Lust For Life Hits 44 Years Old Today : Iggy and Bowie
44 years ago today, Lust For Life came out on the heels of Iggy’s post-Stooges era. This album was Pop’s second solo album as he released The Idiot earlier in the same year. Exactly on 29 August 1977, Iggy Pop was ready to redefine rock and roll once more as the Stooges were disbanded in 1974.
The man behind the mixing desk was no one but David Bowie. Making the deal sealed for both The Idiot and Lust For Life with the RCA, Bowie was the half part of Iggy’s soul. With the help of Bowie as a producer and co-songwriter, Iggy managed to release two phenomenal albums in a year. It’s hard to talk about Iggy Pop’s career in this era without mention Bowie in the slightest.
Lust For Life was just handled in around 4 months from its released and recorded for only 8 day as Pop said. However, this Pop’s seminal solo album was considerably the greatest album in the meantime. While The Idiot sounds more experimental and atmospheric, Lust For Life is like the returning of the prince, straightforward rock n roll with all the energetic and supreme punk tendencies.
Iggy Pop’s ultra-violet punk act was heading into a new direction as it obviously felt in these upbeat track such as “Lust for Life”, “Some Weird Sin” and “Sixteen”. Originally running for 48 minutes in 9 tracks, Lust For Life’s lyrics were ad-libbed by Pop. As as less-is-more kinda songwriter, Iggy tend to create this lyrics with the solid-freeflow materials.
“The Passenger” is undeniable elements in which this album hits the billboard. Paying homage to Jim Morrison and carpooling, this song is loosely based on Jim Morrison poem from his collection called “The Lords/Notes on Visions”.
Iggy is most likely headed on a course just left of center, bizarre enough to attract those inclined toward something different but safe enough not to scare them away — Billy Altman, January 1978, Rolling Stone.
