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{{Short description|1977 song by David Bowie}}
{{good article}}
{{short description|Song by David Bowie}}
{{other uses}}
{{other uses}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Sound and Vision
| name = Sound and Vision
| cover = Sound and Vision by David Bowie UK vinyl single.png
| cover = Bowie SoundAndVision.jpg
| alt = The cover art for David Bowie's 1977 single "Sound and Vision", featuring a profile of Bowie with the words "David Bowie Sound and Vision" in big letters, the title "A New Career in a New Town" to his left, and "RCA" in the bottom right hand corner
| alt =
| type = single
| type = single
| artist = [[David Bowie]]
| artist = [[David Bowie]]
| album = [[Low (David Bowie album)|Low]]
| album = [[Low (David Bowie album)|Low]]
| B-side = A New Career in a New Town
| B-side = [[A New Career in a New Town]]
| released = {{start date|1977|2|11|df=yes}}
| released = {{start date|1977|2|11|df=yes}}
| recorded = September–November 1976
| recorded = September–November 1976
| studio = [[Château d'Hérouville]] ([[Hérouville]], France); [[Hansa Tonstudio|Hansa]] (West Berlin)
| studio = [[Château d'Hérouville]] ([[Hérouville-en-Vexin|Hérouville]]); [[Hansa Tonstudio|Hansa]] ([[West Berlin]])
| venue =
| genre =
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
*[[Rock music|Rock]]
*[[Pop music|pop]]{{efn|Bowie's biographers consider "Sound and Vision" the closest to a "conventional pop song" on ''Low''.{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|pp=122–124}}{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=265–266}} Michael Gallucci of ''[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]'' describes it as a "traditional rock song" with "[[krautrock]] and [[Electronic music|electronic]] textures".<ref name="UCR" /> Other reviewers have noted the presence of [[Soul music|soul]] and [[disco]].{{sfn|Perone|2007|p=59}}<ref name="Needs ZigZag" />{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=310–311}}}}
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=00}}
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=00}}
| label = [[RCA Records|RCA]]
| label = [[RCA Records|RCA]]
| writer = David Bowie
| writer = David Bowie
| producer = {{hlist|David Bowie|[[Tony Visconti]]}}
| producer =
*David Bowie
*[[Tony Visconti]]
| prev_title = [[Suffragette City]]
| prev_title = [[Suffragette City]]
| prev_year = 1976
| prev_year = 1976
| next_title = [[Be My Wife]]
| next_title = [[Be My Wife]]
| next_year = 1977
| next_year = 1977
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = single
| cover = Bowie SoundAndVision.jpg
| border = <!-- optional parameter, type "yes" here to add a 1px border to the cover image -->
| alt =
| caption = UK single picture sleeve
}}
{{Extra track listing
| album = [[Low (David Bowie album)|Low]]
| type = single
| tracks = {{Template:Low tracks}}
}}
}}
}}


"'''Sound and Vision'''" is a song by English musician [[David Bowie]]. It was released in January 1977 on side one of his 11th studio album ''[[Low (David Bowie album)|Low]]''. [[RCA Records]] later chose it as the first [[Single (music)|single]] from the album. Co-produced by Bowie and [[Tony Visconti]], the song was recorded at the [[Château d'Hérouville]] in [[Hérouville]], France in September 1976, continuing at [[Hansa Tonstudio|Hansa Studios]] in West Berlin from October to November. The song began as a simple [[G major]] chord progression, which Bowie gave to the backing musicians, writing and recording his vocals later on. It features backing vocals from [[Brian Eno]] and Visconti's then-wife [[Mary Hopkin]].
"'''Sound and Vision'''" is a song by the English musician [[David Bowie]]. It was released in January 1977 by [[RCA Records]] on side one of his 11th studio album ''[[Low (David Bowie album)|Low]]''. RCA later chose it as the first [[Single (music)|single]] from the album. Co-produced by Bowie and [[Tony Visconti]], the song was recorded at the [[Château d'Hérouville]] in [[Hérouville-en-Vexin|Hérouville]], France, in September 1976, and completed at [[Hansa Tonstudio|Hansa Studios]] in [[West Berlin]] in October and November. The song began as a simple [[G major]] chord progression that Bowie gave to the backing musicians, writing and recording his vocals afterward. It features backing vocals from [[Brian Eno]] and Visconti's then-wife [[Mary Hopkin]].


Regarded as the closest to a "conventional [[Pop music|pop]] song" on ''Low'', "Sound and Vision" is oddly structured. It begins as an instrumental, with elements building throughout its runtime; Bowie's vocals don't appear for over a minute and a half into the song. The song's lyrics are dark and introspective, reflecting Bowie's mental state after years of drug addiction. They further continue the lyrical themes of other tracks on ''Low''{{'}}s first side. The lyrics provide a stark contrast to the music itself, which is more joyous and upbeat. Like other ''Low'' tracks, the song's drum sound was achieved through the use of Visconti's [[Eventide, Inc#H910 Harmonizer|Eventide H910 Harmonizer]].
Regarded by biographers as the closest to a "conventional [[Pop music|pop]] song" on ''Low'',{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|pp=122–124}}{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=265–266}} "Sound and Vision" is oddly structured. Beginning as an instrumental, elements are added throughout the song's runtime; Bowie's vocals do not appear for over a minute and a half. The song's lyrics are dark and introspective, reflecting Bowie's mental state after years of drug addiction, and provide a stark contrast to the music itself, which is more joyous and upbeat. Like other ''Low'' tracks, the song's drum sound was achieved through the use of Visconti's [[Eventide, Inc#H910 Harmonizer|Eventide H910 Harmonizer]].


Released as a single on 11 February 1977, "Sound and Vision" was a commercial success, peaking at number 3 on the [[UK Singles Chart]], aided by its appearance in [[BBC]] television commercials. It nevertheless signaled Bowie's commercial downturn until 1983 in the US, where it peaked at number 69. Music critics and biographers have regarded "Sound and Vision" as one of Bowie's greatest songs. Bowie performed the song only once on his [[Isolar II – The 1978 World Tour|1978 Isolar II tour]], but performed it frequently on later tours. [[Remix]]es of the song have been created in subsequent decades and it has appeared on numerous [[compilation album]]s.
Released as a single on 11&nbsp;February 1977, "Sound and Vision" was a commercial success, making number three on the [[UK Singles Chart]], aided by its appearance in [[BBC]] television commercials. It peaked at number 69 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], signalling Bowie's commercial downturn in the US until 1983. Music critics and biographers consider "Sound and Vision" one of Bowie's greatest songs. He performed it only once on his 1978 [[Isolar II – The 1978 World Tour|Isolar II world tour]], but frequently on later tours. [[Remix]]es of the song have been created in subsequent decades and it has appeared on several [[compilation album]]s.


==Writing and recording==
==Writing and recording==
Like its parent album, [[David Bowie]] and [[Tony Visconti]] co-produced "Sound and Vision", with contributions from [[Brian Eno]].{{sfn|Perone|2007|p=60}} The backing tracks were recorded at the [[Château d'Hérouville]] in [[Hérouville]], France in September 1976, while Bowie's vocals and other overdubs were recorded at [[Hansa Tonstudio|Hansa Studios]] in West Berlin from October to November.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|p=43}} According to author Hugo Wilcken, it was the first song Bowie wrote at the Château with Eno in mind.{{sfn|Wilcken|2005|p=86}} The recording process for the song, and the rest of its parent album, was different than Bowie's previous albums. The backing tracks were recorded first, followed by overdubs, with lyrics and vocals written and recorded last. Used when recording [[Iggy Pop]]'s ''[[The Idiot (album)|The Idiot]]'' earlier that year,{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|p=102}} Bowie heavily favoured this "three-phase" process, which he would use for the rest of his career.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=386–387}}
Like its parent album ''[[Low (David Bowie album)|Low]]'', "Sound and Vision" was co-produced by [[David Bowie]] and [[Tony Visconti]], with contributions from multi-instrumentalist [[Brian Eno]].{{sfn|Perone|2007|pp=57–58}} The backing tracks were recorded at the [[Château d'Hérouville]] in [[Hérouville-en-Vexin|Hérouville]], France, in September 1976, and Bowie's vocals and other [[Overdubbing|overdubs]] were recorded at [[Hansa Tonstudio|Hansa Studios]] in [[West Berlin]] in October and November.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|p=43}} It was the first song Bowie wrote at the Château with Eno in mind.{{sfn|Wilcken|2005|p=86}} The recording process for the song, and the rest of the album, differed from Bowie's previous work. The backing tracks were recorded first, followed by overdubs, and the lyrics and vocals were written and recorded last. Used during the recording of [[Iggy Pop]]'s ''[[The Idiot (album)|The Idiot]]'' earlier that year,{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|p=102}} Bowie heavily favoured this "three-phase" process, which he would use for the rest of his career.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=386–387}}

According to biographer Chris O'Leary, the song began as a simple [[Descending fifths sequence|descending-by-fifths]] [[G major]] progression, which Bowie gave to the band, further suggesting [[Melody|melodies]], a baseline and drum ideas. Drummer [[Dennis Davis]] thought it sounded "like a Crusaders tune", while bassist [[George Murray (musician)|George Murray]] felt it was reminiscent of [[Bo Diddley]]. As with most of the tracks of the album, the band went with the basic idea and finished the backing track in a few takes.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|pp=43–44}} Like the rest of its parent album, the drums on "Sound and Vision" were treated through the use of Visconti's [[Eventide, Inc#H910 Harmonizer|Eventide H910 Harmonizer]].{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=264–265}} When asked by Bowie about what it did, Visconti replied, "it fucks with the fabric of time."{{sfn|Doggett|2012|p=307}} Throughout the album, the sound is particularly evident on "[[Speed of Life (David Bowie song)|Speed of Life]]", "[[Breaking Glass (song)|Breaking Glass]]" and "Sound and Vision", later described by biographer David Buckley as "revolutionary" and "stunning".{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=264–265}} The song was mostly completed without Eno, who arrived late in the sessions, after all of the backing tracks for side one were "essentially" finished.{{sfn|Trynka|2011|p=316}}


