Tin Machine (song) explained

Tin Machine/Maggie's Farm
Cover:TinMachine_TinMachine.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Tin Machine
Album:Tin Machine
Released:September 1989
Recorded:August 1988 – early 1989;
studio material recorded at
Mountain Studios, Montreux Switzerland,
and Compass Point Studios, Nassau
live recording
25th of June 1989;
at La Cigale, Paris
B-Side:"Maggie's Farm" / "Bus Stop" (live country version)
Genre:Rock
Length:3:34/4:29
Label:EMI
MT 73
Prev Title:Under the God
Prev Year:1989
Tin Machine
Title2:Maggie's Farm
Next Title:Prisoner of Love
Next Year:1989

"Tin Machine" is a song by Anglo-American hard rock band Tin Machine, and the song from which they took their name, a track from their debut album, also of the same name. It was released as a single in September 1989, as a double A-side with a live cover of Bob Dylan’s “Maggie's Farm”.[1] [2]

Song development and live performances

According to guitarist Reeves Gabrels, naming the band after the song was the idea of the Sales brothers, who reasoned "It’s like having your own theme tune".

"Maggie’s Farm" and the other live tracks were recorded at the band’s gig at La Cigale, Paris on 25 June 1989. Both songs had videos – "Tin Machine" featured in an excerpt from Julien Temple’s promotional film as a mock performance where the fans stormed the stage,[3] leaving lead vocalist David Bowie with a nosebleed; and "Maggie’s Farm" was recorded live. Despite this, the double-A side entered the chart at its UK No. 48 peak.

The live version of "Bus Stop" (also released as the Country version, or Live Country version) would later appear as a bonus track on 1995 Virgin Records reissue of Tin Machine.

Track listing

7" version

  1. "Tin Machine" (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 3:34
  2. "Maggie's Farm" (Live) (Dylan) – 4:29

12" version

  1. "Tin Machine" (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 3:34
  2. "Maggie’s Farm" (Live) (Dylan) – 4:29
  3. "I Can't Read" (Live) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 6:13

CD version

  1. "Tin Machine" (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 3:34
  2. "Maggie's Farm" (Live) (Dylan) – 4:29
  3. "I Can't Read" (Live) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 6:13
  4. "Bus Stop" (Live) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 1:52

Credits and personnel

Producers

Musicians

Additional musicians

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Pegg, Nicholas . "The Complete David Bowie New Edition: Expanded and Updated" . October 2016 . Titan Books.
  2. Book: O'Leary, Chris . Ashes to Ashes The Songs of David Bowie 1976–2016 . . 2019 . 9781912248308.
  3. Web site: David Bowie & I: Socks, Sax & Sex Shops . 3 June 2019 . 6 June 2019 . McLennan . Scott.