Misplaced Pages

"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.

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

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

Other sources

• Pegg, Nicholas (0200), The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, ISBN 1-903111-14-5

• 1971 songs
• David Bowie songs
• Songs written by David Bowie
• Song recordings produced by Ken Scott
• Song recordings produced by David Bowie