Baby Universal

"Baby Universal"
"Baby Universal"
Single by Tin Machine
from the album Tin Machine II
Released	October 1991
Recorded	Sydney September–November 1989; April 1990; September–October 1990; Los Angeles, March 1991; August 1996 (Earthling re-recorded version)
Genre	Rock
Length	3:07
Label	London; LON 310
Songwriter(s)	David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels
Producer(s)	Tin Machine, Tim Palmer
Tin Machine singles chronology

"Baby Universal" is a song by Anglo-American hard rock band Tin Machine, released as the second single from their Tin Machine II album in October 1991.

Background and recording

Lead vocalist David Bowie and guitarist Reeves Gabrels 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 suggested it might be "too catchy" for inclusion.^[1]

The single release was backed with tracks recorded at the band's BBC session recorded for Mark Goodier's radio show on 13 August 1991, and a live appearance on the BBC's Top of the Pops.^[2]

Bowie re-recorded "Baby Universal" in 1996 for his 1997 album Earthling, but it was not released on the album,^[3] instead eventually being released in 2020 as part of the EP Is it Any Wonder?.^[4]

Bowie biographer Nicholas Pegg noted that some of the lyrics from "Baby Universal", such as "chaos", "dust" and "hallo", and visions of a science fiction apocalypse were recycled for Bowie's and Gabrel's "Hallo Spaceboy" (1996).^[5]

Live performances

"Baby Universal" was performed live by Tin Machine during their 1991-92 It's My Life Tour, and by Bowie during his Outside Tour in 1996. A recording from the former appears on the live video release of Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby (1992).

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

Credits and personnel

Producers

Tin Machine
Tim Palmer

Musicians

David Bowie – vocals, guitar
Reeves Gabrels – lead guitar
Hunt Sales – drums, vocals
Tony Sales – bass, vocals
Kevin Armstrong – rhythm guitar

Chart performance

Chart (1991)	Position
US Billboard Alternative Songs^[6]	30
US Mainstream Rock Tracks^[7]	21

References

^ O'Leary, Chris (2019). Ashes to Ashes The Songs of David Bowie 1976–2016. Repeater Books. ISBN 9781912248308.
^ Pegg, Nicholas (October 2016). "The Complete David Bowie New Edition: Expanded and Updated". Titan Books.
^ Haefeli, Mark (1996). "Music Video Shoot [Archived]". Archived from the original on 25 April 2005. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
^ Bowie, David (30 January 2020). "Baby Universal '97" (Video). YouTube. Parlophone/ISO. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
^ Pegg 2016, p. 32.
^ https://www.billboard.com/artist/tin-machine/chart-history/alternative-songs
^ "Tin Machine II - Tin Machine | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".

Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5

[A2A-1] O'Leary, Chris (2019). Ashes to Ashes The Songs of David Bowie 1976–2016. Repeater Books. ISBN 9781912248308.

[npcdb-2] Pegg, Nicholas (October 2016). "The Complete David Bowie New Edition: Expanded and Updated". Titan Books.

[MVS96-3] Haefeli, Mark (1996). "Music Video Shoot [Archived]". Archived from the original on 25 April 2005. Retrieved 2 August 2013.

[4] Bowie, David (30 January 2020). "Baby Universal '97" (Video). YouTube. Parlophone/ISO. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2020.

[FOOTNOTEPegg201632-5] Pegg 2016, p. 32.

[6] ttps://www.billboard.com/artist/tin-machine/chart-history/alternative-songs

[7] "Tin Machine II - Tin Machine | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".

