← Back

Low

by David Bowie

Released: January 14, 1977

Art rock, avant-pop, electronic, ambient, experimental rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Experimental Album.

The Album

This departure was prompted in part by Bowie's move to West Berlin following his devastating personal struggles in Los Angeles. "Low" is the 11th studio album by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released on 14 January 1977 by RCA Records. Often considered as one of Bowie's most influential works, this album represents a significant shift in his musical style, leaning more towards electronic and ambient music.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The album kick-started the "Berlin Trilogy" - a…

The album kick-started the "Berlin Trilogy" - a series of three albums ("Low," "Heroes," and "Lodger") that Bowie produced in collaboration with Brian Eno.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

David Bowie - Low

Open in Albums Gallery

Then

Reception

Despite its initially mixed reviews, it later gained considerable acclaim, with various publications eventually citing it as one of the greatest albums of all time.

Now

Legacy

"Low" contains minimalist, abstract arrangements, utilizing synthesizers and featuring strange, fragmented lyrics, which is a marked contrast to the soul-inflected funk of his previous album, "Young Americans." The album's legacy is significant, having inspired a new generation of musicians from various genres, including post-punk, new wave, and electronic music.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Low" is the 11th studio album by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released on 14 January 1977 by RCA Records. Often considered as one of Bowie's most influential works, this album represents a significant shift in his musical style, leaning more towards electronic and ambient music. This departure was prompted in part by Bowie's move to West Berlin following his devastating personal struggles in Los Angeles.

The album kick-started the "Berlin Trilogy" - a series of three albums ("Low," "Heroes," and "Lodger") that Bowie produced in collaboration with Brian Eno. "Low" contains minimalist, abstract arrangements, utilizing synthesizers and featuring strange, fragmented lyrics, which is a marked contrast to the soul-inflected funk of his previous album, "Young Americans."

The album's legacy is significant, having inspired a new generation of musicians from various genres, including post-punk, new wave, and electronic music. Despite its initially mixed reviews, it later gained considerable acclaim, with various publications eventually citing it as one of the greatest albums of all time.