David Bowie - Let's Dance - 12" Vinyl LP Album - incl Lyrics Sleeve

- Timeless grooves and iconic visuals from the 1983 pop triumph that redefined style and sound

In 1983, the iconic David Bowie unveiled the "Let's Dance" 12" vinyl LP album, showcasing his enduring musical prowess. This masterpiece not only attests to Bowie's timeless artistry but also exemplifies his knack for enthralling visual storytelling. The album, a fusion of innovation and emotion, transcends its time period, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of music history.

"Let's Dance" Album Description:

David Bowie, an iconic figure in music history, consistently pushed artistic boundaries and reinvented himself throughout his illustrious career. In 1983, he released the "Let's Dance" 12" vinyl LP album, which stands as a testament to his ability to craft timeless music and create captivating visual experiences.

The title track "Let's Dance" instantly captivates listeners with its infectious rhythm and irresistible hooks. Bowie effortlessly melds elements of pop, rock, and dance music, creating a sound that resonated with a wide audience. The song's exuberant lyrics and upbeat tempo encourage listeners to embrace the joy of dancing, while Bowie's soulful and emotive vocals add depth to the track. "Let's Dance" became one of Bowie's most successful songs, solidifying his place as a global music icon.

The release of "Let's Dance" marked a pivotal moment in David Bowie's career. It catapulted him into the mainstream, reaching a broader audience than ever before. The album's commercial success solidified Bowie's status as a musical icon and further expanded his influence on popular culture.

Moreover, "Let's Dance" showcased Bowie's ability to adapt and reinvent himself, effortlessly embracing new sounds and styles. The album's production, helmed by Nile Rodgers, brought a fresh and polished sound to Bowie's music, capturing the spirit of the time while maintaining his distinctive artistic vision.

The album's impact extended far beyond its initial release. It continues to inspire and influence artists across generations, with its blend of infectious melodies, thought-provoking lyrics, and bold musical choices. Bowie's ability to seamlessly combine accessibility with artistic integrity in "Let's Dance" remains a testament to his enduring legacy.

China Girl the Song Description:

"China Girl" is a standout track on David Bowie's 1983 "Let's Dance" album. Originally written by Bowie and Iggy Pop for Iggy Pop's 1977 album "The Idiot", Bowie reinterpreted and recorded the song for his own album, giving it a fresh perspective and a more polished sound.

Musically, "China Girl" is a captivating blend of rock, pop, and new wave elements. The song opens with a catchy guitar riff that immediately hooks the listener. The rhythmic drumbeat and pulsating bassline drive the song forward, creating an infectious energy. Bowie's smooth and expressive vocals carry a sense of longing and desire, adding emotional depth to the track.

Lyrically, "China Girl" explores themes of cultural fascination, desire, and the complexities of relationships. The song juxtaposes Western ideas of exoticism and orientalism with a personal narrative, delving into the dynamics of a romantic relationship. Bowie's lyrics paint a vivid picture of a cross-cultural love affair, blending elements of lust, admiration, and societal perceptions.

The chorus of "China Girl" is particularly memorable, with Bowie passionately singing, "Oh, oh, oh, little China girl / Oh, oh, oh, little China girl / I could escape this feeling, with my China girl / I feel a wreck without my, little China girl". The repetition of the phrase "little China girl" adds a touch of vulnerability and emotional attachment to the narrative.

"China Girl" gained significant attention upon the release of the "Let's Dance" album and became one of Bowie's most recognizable and enduring songs. The music video for the song, directed by David Mallet, further enhanced its popularity. Filmed in Australia, the video features Bowie and New Zealand model Geeling Ng, capturing a visually striking and provocative representation of the song's themes.

"China Girl" is a testament to Bowie's ability to infuse pop sensibilities with thought-provoking lyrics and create a song that transcends the boundaries of time. Its catchy hooks, energetic instrumentation, and poignant storytelling continue to resonate with listeners, showcasing the enduring impact of Bowie's artistry.

The guitar player on David Bowie's "China Girl" is Stevie Ray Vaughan, a highly acclaimed blues guitarist, contributed his exceptional guitar skills to several tracks on the "Let's Dance" album, including the iconic guitar solos in "China Girl". His distinctive playing style and virtuosity added a bluesy edge to the song, enhancing its overall sound and contributing to its lasting appeal. Stevie Ray Vaughan's collaboration with Bowie on "China Girl" and other tracks remains a notable highlight of the album.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

Pop

Label & Catalognr:

EMI America – AML 3029 (USA)

Album Packaging

Original custom inner sleeve with album details, lyrics and photos.

Media Format:

12" LP Vinyl Gramophone Record

Year & Country:

1983 – Made in USA

Producers:
  • David Bowie – Producer
  • Nile Rodgers – Producer
Sound & Recording Engineers:
  • Bob Clearmountain – Engineer (Fast Forward Productions)
  • Dave Greenberg – Assistant Engineer
  • Bob Clearmountain – Mixing
  • David Bowie – Mixing Assistance
  • Nile Rodgers – Mixing Assistance
Mastering Engineer & Location:
  • Bob Ludwig – Mastering at Masterdisk, New York City
    Bob Ludwig is a legendary mastering engineer known for his work with Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd. With a career spanning over five decades, he has won multiple Grammy Awards and founded Gateway Mastering Studios. Ludwig is a pioneer in high-fidelity sound, ensuring top-tier audio quality. Learn more on Bob Ludwig's biography .
Album Cover Design & Artwork:
  • Mick Haggerty – Package Design
  • Derek Boshier – Painting on Cover
Photography:
  • Greg Gorman – Photography

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Line-up:
  • David Bowie – Lead Vocals
  • Nile Rodgers – Guitar
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan – Lead Guitar
  • Carmine Rojas – Bass
  • Rob Sabino – Keyboards
  • Tony Thompson – Drums
  • Sammy Figueroa – Percussion.
    Sammy Figueroa is a world-renowned percussionist celebrated for his dynamic stage presence and versatility across genres, from jazz and salsa to rock and pop. Known for his masterful conga playing, he has collaborated with legendary artists including David Bowie, Miles Davis, and Mariah Carey, leaving a lasting mark on modern music.
  • Stan Harrison – Saxophone
  • Steve Elson – Saxophone
  • Robert Aaron – Flute, Saxophone

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. Modern Love (also released as a 7" Single)
  2. China Girl
  3. Let's Dance
  4. Without You
Video: David Bowie - China Girl (Official Video)
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Ricochet
  2. Criminal World
  3. Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
  4. Shake It
Video: David Bowie Cat People Putting Out Fire Music Video HQ
Front Cover Photo
Front cover of the 1983 David Bowie album Let's Dance. The artwork shows Bowie bare-chested, wearing boxing gloves, standing in a fighting stance. His body is bathed in red and orange light, with projected patterns across his torso and background. The large word 'Bowie' appears diagonally in distressed blue letters, while the album title 'Let's Dance' is written in red circles connected by dotted lines, resembling a constellation or dance steps. The dramatic lighting and layered textures emphasize Bowie's iconic presence and the album's bold, theatrical design.

The front cover of David Bowie's Let's Dance album captures the artist in a striking pose. Bowie stands bare-chested, his fists raised in a boxing stance, clad in dark trousers and black gloves, ready for confrontation or performance. His face is half-lit, half-shadowed, with his hair a fiery orange that catches the light.

His torso and surroundings are flooded with projected patterns of red arrows and abstract forms, creating the impression of both stage lights and urban graffiti. The background is textured with earthy tones of gold and brown, giving depth and theatricality to the image.

The word Bowie dominates the upper right, written in bold distressed blue letters, towering diagonally across the composition. The album title Let's Dance appears in a playful, diagrammatic form: red letters inside circles, linked by arrows and dotted lines, resembling either a cosmic constellation or a set of choreographed dance instructions. Together, these elements embody the fusion of music, movement, and spectacle that defined the album's impact in 1983.

Back Cover Photo
Back cover of the 1983 David Bowie album Let's Dance. The design features a bold abstract painting by Derek Boshier showing two simplified human figures, rendered in thick pink brushstrokes, dancing against a rough black textured background. White dashes radiate around them, and a small blue crescent moon hovers above. On the right, the track listing is displayed inside a black shape resembling a torch with red flames, listing songs like Modern Love, China Girl, Let's Dance, and others. The left side holds the production credits in compact text with EMI America branding at the bottom.

The back cover of David Bowie's Let's Dance album is a striking piece of graphic design. Dominating the artwork are two abstracted, geometric human figures in pink, dancing together in elongated lines, their outlines bold and angular against a black textured background.

White strokes radiate outward like motion lines, emphasizing the kinetic energy of the dance, while a small blue crescent moon hangs above, giving the scene a surreal night-time quality. The overall look is painterly yet modern, aligning with Derek Boshier’s distinctive visual style.

On the right-hand side, the track listing is placed within a stylized black torch shape topped with red flames, setting the song titles—such as Modern Love, China Girl, and Cat People—into a dramatic motif. To the left, block text lists the album’s production credits, naming producers, engineers, and designers, with the EMI America logo placed neatly at the bottom. This combination of imagery and typography completes the album’s theatrical presentation.

Photo One Of The Original Custom Inner Sleeve
Custom inner sleeve from David Bowie's 1983 album Let's Dance. The design features printed lyrics for songs including China Girl, Ricochet, Without You, and Cat People (Putting Out Fire). The word 'Bowie' appears in large distressed blue letters on the right. Several abstract shapes and red circular graffiti-like markings overlay the page. Scattered photos of Bowie are integrated into the layout, showing him shirtless in dramatic lighting and poses. The background is predominantly white with splashes of pale pink and grey graphic textures, giving the layout a collage-like, experimental feel.

This original custom inner sleeve of David Bowie's Let's Dance album merges design, photography, and typography into a dynamic visual collage. Printed lyrics for China Girl, Ricochet, Without You, and Cat People (Putting Out Fire) are spread across the page, each section rotated at angles to create movement.

In bold distressed blue, the word Bowie stands prominently at the right, asserting identity amid the abstract composition. Graffiti-like red circular strokes and geometric grey line drawings cross the surface, adding energy and visual disruption to the structured text.

Scattered among the lyrics are small square photos of Bowie, captured shirtless in dramatic lighting with expressive stances, encircled by painted graphic rings that highlight his presence. The white background, splashed with pale pink textures, gives the piece a stark yet playful contrast, reflecting both the music’s vitality and the album’s experimental aesthetic.

Photo Two Of The Original Custom Inner Sleeve
Second custom inner sleeve from David Bowie's 1983 album Let's Dance. The design features printed lyrics for Modern Love, Criminal World, Shake It, and Let's Dance. The background blends pale grey and textured pink with scattered blue graphic accents. White arrows and circular lines sweep dynamically across the layout, guiding the viewer’s eye between song lyrics and images. Small square photos of Bowie are integrated, showing him shirtless in dramatic light, encircled with painted rings. Abstract line drawings, including a dancing couple outline at the top right, add playful energy to the composition.

This second custom inner sleeve of David Bowie's Let's Dance album continues the vibrant visual narrative. Printed lyrics for Modern Love, Criminal World, Shake It, and the title track Let's Dance are arranged at bold angles, creating a dynamic and unconventional flow across the page.

The background blends textured pink splashes over pale grey, punctuated by abstract blue accents. White arrows and spiraling lines sweep across the surface, linking sections of text and images like choreographed movements or dance instructions.

Three small photographs of Bowie are scattered through the composition, showing him bare-chested under stark lighting, each enclosed in painted rings or graphic frames. At the top right, a simplified white line drawing of two dancing figures reinforces the album’s central theme of motion and performance. The overall effect is energetic, layered, and playful, perfectly echoing the rhythm and exuberance of the music.

Close Up Of Side One Record Label
Close-up of Side One record label from David Bowie's 1983 album Let's Dance. The white EMI America label displays the catalog number AML 3029A and the EMI America logo in red, green, and yellow gradient letters at the top. The track listing for Side One is printed in black: Modern Love (4:46), China Girl (5:32), Let's Dance (7:38), and Without You (3:08). Below, credits note that the album was produced by David Bowie and Nile Rodgers, engineered by Bob Clearmountain for Fast Forward Productions, and manufactured in the UK under license to EMI America Records. The label also states 'Stereo' and copyright ℗ 1983 Original Sound Recordings by David Bowie.

This close-up of the Side One record label of David Bowie's Let's Dance album highlights the classic EMI America design. The white background contrasts with the colorful EMI America logo at the top, rendered in green, yellow, and red gradient lettering.

The catalog number AML 3029A is printed on the right, while the center hole neatly divides the label. The four tracks of Side One are listed in order: Modern Love, China Girl, Let's Dance, and Without You, each with duration and songwriter credits.

Production details confirm the album was produced by David Bowie and Nile Rodgers, engineered by Bob Clearmountain for Fast Forward Productions, and manufactured in the UK. At the bottom, the text reads “℗ 1983 Original Sound Recordings made by David Bowie under license to EMI America Records,” cementing its authenticity as a collectible pressing.

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