Kooks (song) explained

Kooks
Artist:	David Bowie
Album:	Hunky Dory
Released:	17 December 1971
Recorded:	Summer 1971
Studio:	Trident, London
Genre:	Pop rock folk rock twee pop^[1]
Length:	2:53
Label:	RCA
Producer:	Ken Scott, David Bowie
Next Year:	1975

"Kooks" is a song written by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie, which appears on his 1971 album Hunky Dory. Bowie wrote this song to his newborn son Duncan Jones. The song was a pastiche of early 1970s Neil Young because Bowie was listening to a Neil Young record at home on 30 May 1971 when he got the news of the arrival of his son.^[2]

Live versions

• Before the studio recording of the song was made, it was recorded for the BBC In Concert radio show with John Peel, on 3 June 1971 (broadcast on 20 June 1971). In 2000 this recording was released on the Bowie at the Beeb album.
• The song was recorded again for the BBC "Sounds of the 70s" radio show with Bob Harris on 21 September 1971 (broadcast on 4 October 1971).

Personnel

• David Bowie

lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, alto sax

• Mick Ronson

string arrangement

• Trevor Bolder

bass, trumpet

• Mick Woodmansey

drums

• Rick Wakeman

piano

References

Other sources

• Pegg, Nicholas (0200), The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd,

Notes and References

1. Web site: Pitchfork Staff . The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s . . June 23, 2004 . ...and primitive twee-pop (“Kooks,” “Fill Your Heart”).. April 16, 2023.
2. Kevin Cann (2010). Any Day Now - David Bowie: The London Years: 1947-1974: p.218