[[File:Mary Hopkin, Bestanddeelnr 923-3712.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|alt=A black and white photo of a young blonde-haired woman holding a microphone and singing|"Sound and Vision" contains backing vocals from Visconti's then-wife [[Mary Hopkin]] ''(pictured in 1970)''.]]
[[File:Mary Hopkin, Bestanddeelnr 923-3712.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|alt=A black and white photo of a young blonde-haired woman holding a microphone and singing|"Sound and Vision" contains backing vocals from Visconti's then-wife [[Mary Hopkin]] ''(pictured in 1970)''.]]
According to biographer Chris O'Leary, the song began as a simple [[Descending fifths sequence|descending-by-fifths]] G major progression that Bowie gave to the band, suggesting further [[Melody|melodies]], a baseline and drum ideas. Drummer [[Dennis Davis]] thought it sounded "like a [[The Crusaders (jazz fusion group)|Crusaders]] tune", while bassist [[George Murray (musician)|George Murray]] found it reminiscent of [[Bo Diddley]]. As with most of the tracks on the album, the band went with the basic idea and finished the backing track in a few takes.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|pp=43–44}} The song was largely completed without Eno, who arrived late in the sessions after all the backing tracks for side one were almost finished.{{sfn|Trynka|2011|p=316}} The drums on "Sound and Vision" were treated through the use of an [[Eventide, Inc#H910 Harmonizer|Eventide H910 Harmonizer]],{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=264–265}} used at Visconti's insistence.{{sfn|Doggett|2012|p=307}} The sound, described by biographer David Buckley as "revolutionary" and "stunning", is particularly evident on the album tracks "[[Speed of Life (David Bowie song)|Speed of Life]]" and "[[Breaking Glass (song)|Breaking Glass]]", as well as "Sound and Vision".{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=264–265}}
The song contains backing vocals from singer [[Mary Hopkin]], Visconti's then-wife; she was credited as Mary Visconti.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=384}} Hopkin was visiting the Château with her children when she was asked to contribute. She recorded her vocals before any lyric or melody were written. She recalled in 2011:{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=253–254}}


Visconti's wife, singer [[Mary Hopkin]], contributed the song's backing vocals; she was credited as Mary Visconti.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=384}} Hopkin was visiting the Château with her children when Eno asked her to sing. She recorded her vocals before any lyrics or melody were written, recalling in 2011:{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=253–254}}
{{blockquote|"One evening, Brian called me into the studio to sing a quick backing vocal with him on 'Sound And Vision'. We sang his cute little 'doo doo' riff in unison. It was meant to be a distant echo but, when David heard it, he pushed up the fader until it became a prominent vocal – much to my embarrassment, as I thought it very twee. I love the song and I'm a great admirer of David's work."}}

{{blockquote|One evening, Brian called me into the studio to sing a quick backing vocal with him on 'Sound and Vision'. We sang his cute little 'doo doo' riff in unison. It was meant to be a distant echo but, when David heard it, he pushed up the fader until it became a prominent vocal – much to my embarrassment, as I thought it very [[Twee pop#Characteristics|twee]]. I love the song and I'm a great admirer of David's work.}}


==Composition==
==Composition==
{{quote box|quote=["Sound and Vision" is] a very sad song for me{{nbsp}}... I was trying very hard to drag myself out of an awful period of my life. I was locked in a room in Berlin telling myself I was going to straighten up and not do drugs anymore. I was never going to drink again. Only some of it proved to be the case. It was the first time I knew I was killing myself and time to do something about my physical condition."{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=253–254}}|source= – David Bowie, 2003|width=20%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}
{{quote box|quote=["Sound and Vision" is] a very sad song for me{{nbsp}}... I was trying very hard to drag myself out of an awful period of my life. I was locked in a room in Berlin telling myself I was going to straighten up and not do drugs anymore. I was never going to drink again. Only some of it proved to be the case. It was the first time I knew I was killing myself and time to do something about my physical condition.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=253–254}}|source= – David Bowie, 2003|width=25%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}
Like the majority of the tracks on ''Low''{{'}}s first side,<ref name="Erlewine AllMusic">{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/low-mw0000185800|title=''Low'' – David Bowie|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=29 September 2020|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6JDtXvDOQ?url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/low-mw0000185800|archive-date=29 August 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> "Sound and Vision" is classified by [[AllMusic]]'s Dave Thompson as a "song fragment".<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|last=Thompson|first=Dave|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/sound-and-vision-mt0001812448|title="Sound and Vision" – David Bowie|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125173010/https://www.allmusic.com/song/sound-and-vision-mt0001812448|archive-date=25 January 2021}}</ref> Structurally, it starts as an instrumental, running for 46 seconds before backings vocals [[Crooner|croon]] a two-note descent. At 1:14, Eno and Hopkin sing their vocal line, which echoes the main guitar line, followed by a darker saxophone part played by Bowie.{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=310–311}}{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|pp=122–124}} Bowie's vocals take a full one minute and 45 seconds to appear,{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=265–266}} which was done at Eno's insistence to "confound listener expectations".{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|pp=43–44}} O'Leary finds that throughout its runtime, the song assembles itself: "rhythm section, then "strings" (ARP Solina), then backing vocals, then brass, until its composer appears, as if called to the stage to take a bow."{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|pp=43–44}}
Like the majority of the tracks on the first side of ''Low'',<ref name="Erlewine AllMusic">{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/low-mw0000185800|title=''Low'' – David Bowie|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=29 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902075428/http://www.allmusic.com/album/low-mw0000185800|archive-date=2 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> "Sound and Vision" is classified as a "song fragment".<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|last=Thompson|first=Dave|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/sound-and-vision-mt0001812448|title='Sound and Vision' – David Bowie|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125173010/https://www.allmusic.com/song/sound-and-vision-mt0001812448|archive-date=25 January 2021}}</ref> Structurally, it starts as an instrumental, running for 46 seconds before backing vocals [[Crooner|croon]] two descending notes. At 1:14, Eno and Hopkin sing their vocal line, which echoes the main guitar line, followed by a darker saxophone part played by Bowie.{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|pp=122–124}}{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=310–311}} Bowie's vocals take a full 1 minute and 30 seconds to appear, which was done at Eno's insistence to "confound listener expectations".{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|pp=43–44}} Different elements build throughout the song's runtime: the beginning only contains the rhythm section, which is followed by a mock-string section created using an [[ARP Instruments|ARP Solina]] synthesiser, then backing vocals, brass and finally Bowie's vocal.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|pp=43–44}}


Described by Bowie as his "ultimate retreat song",{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|pp=43–44}} the lyrics for "Sound and Vision" reflect his mental state following his long period of drug addiction.{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=310–311}} They offer introspection: Bowie draws the blinds, has the world shut away, and is sitting in an empty room, "waiting for the gift of sound and vision."{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=253}}{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|p=113}} Bowie further commented: "It was just the idea of getting out of America, that depressing era I was going through.{{nbsp}}... It was wanting to be put in a little cold room with omnipotent blue on the walls and blinds on the windows."{{sfn|Wilcken|2005|p=87}} Wilcken calls "Sound and Vision" the centrepiece of side one. It continues the lyrical themes of "Breaking Glass" and "[[What in the World]]", in that "after failing to connect with female others", the lyrics focus on the self and by "drifting into my solitude", sets the stage for the wordless introspection of side two.{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|pp=122–124}}{{sfn|Wilcken|2005|pp=87–88}} Biographer [[Nicholas Pegg]] and author [[Peter Doggett]] make comparisons to Bowie's 1971 song "[[Quicksand (David Bowie song)|Quicksand]]", with the latter writing: "Like "Quicksand", "Sound and Vision" was Bowie's admission that his creative inspiration had disappeared: cunningly, he used a confession of artistic bankruptcy to spark his muse back to life."{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=310–311}} According to Visconti, there were originally more verses, but they were removed during the mixing stage.{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=266}}
Described by Bowie as his "ultimate retreat song",{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|pp=43–44}} the lyrics for "Sound and Vision" offer introspection, reflecting his mental state following a long period of drug addiction.{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=310–311}} The song's narrator sits in an empty room and draws the blinds. As he has the world shut away, he waits "for the gift of sound and vision".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=253}}{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|p=113}} Bowie further commented: "It was just the idea of getting out of America, that depressing era I was going through.{{nbsp}}... It was wanting to be put in a little cold room with omnipotent blue on the walls and blinds on the windows."{{sfn|Wilcken|2005|p=87}} Wilcken calls "Sound and Vision" the centrepiece of side one. It continues the lyrical themes of "Breaking Glass" and "[[What in the World]]", in that "after failing to connect with female others", the narrator focuses on the self and by "drifting into my solitude", sets the stage for the wordless introspection of side two.{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|pp=122–124}}{{sfn|Wilcken|2005|pp=87–88}} Biographer [[Nicholas Pegg]] and author [[Peter Doggett]] make comparisons to Bowie's 1971 song "[[Quicksand (David Bowie song)|Quicksand]]". Doggett writes: "Like 'Quicksand', 'Sound and Vision' was Bowie's admission that his creative inspiration had disappeared: cunningly, he used a confession of artistic bankruptcy to spark his muse back to life."{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=310–311}} According to Visconti, there were originally more verses, but these were removed during the [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]] stage.{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=266}}


{{Listen
The lyrics provide a stark contrast to the music itself, which is more joyous and upbeat.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|pp=43–44}} Author Thomas Jerome Seabrook writes that Bowie's "low, reflective [vocal is] at odds with the upbeat, almost parodic sensibilities of the music that surrounds it."{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|pp=122–124}} Almost every instrument playing on the song sounds processed. The drums are described by O'Leary as "sounding like a radiator coming to life",{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|pp=43–44}} and by Seabrook as "whip-like".{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|pp=122–124}} The bass is "heavily compressed", the piano is given a "phasing" effect, the "strings" are flooded in "delay and sustain", while Seabrook further believes the saxophone sounds as if it was treated by Visconti's Harmonizer.{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|pp=122–124}} Throughout the song, a [[sizzle cymbal]] appears on the third beat of almost every [[Bar (music)|bar]] and two guitars are panned to different channels, with the main guitar line appearing in the left, and a "mock-[[reggae]] rhythm" appearing in the right.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|pp=43–44}}{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=310–311}}
|filename=David Bowie Sound and Vision.ogg
|title=Sample from "Sound and Vision"
|description=As well as illustrating the album's unique drum sound, this sample showcases "Sound and Vision"'s contrasting musical and lyrical qualities. While the music is more joyous and upbeat, the lyrics are more downbeat, reflecting Bowie's mental state at the time.
|pos=left}}
The lyrics provide a stark contrast to the music itself, which is more joyous.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|pp=43–44}} Author Thomas Jerome Seabrook writes that Bowie's "low, reflective [vocal is] at odds with the upbeat, almost parodic sensibilities of the music that surrounds it".{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|pp=122–124}} The song is in the [[Key (music)|key]] of [[G major]]. James Perone describes its [[chord progression]] as "I (G major), ii ([[A minor]]), V ([[D major]]), I (G major)". He notes that this progression evokes [[classical music]] with a [[Harmonic series (music)|harmonic]] quality.{{sfn|Perone|2007|p=59}} Almost every instrument playing on the song sounds processed. O'Leary compares the drums to the sound of a [[radiator]] turning on;{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|pp=43–44}} Seabrook finds it similar to a [[whip]].{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|pp=122–124}} The bass is distorted while the piano and mock-string section are engulfed with studio effects; Seabrook further believes the saxophone sounds as if it was treated by Visconti's Harmonizer.{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|pp=122–124}} Throughout the song, a [[sizzle cymbal]] appears on the third beat of almost every [[Bar (music)|bar]] and two guitars are panned to different channels, the main guitar line appearing in the left, and a "mock-[[reggae]] rhythm" appearing in the right.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|pp=43–44}}{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=310–311}}


