ON THIS DAY IN 1975, DAVID BOWIE REACHED THE TOP OF THE BILLBOARD CHARTS WITH HIS SONG “FAME”

The single became Bowie’s first song to reach number one on the Canadian Singles Chart and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was less successful in Europe, peaking at number 17.

The song was co-written by John Lennon, after the pair met in New York and held a one day jam session at Electric Lady Studios. Lennon can be heard singing in falsetto towards the end of the song. Bowie later described “Fame” as “nasty, angry” and “written with a degree of malice” towards the Mainman management group with whom he was working with.

Bowie later admitted in 1990 that “Fame” was his least favourite song on the album and disagreed with many lyrics on the song. Nonetheless, it was his biggest hit at the time and was one of four Bowie songs added to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.