Black Tie White Noise (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Black Tie White Noise


Caption =
Artist = David Bowie
featuring Al B. Sure!
from Album = Black Tie White Noise
A-side =
B-side = You've Been Around (Dangers Remix)
Released = June 1993
Format = 7"/12"/CD single
Recorded = Mountain Studios, Montreux; Hit Factory, New York, June/July 1992
Genre = Rock/Soul
Length = 4:10
Label = Arista Records
74321 148682
Writer =
Producer = Nile Rodgers
Certification =
Last single = "Jump They Say"
1993
This single = "Black Tie White Noise"
1993
Next single = "Miracle Goodnight"
1993
Misc =

"Black Tie White Noise" is the title track from David Bowie's 1993 album. Featuring guest vocals by Al B. Sure!, it was released as a second single from the album in June 1993.

The track was inspired by Bowie's stay in Los Angeles in April 1992, when the city saw race riots in reaction to the Rodney King incident. It is the epitome of its' parent album's feelings towards conformity and corporations, with Benetton and the saccharine charity single "We Are the World" among the targets. Bowie would later explain that the track was concerned with the black community's own identity, and how it didn't need to be absorbed into the white community.

It is among the most jazz and soul influenced tracks on the album, highlighted by the key vocal of Al B. Sure!, although Lenny Kravitz was reportedly Bowie's first choice for the duet. Essentially a Rhythm and Blues tune, the song ultimately reinforced the feeling of Bowie's tendency as a chameleon of musical styles.

Released as the album's second single, "Black Tie White Noise" was something of a disappointment commercially, stalling at #36 in the UK, and again failing to chart in America despite a concerted promotional push. Audiences were perhaps confused by Bowie's latest departure of style and already somewhat skeptical given the breakup of Tin Machine, despite the promise that his solo career was over.

A music video for this piece was produced by Mark Romanek, featuring a montage of African-American youth playing in urban Los Angeles, while intercut with scenes of Bowie in a blue suit with his saxophone and Al B. Sure! singing. The music video attempted to capture Bowie's image behind the song: multiple ethnic groups coexisting with their own identities, and not attempting to absorb one another.

Track listing

7" version

# "Black Tie White Noise (Radio Edit)" (Bowie) – 4:10
# "You've Been Around (Dangers Remix)" (Bowie, Gabrels) – 4:24

12" version

# "Black Tie White Noise (Extended Remix)" (Bowie) – 8:12
# "Black Tie White Noise (Trance Mix)" (Bowie) – 7:15
# "Black Tie White Noise (Album Version)" (Bowie) – 4:52
# "Black Tie White Noise (Club Mix)" (Bowie) – 7:33
# "Black Tie White Noise (Extended Urban Mix)" (Bowie) – 5:32

CD version

# "Black Tie White Noise (Radio Edit)" (Bowie) – 4:10
# "Black Tie White Noise (Extended Remix)" (Bowie) – 8:12
# "Black Tie White Noise (Urban Mix)" (Bowie) – 4:03
# "You've Been Around (Dangers Remix)" (Bowie, Gabrels) – 4:24

US Promo CD

# "Black Tie White Noise (Chr Mix 1)" (Bowie) – 3:43
# "Black Tie White Noise (Chr Mix 2)" (Bowie) – 4:12
# "Black Tie White Noise (Churban Mix)" (Bowie) – 3:45
# "Black Tie White Noise (Urban Mix)" (Bowie) – 4:03
# "Black Tie White Noise (Album edit)" (Bowie) – 4:10

Tracks #1-3 re-produced, re-arranged and mixed by Marc 'Funkyman' Paley, Raul 'DJ EFX' Recinos & Jeremy 'DJ Digit' Cowan
Track # 2 remix and additional production by John Waddell
Track # 4 remix and additional production by Al B. Sure & Timar

Production credits

* Producers:
** Nile Rodgers

* Musicians:
**David Bowie: Vocals
**Al B. Sure!: Vocals
**Nile Rodgers: Guitar
**Barry Campbell: Bass
**Sterling Campbell: Drums
**Richard Hilton: Keyboards
**Lester Bowie: Trumpet
**Reeves Gabrels: Guitar on "You've Been Around"

Other releases

* On the bonus disc following the 10th anniversary edition of "Black Tie White Noise" the remixes "3rd Floor US Radio Mix" and "Here Come Da Jazz" appeared.

Cover versions

* The Rockridge Synthesiser Orchestra - "Plays David Bowie Classic Trax"

References

* Black Tie White Noise Limited Edition DVD, 2004
* Pegg, Nicholas, "The Complete David Bowie", Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5