Maps of Music

The Idiot (1977)

Where the lyrics of The Idiot take you, and where it was really made.

Pop's solo debut was recorded in the same French château where Bowie had made Pin Ups, a place the two chose after a visit to Hérouville.

Key places

Where the album was recorded (1976)

Recording site Château d'Hérouville — Bowie and Pop arrived at the château in June 1976 to record the album, and recording continued into July. The album was primarily recorded at this château in Hérouville. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Munich sessions (1976)

Recording site Musicland Studios — Recording continued in August 1976 at Musicland Studios in Munich, where Pop recorded most of his vocals. The studio was owned by Giorgio Moroder. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Mixing in Berlin (1977)

Recording site Hansa Studios — After recording was completed, Bowie and Pop went to Berlin to mix the album at Hansa Studio 1. The source notes this was not the bigger Studio 2 by the Berlin Wall. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Idiot: debut solo studio album by American musician Iggy Pop
• Released 18 March 1977 through RCA Records
• Produced by David Bowie; primarily recorded at the Château d'Hérouville in Hérouville, France
• Followed the 1974 break-up of the Stooges and a period of drug addiction for both Pop and Bowie
• Marks a departure from the proto-punk of the Stooges toward a more subdued, mechanical sound with electronic overtones
• Pop described it as a cross between James Brown and Kraftwerk

Background

• Bowie and Pop moved to Europe in an effort to kick their drug addictions
• Bowie had mixed the Stooges' Raw Power; the band broke up in 1974 amid infighting, lack of major label support and Pop's addiction
• Pop joined Bowie's 1976 Isolar Tour, where talks of a solo album with Bowie as producer began
• Bowie booked two months of studio time at the château for the summer of 1976, after visiting the same place where he recorded Pin Ups in 1973
• Title taken from Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel of the same name
• Cover artwork inspired by Erich Heckel's painting Roquairol

Recording

• Recording at the château began in June 1976 and continued into July
• Further sessions took place at Musicland Studios in Munich in August 1976
• Bowie composed most of the music and played a major part of the instrumentation
• Pop wrote most of the lyrics in response to the music Bowie was creating
• Bowie and Pop took the tapes to Berlin, where the album was mixed at Hansa Studio 1

Cover

• Black-and-white photograph by Andy Kent
• Pop poses in a stiff, tortured stance based on the figure in Heckel's painting

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• James Newell Osterberg Jr., born April 21, 1947 in Muskegon, Michigan, known as Iggy Pop.
• Began as drummer in Ann Arbor high school bands, including the Iguanas and the Prime Movers, where he got the nickname "Iggy".
• Formed the Psychedelic Stooges with Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton and Dave Alexander; he became the lead vocalist, nicknamed "Pop".
• Signed with Elektra Records in 1968, following the Doors.

Members

• Original Stooges lineup: Iggy Pop (vocals), Ron Asheton (guitar), Scott Asheton (drums), Dave Alexander (bass).
• Later lineup included James Williamson (guitar) and Scott Thurston; the band reunited with Mike Watt and Steve Mackay in 2003-2005.

Career

• The Stooges' albums sold poorly, but they became known for confrontational live performances, including self-mutilation and stage-diving.
• Raw Power (1973) became influential on the Sex Pistols, the Smiths and Nirvana.
• Solo debut with David Bowie: The Idiot and Lust for Life (1977), with Bowie producing; "China Girl" was later a hit for Bowie in 1983.
• Only Top 40 US hit "Candy" (1990), a duet with Kate Pierson of the B-52's.
• "Lust for Life" was featured in the film Trainspotting (1996).
• The Stooges were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010; Pop received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
• Also an actor and voice performer in films and television, and hosts the radio show Iggy Confidential on BBC Radio 6 Music.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Critical reception was largely positive, although it confused a number of reviewers
• Rolling Stone: John Swenson called it the most savage indictment of rock posturing ever recorded
• Melody Maker: Allan Jones praised it as a disturbingly pertinent expression of modern music
• Billboard: noted the less frantic pace of Pop's earlier efforts and found Bowie's parts made the record more commercially palatable
• Sounds: placed it at number 12 in its year-end list

Reappraisal

• Retrospective reviews have been largely positive, with many noting Pop's artistic evolution
• AllMusic: Mark Deming wrote that it is a flawed but powerful and emotionally absorbing work
• Biographer Paul Trynka: over time it would be classified as more respected than loved, while acknowledging its influence on the soul of post-punk
• Pitchfork: Sasha Geffen praised it in a review of the 2020 box set The Bowie Years
• Fans do not generally consider it representative of Pop's output, because Bowie largely created it

Records

• US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart: peaked at number 72, spent 13 weeks on the chart
• UK Albums Chart: three weeks, peaked at number 30, Pop's first top 40 album
• Kent Music Report, Australia: peaked at number 88
• Singles Sister Midnight and China Girl (February and May 1977) both failed to chart

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The title came from Dostoevsky's novel; Pop knew it was a reference to the novel but also felt his friend was simply insulting him
• Bowie later used Heckel's painting Roquairol as inspiration for the cover artwork of Heroes
• Bowie later reworked Sister Midnight with new lyrics as Red Money on Lodger
• Blondie opened the 1977 tour, invited by Bowie and Pop after they heard the band's 1976 debut album
• Bowie stayed behind his keyboard and did not address the audience, keeping the spotlight on Pop
• The tour was Pop's first since the Stooges ended

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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