I have always been a fan of this particular Bowie track,but I am curious as to what the song is about?

ALso the song itself sounds distinctly different on the 3 different albums I have of it.

On Bowie the Singles (69-93), the song is an exact match to the video version. It sounds more raw ,almost like something is missing from the acoustics.

ON Bowie: 1969-1974, the song sounds alike but has a sax added. This time however, it sounds more refined and doesn't sound raw.

On Bowie: 1974-79, it becomes a disco victim, but that has more to do with his flirtation with PLastic Soul.

Has anyone else heard the difference between the tracks?

The "video" version is the original!
Then Bowie re-recorded it (sax version) for the album "Aladdin Sane" though it didn't make the final configuration of the record!
The last version was recorded around the sessions of "Young Americans"!

I love all 3 verisons but my fav is the sax version!

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

Check your orgnotes!

Cheeky said:

thanks...I like the raw version (video version). The video itself is so dark and out there that it works well for me. I liked the Spiders from Mars era alot!

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

Welcome!

Cheek said:

it's my favorite too, though the "disco" remake certainly comes in at a strong second place.

i've always thought the song was about a male hustler who goes out dancing with his gay "john" (slang for "customer", in case ya don't know), and the hustler winds up dancing with a girl and has to explain it to the john.

right?

Anxiety said:

toad.

GangstaFam said:

That's right!

.
[Edited 1/13/06 7:34am]

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

There are two disco versions of John, I'm Only Dancing - a 7" and 12" edit. I don't think the 72 version is currently on any CD. Anyway, I prefer the disco version to the original - not that they have that much in common, other than the title.

Shapeshifter said:

-Changesbowie
-The Singles Collection
-Best Of Bowie
-The Rise & Fall Of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars 30th Anniversary Edition

the best copy of the sax version i know of that's on CD is on the aladdin sane 30th anniversary re-issue. good stuff.

I know I'm way in the minority, but I prefer the '72 version. It's the one I knew first and I just love that video.

Anxiety said:

GangstaFam said:

AGREED

Like the original one, but "John I'm Only Dancing Again" or the disco version as it's called is my favorite because I hear David Sanborn, Luther, and the gang in the background and I pretty much favor the plastic soul '74-'76 era.

JazzyJ said:

that version reminds me of a prince parade-era 12", dunno why. maybe just because it's funky.

Anxiety said:

Exactly!!!

This is my favorite track too as it changes style so much throughout the song. Aladdin sane is a close second, but sometimes freaks me out a bit if listening on my own in a dark room with no lights