David Bowie: Heroes Album (1977)

A Berlin Masterpiece

David Bowie’s Heroes LP, was released in the UK on October 14, 1977, on RCA Victor (catalogue: PL 12522). This 10-track album, the second in Bowie’s revered Berlin Trilogy, blended art rock, krautrock, and ambient influences, capturing a raw, experimental edge. Produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti, with contributions from Brian Eno and Robert Fripp, Heroes was recorded in Berlin’s Hansa Studios, reflecting the city’s Cold War tension. Housed in a stark sleeve with a black-and-white Bowie portrait by Masayoshi Sukita, the album peaked at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart, cementing Bowie’s avant-garde legacy.

Album Overview

Tracklist:

Side A:

Beauty and the Beast (3:32)

Joe the Lion (3:05)

“Heroes” (6:07)

Sons of the Silent Age (3:15)

Blackout (4:02)

Side B:

V-2 Schneider (3:10)

Sense of Doubt (3:57)

Moss Garden (5:03)

Neuköln (4:34)

The Secret Life of Arabia (3:46)

Release Details:

Label: RCA Victor (UK).

Formats: Vinyl LP, cassette; later CD reissues (detailed below).

℗ & ©: 1977 RCA Records. Recorded at Hansa Tonstudio 2, West Berlin, July–August 1977. Matrix numbers (e.g., PL 12522 A-1) confirm authenticity.

UK Release Formats and Track Listings

Heroes was released in the UK in 1977 on vinyl LP and cassette, with CD editions appearing later. All formats maintain the same 10-track sequence:

Vinyl LP (Catalogue: PL 12522):

Side A:

Beauty and the Beast (3:32)

Joe the Lion (3:05)

“Heroes” (6:07)

Sons of the Silent Age (3:15)

Blackout (4:02)

Side B:

V-2 Schneider (3:10)

Sense of Doubt (3:57)

Moss Garden (5:03)

Neuköln (4:34)

The Secret Life of Arabia (3:46)

Packaging: 33⅓ RPM, stereo, in a single sleeve with Sukita’s iconic black-and-white photo, including lyric insert. Some pressings had a hype sticker for the title track.

Cassette (Catalogue: PK 12522):

Side A:

Beauty and the Beast (3:32)

Joe the Lion (3:05)

“Heroes” (6:07)

Sons of the Silent Age (3:15)

Blackout (4:02)

Side B:

V-2 Schneider (3:10)

Sense of Doubt (3:57)

Moss Garden (5:03)

Neuköln (4:34)

The Secret Life of Arabia (3:46)

Packaging: Standard cassette case with fold-out J-card featuring lyrics and artwork.

Compact Disc (CD) (Later reissues, e.g., 1984 RCA PCD1-2522, 1991 Rykodisc, 1999 EMI):

Single Disc:

Beauty and the Beast (3:32)

Joe the Lion (3:05)

“Heroes” (6:07)

Sons of the Silent Age (3:15)

Blackout (4:02)

V-2 Schneider (3:10)

Sense of Doubt (3:57)

Moss Garden (5:03)

Neuköln (4:34)

The Secret Life of Arabia (3:46)

Packaging: Jewel case with booklet featuring lyrics, Sukita’s photo, and credits. Later editions (e.g., 1991 Rykodisc) added bonus tracks like “Abdulmajid.”

Production and Context

Produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti, with Brian Eno’s ambient influence, Heroes was recorded at Hansa Studios, Berlin, near the Berlin Wall, infusing tracks with Cold War tension. The lineup featured Bowie (vocals, keyboards, saxophone), Mick Ronson (replaced by Robert Fripp on guitar), Carlos Alomar (guitar), George Murray (bass), Dennis Davis (drums), and Eno (synthesizers).

The title track, co-written by Bowie and Eno, used Fripp’s layered guitar and Visconti’s vocal effects. Released amid punk’s rise, Heroes followed Low (1977) and stood alongside Kraftwerk and Iggy Pop’s Berlin works.

Chart Performance

Heroes was a commercial success:

UK: No. 3 (Official Albums Chart), charting for 18 weeks, certified Gold (100,000 copies sold).

US: No. 35 (Billboard 200), certified Gold (500,000 copies sold).

Australia: No. 6.

Canada: No. 22.

Germany: No. 14.

Netherlands: No. 3.

France: No. 8.

Sweden: No. 13.

New Zealand: No. 15.The single “Heroes” peaked at UK No. 24, US No. 80, but later became iconic, with multilingual versions charting higher (e.g., No. 11 in France).

Legacy and Collectibility

Heroes is a landmark of art rock, with the title track a cultural touchstone, covered by artists like Blondie and featured in films like Jojo Rabbit. Its influence spans post-punk and electronic music.

Original UK vinyls fetch £20–£80 on Discogs, with first pressings (orange RCA labels, lyric insert) commanding premiums—verify matrix numbers. Cassettes (£5–£20) and CDs (£5–£25,

e.g., 1999 EMI) are collectible, with reissues adding bonuses. Spotify streams and remasters (2017 A New Career in a New Town box) preserve its analog depth.

This LP is a Berlin-era masterpiece—a must-have for Bowie collectors.

Do you have Heroes in vinyl, cassette, or CD? Which track resonates with your Berlin dreams? Share in the comments!