David Bowie: "Diamond Dogs" Single (1974)

David Bowie’s "Diamond Dogs" backed with "Holy Holy", was released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK by RCA Records (catalog number APBO 0293) on June 14, 1974.

It served as the second single and title track taken from Bowie’s eighth studio album, Diamond Dogs, which had been released earlier on May 24, 1974. The B-side of the single featured the track “Holy Holy,” a re-recorded version of a song Bowie originally released in 1971.

Background and Context:

Album Context: The Diamond Dogs album was a concept album blending dystopian themes inspired by George Orwell’s 1984 with Bowie’s own vision of a post-apocalyptic world. The single “Diamond Dogs” was a key representation of the album’s gritty, glam-rock sound, with its raw guitar riffs and theatrical energy.

Production: Bowie produced the track himself, having parted ways with producer Ken Scott and taken a more hands-on role. The song was recorded at Olympic Studios in London and featured Bowie playing lead guitar, a rarity for him at the time.

Chart Performance: In the UK, the “Diamond Dogs” single reached 21 on the UK Singles Chart, a modest hit compared to some of Bowie’s other singles from the era like “Rebel Rebel.” Its performance reflected the album’s darker, more experimental tone, which was less immediately commercial than his previous Ziggy Stardust-era work.

Cultural Impact: The song’s lyrics, with references to a dystopian urban landscape and characters like “Halloween Jack,” tied into the album’s narrative. The single’s release came during a transitional period for Bowie, as he moved away from glam rock toward the soul-influenced sound of Young Americans. The iconic Diamond Dogs album artwork, featuring a controversial painting by Guy Peellaert, also helped cement the single’s place in Bowie’s visual and musical legacy.

Release Specifics:

Label: RCA Victor (catalogue number: RCA APBO 0293).

Format: 7” vinyl single, with a running time of approximately 3:15 for the edited single version (the album version is longer, around 6:02).

B-side: “Holy Holy” was a re-recording of a 1971 single that had failed to chart, offering fans a fresh take on an obscure track.

Availability: The single was primarily distributed in the UK and select international markets. It was not released as a single in the United States, where “1984” was chosen instead.

Interesting Fact:

At the beginning of the song, you can hear "hey" being shouted, which was directly taken from the Faces album "Coast To Coast Overtures For Beginner's." Permission for this was granted by Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood during a visit to Olympic Studios in January 1974.