“Love Missile F1-11” (2003)

This song is something of a phantom, at least for me. I am telling you, I purchased a download of this song many years ago…yet it vanished. And then I couldn’t find it anywhere. In 2016, when I was doing my song a day tribute, I couldn’t find this song on YouTube. I didn’t even know where it came from— it wasn’t on any of Bowie’s albums.

It turns out that Bowie recorded this cover of a song originally recorded by the band Sigue Sigue Sputnik as a Reality era B-side. B-sides at the dawn of digital music are probably as obscure as new releases by major artists get. Anyway, Bowie’s version of the song didn’t make much of a splash. The scant attention it gets from Bowie commentators is in the manner of a polite nod. But I think it’s great. It’s the most rock-and-roll song he recorded for the rest of his life after Earthling. It belongs on a mix after “Queen Bitch,” “Suffragette City” and “The Jean Genie.” No, it’s not profound, and yes Sigue Sigue Sputnik is the most absurd looking 80s band, but THE SONG SOUNDS GREAT!

And I’m glad I finally found it.