Loving the Alien (1983–1988)
David Bowie · 2018
594 min · 125 tracks · alternative rock · electronic · hard rock
A kaleidoscopic journey through the 80s, blending pop sensibilities with experimental rock textures.
Why this album works
'Loving the Alien' compiles tracks from one of Bowie's most commercially successful eras, showcasing hits that defined the sound of the 80s. It features chart-topping singles like 'Let's Dance', which reached No. 1 in several countries, and received critical acclaim for its innovative fusion of rock and dance music. The collection not only celebrates Bowie's legacy but also emphasizes his influence on subsequent genres and artists.
- Best for
- kaleidoscopic nostalgia for the 80s danceable tracks for gatherings varied moods across lengthy sessions
- Context
- When 'Loving the Alien (1983–1988)' was released in 2018, David Bowie had recently passed away, and this compilation served as a retrospective of his career during a transformative decade. This period marked Bowie's commercial peak and included iconic albums such as 'Let’s Dance' and 'Tonight'. The release highlighted both his mainstream success and artistic experimentation in a time of personal and musical evolution.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Ringo Starr· Kim Wilde· Joe Jackson· Bryan Adams· Phil Collins· 10cc· Bonnie Tyler· Fleetwood Mac
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Modern Love Standout 4:48
- 2 China Girl Standout 5:33
- 3 Let’s Dance 7:37
- 4 Without You 3:09
- 5 Ricochet 5:13
- 6 Criminal World 4:25
- 7 Cat People (Putting Out Fire) 5:09
- 8 Shake It 3:52
Disc 2
- 1 Look Back in Anger 3:07
- 2 “Heroes” 4:53
- 3 What in the World 3:44
- 4 Golden Years 3:31
- 5 Fashion 2:43
- 6 Let’s Dance 4:34
- 7 Breaking Glass 3:00
- 8 Life on Mars? 4:07
- 9 Sorrow 2:49
- 10 Cat People (Putting Out Fire) 4:20
- 11 China Girl Standout 5:27
- 12 Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) 3:42
- 13 Rebel Rebel 2:24
Disc 3
- 1 White Light/White Heat 5:36
- 2 Station to Station 8:58
- 3 Cracked Actor 3:58
- 4 Ashes to Ashes 3:51
- 5 Space Oddity / Band Introduction 6:32
- 6 Young Americans 5:25
- 7 Fame 5:36
- 8 Modern Love Standout 3:54
Disc 4
- 1 Loving the Alien 7:12
- 2 Don’t Look Down 4:11
- 3 God Only Knows 3:09
- 4 Tonight 3:45
- 5 Neighborhood Threat 3:12
- 6 Blue Jean 3:11
- 7 Tumble and Twirl 4:58
- 8 I Keep Forgettin’ 2:35
- 9 Dancing With the Big Boys 3:34
Disc 5
- 1 Day‐In Day‐Out 5:39
- 2 Time Will Crawl 4:20
- 3 Beat of Your Drum 5:06
- 4 Never Let Me Down 4:05
- 5 Zeroes 5:47
- 6 Glass Spider 5:34
- 7 Shining Star (Makin’ My Love) 5:06
- 8 New York’s in Love 4:34
- 9 ’87 and Cry 4:21
- 10 Bang Bang 4:30
Disc 6
- 1 Day‐In Day‐Out 5:26
- 2 Time Will Crawl 4:26
- 3 Beat of Your Drum 5:27
- 4 Never Let Me Down 4:26
- 5 Zeroes 5:06
- 6 Glass Spider 6:53
- 7 Shining Star (Makin’ My Love) 5:32
- 8 New York’s in Love 4:33
- 9 ’87 and Cry 4:25
- 10 Bang Bang 4:42
Disc 7
- 1 Up the Hill Backwards 3:51
- 2 Glass Spider 5:55
- 3 Day‐In Day‐Out 4:34
- 4 Bang Bang 4:02
- 5 Absolute Beginners 7:08
- 6 Loving the Alien 7:14
- 7 China Girl Standout 4:55
- 8 Rebel Rebel 3:30
- 9 Fashion 5:04
- 10 Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) 4:52
- 11 All the Mad Men 6:39
- 12 Never Let Me Down 3:56
Disc 8
- 1 Big Brother 4:47
- 2 ’87 and Cry 4:07
- 3 “Heroes” 5:10
- 4 Sons of the Silent Age 3:10
- 5 Time Will Crawl / Band Introduction 5:23
- 6 Young Americans 5:06
- 7 Beat of Your Drum 4:37
- 8 The Jean Genie 5:23
- 9 Let’s Dance 5:01
- 10 Fame 7:05
- 11 Time 5:11
- 12 Blue Jean 3:26
- 13 Modern Love Standout 4:53
Disc 9
- 1 Shake It (re‐mix AKA long version) 5:21
- 2 Blue Jean (extended dance mix) 5:20
- 3 Dancing With the Big Boys (extended dance mix) 7:31
- 4 Tonight (vocal dance mix) 4:31
- 5 Don’t Look Down (extended dance mix) 4:55
- 6 Loving the Alien (extended dub mix) 7:15
- 7 Tumble and Twirl (extended dance mix) 5:05
- 8 Underground (extended dance mix) 7:54
- 9 Day‐In Day‐Out (Groucho mix) 6:28
- 10 Time Will Crawl (dance Crew mix) 5:34
- 11 Shining Star (Makin’ My Love) (12″ mix) 6:27
- 12 Never Let Me Down (dub / a capella) 6:02
Disc 10
- 1 Let’s Dance (single version) 4:09
- 2 China Girl (single version) 4:17
- 3 Modern Love (single version) 3:59
- 4 This Is Not America (the theme from ‘The Falcon and the Snowman’) 3:51
- 5 Loving the Alien (re‐mixed version) 4:43
- 6 Don’t Look Down (re‐mixed version) 4:06
- 7 Dancing in the Street (Clearmountain mix) 3:11
- 8 Absolute Beginners 8:04
- 9 That’s Motivation 4:19
- 10 Volare 3:15
- 11 Labyrinth Opening Titles / Underground 3:20
- 12 Magic Dance 4:14
- 13 As the World Falls Down 4:51
- 14 Within You 3:29
- 15 Underground 5:57
Disc 11
- 1 When the Wind Blows (single version) 3:35
- 2 Day‐In Day‐Out (single version) 4:14
- 3 Julie 3:43
- 4 Beat of Your Drum (vinyl album edit) 4:34
- 5 Glass Spider (vinyl album edit) 4:56
- 6 Shining Star (Makin’ My Love) (vinyl album edit) 4:06
- 7 New York’s in Love (vinyl album edit) 3:59
- 8 ’87 and Cry (vinyl album edit) 3:55
- 9 Bang Bang (vinyl album edit) 4:02
- 10 Time Will Crawl (single version) 4:03
- 11 Girls (extended edit) 5:34
- 12 Never Let Me Down (7″ remix edit) 3:59
- 13 Bang Bang (live – promotional mix) 4:07
- 14 Tonight (live) 4:19
- 15 Let’s Dance (live) 3:25
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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