DAVID BOWIE – FASCINATION : YOUNG AMERICANS ALTERNATES AND SESSIONS

Description

■ “Alternates” includes all the songs from the album “Young Americans” in unreleased versions and different mixes
■ “Unreleased” includes outtakes of songs not included on the original album
■ “Sessions” includes the longest edited version, including the first appearance of recordings at the legendary Sigma Sound Studios

The album “Young Americans” released in March 1975 underwent a musical transformation. In 1974, during the Diamond Dogs North American tour, they started recording at Sigma Sound Studios, the home of Philadelphia soul, and produced the album “The Gauster,” which incorporated soul music in earnest, but it remained unreleased. After that, they performed with John Lennon at Electric Ladyland Studios in New York, recording the Beatles cover “Across the Universe” and “Fame,” which became the No. 1 single in the United States, and completed the new album “Young Americans.” In such a situation, some of the rare recordings from this period, including unreleased songs and outtakes that were not included in the album, were later released in various forms, but this time, “Fascination – Young Americans Alternatives and Sessions” is a new compilation collection that includes new releases and upgraded recordings. CD1, “Young Americans Alternatives,” contains all eight songs from the album “Young Americans” in unreleased versions and different mixes. This is an alternate album version that is different from the regular version. The second half, “Young Americans Unreleased,” contains seven outtakes that were not included in the original album. It contains rare recordings such as an early version of “John I’m Only Dancing (Again)” and a string version of “It’s Gonna Be Me,” which are different from the recordings on the unreleased album “The Gauster” released in the official box set. CD2 contains the longest edited version of the recordings at the legendary Sigma Sound Studios, including the first appearance, as “Young Americans Sessions.” Since a portion of this session recording was made public at an auction in 2009, it has been familiar on numerous edited albums and distribution, but even though new master reel tapes have been discovered since then, only a limited number of recordings can still be heard. This “legendary session” is recorded as the longest version that first appeared, combining multiple released reel master recordings and fragmentary recordings that were not originally included. This is the latest edited version that captures the recording session, which is a must-listen, with more recordings and improved sound quality than the familiar sound sources that are on the market, and is a must-listen, latest edited version that captures the recording session, although it is only a partial one, with outstanding quality and freshness from the master direct. As an extra, related sound sources by vocals other than Bowie are also included. “I’m Divine” (Jeff McCormack vocals), which is said to be the original song of “Somebody Up There Likes Me” that was a hot topic in the past, “Funky Music” by Luther Vandross, which was the basis for “Fascination”, and Bowie’s unreleased song “I Am a Razor” sung by Ava Cherry are all session-related sound sources that you cannot miss. At the end, “Fame” is also included, which is said to be from the actual session, although the mysterious flute sounds out of place. The album “Young Americans” will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025, and this is a 2-CD Starman special edition that collectors will be paying attention to!
Limited edition direct import pressing
[with original design obi for first press]

CD1
YOUNG AMERICANS : ALTERNATES
01. YOUNG AMERICANS (Alternate Version)
02. WIN (Alternate Mix)
03. FASCINATION (Alternate Mix)
04. RIGHT (Alternate Mix)
05. SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME (Early Version)
06. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (Alternate Version)
07. CAN YOU HEAR ME (Early Version)
08. FAME (Extended Version)
YOUNG AMERICANS : UNRELEASED
09. JOHN, I’M ONLY DANCING (AGAIN) (Early Version)
10. LAZER (THE GOUSTER) (Outtake)
11. SHILLING THE RUBES (Outtake)
12. IT’S A HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY (Outtake)
13. WHO CAN I BE NOW? (Alternate Mix)
14. AFTER TODAY (Alternate Mix)
15. IT’S GONNA BE ME (Strings Version)

CD2
YOUNG AMERICANS : SESSIONS
SIGMA SOUND STUDIO MASTERS
01. SHILLING THE RUBES (Take 1)
02. YOUNG AMERICANS (Take 1)
03. YOUNG AMERICANS (Take 2)
04. LAZER (THE GOUSTER)
05. YOUNG AMERICANS (Take 3)
06. AFTER TODAY (Take 1)
07. SWEET THING (Ava Cherry Vocals)
08. YOUNG AMERICANS (Take 1&2 fragments)
09. YOUNG AMERICANS (Take 3 fragments)
10. JOHN, I’M ONLY DANCING (AGAIN) (Take Unknown fragments)
11. YOUNG AMERICANS (Alternate Take fragments)
12. YOUNG AMERICANS (Monitor Mix Guide Vocal fragments)
13. YOUNG AMERICANS (Monitor Mix)
14. YOUNG AMERICANS (Alternate Take Ending)
15. RIGHT (Session Talk)
16. RIGHT (NEVER NO TURNING BACK) (Early Version)
17. CAN YOU HEAR ME (Session Talk)
18. CAN YOU HEAR ME (TAKE IT IN RIGHT) (Take 2 Alternate Mix)
19. SWEET THING (Bowie Vocals Remix)
20. WHO CAN I BE NOW?
EXTRA
21. I’M DIVINE (Geoff MacCormick Vocals)
22. FUNKY MUSIC (IS PART OF ME) (Luther Vandross Vocals)
23. I AM A LAZER (Rough Mix Ava Cherry Vocals)
24. FAME (Unreleased Flute Version)

Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia – August & November 1974
/ Record Plant, New York – December 1974 / Electric Lady Studios, New York – January 1975

New Remix and Remasters Compiled by STARMAN 2025