Speed of Life

Song infobox
Name = Speed of Life


Artist = David Bowie
Album = Low
Released = January 14 1977
track_no = 1
Recorded = 1976
Genre = Art Rock
Length = 2:46
Label = RCA
Writer = David Bowie
Producer = David Bowie and Tony Visconti
prev =
prev_no =
next = Breaking Glass
next_no = 2

"Speed of Life" is the first instrumental song by David Bowie. It is the opening track for his album "Low" from 1977.

Speed of Life introduces the "Low" album, and, coupled with the similarly upbeat instrumental A New Career in a New Town, provides a front bookend for the a-side of the album. The track makes several immediate implications about the content of the album, with its heavy use of synthesizers as both effects and instruments, with the presence of Dennis Davis' drums and the overlayed harmonizer creating a distinctly different mix than any previous Bowie album.

Lyrics were originally planned for this song, however, Bowie abandoned the idea after several attempts, deciding that the piece stood better on its own.

Live versions

* A live version recorded on the "Heroes tour" at the Philadelphia Spectrum, April 28-29th, 1978, was released on the live album "Stage".

Other releases

* It was released as the B-side of the single "Be My Wife" in June 1977.
* It also appeared in the "Sound and Vision" box set.
* It was released as a picture disc in the RCA "Life Time" picture disc set.

Cover versions

* ST-37 - "Only Bowie" (1995)

ources

*Greatorex, Johnathan. "Just a Mortal With Potential." Teenage Wildlife. Nov. 1996. 06 Mar. 2006 < [http://www.teenagewildlife.com/Interact/fc/misc/JG/index.html http://www.teenagewildlife.com/Interact/fc/misc/JG/index.html] >.
*Griffin, R. "Low." Bowie Golden Years. Jan. 2005. 06 Mar. 2006 < [http://members.ol.com.au/rgriffin/GoldenYears/Low.html http://members.ol.com.au/rgriffin/GoldenYears/Low.html] >.