The Supermen
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"The Supermen" is a song written by David Bowie in 1971 for the album The Man Who Sold the World. The timpani is well to the fore, the lyrics and music reference the apocalyptic German romanticism of Friedrich Nietzsche and Richard Strauss, and the whole song is deliberately monumental, primal and triumphalist.
According Bowie himself the guitar riff was the first anyone taught him, and it was by none other than Jimmy Page. Page was Shel Talmy's session guitar player in the mid-60s, and he played on of Bowie's oldest songs, "I Pity the Fool", when this occurred. The riff was later used on another Bowie song, "Dead Man Walking" from the Earthling album in 1997.
Live versions
- Bowie played the song at the BBC show "Sounds of the 70s" with Bob Harris September 21st, 1971. This was broadcast at October 4th, 1971 and in 2000 released on the album Bowie at the Beeb.
- A live version from the Boston Music Hall October 1st, 1972 was released in the Sound + Vision box set. This was also released on the bonus disc of the Aladdin Sane - 30th Anniversary Edition in 2003.
- Another live version recorded at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 20 October 1972 was released on Santa Monica '72.
Other releases
- An alternate version of the song was released as a bonus track on the Rykodisc CD release of Hunky Dory in 1990. This also appeared on the Ziggy Stardust - 30th Anniversary Reissue bonus disc in 2002.
Cover versions
- Human Drama - PinUps (1993)
- The Mission - Goth Oddity - A Tribute to David Bowie (1996)
- Ventilator - Crash Course for the Ravers - A Tribute to the Songs of David Bowie (1996)
References
Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-15
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