The Buddha of Suburbia (album)
Forgotten gem from David Bowie's catalogue.
The Buddha of Suburbia is the nineteenth studio album by the English musician David Bowie, originally released on 8 November 1993 through Arista Records in the United Kingdom and Europe. The project began after Bowie agreed to compose music for an adaptation of Hanif Kureishi's novel of the same name, but he later expanded it into a full album. Recorded in six days at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland, with musician Erdal Kızılçay, the album features motifs created using various instruments and references to Bowie's late-1970s works. Despite positive reviews from British critics, it received little promotion and initially flopped, remaining one of Bowie's least-known works.
Quick Facts
- Longtype
- soundtrack album
- Artist
- David Bowie
- Released
- 8 November 1993
- Recorded
- August 1993
- Studio
- Mountain (Montreux, Switzerland), O'Henry (Burbank, California)
- Genre
- Rock
- pop
- ambient
- jazz
- experimental
- Label
- Arista
- Producer
- David Bowie; David Richards
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The album originated from an interview between Bowie and novelist Hanif Kureishi during a press tour for Black Tie White Noise. Kureishi sought permission to use Bowie's older material for a BBC adaptation of his novel The Buddha of Suburbia. Bowie agreed to compose the music and, after making basic tracks, decided to turn the project into a full album. Recording took place at Mountain Studios in Montreux with Erdal Kızılçay and was completed in six days; Mike Garson contributed piano overdubs for two tracks. The music bears little resemblance to the BBC serial, and only the title track appeared in the programme.
Reader's Guide
The Buddha of Suburbia remains a footnote in Bowie's discography, yet it has been praised by reviewers as a forgotten gem. Bowie himself named it his favorite album in 2003. The album's music incorporates rock, pop, ambient, jazz, and experimental themes, with non-linear lyrics that reduce narrative form. It was not released in the United States until October 1995 through Virgin Records with updated artwork. A worldwide reissue through EMI in 2007 and a remastered version in 2021 as part of the box set Brilliant Adventure (1992–2001) have brought it renewed attention, though it remains one of Bowie's least-known works.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buddha of Suburbia | 4:28 |
| 2 | Sex and the Church | 6:25 |
| 3 | South Horizon (instrumental) | 5:26 |
| 4 | The Mysteries (instrumental) | 7:12 |
| 5 | Bleed Like a Craze, Dad | 5:22 |
| 6 | Strangers When We Meet | 4:58 |
| 7 | Dead Against It | 5:48 |
| 8 | Untitled No. 1 | 5:01 |
| 9 | Ian Fish, U.K. Heir (instrumental) | 6:27 |
| 10 | Buddha of Suburbia (featuring Lenny Kravitz) | 4:19 |
Track listing from the source article.
Did You Know?
- The album was recorded and mixed in only six days, but mixing took fifteen days due to technical breakdowns.
- The album was not released in the United States until October 1995, two years after its initial UK release.
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