Bowie's biographers consider "Sound and Vision" the closest to a conventional pop song on ''Low''.{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|pp=122–124}}{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=265–266}} Wilcken writes that the track's instrumentation and backing vocals combine to create a "sonic effect" that equals that of a "pop song with quotation marks, not quite sure whether it's a part of the genre or referencing it".{{sfn|Wilcken|2005|p=87}} Michael Gallucci of ''[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]'' finds that there's a sense of "pop minimalism" on "Sound and Vision" and "[[Be My Wife]]" that showed Bowie entering a new phase of his career.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gallucci|first=Michael|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-low/|title=40 Years Ago: David Bowie Cleans Up and Branches Out on 'Low'|website=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]|date=14 January 2017|access-date=29 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629043034/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-low/|archive-date=29 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In ''[[ZigZag (magazine)|ZigZag]]'' magazine, [[Kris Needs]] described the song's beat as "bouncy, futuristic disco".<ref name="Needs ZigZag">{{cite magazine |last=Needs |first=Kris |author-link=Kris Needs |title=David Bowie: ''Low'' |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/david-bowie-ilowi |magazine=[[ZigZag (magazine)|ZigZag]] |date=February 1977 |access-date=18 March 2021 |via=Rock's Backpages {{subscription required}} |archive-date=6 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906101031/http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/david-bowie-ilowi |url-status=live }}</ref> Doggett similarly calls it a "consummate pop record, as tightly produced as any disco classic of the era."{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=310–311}}
Bowie's biographers consider "Sound and Vision" the closest to a "conventional pop song" on ''Low''.{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|pp=122–124}}{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=265–266}} Wilcken writes that the track's instrumentation and backing vocals combine to create a "sonic effect" that equals that of a "pop song with quotation marks, not quite sure whether it's a part of the genre or referencing it".{{sfn|Wilcken|2005|p=87}} Perone finds the song a "hybrid of [[Soul music|soul]] and pop", continuing musical and lyrical themes of Bowie's 1975 album ''[[Young Americans]]''.{{sfn|Perone|2007|p=59}} Michael Gallucci of ''[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]'' describes a sense of "pop minimalism" on "Sound and Vision" and "[[Be My Wife]]" that showed Bowie entering a new phase of his career.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gallucci|first=Michael|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-low/|title=40 Years Ago: David Bowie Cleans Up and Branches Out on 'Low'|website=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]|date=14 January 2017|access-date=29 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629043034/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-low/|archive-date=29 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> He further considered the song the best example of its parent album's embracement of the old and new, calling it "a traditional [[Rock music|rock]] song at its core wrapped in [[krautrock]] and [[Electronic music|electronic]] textures".<ref name="UCR">{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-best-songs/|title=The Best Song From Every David Bowie Album|last=Gallucci|first=Michael|date=16 January 2019|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|access-date=20 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629153057/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-best-songs/|archive-date=29 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In ''[[ZigZag (magazine)|ZigZag]]'' magazine, [[Kris Needs]] described the song's beat as "bouncy, futuristic [[disco]]".<ref name="Needs ZigZag">{{cite magazine |last=Needs |first=Kris |author-link=Kris Needs |title=David Bowie: ''Low'' |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/david-bowie-ilowi |magazine=[[ZigZag (magazine)|ZigZag]] |date=February 1977 |access-date=18 March 2021 |via=Rock's Backpages {{subscription required}} |archive-date=6 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906101031/http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/david-bowie-ilowi |url-status=live }}</ref> Doggett calls it a "consummate pop record, as tightly produced as any disco classic of the era".{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=310–311}}


==Release==
==Release==
When Bowie presented his 11th studio album ''Low'' to RCA Records, it shocked the label.{{sfn|Spitz|2009|p=282}} Originally slated for release in November 1976, the label delayed the album's release until January 1977, fearing poor commercial performance.{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|p=116}}<ref name="nrc">{{cite web|last=Ives|first=Brian|url=http://news.radio.com/2017/02/20/david-bowie-90s-era/|title=David Bowie: A Look Back at His '90s Era – When He Got Weird Again|publisher=[[Radio.com]]|date=20 February 2017|access-date=27 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328102454/http://news.radio.com/2017/02/20/david-bowie-90s-era/|archive-date=28 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite having no promotion from Bowie nor RCA, ''Low'' was a commercial success, peaking at number 2 on the [[UK Albums Chart]] and number 11 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart.{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=272}} On ''Low'', "Sound and Vision" was sequenced as the fourth track on side one, between "What in the World" and "[[Always Crashing in the Same Car]]".<ref name="Erlewine AllMusic" />
When Bowie presented his 11th studio album ''Low'' to [[RCA Records]], the label were shocked.{{sfn|Spitz|2009|p=282}} The album was originally slated for release in November 1976, but RCA delayed it until January 1977, fearing poor commercial performance.<ref name="nrc">{{cite web|last=Ives|first=Brian|date=20 February 2017|title=David Bowie: A Look Back at His '90s Era – When He Got Weird Again|url=http://news.radio.com/2017/02/20/david-bowie-90s-era/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328102454/http://news.radio.com/2017/02/20/david-bowie-90s-era/|archive-date=28 March 2018|access-date=27 March 2018|publisher=[[Radio.com]]}}</ref>{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|p=116}} Despite receiving no promotion from Bowie or his label, ''Low'' was a commercial success, peaking at number 2 on the [[UK Albums Chart]] and number 11 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' Top LPs & Tape]] chart.{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=272}} "Sound and Vision" was sequenced as the fourth track on side one, between "What in the World" and "[[Always Crashing in the Same Car]]".<ref name="Erlewine AllMusic" />


At the time of release, one reviewer felt that none of the tracks were "single material",<ref name="Lott Sounds" /> while another felt "Sound and Vision" was the "obvious" choice.<ref name="Scoppa PR">{{cite magazine |last1=Scoppa |first1=Bud |title=David Bowie: ''Low'' |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/david-bowie-ilowi-rca-pl-k12030 |magazine=[[Phonograph Record (magazine)|Phonograph Record]] |date=February 1977 |access-date=19 March 2021 |via=Rock's Backpages {{subscription required}} |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118042251/https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/david-bowie-ilowi-rca-pl-k12030 |url-status=live }}</ref> Nevertheless, RCA selected "Sound and Vision" as the first single from the album, releasing it on 11 February 1977, with the catalogue number PB 0905 and the instrumental "A New Career in a New Town" as the B-side.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|p=651}} The single was used by the [[BBC]] for television trailers at the time. Because Bowie chose not to promote the single, this provided considerable exposure, and helped the song to number 3,<ref name="UKchart" /> his highest charting new single in the UK since "[[Sorrow (The McCoys song)|Sorrow]]" in 1973.{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=272}}{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=253}} The song was also a top ten hit in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. However, it stalled at number 87 in Canada<ref name="Canada">{{cite web |url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5288b&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5288b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5288b |title=Image : RPM Weekly – Library and Archives Canada |website=Bac-lac.gc.ca |date=17 July 2013 |access-date=12 October 2016 |archive-date=9 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009032447/http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5288b&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5288b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5288b |url-status=live }}</ref> and only managed to peak at number 69 in the US, where it signaled Bowie's commercial downturn until "[[Let's Dance (David Bowie song)|Let's Dance]]" in 1983.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}} The single's success in the UK confused RCA executives. Bowie intimidated the label, persuading them to release Iggy Pop's ''The Idiot'', which saw release in March 1977.{{sfn|Trynka|2011|p=324}}
At the time of release, Tim Lott of ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]'' magazine felt that none of the tracks were "[[Single (music)|single]] material".<ref name="Lott Sounds" /> Bud Scoppa of ''[[Phonograph Record (magazine)|Phonograph Record]]'' magazine considered "Sound and Vision" the "obvious" choice.<ref name="Scoppa PR">{{cite magazine |last1=Scoppa |first1=Bud |title=David Bowie: ''Low'' |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/david-bowie-ilowi-rca-pl-k12030 |magazine=[[Phonograph Record (magazine)|Phonograph Record]] |date=February 1977 |access-date=19 March 2021 |via=Rock's Backpages {{subscription required}} |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118042251/https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/david-bowie-ilowi-rca-pl-k12030 |url-status=live }}</ref> RCA selected "Sound and Vision" as the first single from the album, releasing it on 11 February 1977, with the catalogue number PB 0905 and the instrumental "[[A New Career in a New Town]]" as the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]].{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|loc=Partial Discography}} A 12" promotional single was also released in the US the same year, featuring a seven-minute remix of "Sound and Vision" segueing into Iggy Pop's "Sister Midnight".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}}


The single was used by the [[BBC]] for television trailers at the time. This provided considerable exposure, and helped the song peak at number three on the [[UK Singles Chart]],<ref name="UKchart" /> becoming Bowie's highest-charting new single in the UK since "[[Sorrow (The McCoys song)|Sorrow]]" in 1973.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=253}}{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=272}} The single's success in the UK confused RCA executives, and allowed Bowie to persuade them to release Iggy Pop's ''The Idiot'', which they did in March 1977.{{sfn|Trynka|2011|p=324}} The song was also a top 10 hit in Belgium [[Flanders]], West Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand,<ref name="BelgiumFlanderschart" /><ref name="WestGermanchart" /><ref name="Dutchchart" /><ref name="NZchart" /> and a top 20 hit in Austria and Belgium [[Wallonia]].<ref name="Austrianchart" /><ref name="BelgiumWalloniachart" /> It stalled at number 74 in Australia,<ref name="Australia" /> number 87 on Canada's ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Singles chart<ref name="Canada" /> and only peaked at number 69 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in the US,<ref name="USchart" /> signalling Bowie's commercial downturn until "[[Let's Dance (David Bowie song)|Let's Dance]]" in 1983.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}} In 2021, the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI) certified the song silver for sales and streams exceeding 200,000 units in the UK.<ref name="bpi"/>
A 12" promotional single was also released in the US in 1977. It featured a seven-minute remix of "Sound and Vision" segueing into Iggy Pop's "Sister Midnight".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}}


