I Dig Everything

Last updated

"I Dig Everything"
I Dig Everything.jpeg
2000 CD reissue
Single by David Bowie
B-side "I'm Not Losing Sleep"
Released19 August 1966 (1966-08-19)
Recorded5 July 1966
Studio Pye, London
Genre Pop
Length2:45
Label Pye
Songwriter(s) David Bowie
Producer(s) Tony Hatch
David Bowie singles chronology
"Do Anything You Say"
(1966)		"I Dig Everything"
(1966)		"Rubber Band"
(1966)

"I Dig Everything" is a single by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was his final single for Pye Records, released on 19 August 1966. The track was originally demoed with Bowie's then-band, the Buzz, but producer Tony Hatch was unhappy with their efforts and replaced them with session players. It is a pop song that musically and lyrically reflected the mid-1960s Swinging London era. The single was another commercial failure and resulted in the label dropping him. The original recording was included on the Early On (1964–1966) compilation in 1991.

Contents

Scottish trio 1-2-3 (later Clouds) performed the song during their live sets in the spring of 1967, becoming one of the first Bowie songs to be covered. After reviving the song live in 2000, Bowie re-recorded it in 2000 for the Toy project, which was initially shelved and released posthumously in 2021. The remake abandoned the original's production, becoming a guitar-driven rocker.

Recording and style

Tony Hatch in 2013, who produced the track. TonyHatch2013.jpg
Tony Hatch in 2013, who produced the track.

David Bowie and his backing band the Buzz first attempted to record "I Dig Everything" on 6 June 1966 at Pye Studios in London. With Tony Hatch producing, after having produced Bowie's two previous singles, the session featured Dusty Springfield's backing vocalists Kiki Dee, Lesley Duncan and Madeline Bell and trumpeter Andy Kirk of Dave Antony's Moods. However, the band were under-rehearsed and Hatch deemed the session a failure. [1] [2] According to Buzz member John Eager, the Moods "were okay playing soul music but that's not what we wanted". [3]

Although Bowie and the Buzz intended to rehearse further at R. G. Jones Studio, Hatch was unimpressed with the Buzz and instead hired numerous local studio musicians for the official Pye session on 5 July, having Bowie solely perform lead vocals. [1] Hatch later said in 1990: "I frequently tried sessions with musicians recommended by singer/songwriters, often their own bands. Sometimes it worked and you could capture a natural raw quality." [2] The session also produced the single's B-side, "I'm Not Losing Sleep". [3] [4]

Hatch centred the new take of "I Dig Everything" on Hammond organ, percussion and a flute countermelody in the second verse. [3] The final take is lighthearted, leading James Perone to describe it as a "rock-inspired pop song" that exemplifies the style of 1960s Swinging London. [5] [6] Author Jon Savage compares it to the "burlesque sashay" of the contemporaneous song "Do You Come Here Often?" by English instrumental band the Tornados. [7] The musical style supports the lyric which, in Nicholas Pegg's words, is "a cynical celebration of a layabout lifestyle on London's transient teen-scene". [1] Perone states that Bowie would utilise similar characters as "I Dig Everything" in songs across his entire career. [5] According to Chris O'Leary, Bowie struggled to sing several notes that are evident in the finished take. [3] The arrangement is partially soul-influenced while the lyric emphasises Bowie's appreciation for American slang, which he would use prominently in later recordings. [1] Authors Marc Spitz and Paul Trynka later compared the song's sound and style to the Austin Powers film series. [8] [9]

Release

Four-prong centre variant of original 1966 UK single I Dig Everything by David Bowie original 1966 UK single.png
Four-prong centre variant of original 1966 UK single

Pye Records issued "I Dig Everything" in the United Kingdom on 19 August 1966, [1] with the catalogue number Pye 7N 17157. [5] Like his other singles, it failed to chart, resulting in his dismissal from Pye Records. [1] Hatch later called his first single with Bowie, "Can't Help Thinking About Me", their best collaboration, stating that with each subsequent single, "we were getting further away from what we had [then], rough as it was." [3] Hatch also acknowledged Bowie as a talented songwriter, saying, "I, particularly, recognised something special about Bowie. [...] I personally loved his take on London life and was very disappointed when we couldn't make others realise just how original he was." [8] Although Bowie and the Buzz had appeared on the ATV programme Ready Steady Go! earlier in the year, [10] the program rejected "I Dig Everything". [11] They performed the new single later in the year, by which point Bowie had signed with Deram Records and began recording his first full-length album. [1] The original recording later appeared on the compilation Early On (1964–1966) (1991). [12]

