David Bowie: "Modern Love" Single (1983)

David Bowie’s "Modern Love" backed with "Modern Love (Live Version)", was released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK by EMI America (catalog number EA 158) on September 12, 1983.

Chart Performance:

UK: Peaked at No. 2 (UK Singles Chart, October 1983), held off No. 1 by Culture Club’s “Karma Chameleon.”

US: No. 14 (Billboard Hot 100, November 1983).

Canada: No. 6 (RPM Singles Chart).

Other markets: Top 20 in Australia (No. 6), New Zealand (No. 10), Ireland (No. 3), and several European countries.

A-Side: "Modern Love" (3:56, single edit)

B-Side: "Modern Love (Live Version)" (3:43)

Label: EMI America

Catalog Number: EA 158 (UK, 7”); 12EA 158 (UK, 12”); other regional catalog numbers as noted below

Release Date: September 12, 1983 (UK); October 1983 (US and other markets, with slight variations)

Producers: David Bowie and Nile Rodgers (A-side); Bowie (B-side, live recording)

Recording:

A-side: Recorded at Power Station, New York City, December 1982, during Let’s Dance sessions.

B-side: Live recording, likely from Montreal Forum, July 12–13, 1983, during the Serious Moonlight Tour.

Context:

Third single from the album Let’s Dance (released April 14, 1983), following “Let’s Dance” and “China Girl.” Released during the Serious Moonlight Tour to capitalize on Bowie’s commercial peak.

Release Formats:

The Modern Love single was issued in multiple formats to cater to radio, collectors, and the 1980s club scene.

7” Vinyl Single

Catalog Numbers:

UK: EMI America EA 158

US: EMI America B-8189

Canada: Capitol B-5238

Japan: Toshiba EMI EAS-17425

Australia: EMI America EMI-1178

Europe: EMI America 1C 006-2003047 (Germany, Netherlands, etc.)

Other markets: Argentina (EMI 1877), New Zealand (EMI 1178), South Africa (EMIJ 4457), and more.

Tracks:

A: “Modern Love” (3:56, single edit, trimmed from the album’s 4:46 version for radio)

B: “Modern Love (Live Version)” (3:43, recorded during Serious Moonlight Tour)

UK pressings featured EMI America’s black and silver paper labels or silver injection-molded centers. US and Canadian versions had EMI America’s blue and white label design.

12” Vinyl Maxi-Single

Catalog Numbers:

UK: EMI America 12EA 158

US: EMI America V-7858 (commercial); SPRO-9969/9970 (promo)

Europe: EMI America 1C K 062-2003046 (Germany, pressed in Holland or Germany)

Canada: Capitol V-75073

Tracks:

A: “Modern Love (Extended Version)” (5:23, remixed by Nile Rodgers)

B1: “Modern Love (Live Version)” (3:43)

B2: “Modern Love (Instrumental)” (4:02, exclusive to 12” in some markets)

Extended Version: Remixed for club play, with elongated intro, extended instrumental breaks, and enhanced percussion/horn sections. Emphasized the song’s danceable rhythm for DJs.

Instrumental: A rare mix, stripping vocals to highlight the arrangement. Not included on all 12” pressings (e.g., some US promos omitted it).

Regional Notes:

US Promo (SPRO-9969/9970): Side A had the Extended Version (5:23), Side B had the Instrumental (4:02). Mislabeling occurred on some copies, listing incorrect track times.

Canada: V-75073 included the same tracklist as the UK 12EA 158, with a bilingual sleeve (English/French).

Europe: EMI Electrola pressings were distributed across Germany, Netherlands, and Scandinavia, with consistent mastering.

Availability:

Targeted at DJs and collectors, with fewer copies pressed than the 7”.

The extended and instrumental mixes were later reissued digitally (e.g., 2007 EP).

Digital EP (2007):

Tracks:

“Modern Love (Extended Version)” (5:23)

“Modern Love (Instrumental)” (4:02)

“Modern Love” (3:56, single edit)

Released via digital platforms (e.g., iTunes) to preserve the single’s mixes. No live version included.

Loving the Alien Box Set (2018):

Tracks:

Remastered “Modern Love” (single edit)

Extended and instrumental versions

Live version (from Serious Moonlight Tour recordings)

Part of Parlophone’s comprehensive box set, covering Bowie’s 1983–1988 EMI era. Includes high-fidelity remasters and tour footage.

Other Compilations:

“Modern Love” (single edit) appeared on:

Changesbowie (1990)

The Singles Collection (1993)

Best of Bowie (2002)

The Platinum Collection (2005)

The Best of David Bowie 1980/1987 (2007)

Nothing Has Changed (2014)

Bowie Legacy (2016)

The live version appeared in Serious Moonlight (Live ’83) (2009) and Loving the Alien box set.

EMI America timed the release to coincide with the Serious Moonlight Tour (May–December 1983), which drew 2.6 million fans across 96 shows. The live B-side leveraged tour hype.

The single followed “Let’s Dance” (No. 1 UK/US) and “China Girl” (No. 2 UK, No. 10 US), maintaining momentum for Let’s Dance’s multi-platinum sales (over 10 million globally).

The 12” mixes targeted clubs, reflecting the 1980s trend of extended dance remixes, with Nile Rodgers’ involvement ensuring club credibility.

Promotional Efforts:

Promotional 7” and 12” singles (e.g., US SPRO-9969) were sent to radio and clubs, often with “DJ Copy” stamps.

The music video, filmed during the Philadelphia tour stop (July 1983), aired heavily on MTV, boosting visibility.

EMI distributed posters and in-store displays featuring Let’s Dance artwork, with “Modern Love” promoted as a tour highlight.