Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Strangers When We Meet (David Bowie song)

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Released
  
20 November 1995

Genre
  
Rock

Format
  
7"/CD single

B-side
  
"The Man Who Sold the World (Live)"

Recorded
  
New York City, January–February 1995; Westside Studios, London, October 1995.

Length
  
5:07 (Album version) 4:19 (Edited version)

"Strangers When We Meet" is a song by David Bowie, originally recorded for his 1993 album The Buddha of Suburbia. In 1995, Bowie re-recorded the song for his Outside album, and this version was edited and released as a single, paired with a reworked version of Bowie’s 1970 “The Man Who Sold the World”.

Contents

While the new version of “The Man Who Sold the World” was billed as a "live version", it was actually a studio-recorded track, based on a reworked version of the song performed on the Outside Tour, and mixed by Brian Eno.

Samuel Bayer’s video for the song shared some visual similarities with that for “The Hearts Filthy Lesson”, but was a much more simple and placid affair set in a decaying artists studio. Despite a live performance on Top of the Pops, the double A-side entered the UK charts at No. 39 before dropping away.

7" version

  1. "Strangers When We Meet (Edit)" (Bowie) – 4:19
  2. "The Man Who Sold the World (Live)" (Bowie) – 3:35

UK CD version

  1. "Strangers When We Meet (Edit)" (Bowie) – 4:19
  2. "The Man Who Sold the World (Live)" (Bowie) – 3:35
  3. "Strangers When We Meet (Album version)" (Bowie) – 5:06
  4. "Get Real" (Bowie/Eno)

US CD version

  1. "Strangers When We Meet (Album version)" (Bowie) – 5:06
  2. "Strangers When We Meet (Buddha of Suburbia album version)" (Bowie) – 5:06
  3. "The Man Who Sold the World" (Live) (Bowie) – 3:35

Australian CD version

  1. "Strangers When We Meet" (Edit) (Bowie) – 4:19
  2. "The Man Who Sold the World" (Live) (Bowie) – 3:35
  3. "Strangers When We Meet" (Album version) (Bowie) – 5:06
  4. "Strangers When We Meet" (Buddha of Suburbia album version) (Bowie) – 5:06

UK Promo version

  1. "Strangers When We Meet (Edit)" (Bowie) – 4:19

US Promo version

  1. "Strangers When We Meet (Edit)" (Bowie) – 4:19
  2. "Strangers When We Meet (Buddha of Suburbia Edit)" (Bowie) – 4:10
  3. "Strangers When We Meet (Album version)" (Bowie) – 5:06

Production credits

  • Producers:
  • David Bowie
  • Brian Eno
  • David Richards
  • Musicians:
  • David Bowie: vocals
  • Brian Eno: synthesizers on "Strangers When We Meet" and "Get Real"
  • Reeves Gabrels: lead guitar
  • Carlos Alomar: rhythm guitar
  • Erdal Kızılçay: bass, keyboards on "Strangers When We Meet" and "Get Real"
  • Mike Garson: piano, keyboards on "The Man Who Sold The World"
  • Sterling Campbell: drums on "Strangers When We Meet" and "Get Real"
  • Gail Ann Dorsey: bass guitar on "The Man Who Sold the World"
  • Peter Schwartz, George Simms: keyboards on "The Man Who Sold the World"
  • Zachary Alford: drums on "The Man Who Sold the World"

    • References

    Strangers When We Meet (David Bowie song) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA