Lady Grinning Soul

Song infobox
Name = Lady Grinning Soul


Artist = David Bowie
Album = Aladdin Sane
Released = April 13 1973
track_no = 10
Recorded = Trident Studios, London
9 December 1972 -
24 January 1973
Genre = Glam rock
Length = 3:46
Label = RCA
Writer = David Bowie
Producer = Ken Scott, David Bowie
prev = "The Jean Genie"
prev_no = 9
next =
next_no =

"Lady Grinning Soul" is a ballad written by David Bowie, the final track on the album "Aladdin Sane", released in 1973. The composer’s first meeting with American soul singer Claudia Lennear in 1972 is often cited as the inspiration for the song.Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray (1981). "Bowie: An Illustrated Record": p.56] [ [http://www.5years.com/encyl.htm "Lady Grinning Soul" at The Ziggy Stardust Companion] ]

The style of the piece has been compared to a James Bond theme. [Kris Needs (1983). "Bowie: A Celebration": p.29] Pianist Mike Garson described his own performance as "about as romantic as it gets … French with a little Franz Liszt thrown in there".David Buckley (1999). "Strange Fascination - David Bowie: The Definitive Story": pp.187-188] "Rolling Stone"'s contemporary review called Bowie's singing "the album's most expansive and sincere vocal",cite journal | last = Ben Gerson | title = Aladdin Sane| journal = Rolling Stone | date = 19 July 1973 | publisher = Rolling Stone | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/davidbowie/albums/album/283449/review/6067692 ] while author Nicholas Pegg considers the track "one of Bowie's most underrated recordings … quite unlike anything else he has ever done".Nicholas Pegg (2000). "The Complete David Bowie": p.117]

Other releases

* It was released as the B-side of the single "Let's Spend the Night Together" in June 1973.
* It was also the B-side of the Spanish release of the single "Sorrow" in November 1973.
* The US release of the single "Rebel Rebel" had "Lady Grinning Soul" as the B-side.
* It appeared as the B-side of the Japanese release of the single "1984" in April 1974.

Cover versions

* Box Office Poison – Single
* Ulf Lundell – "Sweethearts" (Swedish translation called "Elden")
* Paul Roberts – "Faith" (1999)
* Lucia Micarelli – Instrumental version on "Music From a Farther Room" (2004)

Notes