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Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)

Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
DavidBowieScaryMonstersCover.jpg
Studio album by David Bowie
Released 12 September 1980
Recorded February–April 1980
Studio The Power Station
(New York)
Genre
Length 45:37
Label RCA Records
Producer
David Bowie chronology
Lodger
(1979)
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
(1980)
Let's Dance
(1983)
Singles from Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
  1. "Ashes to Ashes" b/w "Move On"
    Released: 8 August 1980
  2. "Fashion" b/w "Scream Like a Baby"
    Released: 12 September 1980
  3. "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" b/w "Because You're Young"
    Released: 2 January 1981
  4. "Up the Hill Backwards" b/w "Crystal Japan"
    Released: March 1981
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 5/5 stars
Blender 5/5 stars
Chicago Tribune 3.5/4 stars
Christgau's Record Guide B+
Encyclopedia of Popular Music 4/5 stars
Q 5/5 stars
Rolling Stone 4/5 stars
The Rolling Stone Album Guide 4.5/5 stars
Smash Hits 9/10
Spin 4/5 stars

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.


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