David Bowie "Do Anything You Say" Released – 1st April 1966 | Rock History
On 1st April 1966, English singer-songwriter David Bowie released the single "Do Anything You Say" with its B-side "Good Morning Girl" in the United Kingdom through Pye Records. Catalogue number: Pye 7N 17079.
This single holds a unique place in Bowie's discography — it was his first record credited solely to "David Bowie", marking the moment he permanently stepped away from the name David Jones and began building the identity that would define rock history.
From David Jones to David Bowie
Born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947 in Brixton, south London, the young musician had been recording since 1964 — first with The King Bees, then The Manish Boys, and later The Lower Third. Those early records were released under his birth name.
The switch to "David Bowie" was partly practical: Davy Jones of The Monkees had risen to international fame, and the name clash was a commercial problem. But it was also something more — a deliberate act of reinvention that would become the defining characteristic of his entire career.
By early 1966, Bowie had parted ways with The Lower Third and assembled a new backing band: The Buzz.
The Buzz: Bowie's 1966 Band
The Buzz were a tight, versatile group of London musicians who backed Bowie through much of 1966:
- John Hutchinson – guitar (later reunited with Bowie during the Space Oddity era)
- Derek Fearnley – bass
- John Eager – drums
- Derek Boyes – keyboards
The band recorded "Do Anything You Say" on 7 March 1966 at Pye Studios, London, just three weeks before its release. They were a capable live unit and helped Bowie develop his stage presence during a period of intense gigging across the UK.
Tony Hatch: The Producer
The session was produced by Tony Hatch — one of the most commercially successful British producers and songwriters of the 1960s. Hatch was responsible for hits including Petula Clark's "Downtown" and later composed the theme to Neighbours. His polished, radio-friendly production style shaped the sound of the single, though Bowie's artistic instincts were already pulling in a different direction.
It was a creative pairing that reflected the tension of the era: a producer rooted in mainstream pop working with an artist who was quietly determined to do something far stranger.
The Music: A-Side and B-Side
The A-side, "Do Anything You Say", draws on the beat and soul sounds of mid-60s London — call-and-response harmonies, a driving rhythm section, and a confident vocal performance from a 19-year-old still finding his footing. It sits comfortably alongside the British R&B and mod pop of the period, though it lacks the commercial hook that might have broken it into the charts.
The B-side, "Good Morning Girl", is arguably the more revealing of the two tracks. Its jazz-inflected pop style — looser, more melodic, more playful — offers an early glimpse of the genre fluidity that would later define albums like Hunky Dory and Young Americans. For Bowie completists, it's essential listening.
Chart Performance and Reception
Neither "Do Anything You Say" nor "Good Morning Girl" charted in the UK. It was a commercial disappointment, though not an unusual one — Bowie's early singles were a consistent string of near-misses that tested the patience of his label and management.
Between 1964 and 1967, Bowie released a series of singles that failed to break through. Critics and industry figures of the time often noted his talent while questioning his direction. In hindsight, this period reads differently: an artist absorbing influences, experimenting with identity, and laying the groundwork for everything that followed.
Why "Do Anything You Say" Matters
For casual listeners, this single is a curiosity. For serious Bowie fans, it's a document of a pivotal moment:
- The first official use of the David Bowie name on a record
- Evidence of his early stylistic range across just two tracks
- A snapshot of mid-60s London music culture at its most vibrant
- The beginning of a creative restlessness that would never leave him
Bowie would go on to release "Can't Help Thinking About Me", "I Dig Everything", and "Rubber Band" later in 1966, each one pushing further from the mainstream. By 1967, his self-titled debut album arrived — strange, theatrical, and unlike anything else in British pop.
The journey from "Do Anything You Say" to Ziggy Stardust, Heroes, and Blackstar is one of the most remarkable in music. It started here.
FAQs About "Do Anything You Say"
Q: What is the significance of David Bowie's single "Do Anything You Say"? A: It is Bowie's first single credited solely to the name David Bowie, marking his permanent break from his birth name David Jones and a key turning point in his early solo career.
Q: When was "Do Anything You Say" released? A: 1 April 1966 in the United Kingdom on Pye Records.
Q: When was it recorded? A: 7 March 1966 at Pye Studios, London — three weeks before its release.
Q: Did "Do Anything You Say" chart in the UK? A: No. Like most of Bowie's early singles, it failed to chart commercially.
Q: Who produced the single? A: Tony Hatch, one of Britain's leading pop producers of the 1960s.
Q: Who played on the record? A: Bowie was backed by The Buzz — John Hutchinson (guitar), Derek Fearnley (bass), John Eager (drums), and Derek Boyes (keyboards).
Q: What is the B-side? A: "Good Morning Girl" — a jazz-inflected pop track considered by many fans to be the more interesting of the two sides.
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Why 1 April 1966 Still Matters
"Do Anything You Say" didn't change the world the day it was released. But it marked the beginning of an artist who would. For fans, historians, and collectors, this date is a touchstone — the quiet starting gun of one of rock's greatest careers.