In the spring of 1967, Scottish trio 1-2-3 (later Clouds) included "I Dig Everything" in their live performances, becoming one of the first Bowie songs to be covered. [1] After he found out, Bowie befriended the band and later employed two members to play on some of his Ziggy -era demos. [1] In Bowie: A Biography , Spitz calls the track "wonderful" and the best of Bowie's Hatch-produced singles. [8] Reviewing the single retrospectively for AllMusic, Ned Raggett called the song an "enjoyable enough romp" that has "just enough fun and bite to connect in equal measure". [6] In a 2016 list ranking every Bowie single from worst to best, Ultimate Classic Rock placed "I Dig Everything" at number 106 (out of 119). [13]

Toy version

"I Dig Everything"
Song by David Bowie
from the album Toy
Released26 November 2021 (2021-11-26)
RecordedJuly–October 2000
Studio Sear Sound and Looking Glass (New York City)
Length5:03
Label ISO/Parlophone
Songwriter(s) David Bowie
Producer(s) David Bowie, Mark Plati

Bowie unexpectedly revived "I Dig Everything" during his summer 2000 tour. [1] Shortly after, he re-recorded the song during the sessions for the Toy project between July and October 2000, along with other tracks he wrote and recorded during the mid-1960s, including his other Pye single "Can't Help Thinking About Me". [14] The lineup consisted of members of Bowie's then-touring band: guitarist Earl Slick, bassist Gail Ann Dorsey, pianist Mike Garson, musician Mark Plati and drummer Sterling Campbell, along with instrumentalist Lisa Germano on violin and backing vocalists Holly Palmer and Emm Gryner. [15] [14] Co-produced by Bowie and Plati, the band rehearsed the songs at Sear Sound Studios in New York City before recording them as live tracks. [16] Plati stated that he refused to listen to Bowie's original recordings of the tracks, so to prevent the originals from influencing his playing on the new versions. [17] Overdubs were recorded at New York's Looking Glass Studios. [14] [15]

Toy was initially intended for release in March 2001, before it was shelved by EMI/Virgin due to financial issues. [15] Bowie departed the label and recorded his next album Heathen (2002). In March 2011, tracks from the Toy sessions, including "I Dig Everything", were leaked online, attracting media attention. [18] [19] With a length of 4:52, the leaked version displayed a slower tempo and ditched the Swinging London-style for a more guitar-led arrangement. [1]

Ten years later, on 29 September 2021, Warner Music Group announced that Toy would get an official release on 26 November as part of the box set Brilliant Adventure (1992–2001) through ISO and Parlophone. [20] [21] A separate deluxe edition, titled Toy:Box, was released on 7 January 2022, [22] [23] which contains two new mixes of the song: an "alternative mix" and an "Unplugged and Somewhat Slightly Electric" mix, featuring new guitar parts by Plati and Slick. [20] [24]

The Evening Standard 's David Smyth writes that, similar to the leaked version, the official release abandons Hatch's original production to become a "stomping rocker". [25] Helen Brown of The Independent also stated that "the once wannabe-jaunty" original is morphed into "a blast of grungy fun", further noting the difference in Bowie's vocal performance. [26] Meanwhile, Rolling Stone's Brenna Ehrlich found the remake harkened back to Bowie's cover of Them's "Here Comes the Night" from Pin Ups (1973). [27] Reviewing Toy, Pitchfork 's Sean T. Collins praised the performances of the band but felt they hurt the material more than help it, particularly on "I Dig Everything", which went from a "Swinging London, proto-reggae sound" to a "preening rocker". [28]

Personnel

According to Chris O'Leary: [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Earthling</i> (album) 1997 studio album by David Bowie

Earthling is the 21st studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released on 3 February 1997 through RCA Records in the United Kingdom, Virgin Records in the United States, and Arista Records/BMG in other territories. Mostly self-produced by Bowie, it was primarily recorded from August to October 1996 at New York City's Looking Glass Studios. Bowie composed the tracks with Reeves Gabrels and Mark Plati, who are credited as co-producers, with Mike Garson, Gail Ann Dorsey and Zack Alford providing overdubs later.