==Critical reception==
==Reception==
In a review for ''Low'' on release, Tim Lott of ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]'' magazine described "Sound and Vision" as the "pinnacle" of the album. Calling it "metallic beauty", he praised Bowie's vocal performance, stating: "His singing, as always, is more mechanical than melodic, but in context, the perfect foil for the harsh guitar and sliding synthesiser."<ref name="Lott Sounds">{{cite magazine |last1=Lott |first1=Tim |title=Innovation to Innovation David Bowie: ''Low'' (RCA Records RS 1108) ***** |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/innovation-to-innovation--david-bowie-ilowi-rca-records-rs-1108- |magazine=[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]] |date=15 January 1977 |access-date=2 March 2021 |via=Rock's Backpages {{subscription required}} |archive-date=3 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210403201632/https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/innovation-to-innovation--david-bowie-ilowi-rca-records-rs-1108- |url-status=live }}</ref> Doggett calls "Sound and Vision" "arguably one of the most important songs [Bowie] had ever written," because the song allowed Bowie to reconnect with himself after a long period of drug addiction.{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=310–311}} Pegg similarly calls it "one of his most distinctive and brilliant recordings."{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=253}} ''NME'' ranked the song the 29th best song of the year in 1977.<ref>{{cite web |title=NME's best albums and tracks of 1977 |url=https://www.nme.com/features/1977-2-1045409 |website=NME |access-date=22 April 2021 |date=10 October 2016 |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422201128/https://www.nme.com/features/1977-2-1045409 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On release, Lott reviewed ''Low'' and described "Sound and Vision" as the centrepiece of the album. Calling it "metallic beauty", he praised Bowie's vocal performance, stating: "His singing, as always, is more mechanical than melodic, but in context, the perfect foil for the harsh guitar and sliding synthesiser."<ref name="Lott Sounds">{{cite magazine |last1=Lott |first1=Tim |title=Innovation to Innovation David Bowie: ''Low'' (RCA Records RS 1108) ***** |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/innovation-to-innovation--david-bowie-ilowi-rca-records-rs-1108- |magazine=[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]] |date=15 January 1977 |access-date=2 March 2021 |via=Rock's Backpages {{subscription required}} |archive-date=3 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210403201632/https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/innovation-to-innovation--david-bowie-ilowi-rca-records-rs-1108- |url-status=live }}</ref> Doggett calls "Sound and Vision" "arguably one of the most important songs [Bowie] had ever written," because the song allowed Bowie to reconnect with himself after a long period of drug addiction.{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=310–311}} Pegg regards it as "one of his most distinctive and brilliant recordings".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=253}} ''[[NME]]'' ranked it the 29th best song of the year in 1977.<ref>{{cite web |title=NME's best albums and tracks of 1977 |author=Staff |url=https://www.nme.com/features/1977-2-1045409 |website=[[NME]] |access-date=22 April 2021 |date=10 October 2016 |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422201128/https://www.nme.com/features/1977-2-1045409 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Following [[Death of David Bowie|Bowie's death]] in 2016, "Sound and Vision" has been ranked one of Bowie's best songs by numerous publications. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' writers later ranked "Sound and Vision" as one of Bowie's 30 essential songs, writing that although ''Low'' garnered mixed reception on release, releasing "Sound and Vision" as the lead single was "genius" due to the song's "clever bait-and-switch".<ref name="RS Essentials">{{cite web |title=David Bowie: 30 Essential Songs: "Sound and Vision" |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/david-bowie-best-songs-33438/sound-and-vision-1977-149441/ |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=15 April 2021 |date=8 January 2020 |archive-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415024406/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/david-bowie-best-songs-33438/sound-and-vision-1977-149441/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, readers of ''[[NME]]'' voted "Sound and Vision" Bowie's 19th best song,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Sarah |title=20 best David Bowie tracks – as voted by you |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/20-best-david-bowie-tracks-as-voted-by-you-1436856 |website=[[NME]] |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030194230/https://www.nme.com/photos/20-best-david-bowie-tracks-as-voted-by-you-1436856 |archive-date=30 October 2020 |date=8 January 2018}}</ref> while staff-writer Emily Barker voted it Bowie's second best song, behind "[["Heroes" (David Bowie song)|{{-'}}Heroes{{'-}}]]".<ref name="Barker NME">{{cite web |last1=Barker |first1=Emily |title=David Bowie's 40 greatest songs – as decided by NME and friends |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/david-bowie-s-40-greatest-songs-as-decided-by-nme-and-friends-1418012 |website=NME |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125152234/https://www.nme.com/photos/david-bowie-s-40-greatest-songs-as-decided-by-nme-and-friends-1418012 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |date=8 January 2018}}</ref> In 2020, Tom Eames of [[Smooth Radio (2014)|Smooth Radio]] ranked it Bowie's tenth best song,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eames |first1=Tom |title=David Bowie's 20 greatest ever songs, ranked |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/david-bowie/best-songs-ranked/ |publisher=[[Smooth Radio (2014)|Smooth Radio]] |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122191214/https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/david-bowie/best-songs-ranked/ |archive-date=22 January 2021 |location=London |date=26 June 2020}}</ref> while [[Alexis Petridis]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' considered "Sound and Vision" to be Bowie's greatest song, calling it "both a fantastic pop song and an act of artistic daring." Petridis states that with the contrasting quality of the music and lyrics, Bowie created a song that "transcends time". He concludes his review writing: "Completely original, nothing about its sound tethers it to the mid-70s. Its magic seems to sum Bowie up."<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web |last1=Petridis |first1=Alexis |author1-link=Alexis Petridis |title=David Bowie's 50 greatest songs ranked! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/mar/19/david-bowie-50-greatest-songs-ranked |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316053304/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/mar/19/david-bowie-50-greatest-songs-ranked |archive-date=16 March 2021 |location=UK |date=19 March 2020}}</ref> In 2021, writers of ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' voted "Sound and Vision" as Bowie's 12th greatest song, writing: "A punch of a song at the start of ''Low'', it showed Bowie entering a new, dispassionate style which would divide his listeners but, with its liberal use of synthesisers, also cement his status as a trailblazer of the electronica."<ref>{{cite news |author1=Staff |title=David Bowie's 20 greatest songs |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/david-bowies-20-greatest-songs/ |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |publisher=[[Telegraph Media Group]] |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203131725/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/david-bowies-20-greatest-songs/ |archive-date=3 February 2021 |location=London |date=10 January 2021}}</ref>
"Sound and Vision" has been ranked one of Bowie's best songs by several publications. Following [[Death of David Bowie|Bowie's death]] in 2016, the writers at ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked "Sound and Vision" one of Bowie's 30 essential songs, noting that although ''Low'' garnered mixed reception on release, releasing "Sound and Vision" as the lead single was "genius" owing to the song's "clever bait-and-switch".<ref name="RS Essentials">{{cite magazine |last1=Edwards |first1=Gavin |last2=Weingarten |first2=Christopher |last3=Spanos |first3=Brittany |last4=Newman |first4=Jason |last5=Vozick-Levinson |first5=Simon |last6=Johnston |first6=Maura |author6-link=Maura Johnston |last7=Doyle |first7=Patrick |last8=Sterling |first8=Scott |last9=Greene |first9=Andy |last10=Sheffield |first10=Rob |author-link10=Rob Sheffield |title=David Bowie: 30 Essential Songs: "Sound and Vision" |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/david-bowie-best-songs-33438/sound-and-vision-1977-149441/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=15 April 2021 |date=8 January 2020 |archive-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415024406/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/david-bowie-best-songs-33438/sound-and-vision-1977-149441/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The same year, in a list ranking every Bowie single from worst to best, ''Ultimate Classic Rock'' placed "Sound and Vision" at number nine.<ref name="UCR single list">{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Every David Bowie Single Ranked |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-singles-ranked/ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=14 January 2016 |archive-date=24 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724234336/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-singles-ranked/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In lists of Bowie's best songs by ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'', [[Smooth Radio (2014)|Smooth Radio]] and ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'', the song was voted numbers 22, 10 and 15, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |last=Phillips |first=Lior |title=David Bowie's Top 70 Songs |url=https://consequence.net/2017/01/david-bowies-top-70-songs/ |website=[[Consequence of Sound]] |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=8 January 2017 |archive-date=20 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920212659/https://consequence.net/2017/01/david-bowies-top-70-songs/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Eames |first1=Tom |title=David Bowie's 20 greatest songs, ranked |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/david-bowie/best-songs-ranked/ |publisher=[[Smooth Radio (2014)|Smooth Radio]] |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122191214/https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/david-bowie/best-songs-ranked/ |archive-date=22 January 2021 |date=26 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="Uncut">{{cite journal |author=Staff |title=David Bowie's 30 best songs |journal=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |orig-date=March 2008 |date=19 February 2015 |issue=133 |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/david-bowies-30-best-songs-66458/ |access-date=26 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422035230/https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/david-bowies-30-best-songs-66458/ |archive-date=22 April 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, readers of ''NME'' voted "Sound and Vision" Bowie's 19th best song,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Sarah |title=20 best David Bowie tracks as voted by you |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/20-best-david-bowie-tracks-as-voted-by-you-1436856 |website=NME |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030194230/https://www.nme.com/photos/20-best-david-bowie-tracks-as-voted-by-you-1436856 |archive-date=30 October 2020 |date=8 January 2018}}</ref> while staff-writer Emily Barker voted it Bowie's second best song, behind "[["Heroes" (David Bowie song)|{{-'}}Heroes{{'-}}]]".<ref name="Barker NME">{{cite web |last1=Barker |first1=Emily |title=David Bowie's 40 greatest songs – as decided by NME and friends |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/david-bowie-s-40-greatest-songs-as-decided-by-nme-and-friends-1418012 |website=NME |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125152234/https://www.nme.com/photos/david-bowie-s-40-greatest-songs-as-decided-by-nme-and-friends-1418012 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |date=8 January 2018}}</ref> ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' magazine ranked it number four in 2015, behind "[[Life on Mars (song)|Life on Mars?]]", "{{-'}}Heroes{{'-}}" and "[[Starman (song)|Starman]]".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Irvin|first=Jim|title=David Bowie – The 100 Greatest Songs|journal=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|date=February 2015|issue=255|pages=81–82}}</ref>

In 2020, [[Alexis Petridis]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' called "Sound and Vision" Bowie's greatest song, finding it "both a fantastic pop song and an act of artistic daring" and a track that "transcends time"; he concluded that it was: "Completely original, nothing about its sound tethers it to the mid-70s. Its magic seems to sum Bowie up."<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web |last1=Petridis |first1=Alexis |author1-link=Alexis Petridis |title=David Bowie's 50 greatest songs – ranked! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/mar/19/david-bowie-50-greatest-songs-ranked |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316053304/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/mar/19/david-bowie-50-greatest-songs-ranked |archive-date=16 March 2021 |date=19 March 2020}}</ref> A year later, writers of ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' voted it Bowie's 12th greatest song, writing: "A punch of a song at the start of ''Low'', it showed Bowie entering a new, dispassionate style which would divide his listeners but, with its liberal use of synthesisers, also cement his status as a trailblazer of the [[electronica]]."<ref>{{cite news |author1=Staff |title=David Bowie's 20 greatest songs |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/david-bowies-20-greatest-songs/ |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203131725/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/david-bowies-20-greatest-songs/ |archive-date=3 February 2021 |date=10 January 2021}}</ref> ''[[Far Out (magazine)|Far Out]]'' placed it at number nine in a 2022 list.<ref name="FarOut">{{cite web |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/david-bowie-50-greatest-songs-of-all-time-playlist/ |title=David Bowie's 50 greatest songs of all time |first1=Jack |last1=Whatley |first2=Tom |last2=Taylor |work=[[Far Out (magazine)|Far Out]] |date=8 January 2022 |access-date=27 April 2022 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226102919/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/david-bowie-50-greatest-songs-of-all-time-playlist/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Live versions and subsequent releases==
==Live versions and subsequent releases==
"Sound and Vision" was only performed once during the 1978 [[Isolar II – The 1978 World Tour|Isolar II Tour]], at [[Earl's Court Exhibition Centre|Earl's Court]] in London, on 1 July 1978.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}} According to Seabrook, this was because Bowie struggled to sing it, similar to "[[Golden Years (song)|Golden Years]]".{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|p=124}} This performance was included on ''[[Rarestonebowie]]'' (1995){{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}} and was given its first authorised release on ''[[Welcome to the Blackout (Live London '78)]]'' (2018).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |author-link1=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=''Welcome to the Blackout (Live London '78)'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/welcome-to-the-blackout-live-london-78-mw0003173016 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=12 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117143206/https://www.allmusic.com/album/welcome-to-the-blackout-live-london-78-mw0003173016 |archive-date=17 November 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Bowie also performed the song during the [[Sound+Vision Tour|Sound+Vision]] (1990), [[Heathen Tour|Heathen]] (2002), and [[A Reality Tour|A Reality]] (2003) tours.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}}
"Sound and Vision" was only performed once during the 1978 [[Isolar II – The 1978 World Tour|Isolar II world tour]], at [[Earls Court Exhibition Centre|Earl's Court]] in London, on 1&nbsp;July 1978.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}} According to Seabrook, this was because Bowie struggled to sing it, a problem he also had with "[[Golden Years (David Bowie song)|Golden Years]]".{{sfn|Seabrook|2008|p=124}} This performance was included on ''[[Rarestonebowie]]'' (1995), a compilation compiled by Bowie's former music publisher [[MainMan]],{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=504}} and decades later on the live album ''[[Welcome to the Blackout (Live London '78)]]'' (2018).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |title=''Welcome to the Blackout (Live London '78)'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/welcome-to-the-blackout-live-london-78-mw0003173016 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=12 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117143206/https://www.allmusic.com/album/welcome-to-the-blackout-live-london-78-mw0003173016 |archive-date=17 November 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Bowie also performed the song during the [[Sound+Vision Tour|Sound+Vision]] (1990), [[Heathen Tour|Heathen]] (2002), and [[A Reality Tour|A Reality]] (2003) tours,{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}} and was also performed on [[A&E (TV network)|A&E's]] ''[[Live by Request]]'' on 15&nbsp;June 2002.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|p=43}}
It was also performed on [[A&E (TV network)|A&E's]] ''[[Live by Request]]'' on 15 June 2002.{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|p=43}}


The song has since appeared on numerous compilations, including ''[[Best of Bowie (1980 version)|The Best of Bowie]]'' (1980), ''[[Changestwobowie]]'' (1981),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Dave |title=''Changestwobowie'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/changestwobowie-mw0000836700 |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230215628/https://www.allmusic.com/album/changestwobowie-mw0000836700 |archive-date=30 December 2019}}</ref> ''[[Sound + Vision (box set)|Sound + Vision]]'' box set (1989),<ref>{{cite web |title=Sound + Vision boxset repack press release |url=https://www.davidbowie.com/2014/2014/07/27/sound-vision-boxset-repack-press-release |website=David Bowie Official Website |access-date=29 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429231936/https://www.davidbowie.com/2014/2014/07/27/sound-vision-boxset-repack-press-release |archive-date=29 April 2021 |date=26 July 2014}}</ref> ''[[Changesbowie]]'' (EMI LP and cassette versions) (1990), ''[[The Singles Collection (David Bowie album)|The Singles Collection]]'' (1993), ''[[The Singles Collection (David Bowie album)|Bowie: The Singles 1969–1993]]'' (1993),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |title=''The Singles: 1969–1993'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-singles-1969-1993-mw0000526484 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501155129/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-singles-1969-1993-mw0000526484 |archive-date=1 May 2021}}</ref> ''[[The Best of David Bowie 1974/1979]]'' (1998),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |title=''The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-david-bowie-1969-1974-mw0000600345 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=15 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508195206/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-david-bowie-1969-1974-mw0000600345 |archive-date=8 May 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Best of Bowie]]'' (2002),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |title=''Best of Bowie'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/best-of-bowie-mw0000694821 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=15 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401192732/https://www.allmusic.com/album/best-of-bowie-mw0000694821 |archive-date=1 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Platinum Collection (David Bowie album)|The Platinum Collection]]'' (2006),<ref>{{cite web |last=Monger |first=James Christopher |title=''The Platinum Collection'' – David Bowie|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-platinum-collection-mw0001022492 |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=28 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508195203/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-platinum-collection-mw0001022492 |archive-date=8 May 2019}}</ref> ''[[Nothing Has Changed]]'' (2014),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/review/188662-david-bowie-nothing-has-changed/ |title=David Bowie: ''Nothing Has Changed'' |first=Evan |last=Sawdey |website=[[PopMatters]] |date=10 November 2017 |access-date=11 August 2017 |archive-date=14 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714155355/http://www.popmatters.com/review/188662-david-bowie-nothing-has-changed/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Bowie Legacy]]'' (2016).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Monroe|first1=Jazz|title=David Bowie Singles Collection Bowie Legacy Announced {{!}} Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/68602-david-bowie-singles-collection-bowie-legacy-announced/|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=28 September 2016|access-date=29 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926222203/https://pitchfork.com/news/68602-david-bowie-singles-collection-bowie-legacy-announced/|archive-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> The 1991 reissue of ''Low'' featured a new remix of "Sound and Vision" by producer [[David Richards (record producer)|David Richards]]. Pegg writes that it contains an "unpleasant honking saxophone" that he feels "disrupts the original's textured atmospherics."{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}} This remix and two additional remixes were released as a single in the US by [[808 State]]; it was credited to "David Bowie vs 808 State" and were subsequently released as an EP download in 2010.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}} Another stripped-down remix was created by Sonjay Prabhakar in 2013 for a [[Sony]] commercial. Titled "Sound and Vision 2013", it was solely included on a CD-R promo.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}}
The song has since appeared on several compilations, including ''[[The Best of Bowie]]'' (1980),<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=The Best of Bowie|others=David Bowie|year=1981|publisher=K-tel|location=Europe|type=LP record sleeve|id=BLP 81.001}}</ref> ''[[Changestwobowie]]'' (1981),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Dave |title=''Changestwobowie'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/changestwobowie-mw0000836700 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230215628/https://www.allmusic.com/album/changestwobowie-mw0000836700 |archive-date=30 December 2019}}</ref> ''[[Sound + Vision (box set)|Sound + Vision]]'' (1989),{{sfn|Spitz|2009|p=347}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Sound + Vision boxset repack press release |url=https://www.davidbowie.com/2014/2014/07/27/sound-vision-boxset-repack-press-release |website=David Bowie Official Website |access-date=29 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429231936/https://www.davidbowie.com/2014/2014/07/27/sound-vision-boxset-repack-press-release |archive-date=29 April 2021 |date=26 July 2014}}</ref> ''[[Changesbowie]]'' (EMI LP and cassette versions) (1990),<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=Changesbowie|others=David Bowie|year=1990|publisher=[[EMI]]|location=UK|type=LP/cassette notes|id=79 4180 1/79 4180 4}}</ref> ''[[The Singles Collection (David Bowie album)|The Singles Collection]]'' and ''[[The Singles Collection (David Bowie album)|Bowie: The Singles 1969–1993]]'' (both 1993),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |title=''The Singles: 1969–1993'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-singles-1969-1993-mw0000526484 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501155129/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-singles-1969-1993-mw0000526484 |archive-date=1 May 2021}}</ref> ''[[The Best of David Bowie 1974/1979]]'' (1998),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |title=''The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-david-bowie-1969-1974-mw0000600345 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=15 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508195206/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-david-bowie-1969-1974-mw0000600345 |archive-date=8 May 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Best of Bowie]]'' (2002),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |title=''Best of Bowie'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/best-of-bowie-mw0000694821 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=15 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401192732/https://www.allmusic.com/album/best-of-bowie-mw0000694821 |archive-date=1 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Platinum Collection (David Bowie album)|The Platinum Collection]]'' (2006),<ref>{{cite web |last=Monger |first=James Christopher |title=''The Platinum Collection'' – David Bowie|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-platinum-collection-mw0001022492 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=28 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508195203/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-platinum-collection-mw0001022492 |archive-date=8 May 2019}}</ref> ''[[Nothing Has Changed]]'' (2014),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/review/188662-david-bowie-nothing-has-changed/ |title=David Bowie: ''Nothing Has Changed'' |first=Evan |last=Sawdey |website=[[PopMatters]] |date=10 November 2017 |access-date=11 August 2017 |archive-date=14 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714155355/http://www.popmatters.com/review/188662-david-bowie-nothing-has-changed/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Legacy (The Very Best of David Bowie)|Bowie Legacy]]'' (2016).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Monroe|first1=Jazz|title=David Bowie Singles Collection ''Bowie Legacy'' Announced|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/68602-david-bowie-singles-collection-bowie-legacy-announced/|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=28 September 2016|access-date=29 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926222203/https://pitchfork.com/news/68602-david-bowie-singles-collection-bowie-legacy-announced/|archive-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> The song, along with the rest of its parent album, was remastered in 2017 for [[Parlophone]]'s ''[[A New Career in a New Town (1977–1982)]]'' [[box set]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.davidbowie.com/news/new-career-new-town-1977-1982-57146|title=A New Career in a New Town (1977–1982)|website=David Bowie Official Website|date=12 July 2016|access-date=21 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713014523/https://www.davidbowie.com/news/new-career-new-town-1977-1982-57146|archive-date=13 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Grow|first=Kory|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-david-bowies-heroically-experimental-berlin-era-explored-in-11-cd-box-set-253410/|title=Review: David Bowie's Heroically Experimental Berlin Era Explored in 11-CD Box Set|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=28 September 2017|access-date=6 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011090232/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-david-bowies-heroically-experimental-berlin-era-explored-in-11-cd-box-set-253410/|archive-date=11 October 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 1991 reissue of ''Low'' featured a new remix of "Sound and Vision" by producer [[David Richards (record producer)|David Richards]], Bowie's ''[[Never Let Me Down]]'' collaborator.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=408–409}} Pegg writes that it contains an "unpleasant honking saxophone" that he feels "disrupts the original's textured atmospherics".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}} This remix and two additional remixes were released as a single in the US by [[808 State]]; it was credited to "David Bowie vs 808 State" and were subsequently released as an EP download in 2010.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}} Another stripped-down remix was created by Sonjay Prabhakar in 2013 for a [[Sony]] commercial. Titled "Sound and Vision 2013", interest from Bowie fans led to its inclusion on a CD-R promo.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}}{{sfn|Clerc|2021|p=258}} An extended version of the remix was released later the same year.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Reed |first1=Ryan |title=David Bowie's 'Sound and Vision' Remix Gets Extended Release |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-bowies-sound-and-vision-remix-gets-extended-release-183656/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=31 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809033559/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-bowies-sound-and-vision-remix-gets-extended-release-183656/ |archive-date=9 August 2020 |date=16 August 2013}}</ref> ''Ultimate Classic Rock'' placed "Sound and Vision 2013" at number 117 (out of 119) in a list ranking every Bowie single from worst to best.<ref name="UCR single list" />

==Cover versions and media appearances==
Artists who have covered "Sound and Vision" include Scottish rock band [[Franz Ferdinand (band)|Franz Ferdinand]],{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}} American indie rock band [[the Sea and Cake]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7041-one-bedroom/|title=The Sea and Cake: ''One Bedroom''|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|first=Rob|last=Mitchum|date=21 January 2003|access-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126032801/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7041-one-bedroom/|archive-date=26 January 2021}}</ref> English singer-songwriter [[Anna Calvi]], and American singer-songwriter [[Beck]],{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}} whose version included a 157-piece orchestra.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Appleford|first=Steve|date=6 February 2013|title=Beck Remakes Bowie's 'Sound and Vision' With 'No Limitations'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beck-remakes-bowies-sound-and-vision-with-no-limitations-105044/|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825134536/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beck-remakes-bowies-sound-and-vision-with-no-limitations-105044/|archive-date=25 August 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Franz Ferdinand's [[Alex Kapranos]] recalled that the band were asked to cover a song from 1977 for [[BBC Radio 1]] and chose "Sound and Vision" as it was his favourite song from that year, particularly due to the song's unique structure and unpredictability: "You feel like the song is playing for eternity in some other universe. It's like you caught a snippet of something that will always be playing."<ref name="Uncut" /> Bowie's original recording appeared in the 1993 television serial ''[[The Buddha of Suburbia (TV serial)|The Buddha of Suburbia]]'', and an excerpt appeared in the [[Off-Broadway]] musical ''[[Lazarus (musical)|Lazarus]]''.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}} According to Pegg, instead of performing the song live in the musical, an excerpt from the original was used in order to "underscore a particularly dramatic moment".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=686}} Hopkin's backing vocal was echoed in the British rock band [[Doves (band)|Doves]]' 2002 single "[[There Goes the Fear]]".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=254}}


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
All tracks written by [[David Bowie]].
All tracks are written by [[David Bowie]].

; Original 7" single<ref name="single liner notes">{{Cite AV media notes|title=''"Sound and Vision"''|others=[[David Bowie]]|year=1977|publisher=[[RCA Records]]|location=UK|type=Single liner notes|id=PB 0905}}</ref>
'''Original 7" single'''<ref name="single liner notes">{{Cite AV media notes|title=''"Sound and Vision"''|others=[[David Bowie]]|year=1977|publisher=[[RCA Records]]|location=UK|type=Single liner notes|id=PB 0905}}</ref>
# "Sound and Vision" – 3:00
# "A New Career in a New Town" 2:50
# "Sound and Vision"&nbsp;3:00
# "A New Career in a New Town"&nbsp;– 2:50


; David Bowie vs 808 State (1991)<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=''"Sound + Vision (Remix)"''|others=David Bowie vs 808 State|year=1991|publisher=[[Tommy Boy Records]]|location=US|type=CD liner notes|id=TBCD 510}}</ref>
'''David Bowie vs 808 State (1991)'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=''"Sound + Vision (Remix)"''|others=David Bowie vs 808 State|year=1991|publisher=[[Tommy Boy Records]]|location=US|type=CD liner notes|id=TBCD 510}}</ref>
# "Sound + Vision (808 Gift mix)" – 3:58
# "Sound + Vision (808 Gift mix)"&nbsp;– 3:58
# "Sound + Vision (808 'lectric Blue remix instrumental)" – 4:08
# "Sound + Vision (808 'lectric Blue remix instrumental)"&nbsp;– 4:08
# "Sound + Vision (David Richards remix 1991)" – 4:40
# "Sound + Vision (David Richards remix 1991)"&nbsp;– 4:40
# "Sound + Vision (Original version)" – 3:03
# "Sound + Vision (Original version)"&nbsp;– 3:03


; David Bowie vs 808 State&nbsp;– Sound And Vision Remix EP (2010)<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=''"Sound + Vision Remix EP"''|others=David Bowie vs 808 State|year=2010|publisher=[[Parlophone]]|location=UK|type=Digital media notes|id=none}}</ref>
'''David Bowie vs 808 State&nbsp;– "Sound and Vision" Remix EP (2010)'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=''"Sound + Vision Remix EP"''|others=David Bowie vs 808 State|year=2010|publisher=[[Parlophone]]|location=UK|type=Digital media notes}}</ref>
# "Sound + Vision (808 Gift mix)" – 3:58
# "Sound + Vision (808 Gift mix)"&nbsp;– 3:58
# "Sound + Vision (808 'lectric Blue remix instrumental)" – 4:08
# "Sound + Vision (808 'lectric Blue remix instrumental)"&nbsp;– 4:08
# "Sound + Vision (David Richards remix 1991)" – 4:40
# "Sound + Vision (David Richards remix 1991)"&nbsp;– 4:40
# "Sound + Vision (Original version)" – 3:03
# "Sound + Vision (Original version)"&nbsp;– 3:03
* This 2010 release is a digital download only
* This 2010 release is a digital download only


; David Bowie – Sound And Vision (2013)<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=''"Sound and Vision 2013"''|others=David Bowie|year=2013|publisher=Parlophone|location=|type=Digital media notes|id=none}}</ref>
'''David Bowie&nbsp;"Sound and Vision (2013)"'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=''"Sound and Vision 2013"''|others=David Bowie|year=2013|publisher=Parlophone|location=|type=Digital media notes}}</ref>
# "Sound and Vision 2013" – 1:50
# "Sound and Vision 2013"&nbsp;– 1:50
# "Sound and Vision (Remastered)" – 3:04
# "Sound and Vision (Remastered)"&nbsp;– 3:04
* Digital download and in 2017 available as a vinyl single


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
According to biographer Chris O'Leary:{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|p=43}}
According to Chris O'Leary and Benoît Clerc:{{sfn|O'Leary|2019|p=43}}{{sfn|Clerc|2021|p=258}}
*[[David Bowie]] – lead and backing vocals, [[baritone saxophone]], [[chamberlin]] and/or ARP Solina ("synthetic strings")
*[[David Bowie]]&nbsp;– lead and backing vocals, [[baritone saxophone]], [[Chamberlin]] and/or [[ARP Solina String Ensemble|ARP Solina]] ("synthetic strings")
*[[Ricky Gardiner]] – lead guitar
*[[Ricky Gardiner]]&nbsp;– lead guitar
*[[Carlos Alomar]] – rhythm guitar
*[[Carlos Alomar]]&nbsp;– rhythm guitar
*[[George Murray (musician)|George Murray]] – bass
*[[George Murray (musician)|George Murray]]&nbsp;– bass
*[[Roy Young (musician)|Roy Young]]&nbsp;– piano
*[[Dennis Davis]] – drums
*[[Brian Eno]] piano, backing vocals
*[[Dennis Davis]]&nbsp;drums
*[[Mary Hopkin|Mary Visconti]] backing vocals
*[[Brian Eno]]&nbsp;– piano, backing vocals
*[[Mary Hopkin|Mary Visconti]]&nbsp;– backing vocals
*[[Roy Young (musician)|Roy Young]] – piano


'''Production'''
'''Production'''
*David Bowie – producer
*David Bowie&nbsp;– producer
*[[Tony Visconti]] – producer
*[[Tony Visconti]]&nbsp;– producer, engineer
*Laurent Thibault&nbsp;– engineer (Château d'Hérouville)
*Eduard Meyer&nbsp;– engineer (Hansa Studios)


==Charts==
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}


===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Sound and Vision"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Sound and Vision"
!Chart (1977)
! scope="col"|Chart (1977)
!Peak<br />position
! scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|Australian Top 100 ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name="Australia">{{cite book |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |publisher=Australian Chart Book |location=St Ives, N.S.W. |edition=illustrated |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6 |pages=43–44}}</ref>
{{singlechart|Austria|15|song=Sound and Vision|artist=David Bowie|access-date=12 September 2020}}
|align="center"|74
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Flanders|3|song=Sound and Vision|artist=David Bowie|access-date=12 September 2020}}
{{single chart|Austria|15|song=Sound and Vision|artist=David Bowie|access-date=12 September 2020|refname=Austrianchart}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Wallonia|11|song=Sound and Vision|artist=David Bowie|access-date=12 September 2020}}
{{single chart|Flanders|3|song=Sound and Vision|artist=David Bowie|access-date=12 September 2020|refname=BelgiumFlanderschart}}
|-
|-
{{single chart|Wallonia|11|song=Sound and Vision|artist=David Bowie|access-date=12 September 2020|refname=BelgiumWalloniachart}}
|align="left"|Canadian Singles (''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'')<ref name="Canada" />
|-
|Canadian Singles (''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'')<ref name="Canada">{{cite web |url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5288b&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5288b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5288b |title=Image : RPM Weekly – Library and Archives Canada |website=Government of Canada |date=22 July 2014 |access-date=12 October 2016 |archive-date=9 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009032447/http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5288b&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5288b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5288b |url-status=live }}</ref>
|align="center"|87
|align="center"|87
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch100|2|song=Sound and Vision|artist=David Bowie|access-date=12 September 2020}}
{{single chart|Dutch40|2|year=1977|week=19|access-date=7 February 2022}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|New Zealand|7|song=Sound and Vision|artist=David Bowie|access-date=12 September 2020}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|2|song=Sound and Vision|artist=David Bowie|access-date=12 September 2020|refname=Dutchchart}}
|-
|-
{{Singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|3|artist=David Bowie|song=Sound and Vision|artistid=19138|access-date=12 September 2020|refname=UKchart}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|7|song=Sound and Vision|artist=David Bowie|access-date=12 September 2020|refname=NZchart}}
|-
|-
{{Singlechart|Billboardhot100|69|artist=David Bowie|song=Sound and Vision|access-date=12 September 2020}}
{{Single chart|UKsinglesbyname|3|artist=David Bowie|song=Sound and Vision|artistid=19138|access-date=12 September 2020|refname=UKchart}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|West Germany|6|song=Sound and Vision|artist=David Bowie|songid=7147|access-date=12 September 2020}}
{{Single chart|Billboardhot100|69|artist=David Bowie|song=Sound and Vision|access-date=12 September 2020|refname=USchart}}
|-
|West Germany ([[GfK Entertainment charts|Official German Charts]])<ref name="WestGermanchart">{{cite web |title=David Bowie – Sound and Vision |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-7147 |website=Official Deutsche Charts |language=German |access-date=18 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002200940/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-7147 |archive-date=2 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|align="center"|6
|-
|-
|}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ 1977 year-end chart performance for "Sound and Vision"
! scope="col"|Chart (1977)
! scope="col"|Position
|-
|Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1977|title=Jaaroverzichten 1977|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref>
|align="center"|18
|-
|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1977|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1977|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref>
|align="center"|14
|-
|Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1977&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1977|website=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref>
|align="center"|14
|-
|West Germany (Official German Charts)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1977|title=Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts|language=German|work=[[GfK Entertainment]]|publisher=offiziellecharts.de|access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref>
|align="center"|42
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Sales certifications for "Sound and Vision"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=David Bowie|title=Sound and Vision|award=Silver|relyear=2005|certyear=2021|id=17501-2269-1|access-date=17 September 2021|refname="bpi"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}


==References==
==References==
Line 156: Line 195:
===Bibliography===
===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin|30em}}
{{Refbegin|30em}}
*{{cite book |last=Buckley |first=David |year=2005 |orig-year=1999 |title=Strange Fascination – David Bowie: The Definitive Story |location=London |publisher=Virgin Books|isbn=978-0-75351-002-5 }}
*{{cite book |last=Buckley |first=David |year=2005 |orig-year=1999 |title=Strange Fascination – David Bowie: The Definitive Story |location=London |publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|isbn=978-0-75351-002-5 }}
*{{cite book |last=Doggett |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Doggett |year=2012 |title=The Man Who Sold the World: David Bowie and the 1970s |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e27t-ag4NakC |location=New York City |publisher=[[HarperCollins|HarperCollins Publishers]] |isbn=978-0-06-202466-4 |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011172926/https://books.google.com/books?id=e27t-ag4NakC |url-status=live }}
*{{cite book |last=Clerc |first=Benoît |year=2021 |title=David Bowie All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track |location=New York City |publisher=[[Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers|Black Dog & Leventhal]] |isbn=978-0-7624-7471-4}}
*{{cite book |last=Doggett |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Doggett |year=2012 |title=The Man Who Sold the World: David Bowie and the 1970s |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e27t-ag4NakC |location=New York City |publisher=[[HarperCollins|HarperCollins Publishers]] |isbn=978-0-06-202466-4 }}
*{{cite book| last=O'Leary| first=Chris| year=2019| title=Ashes to Ashes: The Songs of David Bowie 1976–2016| location=London |publisher=Repeater| isbn=978-1-91224-830-8 }}
*{{cite book| last=O'Leary| first=Chris| year=2019| title=Ashes to Ashes: The Songs of David Bowie 1976–2016| location=London |publisher=Repeater| isbn=978-1-91224-830-8 }}
*{{cite book |last=Pegg |first=Nicholas |title=The Complete David Bowie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LqFkDQAAQBAJ |edition=Revised and Updated |publisher=[[Titan Books]] |location=London |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-78565-365-0 }}
*{{cite book |last=Pegg |first=Nicholas |title=The Complete David Bowie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LqFkDQAAQBAJ |edition=Revised and Updated |publisher=[[Titan Books]] |location=London |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-78565-365-0 }}
*{{cite book|last=Perone|first=James E.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C6bz2BFdPawC&pg=PA57|title=The Words and Music of David Bowie|location=[[Westport, Connecticut]]|publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|date=2007|isbn=978-0-27599-245-3|access-date=15 April 2021|archive-date=19 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519114057/https://books.google.com/books?id=C6bz2BFdPawC&pg=PA57|url-status=live}}
*{{cite book|last=Perone|first=James E.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C6bz2BFdPawC&pg=PA57|title=The Words and Music of David Bowie|location=Westport|publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|date=2007|isbn=978-0-27599-245-3}}
*{{cite book |last1=Seabrook |first1=Thomas Jerome |title=Bowie in Berlin: A New Career in a New Town |date=2008 |location=London |publisher=Jawbone Press |isbn=978-1-90600-208-4 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Seabrook |first1=Thomas Jerome |title=Bowie in Berlin: A New Career in a New Town |date=2008 |location=London |publisher=Jawbone Press |isbn=978-1-90600-208-4 }}
*{{cite book|last=Spitz |first=Marc |author-link1=Marc Spitz |title=[[Bowie: A Biography]] |location=New York City |publisher=[[Crown Publishing Group]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-307-71699-6 }}
*{{cite book|last=Spitz |first=Marc |author-link1=Marc Spitz |title=[[Bowie: A Biography]] |location=New York City |publisher=[[Crown Publishing Group]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-307-71699-6 }}
Line 166: Line 206:
*{{cite book| first=Hugo| last=Wilcken| year=2005| title=David Bowie's ''Low'' (33 1/3)| location=New York City |publisher=[[Continuum International Publishing Group]] | isbn=978-0-826-41684-1 }}
*{{cite book| first=Hugo| last=Wilcken| year=2005| title=David Bowie's ''Low'' (33 1/3)| location=New York City |publisher=[[Continuum International Publishing Group]] | isbn=978-0-826-41684-1 }}
{{Refend|30em}}
{{Refend|30em}}

==External links==
* {{MetroLyrics song|david-bowie|sound-vision}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->


{{David Bowie singles}}
{{David Bowie singles}}
Line 179: Line 216:
[[Category:Song recordings produced by David Bowie]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by David Bowie]]
[[Category:RCA Records singles]]
[[Category:RCA Records singles]]
[[Category:Franz Ferdinand (band) songs]]

Latest revision as of 04:17, 23 November 2024

"Sound and Vision"
The cover art for David Bowie's 1977 single "Sound and Vision", featuring a profile of Bowie with the words "David Bowie Sound and Vision" in big letters, the title "A New Career in a New Town" to his left, and "RCA" in the bottom right hand corner
Single by David Bowie
from the album Low
B-side"A New Career in a New Town"
Released11 February 1977 (1977-02-11)
RecordedSeptember–November 1976
StudioChâteau d'Hérouville (Hérouville); Hansa (West Berlin)
Genre
Length3:00
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)David Bowie
Producer(s)
David Bowie singles chronology
"Suffragette City"
(1976)
"Sound and Vision"
(1977)
"Be My Wife"
(1977)

"Sound and Vision" is a song by the English musician David Bowie. It was released in January 1977 by RCA Records on side one of his 11th studio album Low. RCA later chose it as the first single from the album. Co-produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti, the song was recorded at the Château d'Hérouville in Hérouville, France, in September 1976, and completed at Hansa Studios in West Berlin in October and November. The song began as a simple G major chord progression that Bowie gave to the backing musicians, writing and recording his vocals afterward. It features backing vocals from Brian Eno and Visconti's then-wife Mary Hopkin.

Regarded by biographers as the closest to a "conventional pop song" on Low,[1][2] "Sound and Vision" is oddly structured. Beginning as an instrumental, elements are added throughout the song's runtime; Bowie's vocals do not appear for over a minute and a half. The song's lyrics are dark and introspective, reflecting Bowie's mental state after years of drug addiction, and provide a stark contrast to the music itself, which is more joyous and upbeat. Like other Low tracks, the song's drum sound was achieved through the use of Visconti's Eventide H910 Harmonizer.

Released as a single on 11 February 1977, "Sound and Vision" was a commercial success, making number three on the UK Singles Chart, aided by its appearance in BBC television commercials. It peaked at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100, signalling Bowie's commercial downturn in the US until 1983. Music critics and biographers consider "Sound and Vision" one of Bowie's greatest songs. He performed it only once on his 1978 Isolar II world tour, but frequently on later tours. Remixes of the song have been created in subsequent decades and it has appeared on several compilation albums.

Writing and recording

[edit]

Like its parent album Low, "Sound and Vision" was co-produced by David Bowie and Tony Visconti, with contributions from multi-instrumentalist Brian Eno.[7] The backing tracks were recorded at the Château d'Hérouville in Hérouville, France, in September 1976, and Bowie's vocals and other overdubs were recorded at Hansa Studios in West Berlin in October and November.[8] It was the first song Bowie wrote at the Château with Eno in mind.[9] The recording process for the song, and the rest of the album, differed from Bowie's previous work. The backing tracks were recorded first, followed by overdubs, and the lyrics and vocals were written and recorded last. Used during the recording of Iggy Pop's The Idiot earlier that year,[10] Bowie heavily favoured this "three-phase" process, which he would use for the rest of his career.[11]

A black and white photo of a young blonde-haired woman holding a microphone and singing
"Sound and Vision" contains backing vocals from Visconti's then-wife Mary Hopkin (pictured in 1970).

According to biographer Chris O'Leary, the song began as a simple descending-by-fifths G major progression that Bowie gave to the band, suggesting further melodies, a baseline and drum ideas. Drummer Dennis Davis thought it sounded "like a Crusaders tune", while bassist George Murray found it reminiscent of Bo Diddley. As with most of the tracks on the album, the band went with the basic idea and finished the backing track in a few takes.[12] The song was largely completed without Eno, who arrived late in the sessions after all the backing tracks for side one were almost finished.[13] The drums on "Sound and Vision" were treated through the use of an Eventide H910 Harmonizer,[14] used at Visconti's insistence.[15] The sound, described by biographer David Buckley as "revolutionary" and "stunning", is particularly evident on the album tracks "Speed of Life" and "Breaking Glass", as well as "Sound and Vision".[14]

Visconti's wife, singer Mary Hopkin, contributed the song's backing vocals; she was credited as Mary Visconti.[16] Hopkin was visiting the Château with her children when Eno asked her to sing. She recorded her vocals before any lyrics or melody were written, recalling in 2011:[17]

One evening, Brian called me into the studio to sing a quick backing vocal with him on 'Sound and Vision'. We sang his cute little 'doo doo' riff in unison. It was meant to be a distant echo but, when David heard it, he pushed up the fader until it became a prominent vocal – much to my embarrassment, as I thought it very twee. I love the song and I'm a great admirer of David's work.

Composition

[edit]

["Sound and Vision" is] a very sad song for me ... I was trying very hard to drag myself out of an awful period of my life. I was locked in a room in Berlin telling myself I was going to straighten up and not do drugs anymore. I was never going to drink again. Only some of it proved to be the case. It was the first time I knew I was killing myself and time to do something about my physical condition.[17]

– David Bowie, 2003

Like the majority of the tracks on the first side of Low,[18] "Sound and Vision" is classified as a "song fragment".[19] Structurally, it starts as an instrumental, running for 46 seconds before backing vocals croon two descending notes. At 1:14, Eno and Hopkin sing their vocal line, which echoes the main guitar line, followed by a darker saxophone part played by Bowie.[1][6] Bowie's vocals take a full 1 minute and 30 seconds to appear, which was done at Eno's insistence to "confound listener expectations".[12] Different elements build throughout the song's runtime: the beginning only contains the rhythm section, which is followed by a mock-string section created using an ARP Solina synthesiser, then backing vocals, brass and finally Bowie's vocal.[12]

Described by Bowie as his "ultimate retreat song",[12] the lyrics for "Sound and Vision" offer introspection, reflecting his mental state following a long period of drug addiction.[6] The song's narrator sits in an empty room and draws the blinds. As he has the world shut away, he waits "for the gift of sound and vision".[20][21] Bowie further commented: "It was just the idea of getting out of America, that depressing era I was going through. ... It was wanting to be put in a little cold room with omnipotent blue on the walls and blinds on the windows."[22] Wilcken calls "Sound and Vision" the centrepiece of side one. It continues the lyrical themes of "Breaking Glass" and "What in the World", in that "after failing to connect with female others", the narrator focuses on the self and by "drifting into my solitude", sets the stage for the wordless introspection of side two.[1][23] Biographer Nicholas Pegg and author Peter Doggett make comparisons to Bowie's 1971 song "Quicksand". Doggett writes: "Like 'Quicksand', 'Sound and Vision' was Bowie's admission that his creative inspiration had disappeared: cunningly, he used a confession of artistic bankruptcy to spark his muse back to life."[6] According to Visconti, there were originally more verses, but these were removed during the mixing stage.[24]

