As David Bowie’s ‘Young Americans’ Turns 50, Guitarist Carlos Alomar Recalls the Making of the Classic Album: ‘We Had Never Heard This Soulful David Before’

variety.com:

A.D. Amorosi When Carlos Alomar talks about the 50th anniversary of “Young Americans” — David Bowie’s self-defined ode to “plastic soul,” released March 7, 1975, and re-released today by Rhino/Parlophone — it’s done with love and respect.

Make that self-respect, too, because the guitarist knows exactly who he was to Bowie: the musician who helped the glam-rock god get on the good foot.

With the help of Alomar’s wife, vocalist Robin Clark, their dear friend Luther Vandross, and the inspiration of Gamble & Huff’s Sound of Philadelphia studio vibe (where most of the album was recorded), “Young Americans” became Bowie’s first album to achieve top 10 status in the U.S., followed by its chart-topping single, “Fame,” co-written with Alomar and John Lennon.

Alomar has plans to pay tribute to his association with Bowie on a tour next winter. In the meantime, for the occasion of this “Young Americans” 50th anniversary date, Alomar spoke with total recall about everything that occurred between the two from the start. “Beginning of 1973, RCA Studio, NYC,” says Alomar of his unknowing first session with Bowie, and the position he held among New York studio musicians at the time. “Robin and I had been married for two years and, as newlyweds, were dynamic in influencing the New York music scene.” After joining up with Vandross to forming the New York musical ensemble Listen My Brother (seen playing in Harlem in 1969 in Questlove’s “Summer of Soul” documentary), Robin and Carlos wed.