<i>David Bowie</i> (1967 album) 1967 studio album by David Bowie

David Bowie is the debut studio album by the English musician David Bowie, originally released in the United Kingdom on 1 June 1967 through Decca subsidiary Deram Records. Produced by Mike Vernon and recorded from November 1966 to March 1967 at London's Decca Studios, the album followed a string of singles for Pye Records that failed to chart. Vernon hired numerous studio musicians for the album's sessions; Bowie and his former Buzz bandmate Derek Fearnley composed music charts for the orchestra using Freda Dinn's Observer's Guide to Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Afraid of Americans</span> 1997 single by David Bowie

"I'm Afraid of Americans" is a song by the English musician David Bowie, released as a single from his album Earthling on 14 October 1997 through Virgin Records. The song was co-written by Bowie and Brian Eno and originally recorded during the sessions for Bowie's 1995 album Outside; this version was released on the soundtrack of Showgirls (1995). The song was then remade during the sessions for Earthling, featuring rewritten lyrics, overdubs and transposed verses. An industrial and techno track, it presents a critique of America through the eyes of a stereotypical "Johnny" and is characterised by drum patterns, synthesisers, various loops and vocal distortions.

<i>Hours</i> (David Bowie album) 1999 studio album by David Bowie

Hours is the 22nd studio album by the English musician David Bowie. It was originally released on 21 September 1999 through the Internet on the artist's website BowieNet, followed by a physical CD release on 4 October through Virgin Records. It was one of the first albums by a major artist available to download over the Internet. Originating as a soundtrack to the video game Omikron: The Nomad Soul (1999), Hours was the final collaboration between Bowie and guitarist Reeves Gabrels, with whom he had worked since 1988. The album was recorded in mid-1999 between studios in Bermuda and New York City. A song contest conducted on BowieNet in late 1998 resulted in a fan contributing lyrics and backing vocals to one of the tracks.

<i>The Buddha of Suburbia</i> (album) 1993 studio album / Soundtrack album by David Bowie

The Buddha of Suburbia is the 19th studio album by the English musician David Bowie, originally released on 8 November 1993 through Arista Records in the United Kingdom and Europe. The project originated following an interview between Bowie and novelist Hanif Kureishi during a press tour for Black Tie White Noise (1993), where Bowie agreed to compose music for an upcoming adaptation of Kureishi's novel The Buddha of Suburbia (1990). After making basic tracks, Bowie decided to turn the project into a full album. Working with musician Erdal Kızılçay, recording took place at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland and was completed in six days; Mike Garson contributed piano overdubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do Anything You Say</span> 1966 single by David Bowie

"Do Anything You Say" is a single by the English musician David Bowie, his first release solely credited to himself. Released by Pye Records on 1 April 1966, it was produced by Tony Hatch and featured contributions from his new backing band, the Buzz. The song failed to chart and has been negatively received by his biographers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rubber Band (song)</span> Song by David Bowie

"Rubber Band" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was recorded in October 1966 following Bowie's dismissal from Pye Records and helped secure him a record contract with Decca-subsidiary Deram Records, who released it as a single in the United Kingdom on 2 December of the same year. A departure from the mod-style sound of his previous releases, "Rubber Band" displays a style informed by vaudeville and British music hall – influenced particularly by British actor Anthony Newley. The lyrics tell the story of a man who goes off to war and, upon his return, finds his lover fell for a brass band conductor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Up the Hill Backwards</span> 1981 single by David Bowie

"Up the Hill Backwards" is a song by the English musician David Bowie, released on his 1980 album Scary Monsters . It was later issued by RCA Records as the fourth and final single from the album in March 1981. Originally written under the title "Cameras in Brooklyn", the song was recorded between February and April 1980 at the Power Station in New York City and Good Earth Studios in London. The recording features backing vocalists, guitar contributions from Robert Fripp and acoustic guitar played by co-producer Tony Visconti. Lyrically, the song concerns the struggles of facing a crisis, partially influenced by Bowie's divorce from his wife Angie. Musically, the song contains numerous time signature changes and a Bo Diddley-inspired beat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay (David Bowie song)</span> 1976 song by David Bowie

"Stay" is a song by English musician David Bowie, released on his 1976 album Station to Station. The song was recorded in late 1975 at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles. Co-produced by Bowie and Harry Maslin, the recording featured guitarists Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick, bassist George Murray, drummer Dennis Davis, pianist Roy Bittan and Warren Peace on percussion. The track features prominent dual guitar work from Slick and Alomar, who mostly composed it in the studio. Based on the chord structure of "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)", a funk reworking of "John, I'm Only Dancing" (1972), "Stay" emulates funk rock, soul and hard rock. The song's lyrics are abstract and relate to love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Survive (David Bowie song)</span> Song by David Bowie

