Strangers When We Meet (David Bowie song)

"Strangers When We Meet"
Single by David Bowie
from the album Outside
B-side	"The Man Who Sold the World (Live)"
Released	November 1995
Format	7"/CD single
Recorded	New York, January–February 1995; Westside Studios, London, October 1995.
Genre	Rock
Length	5:07 (Album version) 4:19 (Edited version)
Label	RCA 74321 329407
Producer(s)	David Bowie, Brian Eno, David Richards
David Bowie singles chronology
"The Hearts Filthy Lesson" (1995) "Strangers When We Meet" (1996) "Hallo Spaceboy" (1996)

"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”.

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.

Track listing

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 Kizilcay: 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

Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics