"Sound and Vision" is a song by the English musician David Bowie. It was released in January 1977 by RCA Records on side one of his 11th studio album Low. RCA later chose it as the first single from the album. Co-produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti, the song was recorded at the Château d'Hérouville in Hérouville, France, in September 1976, and completed at Hansa Studios in West Berlin in October and November. The song began as a simple G major chord progression that Bowie gave to the backing musicians, writing and recording his vocals afterward. It features backing vocals from Brian Eno and Visconti's then-wife Mary Hopkin.
"Sound and Vision" contains backing vocals from Visconti's then-wife Mary Hopkin (pictured in 1970).
Low is the eleventh studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released on 14 January 1977 through RCA Records. The first of three collaborations with the producer Tony Visconti and the musician Brian Eno that became known as the Berlin Trilogy, the project originated following Bowie's move to France in 1976 with his friend Iggy Pop to rid themselves of their drug addictions. There, Bowie produced and co-wrote Pop's debut studio album, The Idiot, featuring sounds the former would explore on his next record. After completing The Idiot, sessions for Low began at Hérouville's Château d'Hérouville in September 1976 and ended in October at Hansa Studios in West Berlin, where Bowie and Pop had relocated.
Low (David Bowie album)
In the months prior to recording Low, Bowie co-wrote and produced The Idiot, Iggy Pop's (pictured in 1977) debut studio album. Due to the two albums featuring a similar sound, Nicholas Pegg described The Idiot as "a stepping stone between Station to Station and Low".
"Sound and Vision" contains backing vocals from Visconti's then-wife Mary Hopkin (pictured in 1970).
Music critic Robert Christgau (pictured in 2014) initially gave Low a mixed assessment, but revised his opinion after the release of "Heroes" later that year, including Low on his list of the best albums of 1977.