“Tin Machine” is the song from which the band Tin Machine took their name, a track from their debut album, also of the same name. It was released as a single in September 1989, as a double A-side with a live cover of Bob Dylan’s “Maggie’s Farm”.
According to Reeves Gabrels, naming the band after the song was the idea of the Sales brothers, who reasoned “It’s like having your own theme tune”. The track itself revisits several Bowie motifs, including withdrawing from the world into a room from the horrors of the world, and also featured the contempt for corruption evident elsewhere in Tin Machine’s output.
“Maggie’s Farm” and the other live tracks were recorded at the band’s gig at La Cigale, Paris on 25 June 1989. Both songs had videos – “Tin Machine” featured in an excerpt from Julien Temple’s promotional film as a mock performance where the fans stormed the stage, leaving Bowie with a nosebleed; and “Maggie’s Farm” was recorded live. Despite this, the double-A side entered the chart at its UK No. 48 peak.
The live version of Bus Stop (often known as the Country version, or Live Country version) would later appear as a bonus track on 1995 Virgin Records reissue of Tin Machine.
Track listing
7″ version
“Tin Machine” (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 3:34
“Maggie’s Farm (Live)” (Dylan) – 4:29
12″ version
“Tin Machine” (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 3:34
“Maggie’s Farm (Live)” (Dylan) – 4:29
“I Can’t Read (Live)” (Bowie, Gabrels) – 6:13
CD version
“Tin Machine” (Bowie, Gabrels, Sales, Sales) – 3:34
“Maggie’s Farm (Live)” (Dylan) – 4:29
“I Can’t Read (Live)” (Bowie, Gabrels) – 6:13
“Bus Stop (Live)” (Bowie, Gabrels) – 1:52
Recorded
August 1988 – early 1989; studio material recorded at Mountain Studios, Montreux Switzerland,and Compass Point Studios, Nassau live recording 25th of June 1989; at La Cigale, Paris
Producers
Tin Machine
Tim Palmer
Musicians
David Bowie: Vocals, guitar
Reeves Gabrels: Lead guitar
Hunt Sales: Drums, vocals
Tony Sales: Bass, vocals
