"Baby Universal" is a song by Anglo-American hard rock band

Tin Machine Tin Machine were a British–American rock band formed in 1988, and fronted by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. The band consisted of Bowie on lead vocals, saxophone and guitar; Reeves Gabrels on guitar and vocals; Tony Fox Sales on bass ...

, released as the second single from their ''

Tin Machine II ''Tin Machine II'' is the second and final studio album by Anglo-American rock group Tin Machine, released on 2September 1991 through Victory Music in association with London Records. The band, composed of English singer-songwriter David Bowie, ...

'' album in October 1991.

Background and recording

Lead vocalist

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

and guitarrist

Reeves Gabrels Reeves Gabrels (born June 4, 1956) is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. A member and guitarist of British band the Cure since 2012, Gabrels worked with David Bowie from 1987 to 1999, and was a member of the band Tin Machine. ...

originally recorded a demo of "Baby Universal" in 1988, prior to the actual formation of the band Tin Machine, but it was shelved for the first album after producer

Tim Palmer Timothy J. Palmer (born 4 October 1962, in North Shields) is an English record producer, audio engineer, guitarist and songwriter of rock music, rock and alternative rock, alternative music. He Audio mixing (recorded music), mixed Pearl Jam's d ...

suggested it might be "too catchy" for inclusion. The single release was backed with tracks recorded at the band's

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session recorded for

Mark Goodier Mark Goodier (born 9 June 1961) is a British radio disc jockey best known for his time on BBC Radio 1 between 1987 and 2002. He had two spells presenting the station's Top 40 singles chart, from 1990 to 1992 and from 1995 until 2002. He also h ...

's radio show on 13 August 1991, and a live appearance on the

's ''

Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British Record chart, music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show ...

''. Bowie re-recorded "Baby Universal" in 1996 for his 1997 album ''

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'', but it was not released on the album, instead eventually being released in 2020 as part of the EP ''

Is it Any Wonder? "Is It Any Wonder?" is a song written and performed by English alternative rock band Keane, released as the second single from their second studio album, ''Under the Iron Sea''. The single was released to the iTunes Store on 16 May and to sho ...

''.

Track listing

;7" version # "Baby Universal" (David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels) – 3:07 # "You Belong in Rock 'n' Roll" (Extended version) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 6:32 ;12" version # "Baby Universal" (Extended version) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 5:49 # "A Big Hurt (BBC version)" (Bowie) – 3:33 # "Baby Universal" (BBC version) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:12 ;CD version # "Baby Universal" (7" version) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:07 # "Stateside" (BBC version) (Hunt Sales) – 6:35 # "If There Is Something" (BBC version) ( Bryan Ferry) – 3:25 # "Heaven's in Here" (BBC version) (Bowie) – 6:41 * A "special edition" version of the CD single was released in a tin can container ;Japan CD version # "Baby Universal" (7" version) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:07 # "Amlapura" (Indonesian version) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:53 # "Shakin' All Over" (live) (Kidd) – 2:49 # "Baby Universal" (Extended version) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 5:49 ;US promo CD version # "Baby Universal" (7" version) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:07 # "Baby Universal" (Extended version) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 5:49 # "Baby Universal" (BBC version) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:12 # "Stateside" (BBC version) (Sales) – 6:35

Live performances

"Baby Universal" was performed live by Tin Machine during their 1991-92"

It's My Life Tour The It's My Life Tour was a concert tour headlined by Anglo-American hard rock band Tin Machine. The tour commenced on 5 October 1991 after two warm-up shows, one press show and three trade-industry shows, visiting twelve countries and concludi ...

, and by Bowie during his

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in 1996. A recording from the former appears on the live video release of '' Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby'' (1992).

Credits and personnel

Producers * Tin Machine *

Musicians *

– vocals, guitar *

– lead guitar *

Hunt Sales Hunt Sales (born March 2, 1954) is an American rock drummer, who has played with Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop and Tin Machine with David Bowie. He has often worked with his brother Tony Sales, a bass guitarist. Personal life Hunt Sales is a son o ...

– drums, vocals *

Tony Sales Tony Fox Sales (born September 26, 1951) is an American rock musician and composer. Normally on bass guitar, Sales and his brother, Hunt Sales, have worked with Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop, and in Tin Machine with David Bowie. Early life and career B ...

– bass, vocals * Kevin Armstrong – rhythm guitar

Chart performance

References

*Pegg, Nicholas, ''The Complete David Bowie'', Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, {{authority control 1991 singles Tin Machine songs 1991 songs Songs written by David Bowie Songs written by Reeves Gabrels London Records singles