Heathen (album)

Heathen
Studio album by David Bowie
Released	11 June, 2002
Recorded	Allaire Studios, Shokan, New York Looking Glass Studios, New York City, New York
Genre	Rock, synth rock, alternative rock
Length	52:08
Label	ISO
Producer	Tony Visconti, David Bowie
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Rolling Stone link Robert Christgau (C+) link
David Bowie chronology
'hours...' (1999) Heathen (2002) Reality (2003)
Singles from Heathen
"Slow Burn" Released: June 3, 2002 (2002-06-03) "Everyone Says 'Hi'" Released: September 16, 2002 (2002-09-16) "I've Been Waiting for You" Released: October 2002 (2002-10)

Heathen is an album by the British singer-songwriter David Bowie, released in 2002. It marked the return of record producer Tony Visconti who co-produced with Bowie several of Bowie's classic albums. The last album Visconti co-produced was Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) from 1980. Heathen was considered to be something of a comeback for Bowie in the U.S market; it was his highest charting album (#14) since Tonight in 1984, and, generally, his most critically acclaimed album since Scary Monsters. Worldwide, it sold over 2 million copies, and experienced a 4 month run in the UK charts. Originally, Bowie had recorded the album Toy for release in 2000/2001. This album was meant to feature some new songs and remakes of some his lesser-known songs from the 1960s. Although Toy remains unreleased, a few tracks that include "Afraid" and "Slip Away" (then titled "Uncle Floyd") appeared on Heathen. Some other re-recorded songs were included as B-sides to the singles from Heathen. Most of the song lyrics found in Heathen are focused on the degradation of mankind and the world. This is evidenced in songs like Slow Burn, Afraid, A Better Future and the title track. The album contains three cover versions: "Cactus" by The Pixies; "I've Been Waiting for You" by Neil Young; and "I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship" by the Legendary Stardust Cowboy. A remix of the song "Everyone Says 'Hi'" is featured in the PS2 rhythm game Amplitude. The song "Sunday" was played live at the Heathen Tour and A Reality Tour concerts. A live version recorded at the The Point, Dublin, Ireland in November 2003 was included on the A Reality Tour DVD. A Moby remix is available on the bonus disc of the 2-CD version of Heathen, and a Tony Visconti remix was released on the European version of the single "Everyone Says 'Hi'" and the single "I've Been Waiting for You". The album features guest appearances from Who guitarist Pete Townshend (who had played guitar on an earlier Bowie track, "Because You're Young" from Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)), Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, Dream Theater veteran keyboardist Jordan Rudess, Kristeen Young and prolific bassist Tony Levin of Peter Gabriel and King Crimson. Heathen has also been released on a SACD in a limited number of copies with slightly longer versions of five of the songs.

Track listing

1. "Sunday" (Bowie) – 4:45
2. "Cactus" (Black Francis) – 2:54
3. "Slip Away" (Bowie) – 6:05
4. "Slow Burn" (Bowie) – 4:41
5. "Afraid" (Bowie) – 3:28
6. "I've Been Waiting for You" (Neil Young) – 3:00
7. "I Would Be Your Slave" (Bowie) – 5:14
8. "I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship" (Norman Carl Odom) – 4:04
9. "5:15 The Angels Have Gone" (Bowie) – 5:00
10. "Everyone Says 'Hi'" (Bowie) – 3:59
11. "A Better Future" (Bowie) – 4:11
12. "Heathen (The Rays)" (Bowie) – 4:16
13. "Wood Jackson" (Japanese release bonus track)

Limited edition bonus disc

1. "Sunday" (Moby Remix) – 5:09
2. "A Better Future" (Remix by Air) – 4:56
3. "Conversation Piece" (Written in 1969, recorded 1970, re-recorded 2000) – 3:51
4. "Panic in Detroit" (Outtake from a 1979 recording) – 2:57

Production credits

• Producers:
  • David Bowie
  • Tony Visconti
• Musicians:
  • David Bowie: Vocals, Keyboards, Guitars, Saxophone, Stylophone, Backing Vocals, Drums
  • Tony Visconti: Bass, Guitars, Recorders, String Arrangements, Backing Vocals
  • Matt Chamberlain: Drums, Loop Programming, Percussion
  • David Torn: Guitars, Guitar Loops, Omnichord
  • The Scorchio Quartet
    • Greg Kitzis: 1st violin
    • Meg Okura: 2nd violin
    • Martha Mooke: Viola
    • Mary Wooten: Cello
• Additional musicians:
  • Carlos Alomar: Guitar
  • Sterling Campbell: Drums and Percussion
  • Lisa Germano: Violin
  • Gerry Leonard: Guitar
  • Tony Levin: Bass
  • Mark Plati: Guitar and Bass
  • Jordan Rudess: Keyboards
  • The Borneo Horns: Lenny Pickett, Stan Harrison, Steve Elson
  • Kristeen Young: Vocals and Piano
  • Pete Townshend: Guitar (on "Slow Burn")
  • Dave Grohl: Guitar (on "I've Been Waiting for You")