The lyrics provide a stark contrast to the music itself, which is more joyous.[12] Author Thomas Jerome Seabrook writes that Bowie's "low, reflective [vocal is] at odds with the upbeat, almost parodic sensibilities of the music that surrounds it".[1] The song is in the key of G major. James Perone describes its chord progression as "I (G major), ii (A minor), V (D major), I (G major)". He notes that this progression evokes classical music with a harmonic quality.[4] Almost every instrument playing on the song sounds processed. O'Leary compares the drums to the sound of a radiator turning on;[12] Seabrook finds it similar to a whip.[1] The bass is distorted while the piano and mock-string section are engulfed with studio effects; Seabrook further believes the saxophone sounds as if it was treated by Visconti's Harmonizer.[1] Throughout the song, a sizzle cymbal appears on the third beat of almost every bar and two guitars are panned to different channels, the main guitar line appearing in the left, and a "mock-reggae rhythm" appearing in the right.[12][6]

Bowie's biographers consider "Sound and Vision" the closest to a "conventional pop song" on Low.[1][2] Wilcken writes that the track's instrumentation and backing vocals combine to create a "sonic effect" that equals that of a "pop song with quotation marks, not quite sure whether it's a part of the genre or referencing it".[22] Perone finds the song a "hybrid of soul and pop", continuing musical and lyrical themes of Bowie's 1975 album Young Americans.[4] Michael Gallucci of Ultimate Classic Rock describes a sense of "pop minimalism" on "Sound and Vision" and "Be My Wife" that showed Bowie entering a new phase of his career.[25] He further considered the song the best example of its parent album's embracement of the old and new, calling it "a traditional rock song at its core wrapped in krautrock and electronic textures".[3] In ZigZag magazine, Kris Needs described the song's beat as "bouncy, futuristic disco".[5] Doggett calls it a "consummate pop record, as tightly produced as any disco classic of the era".[6]

Release

[edit]

When Bowie presented his 11th studio album Low to RCA Records, the label were shocked.[26] The album was originally slated for release in November 1976, but RCA delayed it until January 1977, fearing poor commercial performance.[27][28] Despite receiving no promotion from Bowie or his label, Low was a commercial success, peaking at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and number 11 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart.[29] "Sound and Vision" was sequenced as the fourth track on side one, between "What in the World" and "Always Crashing in the Same Car".[18]

At the time of release, Tim Lott of Sounds magazine felt that none of the tracks were "single material".[30] Bud Scoppa of Phonograph Record magazine considered "Sound and Vision" the "obvious" choice.[31] RCA selected "Sound and Vision" as the first single from the album, releasing it on 11 February 1977, with the catalogue number PB 0905 and the instrumental "A New Career in a New Town" as the B-side.[32] A 12" promotional single was also released in the US the same year, featuring a seven-minute remix of "Sound and Vision" segueing into Iggy Pop's "Sister Midnight".[33]

The single was used by the BBC for television trailers at the time. This provided considerable exposure, and helped the song peak at number three on the UK Singles Chart,[34] becoming Bowie's highest-charting new single in the UK since "Sorrow" in 1973.[20][29] The single's success in the UK confused RCA executives, and allowed Bowie to persuade them to release Iggy Pop's The Idiot, which they did in March 1977.[35] The song was also a top 10 hit in Belgium Flanders, West Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand,[36][37][38][39] and a top 20 hit in Austria and Belgium Wallonia.[40][41] It stalled at number 74 in Australia,[42] number 87 on Canada's RPM Singles chart[43] and only peaked at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US,[44] signalling Bowie's commercial downturn until "Let's Dance" in 1983.[33] In 2021, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified the song silver for sales and streams exceeding 200,000 units in the UK.[45]

Critical reception

[edit]

On release, Lott reviewed Low and described "Sound and Vision" as the centrepiece of the album. Calling it "metallic beauty", he praised Bowie's vocal performance, stating: "His singing, as always, is more mechanical than melodic, but in context, the perfect foil for the harsh guitar and sliding synthesiser."[30] Doggett calls "Sound and Vision" "arguably one of the most important songs [Bowie] had ever written," because the song allowed Bowie to reconnect with himself after a long period of drug addiction.[6] Pegg regards it as "one of his most distinctive and brilliant recordings".[20] NME ranked it the 29th best song of the year in 1977.[46]

"Sound and Vision" has been ranked one of Bowie's best songs by several publications. Following Bowie's death in 2016, the writers at Rolling Stone ranked "Sound and Vision" one of Bowie's 30 essential songs, noting that although Low garnered mixed reception on release, releasing "Sound and Vision" as the lead single was "genius" owing to the song's "clever bait-and-switch".[47] The same year, in a list ranking every Bowie single from worst to best, Ultimate Classic Rock placed "Sound and Vision" at number nine.[48] In lists of Bowie's best songs by Consequence of Sound, Smooth Radio and Uncut, the song was voted numbers 22, 10 and 15, respectively.[49][50][51] In 2018, readers of NME voted "Sound and Vision" Bowie's 19th best song,[52] while staff-writer Emily Barker voted it Bowie's second best song, behind "'Heroes'".[53] Mojo magazine ranked it number four in 2015, behind "Life on Mars?", "'Heroes'" and "Starman".[54]

In 2020, Alexis Petridis of The Guardian called "Sound and Vision" Bowie's greatest song, finding it "both a fantastic pop song and an act of artistic daring" and a track that "transcends time"; he concluded that it was: "Completely original, nothing about its sound tethers it to the mid-70s. Its magic seems to sum Bowie up."[55] A year later, writers of The Telegraph voted it Bowie's 12th greatest song, writing: "A punch of a song at the start of Low, it showed Bowie entering a new, dispassionate style which would divide his listeners but, with its liberal use of synthesisers, also cement his status as a trailblazer of the electronica."[56] Far Out placed it at number nine in a 2022 list.[57]

Live versions and subsequent releases

[edit]

"Sound and Vision" was only performed once during the 1978 Isolar II world tour, at Earl's Court in London, on 1 July 1978.[33] According to Seabrook, this was because Bowie struggled to sing it, a problem he also had with "Golden Years".[58] This performance was included on Rarestonebowie (1995), a compilation compiled by Bowie's former music publisher MainMan,[59] and decades later on the live album Welcome to the Blackout (Live London '78) (2018).[60] Bowie also performed the song during the Sound+Vision (1990), Heathen (2002), and A Reality (2003) tours,[33] and was also performed on A&E's Live by Request on 15 June 2002.[8]

The song has since appeared on several compilations, including The Best of Bowie (1980),[61] Changestwobowie (1981),[62] Sound + Vision (1989),[63][64] Changesbowie (EMI LP and cassette versions) (1990),[65] The Singles Collection and Bowie: The Singles 1969–1993 (both 1993),[66] The Best of David Bowie 1974/1979 (1998),[67] Best of Bowie (2002),[68] The Platinum Collection (2006),[69] Nothing Has Changed (2014),[70] and Bowie Legacy (2016).[71] The song, along with the rest of its parent album, was remastered in 2017 for Parlophone's A New Career in a New Town (1977–1982) box set.[72][73] The 1991 reissue of Low featured a new remix of "Sound and Vision" by producer David Richards, Bowie's Never Let Me Down collaborator.[74] Pegg writes that it contains an "unpleasant honking saxophone" that he feels "disrupts the original's textured atmospherics".[33] This remix and two additional remixes were released as a single in the US by 808 State; it was credited to "David Bowie vs 808 State" and were subsequently released as an EP download in 2010.[33] Another stripped-down remix was created by Sonjay Prabhakar in 2013 for a Sony commercial. Titled "Sound and Vision 2013", interest from Bowie fans led to its inclusion on a CD-R promo.[33][75] An extended version of the remix was released later the same year.[76] Ultimate Classic Rock placed "Sound and Vision 2013" at number 117 (out of 119) in a list ranking every Bowie single from worst to best.[48]

Cover versions and media appearances

[edit]

Artists who have covered "Sound and Vision" include Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand,[33] American indie rock band the Sea and Cake,[77] English singer-songwriter Anna Calvi, and American singer-songwriter Beck,[33] whose version included a 157-piece orchestra.[78] Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos recalled that the band were asked to cover a song from 1977 for BBC Radio 1 and chose "Sound and Vision" as it was his favourite song from that year, particularly due to the song's unique structure and unpredictability: "You feel like the song is playing for eternity in some other universe. It's like you caught a snippet of something that will always be playing."[51] Bowie's original recording appeared in the 1993 television serial The Buddha of Suburbia, and an excerpt appeared in the Off-Broadway musical Lazarus.[33] According to Pegg, instead of performing the song live in the musical, an excerpt from the original was used in order to "underscore a particularly dramatic moment".[79] Hopkin's backing vocal was echoed in the British rock band Doves' 2002 single "There Goes the Fear".[33]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by David Bowie.

Original 7" single[80]

  1. "Sound and Vision" – 3:00
  2. "A New Career in a New Town" – 2:50

David Bowie vs 808 State (1991)[81]

  1. "Sound + Vision (808 Gift mix)" – 3:58
  2. "Sound + Vision (808 'lectric Blue remix instrumental)" – 4:08
  3. "Sound + Vision (David Richards remix 1991)" – 4:40
  4. "Sound + Vision (Original version)" – 3:03

David Bowie vs 808 State – "Sound and Vision" Remix EP (2010)[82]

  1. "Sound + Vision (808 Gift mix)" – 3:58
  2. "Sound + Vision (808 'lectric Blue remix instrumental)" – 4:08
  3. "Sound + Vision (David Richards remix 1991)" – 4:40
  4. "Sound + Vision (Original version)" – 3:03
  • This 2010 release is a digital download only

David Bowie – "Sound and Vision (2013)"[83]

  1. "Sound and Vision 2013" – 1:50
  2. "Sound and Vision (Remastered)" – 3:04

Personnel

[edit]

According to Chris O'Leary and Benoît Clerc:[8][75]

Production

  • David Bowie – producer
  • Tony Visconti – producer, engineer
  • Laurent Thibault – engineer (Château d'Hérouville)
  • Eduard Meyer – engineer (Hansa Studios)

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Sales certifications for "Sound and Vision"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Silver 200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Bowie's biographers consider "Sound and Vision" the closest to a "conventional pop song" on Low.[1][2] Michael Gallucci of Ultimate Classic Rock describes it as a "traditional rock song" with "krautrock and electronic textures".[3] Other reviewers have noted the presence of soul and disco.[4][5][6]

References

[edit]
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  2. ^ a b c Buckley 2005, pp. 265–266.
  3. ^ a b Gallucci, Michael (16 January 2019). "The Best Song From Every David Bowie Album". Ultimate Classic Rock. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Perone 2007, p. 59.
  5. ^ a b Needs, Kris (February 1977). "David Bowie: Low". ZigZag. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2021 – via Rock's Backpages (subscription required).
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Doggett 2012, pp. 310–311.
  7. ^ Perone 2007, pp. 57–58.
  8. ^ a b c O'Leary 2019, p. 43.
  9. ^ Wilcken 2005, p. 86.
  10. ^ Seabrook 2008, p. 102.
  11. ^ Pegg 2016, pp. 386–387.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g O'Leary 2019, pp. 43–44.
  13. ^ Trynka 2011, p. 316.
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  16. ^ Pegg 2016, p. 384.
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Bibliography

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