Let's Dance (Album)

15th album

Released in April 1983

Genres considered - Post-Disco, Dance-Rock, New Wave, Dance-Pop

Point of intrigue - Sessions included members of Chic and the then-unknown Stevie Ray Vaughan.

At the time, Let's Dance was an album Bowie only sang and did not play an instrumental.

Major commercial success/Mixed reviews

No. 1 worldwide ... Serious Moonlight Tour (1983)

Launched David Bowie into superstardom

Bowie's best-selling album - 10.7 million copies worldwide

EMI's fastest-selling album since the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Point of interest - Bowie was critical of himself with the album's success and widened audience base.  This mindset was reflected in his follow-up records, Tonight (1984) and Never Let Me Down (1987).  Both were dismissed by critics.

Singles Charts -

- "Let's Dance" - UK/U.S. No. 1

("...played endlessly on UK radio stations...")

- "China Girl" - UK No. 2 ... U.S. No. 10

(Short in the UK by "Every Breath You Take")

- "Modern Love" - UK No. 2 ... U.S. No. 14

(Short in the UK by "Karma Chameleon")

- "Without You" - U.S. No. 73

Critical Reception

Review Scores -

Rolling Stone - 4/5 Stars

Smash Hits - 6.5/10

The Village Voice - B

Legacy

Review Scores -

AllMusic - 3/5 Stars

Blender - 4/5 Stars

Chicago Tribune - 3/4 Stars

The Encyclopedia of Popular Music - 3/5 Stars

Pitchfork - 8.4/10

Q - 3/5 Stars

The Rolling Stone Album Guide - 3.5/5 Stars

Spin Alternative Record Guide - 6/10

Track List -

Side One -

1.  Modern Love

2.  China Girl

3.  Let's Dance

4.  Without You

Side Two -

1.  Ricochet

2.  Criminal World

3.  Cat People (Putting Out Fire)

4.  Shake It

Weekly Charts (1983 - 1984)

U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 21

U.S. Billboard Rock Albums - 3

U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tape - 4

UK Albums - 1 

(Swiss 17, Swedish 1, Spanish 3, Norwegian 1, New Zealand 1, Japanese 6, Israeli 3, Italian 5, Iceland 1, German 2, French 1, Finnish 1, Dutch 1, Danish 1, Canada 1, Austrian 2, Australian 1)

Year-end Charts (1983)

U.S. Billboard Pop - 28

UK - 4

New Zealand - 1

Japan - 22

Germany - 5

France - 8

Dutch - 3

Canada - 2

Austria - 9

Australia - 4

Year-end Charts (1984)

U.S. Billboard Pop - 64

Canada - 69

Australia - 72

Weekly Charts  

2016 - Italy 78, France 60, Canada 57, Australia 37

2019 - Hungary 15

2020 - Scotland 9

Certifications

Gold in Austria, Denmark, Finland, & Spain

Silver in the UK (1999 release)

Platinum in Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, UK, U.S.

5x Platinum in Canada

(Wikipedia)