Kooks (song)

Updated on Nov 22, 2024

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Released 17 December 1971 Length 2:53 Writer(s) David Bowie		Genre Pop rock, folk rock Label RCA Records
Recorded Trident Studios, London, summer 1971

"Kooks" is a song written by David Bowie, which appears on his 1971 album Hunky Dory. Bowie wrote this song to his newborn son Duncan Jones. The song was a pastiche of early 1970s Neil Young because Bowie was listening to a Neil Young record at home on 30 May 1971 when he got the news of the arrival of his son.

British indie band The Kooks named themselves after the song.

Live versions

Before the studio recording of the song was made, it was recorded for the BBC In Concert radio show with John Peel, on 3 June 1971 (broadcast on 20 June 1971). In 2000 this recording was released on the Bowie at the Beeb album.

The song was recorded again for the BBC "Sounds of the Seventies" radio show with Bob Harris on 21 September 1971 (broadcast on 4 October 1971).