Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) | ||||
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Studio album by David Bowie | ||||
Released | 12 September 1980 | |||
Recorded | February–April 1980 | |||
Studio |
The Power Station (New York City) |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 45:37 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Producer |
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David Bowie chronology | ||||
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Singles from Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Blender | |
Chicago Tribune | |
Christgau's Record Guide | B+ |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
Q | |
Rolling Stone | |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Smash Hits | 9/10 |
Spin |
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps), also known simply as Scary Monsters, is the fourteenth studio album by David Bowie, released on 12 September 1980 by RCA Records. It was his final studio album on the label and his first following the so-called Berlin Trilogy of Low, "Heroes" and Lodger (1977–1979). Though considered very significant in artistic terms, the trilogy had proven less successful commercially. With Scary Monsters, however, Bowie achieved what biographer David Buckley called "the perfect balance" of creativity and mainstream success; as well as earning critical acclaim, the album peaked at No. 1 in the UK and restored Bowie's commercial standing in the US.
Although the album is commonly referred to as Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps), in keeping with the song title, and the album title as written on the front and back covers of the LP is Scary Monsters . . . . . and Super Creeps, the album is identified simply as Scary Monsters on the LP spine and disc label.
According to co-producer Tony Visconti, David Bowie's method on Scary Monsters was somewhat less experimental and more concerned with achieving a commercially viable sound than had been the case with his recent releases; to that end the composer spent more time on his own developing lyrics and melodies before recording, rather than improvising music in the studio and making up words at the last minute. Aside from one cover, Tom Verlaine's "Kingdom Come", all tracks would be credited to Bowie alone, unlike the 'Berlin Trilogy' where there was an increasing amount of input from his collaborators.
Among those collaborators, Brian Eno was no longer present on Scary Monsters, but Chuck Hammer added multiple textural layers deploying guitar synth and, following his absence from Lodger, Robert Fripp returned with the distinctive guitar sound he had earlier lent to "Heroes". Bruce Springsteen's pianist Roy Bittan was back for his first Bowie album since Station to Station five years earlier, while the Who's Pete Townshend guested on "Because You're Young". This would be the fifth and last Bowie album featuring the rhythm section of Dennis Davis and George Murray, which had been together since Station to Station.