During the American tour promoting the dystopian art rock of 1974's Diamond Dogs, David Bowie fell hard for the gloriously smooth sound of Philly soul. So he went right to the source to make Young Americans, with a backing group featuring Luther Vandross. It’s a slick, tuneful pop-R&B record given extra depth by some of Bowie's most pointed lyrics. The gospel-tinged title track and the needling funk of "Fame" (with lyrics and vocals by John Lennon) are among Bowie's most exciting, impassioned performances.