"Lust for Life" is the second solo studio album by American musician Iggy Pop, released on September 9, 1977, through RCA Records. This album marked his second collaboration with David Bowie, following their earlier work on The Idiot, which was released earlier in the year. After touring in support of The Idiot with Bowie serving as his keyboardist, Pop and Bowie reconvened in Berlin to work on Lust for Life.
The album was recorded at Hansa Studio by the Wall in West Berlin between May and June 1977, with production handled by Bowie, Pop, and engineer Colin Thurston. The core lineup for the album included Pop, Bowie, guitarist Ricky Gardiner, and the Sales brothers, Tony Fox on bass and Hunt on drums. While The Idiot was largely composed by Bowie, Pop took a more hands-on approach with Lust for Life, crafting his own arrangements, especially for tracks like "Sixteen". This approach led to a harder rock and proto-punk sound reminiscent of his earlier work with the Stooges, although Bowie’s influence remained evident on tracks like the title track.
Upon its release, Lust for Life received minimal promotion from RCA but managed to peak at number 28 on the UK Albums Chart, which remained Pop’s highest-charting album in the UK until Post Pop Depression in 2016. It also reached number 8 in the Netherlands and number 120 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart. The album was critically acclaimed for Pop’s energetic performance and his increased creative control compared to The Idiot. Over time, Lust for Life has been regarded as one of Pop's best works and has appeared on various best-of lists. It also represented the end of Pop and Bowie's collaborations until the mid-1980s.
