture disc set.

• The Braids - Here We Come (1998)
• The Cure - An XFM Compilation Album (1992)
• Everything - Drop Dead Gorgeous Soundtrack (1999)
• Lily of the Valley - Live Recording: Webster Hall, NYC
• Luther Vandross and Ava Cherry - Luther Vandross Live At Wembley, London
• Danny Michel - Loving the Alien: Danny Michel Sings the Songs of David Bowie (2004)

The song has accompanied the end credits of Dogville and Manderlay, the first two films of Lars Von Trier's trilogy USA - Land of Opportunities. "Young Americans" was also featured on the soundtrack of John Hughes' Sixteen Candles.[1]

• Pegg, Nicholas. The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-73-0