David Bowie: "Up the Hill Backwards" Single (1981)

David Bowie’s "Up the Hill Backwards" backed with "Crystal Japan", was released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK by RCA Records (catalog number BOW 8) on March 20, 1981.

Initially titled "Cameras in Brooklyn," the song was recorded from February to April 1980 at the Power Station in New York City and Good Earth Studios in London. The recording includes backing vocals, guitar by Robert Fripp, and acoustic guitar by co-producer Tony Visconti. The lyrics address the challenges of dealing with a crisis, partly inspired by Bowie's divorce from his wife Angie. Musically, the song features multiple time signature changes and a beat inspired by Bo Diddley.

The song has garnered positive feedback from music critics and biographers, with many commending its unique composition. Despite this, the song only reached No. 32 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 49 in Canada. Bowie never performed "Up the Hill Backwards" in full during his concert tours, though the first verse was used as the opening for the 1987 Glass Spider Tour. The song has been included on compilation albums, and a demo version has surfaced on bootlegs. In 2015, Mojo magazine ranked it as Bowie's 24th greatest song.