"I Can't Read" is a song written by David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels for Tin Machine on their debut album in 1989. The song was subsequently re-recorded by Bowie and Gabrels together in 1997, and performed live during Bowie's concerts in the late 1990s.
Bowie described the song as "full of remorse and agony, I expect, it's when jobs go wrong, and home doesn't really feel warm any more, and you don't need anybody - you don't even pretend you do - and you end up in this kind of state."[1]
Bowie recorded two new versions of the song in 1997, one for the film The Ice Storm[2] and a different version for inclusion on his album Earthling (1997), although this latter version was not released outside of this single until its inclusion on Is It Any Wonder? (2020).[3] The Ice Storm version was released as a single in Germany and Scandinavia by Velvel Records in December 1997. In January 1998 it was also released in Australia by Shock Records under exclusive license from Velvel Records. The single stayed in the UK Top 200 for 3 weeks, peaking at No. 73.
Track listing
1997 Single / Soundtrack version
The 1997 single contained both of Bowie's re-recorded versions of the song. The "short version" was included on the soundtrack to "The Ice Storm" and the "long version" wouldn't appear anywhere else until 2020's EP Is It Any Wonder?
CD: Velvel / ZYX 8757-8 (Germany)
"I Can't Read" (Short Version) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 4:40
"I Can't Read" (Long Version) (Bowie, Gabrels) – 5:30
A performance from 25 June 1989 was released on the 12" and CD version of the single "Tin Machine" (1989). Another live version recorded during Tin Machine's 1991 It's My Life Tour was released on the live album Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby (1992), and a final version recorded in 1999 by Bowie and Gabrels, but without the other members of Tin Machine, was released on VH1 Storytellers (2009).
^Sprague, David (February 1997), "After a decade of missteps, David Bowie reinvents himself again ... and this time he's on target", Pulse! Magazine (156): 34–37, 72–73
^"David Bowie Is it Any Wonder? Streaming EP of unreleased & rare material". 14 February 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
^"Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
^"Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
July 31, 2023
read, song, written, david, bowie, reeves, gabrels, machine, their, debut, album, 1989, song, subsequently, recorded, bowie, gabrels, together, 1997, performed, live, during, bowie, concerts, late, 1990s, single, david, bowiefrom, album, storm, soundtrack, rel. I Can t Read is a song written by David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels for Tin Machine on their debut album in 1989 The song was subsequently re recorded by Bowie and Gabrels together in 1997 and performed live during Bowie s concerts in the late 1990s I Can t Read Single by David Bowiefrom the album The Ice Storm soundtrack Released1 December 1997RecordedAugust 1996Length4 40 short version 5 30 long version LabelVelvel Records ZYX ZYX 8757 8 Songwriter s David Bowie Reeves GabrelsProducer s David Bowie Mark Plati Reeves GabrelsDavid Bowie singles chronology I m Afraid of Americans 1997 I Can t Read 1997 Thursday s Child 1999 Contents 1 Background 2 Track listing 2 1 1997 Single Soundtrack version 2 1 1 CD Velvel ZYX 8757 8 Germany 2 2 2020 Is It Any Wonder version 3 Live versions 4 Charts 5 Cover versions 6 ReferencesBackground EditBowie described the song as full of remorse and agony I expect it s when jobs go wrong and home doesn t really feel warm any more and you don t need anybody you don t even pretend you do and you end up in this kind of state 1 Bowie recorded two new versions of the song in 1997 one for the film The Ice Storm 2 and a different version for inclusion on his album Earthling 1997 although this latter version was not released outside of this single until its inclusion on Is It Any Wonder 2020 3 The Ice Storm version was released as a single in Germany and Scandinavia by Velvel Records in December 1997 In January 1998 it was also released in Australia by Shock Records under exclusive license from Velvel Records The single stayed in the UK Top 200 for 3 weeks peaking at No 73 Track listing Edit1997 Single Soundtrack version Edit The 1997 single contained both of Bowie s re recorded versions of the song The short version was included on the soundtrack to The Ice Storm and the long version wouldn t appear anywhere else until 2020 s EP Is It Any Wonder CD Velvel ZYX 8757 8 Germany Edit I Can t Read Short Version Bowie Gabrels 4 40 I Can t Read Long Version Bowie Gabrels 5 30 This Is Not America Bowie Metheny 3 482020 Is It Any Wonder version Edit I Can t Read 97 Bowie Gabrels 5 27Live versions EditA performance from 25 June 1989 was released on the 12 and CD version of the single Tin Machine 1989 Another live version recorded during Tin Machine s 1991 It s My Life Tour was released on the live album Tin Machine Live Oy Vey Baby 1992 and a final version recorded in 1999 by Bowie and Gabrels but without the other members of Tin Machine was released on VH1 Storytellers 2009 Charts EditChart 1998 PeakpositionScotland OCC 4 77UK Singles OCC 5 73UK Indie OCC 6 12Cover versions EditTim Bowness and Samuel Smiles Diamond Gods Interpretations of Bowie 2001 References Edit David Bowie Bridge Concert Benefit X 19 October 1996 Sprague David February 1997 After a decade of missteps David Bowie reinvents himself again and this time he s on target Pulse Magazine 156 34 37 72 73 David Bowie Is it Any Wonder Streaming EP of unreleased amp rare material 14 February 2020 Retrieved 1 July 2020 Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 6 November 2018 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 6 November 2018 Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50 Official Charts Company Retrieved 6 November 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title I Can 27t Read amp oldid 1091992610, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
