Sorrow (The McCoys song)

Infobox Single
Name = Sorrow


Artist = David Bowie
from Album = Pin Ups
B-side = "Amsterdam" (Brel, Shuman)
Released = October 1973
Format = 7" single
Recorded = Château d'Hérouville, Pontoise, France, July 1973
Genre = Rock
Length = 2:53
Label = RCA
2424
Writer = Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, Richard Gottehrer
Producer = Ken Scott, David Bowie
Chart position = * #3 (UK)
Last single = "Life on Mars?"
(1973)
This single = "Sorrow"
(1973)
Next single = "Rebel Rebel"
(1974)"Sorrow" is a song first recorded by The McCoys. It became a big hit in the United Kingdom in a version by The Merseys, reaching number 4 in the UK charts on 28 April 1966.

The song contains the lyric "with your long blonde hair and your eyes of blue", which is also referenced in the The Beatles' track "It's All Too Much" from "Yellow Submarine"

David Bowie version

David Bowie's remake of "Sorrow" was the only single released in the UK from the "Pin Ups" covers project, reaching UK #3 and staying in the charts for 15 weeks. The B-side, “Amsterdam”, was a cover of a Jacques Brel song (originally called “Port of Amsterdam”), had been performed live by Bowie since 1969, and was recorded in 1971 for the "Ziggy Stardust" album. It was dropped from the final release, but included as it fitted in with “Sorrow”. In France, it was billed as the A-side of the single.

Track listing

# "Sorrow" (Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, Richard Gottehrer) – 2:53
# "Amsterdam" (Jacques Brel, Mort Shuman) – 2:39

The Spanish release of the single had "Lady Grinning Soul" as the B-side.

Production credits

* Producers:
** David Bowie

* Musicians:
** David Bowie: Vocals, Guitar
** Mick Ronson: Guitar on “Sorrow”
** Trevor Bolder: Bass on “Sorrow”
** Mike Garson: Piano on “Sorrow”
** Aynsley Dunbar: Drums on “Sorrow”

Other releases

* It also appeared on the following compilations:
** "Chameleon" (Australia/New Zealand 1979)
** "Best of Bowie" (1980)
** "Sound and Vision" box set (1989)
** "The Singles Collection" (1993)
** "The Best of 1969/1974" (1997)
** "Best of Bowie" (2002)

References

Pegg, Nicholas, "The Complete David Bowie", Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5