Steve Taylor

Muslims are reportedly calling for a ban on eating in public during Ramadan because it “tempts them”. Sorry, but Britain doesn’t work like that. You’re free to fast. You’re free to pray. You’re free to follow your religion. But you don’t get to make everyone else live by it.

🔘 YOUNG AMERICANS – Album: David Bowie March 7, 1975 4 min read Label: RCA Victor – RS 1006 Date: March 7, 1975 Tracklist: 8 tracks Length: Approx. 40 min A bold, soulful reinvention recorded between Philadelphia and New York — Bowie’s “plastic soul” masterpiece arrives with swagger, smoke, and a new American groove. A transatlantic transformation in real time. 🔘 – Key Highlights • Bowie’s ninth studio album, released March 7, 1975 • Recorded at Sigma Sound (Philadelphia) and Record Plant/Electric Lady (NYC) • Features “Fame” — Bowie’s first U.S. No. 1 single • Backing vocals by Luther Vandross, Ava Cherry, Robin Clark, and more • UK chart peak: No. 2 (12 weeks on chart) 🔘 – Overview Young Americans marks one of the most dramatic stylistic pivots of Bowie’s career. Leaving behind the glam theatrics of Diamond Dogs, he immersed himself in the sound of American soul, funk, and R&B — a shift he later called “the definitive plastic soul record.” Recorded between August 1974 and January 1975, the album captures Bowie absorbing the energy of Philadelphia’s Sigma Sound Studios and the creative pulse of mid-’70s New York. The album’s release on March 7, 1975 introduced a new Bowie: looser, groovier, and steeped in the rhythms of Black American music. With contributions from Luther Vandross, Carlos Alomar, David Sanborn, and John Lennon, Young Americans became a transatlantic hybrid — part Philly soul, part New York cool, part Bowie futurism. Commercially, it was a breakthrough in the United States, driven by “Fame,” Bowie’s first U.S. No. 1. In the UK, it reached No. 2 and cemented Bowie’s reputation as a restless, shape-shifting innovator. 🔘 – The Story Sessions for Young Americans began in August 1974 at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, where Bowie surrounded himself with a predominantly African American soul and funk ensemble. Luther Vandross, then an emerging talent, contributed backing vocals and vocal arrangements central to the album’s sound. Guitarist Carlos Alomar, bassist Willie Weeks, and drummer Andy Newmark formed the rhythmic backbone. Tracks such as “Young Americans,” “Win,” and “Right” emerged from these sessions — smoky, rhythmic, and steeped in the warmth of Sigma’s signature sound. Bowie’s lyrics shifted toward social commentary, relationships, and American identity, reflecting his growing fascination with U.S. culture. Later sessions at the Record Plant and Electric Lady in New York brought in John Lennon. Together with Alomar, Bowie and Lennon co-wrote “Fame,” a sharp, funky critique of celebrity culture that became Bowie’s first U.S. chart-topper. Lennon also contributed guitar and vocals to a reimagined “Across the Universe” with a soulful, Bowie-esque twist. Production credits reflect its layered creation: Tony Visconti, Harry Maslin, and Bowie himself each shaped different portions. The result is a hybrid of studio atmospheres — the sweat and groove of Philadelphia blended with the sharp edges of New York. Over the decades, Young Americans has been remastered multiple times, with notable reissues in 1991 (Rykodisc), 1999 (EMI/Virgin), and 2016 (Parlophone). Each edition has revealed new facets of the album’s sonic architecture, but the 1975 UK pressing remains the definitive original. 🔘 – Track List Side A Young Americans Win Fascination Right Side B Somebody Up There Likes Me Across the Universe Can You Hear Me Fame

I see Farage is off to Mar-a-Lago to talk down Britain and suck up to Trump. There's nothing patriotic about cheering on a foreign leader whose illegal war is sending British families’ energy bills through the roof.