"Ashes to Ashes" by David Bowie

Happy Independence Day weekend, Dialophiles! Hopefully you are all enjoying great times with family and friends, and reflecting on the history of our great country, and the freedoms we all share.  In order to contribute to the festivities, the Dial is bringing you a great track from glam rock pioneer David Bowie, his timeless 1980 classic “Ashes to Ashes”! (there may not appear to be a connection here... but keep reading!)

“Do you remember a guy that’s been…  in such an early song… I’ve heard a rumor from Ground Control… oh no, don’t say it’s true.”

A thematic sequel to Bowie’s 1969 hit “Space Oddity”, “Ashes” continues the story of troubled astronaut “Major Tom”. Where the original song has Tom accepting that his spaceship has malfunctioned and he’s drifting among the stars helplessly, “Ashes” re-defines the good Major as a junkie struggling with addiction and aging. Because of this, many musicologists interpret the song as being more about Bowie’s own personal demons, rather than a true second chapter to Tom’s spaceflight saga.

“They got a message from the Action Man… ‘I’m happy, hope you’re happy too. I’ve loved all I’ve needed to love… sordid details following.’”

Amazingly, this awesomely atmospheric single, which truly deserved to be a big hit, only “Bubbled under” the Hot 100 at position #101, though the parent LP “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)” topped the UK Album charts and made a very respectable #12 on the Billboard 200 here in the States.

I believe “Ashes” was a few years ahead of its time, and had it been released during the Duran Duran/Missing Persons/A Flock of Seagulls new wave era, it likely would have reached the top 30 on the singles chart here in the States, at least.

“I’ve never done good things… I’ve never done bad things… I’ve never did anything out of the blue… want an axe to break the ice… I wanna come down right now.”

Major Tom was revisited in another continuation, 1983’s “Major Tom (Coming Home)” by Peter Schilling. Though this US #14 hit single was created without Bowie’s involvement, it serves as a retelling of the original Space Oddity. Describing an otherwise normal space mission that goes awry, the ending is left ambiguous as to whether Tom passes away peacefully in his craft, or starts to tumble back to Earth with the malfunctioning ship.

I became re-familiar with “Ashes” in the mid 90s when a friend made me a compilation cassette of interesting cover songs, which included the 1992 Tears for Fears version taken from the “Ruby Trax” compilation LP. I had only heard Bowie’s original once or twice by the time I heard Tears’ cover, which, while quite outstanding in it’s own right, led to me seeking out and rediscovering the original Bowie track.

So, prepare yourself for your own journey of rediscovery, Dialophiles, and join Bowie and Major Tom in that capsule far out in space. Maybe from way up there, Tom can see the fireworks celebrations happening all over the country tonight. See, I found a way to tie it all together, after all!

“Ashes to ashes… funk to funky, we know major Tom’s a junkie. Strung out in heaven’s high… hitting an all time low.”