Iggy Pop Lust for Life

In the mid seventies, Iggy Pop and David Bowie fled to Berlin to excise themselves from the drug culture in Los Angeles.  Both had serious problems at the time with cocaine (Bowie) and heroin (Iggy).   While in Berlin, the pair sobered up and churned out several records.  This one is the second Iggy Pop title from that period.   

What emerged is one of the most life affirming records about overcoming addiction ever made.

Iggy Pop - Lust For Life  (RCA 1977)

And that cover!  Iggy's face shows a bit of wear and tear, but his happiness shines through.  It's a bit out or character and unsettling to see him smiling so big.  This is like a rock and roll Mona Lisa.  Hard to look away.

This records begins with the title track featuring the coolest drum sound ever pressed onto vinyl.  The CD reissue doesn't do it justice.  It must be heard on vinyl.

The aforementioned title track is from the point of view of a happily sober person resisting the enablers that surround him.  So infectious is the joy in this track, it was used for a cruise line advertisement.  They tended to focus on the 'Lust for Life' chorus.  They cut it off after the line 'Here comes Johnny Yen again.'  I expect to hear it followed by 'With the liquor and drugs and the sex machine.  He's gonna do another striptease.'    Probably would attract the wrong crowd to the ship.

Side one ends with a beautiful duet between Iggy and Bowie about nursing someone through a drug withdrawal on 'Tonight'.  Bowie later recorded it as duet with Tina Turner.

Bowie plays keyboards.  Bass and Drums by Soupy Sales' sons Tony and Hunt.   Get this one on vinyl.