A Plastic Soul

In Crystal Clarity. Released worldwide as a half-speed mastered 180g vinyl LP on March 7, 2025, David Bowie’s Young Americans (catalogue: 5021732489364 / DBYA 50) — his 1975 “plastic soul” masterpiece — returns in pristine form. Cut by John Webber on a customised Neumann VMS80 lathe from 192kHz restored Record Plant masters (no additional processing), pressed by Optimal Media GmbH. Featuring the US No. 1 “Fame” (with John Lennon), “Across The Universe”, and title track. Includes lyric insert and obi. The definitive audiophile edition of Bowie’s Philly soul reinvention.

Release Details

Label: Parlophone.

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Half-Speed Master.

℗ 1975 / Remaster ℗ 2016 Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment Co., LLC under exclusive license to Parlophone Records Ltd.

© 2025 Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment Co., LLC / Parlophone Records Ltd.

Lacquer Cut by JWM (John Webber). Pressed by Optimal Media GmbH – BO27446.

Full Track Listing

Side A

1. Young Americans (5:10)

2. Win (4:44)

3. Fascination (5:43)

4. Right (4:13)

Side B

1. Somebody Up There Likes Me (6:30)

2. Across The Universe (4:30)

3. Can You Hear Me (5:04)

4. Fame (4:12)

Reissues & Global Variants

Vinyl, LP, Half-Speed Master – Parlophone 5021732489364 / DBYA 50 – Worldwide – 7 Mar 2025

Production and Context

Original production: Tony Visconti (except “Across The Universe”/“Fame” with John Lennon). Recorded 1974–1975 at Sigma Sound, Philadelphia; Record Plant & Electric Lady, New York. Guests: Luther Vandross, John Lennon, David Sanborn. Bowie’s “plastic soul” pivot — “Fame” his first US No. 1.

Singles Released and Chart Performance

- Young Americans (1975) – US No. 28

- Fame (1975) – US No. 1

Album Chart Performance (original 1975)

- USA (Billboard 200): 9

- UK: 2

Legacy and Collectibility

Young Americans is Bowie’s soul reinvention — “Fame”, “Young Americans”, and Lennon collabs. Verify catalogue 5021732489364. Streams on Spotify preserve the Philly groove. This reissue is a must-have for Bowie soul and audiophile collectors.

Do you have Young Americans in your vinyl stack? Is Fame still your flame? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube

Official Press Release...

David Bowie’s Young Americans was re-released as a limited edition 50th anniversary half-speed mastered LP and picture disc LP with a poster in the UK by Parlophone Records (catalog number DBYA50) on March 7, 2025, marking its Golden Jubilee.

This album marked Bowie's exploration of 'Plastic Soul,' a new musical direction that earned him his first U.S. number one single, "Fame," co-written with John Lennon and guitarist Carlos Alomar.

The reissue was cut on a customized Neumann VMS80 lathe with fully recapped electronics, using 192kHz restored masters of the original Record Plant tapes, with no additional processing during transfer. The half-speed mastering was done by John Webber at AIR Studios.