Cat People (Putting out Fire) - 1999 Remaster

This was originally recorded as the theme song for director Paul Shrader's remake of the 1942 horror film Cat People. The Italian producer Giorgio Moroder had already recorded most of the music and Shrader asked Bowie to write the words and record the main theme. The movie is about a family with a tendency to turn into panthers.

The single became Bowie's biggest solo hit in America since "Golden Years" six years previously in 1976. It peaked at #1 in New Zealand, remaining there for three weeks and was also #1 in Sweden. Buoyed by it's success, Bowie re-recorded the song for his Let's Dance album the following year. The second verse, which begins "Feel my blood enraged" was left off his updated version. Most people prefer his stronger, atmospheric original version, which was included on his 1993 American greatest hits release Bowie: The Singles (1969-1993) but not on the UK equivalent - The Singles Collection.

According to Giorgio Moroder, even though he can seem like he's from outer space, Bowie was a consummate professional when they recorded this. Moroder met him in Switzerland, where they had breakfast, went to the studio, and recorded the song in two or three takes.