"Survive" is a song by the English musician David Bowie from his 1999 album Hours. It was later released in remixed form as the album's third single on 17 January 2000, reaching number 28 in the UK. Written by Bowie and Reeves Gabrels, it is a reflective number detailing the end of a relationship. Musically, it recalls the sound of Bowie's folk rock music of the late 1960s, and 1971's Hunky Dory. Its music video echoes the reflective quality of the recording, portraying Bowie levitating at a kitchen table with an egg. Praised as a highlight of Hours, Bowie performed "Survive" frequently through 1999 and 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell</span> 1999 song by David Bowie

"The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell" is a song by the English musician David Bowie from his 1999 album Hours. Written by Bowie and Reeves Gabrels, its title references past songs such as "Oh! You Pretty Things" and the Stooges' Raw Power track "Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell". On Hours, the song is a rockier number that contains elements of 1970s glam rock. The lyrics offer views on disillusionment and aging. The song was first released in a different mix in the film Stigmata before being released as the first single from the album in Australia and Japan, replacing "Thursday's Child". An unreleased music video was filmed that depicted Bowie encountering several of his past personas. It was performed live in 1999 and 2000.

"Shadow Man" is a song written by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was first recorded on 15 November 1971 at Trident Studios in London during the sessions for The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) and left unreleased. A folk ballad, the lyrics discuss topics of self-identity and doubling, and the impact one's present self has on their future lives, themes some linked to the Shadow concepts of Carl Jung.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You've Got a Habit of Leaving</span> 1965 single by David Bowie as Davy Jones

"You've Got a Habit of Leaving" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie, recorded and released as a single on 20 August 1965 through Parlophone. Released under the name Davy Jones, it featured his band at the time, the Lower Third, whose contributions were uncredited. Produced by Shel Talmy and recorded in early July 1965, the single marked a departure from the Americanised R&B of his two earlier singles into Who-style mod music. The original recording later appeared on the compilation albums Early On (1964–1966) (1991) and Nothing Has Changed (2014).

"Baby Loves That Way" is a song written by David Bowie in 1965 and released as the B-side of single "You've Got a Habit of Leaving" under the name Davy Jones with his band at the time, the Lower Third, who were uncredited. Bowie later remade the song during the sessions for his Toy album in 2000, which was officially released in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Help Thinking About Me</span> 1966 song by David Bowie

"Can't Help Thinking About Me" is a song written by the English musician David Bowie and recorded with his band the Lower Third. Released as a single by Pye Records on 14 January 1966, it was the first one issued under the "David Bowie" name after previously performing as Davy Jones or Davie Jones. The recording was produced by Tony Hatch, who also contributed piano. The session took place on 10 December 1965 at Marble Arch Studios in London. A rewrite of Bowie's "The London Boys", the song concerns a boy found guilty of an act that decides to leave town to start anew. It is noted by biographers as showcasing Bowie's growth as a songwriter, displaying themes he would utilise in his later work. Musically, the song explores the contemporary mod sound of the Who and the Kinks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The London Boys</span> 1966 song by David Bowie

"The London Boys" is a song by the English musician David Bowie. It was first released as the B-side of the single "Rubber Band" in the United Kingdom on 2 December 1966. It was originally written and demoed in 1965 with the Lower Third for potential release as the artist's debut single for Pye Records but it was rejected. After a year of rewrites, he recorded a new version with a new band, the Buzz, which helped secure him a record contract with Decca-subsidiary Deram Records. Unlike the A-side, "The London Boys" retains the Mod feel of Bowie's previous singles. The dark lyrics concern a 17-year-old who leaves home for London and becomes embroiled in the Mod scene, turning to pills to fit in. Like his previous singles, it failed to chart. Decca later issued it as an A-side in 1975..

<i>Toy</i> (David Bowie album) Posthumously released album by David Bowie

Toy is a studio album by the English musician David Bowie, posthumously released in November 2021. It was recorded from July to October 2000 in New York City and featured re-recordings of songs Bowie recorded between 1964 and 1971, along with a couple of new tracks. The project was co-produced by Bowie and Mark Plati and featured musicians from Bowie's then-touring band—Plati, Earl Slick, Gail Ann Dorsey, Mike Garson and Sterling Campbell—with overdubs from Lisa Germano, Gerry Leonard and Cuong Vu.

"Let Me Sleep Beside You" is a song written and recorded by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was recorded on 1 September 1967 at Advision Studios in London and marked the beginning of Bowie's working relationship with producer Tony Visconti, which would last for the rest of Bowie's career. A departure from the pop and music hall-influenced material of Bowie's 1967 self-titled debut album and other singles for Deram Records, the song displays a more rock-oriented sound with a cello arrangement from Visconti. The impressionist lyrics also depart from Bowie's prior works, describing love using the act of sleeping together rather than through emotional attachment. The song was rejected by Deram for release as a single, purportedly due to the risqué title. It remained unreleased until 1970's The World of David Bowie compilation.

"Silly Boy Blue" is a song written and recorded by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. Originally demoed in 1965 as a mod-influenced track about a teenage runaway, it was revised in 1966 with new lyrics and released on Bowie's self-titled debut album in June 1967. This version reflects Bowie's fascination with Tibetan Buddhism, featuring various spiritual and geographic references in the lyrics and varied instrumentation such as a trumpet, cello and Chinese gong. Bowie remade the song twice during his stint with the Riot Squad in April 1967: as an instrumental for live performances and acoustically, which has appeared on compilations.

"Karma Man" is a song written and recorded by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was recorded on 1 September 1967 at Advision Studios in London and marked the beginning of Bowie's working relationship with producer Tony Visconti, which would last for the rest of the artist's career. The song expresses Bowie's growing interest in Tibetan Buddhism, concerning a character who is put on display as a "freak" in a carnival tent. The music reflects the Buddhist themes and was likened to the works of the Beatles. Initially proposed as a B-side, it remained unreleased until The World of David Bowie compilation in March 1970. Bowie performed the song during two of his BBC radio sessions, one of which was released on the 2000 compilation Bowie at the Beeb.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pegg 2016, pp. 119–120.
  2. 1 2 Cann 2010, p. 83.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 O'Leary 2015, chap. 1.
  4. ↑ Cann 2010, p. 85.
  5. 1 2 3 Perone 2007, pp. 3–4.
  6. 1 2 Raggett, Ned. "'I Dig Everything' – David Bowie". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  7. ↑ Savage 2015, p. 288.
  8. 1 2 3 Spitz 2009, pp. 73–74.
  9. ↑ Trynka 2011, p. 78.
  10. ↑ Thompson 2006, pp. 304–305.
  11. ↑ Cann 2010, p. 86.
  12. ↑ Unterberger, Richie. "Early On (1964–1966) – David Bowie". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  13. ↑ "Every David Bowie Single Ranked". Ultimate Classic Rock . 14 January 2016. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 O'Leary 2019, chap. 11.
  15. 1 2 3 Pegg 2016, pp. 438–440.
  16. ↑ Buckley 2005, pp. 488–489.
  17. ↑ Greene, Andy (29 September 2021). "David Bowie's Lost Album 'Toy' Emerges From the Vaults". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  18. ↑ Michaels, Sean (23 March 2011). "David Bowie's unreleased album Toy leaks online". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 January 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  19. ↑ Perpetua, Matthew (22 March 2011). "Unreleased David Bowie LP 'Toy' Leaks Online". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  20. 1 2 Snapes, Laura (29 September 2021). "David Bowie: unreleased 2001 album Toy to get official issue". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  21. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (29 September 2021). "Lost 2001 David Bowie Album 'Toy' Set For Release". Billboard . Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  22. ↑ Whitaker, Marisa (29 September 2021). "Previously Unreleased David Bowie Album Toy to Arrive Next Year". Spin . Archived from the original on 14 October 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  23. ↑ "David Bowie: 'Lost' album Toy set for birthday release". BBC News . 29 September 2021. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  24. ↑ "Brilliant Adventure and TOY press release". David Bowie Official Website. 29 September 2021. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  25. ↑ Smyth, David (7 January 2022). "David Bowie – Toy:Box review: Lost album deserves its long overdue rescue". Evening Standard . Archived from the original on 8 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  26. ↑ Brown, Helen (25 November 2021). "David Bowie review, Toy: Alive with the sound of a band in their prime". The Independent . Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  27. ↑ Ehrlich, Brenna (23 November 2021). "David Bowie 'Toy' Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  28. ↑ Collins, Sean T. (11 December 2021). "David Bowie: Brilliant Adventure (1992–2001) Album Review". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.