Artists
Musicians featured in this piece are:
David Bowie, Mick Jagger – vocals
Kevin Armstrong, G.E. Smith, Earl Slick – guitar
Steve Nieve – keyboards
Matthew Seligman, John “Skinny” Regan – bass guitar
Neil Conti – drums
Pedro Ortiz, Jimmy Maelen – percussion
Mac Gollehon – trumpet
Stan Harrison – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Lenny Pickett – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
Helena Springs, Tessa Niles – backing vocals
Written by Marvin Gaye, William “Mickey” Stevenson & Ivy Jo Hunter (originally a 1964 Martha and the Vandellas recording). Produced by David Bowie, Alan Winstanley & Clive Langer, with additional production by Nile Rodgers, Mick Jagger, Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero, recorded in one session on 29 June 1985 at Westside Studios, London.
The track came together while David Bowie was at Westside Studios recording his contributions to the Absolute Beginners soundtrack, using many of the same session musicians. An early Live Aid plan had called for a transatlantic duet, with Bowie performing from Wembley Stadium and Mick Jagger from JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, but the satellite delay made that unworkable, so Jagger instead flew to London to record the song in person with Bowie — reportedly completing the whole track in just two takes over about four hours. Bassist John Regan later recalled watching Jagger dance around the studio with full performance energy even during the session. Jagger ultimately performed the Live Aid set with Tina Turner instead, while this recording became a Grammy-nominated, chart-topping charity single.
David Bowie and Mick Jagger – Dancing In The Street Lyrics
[Intro: Mick Jagger, David Bowie]
Okay
Tokyo, South America, Australia, France, Germany, UK, Africa
[Verse 1: Mick Jagger, Mick Jagger & David Bowie]
Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand-new beat?
Summer’s here and the time is right
For dancing in the street
They’re dancing in Chicago (Dancing in the street)
Down in New Orleans (Dancing in the street)
In New York City (Dancing in the street)
[Pre-Chorus: Mick Jagger & David Bowie, David Bowie]
All we need is music, sweet music
There’ll be music everywhere
They’ll be swinging, swaying, records playing
Dancing in the street, oh
[Chorus: Mick Jagger & David Bowie]
It doesn’t matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere, around the world
They’ll be dancing
Dancing in the street (Dancing in the street)
To listen to other songs from the Teleskop 18 program and the full program, click here.