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v t e David Bowie singles
Discography Songs
1960s	"Liza Jane" "I Pity the Fool" "You've Got a Habit of Leaving" "Baby Loves That Way" "Can't Help Thinking About Me" "Do Anything You Say" "I Dig Everything" "Rubber Band" "The London Boys" "The Laughing Gnome" "Love You till Tuesday" "Space Oddity"
1970s	"The Prettiest Star" "Memory of a Free Festival" "Holy Holy" "Moonage Daydream" "Hang On to Yourself" "Changes" "Starman" "John, I'm Only Dancing" "The Jean Genie" "Drive-In Saturday" "Time" "Life on Mars" "Let's Spend the Night Together" "Sorrow" "Rebel Rebel" "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" "Diamond Dogs" "1984" "Knock on Wood" "Rock 'n' Roll with Me" "Young Americans" "Fame" "Golden Years" "Station to Station" (French promo) "TVC 15" "Suffragette City" "Stay" "Sound and Vision" "Be My Wife" "'Heroes'" "Beauty and the Beast" "Breaking Glass" "Boys Keep Swinging" "D.J." "Yassassin" "Look Back in Anger" "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)"
1980s	"Alabama Song" "Crystal Japan" "Ashes to Ashes" "Fashion" "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" "Up the Hill Backwards" "Under Pressure" "Wild Is the Wind" "The Drowned Girl" "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" "Let's Dance" "China Girl" "Modern Love" "Without You" "White Light/White Heat" "Blue Jean" "Tonight" "This Is Not America" "Loving the Alien" "Dancing in the Street" "Absolute Beginners" "Underground" "When the Wind Blows" "Magic Dance" "Day-In Day-Out" "Time Will Crawl" "Never Let Me Down" "Under the God" "Heaven's in Here" "Tin Machine" / "Maggie's Farm (live)" "Prisoner of Love"
1990s	"Fame '90" "You Belong in Rock n' Roll" "Baby Universal" "One Shot" "Real Cool World" "Jump They Say" "Black Tie White Noise" "Miracle Goodnight" "The Buddha of Suburbia" "Ziggy Stardust" "The Hearts Filthy Lesson" "Strangers When We Meet" / "The Man Who Sold the World (live)" "Hallo Spaceboy" "Telling Lies" "Little Wonder" "Dead Man Walking" "Seven Years in Tibet" "Pallas Athena" "I'm Afraid of Americans" "I Can't Read" "Without You I'm Nothing" "Thursday's Child" "The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell"
2000s	"Survive" "Seven" "Slow Burn" "Everyone Says 'Hi'" "I've Been Waiting for You" "Shadow Man" "New Killer Star" "Just for One Day (Heroes)" "Rebel Never Gets Old"
2010s	"Golden Years David Bowie vs KCRW" "Where Are We Now?" "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" "The Next Day" "Valentine's Day" "Love Is Lost" "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore" "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)" "Blackstar" "Lazarus" "I Can't Give Everything Away"
Other songs	"Silly Boy Blue" "Let Me Sleep Beside You" "Karma Man" "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" "Cygnet Committee" "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" "The Width of a Circle" "All the Madmen" "Black Country Rock" "After All" "She Shook Me Cold" "The Man Who Sold the World" "The Supermen" "Oh! You Pretty Things" "Kooks" "Quicksand" "Andy Warhol" "Song for Bob Dylan" "Queen Bitch" "The Bewlay Brothers" "Bombers" "Five Years" "Soul Love" "Lady Stardust" "Velvet Goldmine" "Sweet Head" "Amsterdam" "Round and Round" "Watch That Man" "Aladdin Sane" "Panic in Detroit" "Cracked Actor" "Lady Grinning Soul" "All the Young Dudes" "Future Legend" "Sweet Thing" "Big Brother" "Can You Hear Me?" "Right" "Fascination" "Word on a Wing" "Speed of Life" "What in the World" "Always Crashing in the Same Car" "Warszawa" "Art Decade" "Weeping Wall" "Subterraneans" "Joe the Lion" "Sons of the Silent Age" "Blackout" "V-2 Schneider" "Sense of Doubt" "Neuköln" "Fantastic Voyage" "It's No Game" "Teenage Wildlife" "Scream Like a Baby" "As the World Falls Down" "Girls" "Nite Flights" "I'm Deranged" "Nature Boy" "Cactus" "Pablo Picasso" "The Loneliest Guy" "Try Some, Buy Some" "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon" "Bring Me the Disco King" "Girl Loves Me" "Dollar Days"