Cat People (Putting Out Fire)

"Cat People (Putting Out Fire)"
"Cat People (Putting Out Fire)"
Single by David Bowie
from the album Cat People: Original Soundtrack
B-side	"Paul's Theme (Jogging Chase)"
Released	12 March 1982
Recorded	July 1981
Studio	Music: Carla Ridge Camp (Beverly Hills); Vocals: Mountain (Montreux);
Genre	New wave
Length	4:08 (edited version); 6:41 (full-length version);
Label	MCA
Composer(s)	Giorgio Moroder
Lyricist(s)	David Bowie
Producer(s)	Giorgio Moroder
David Bowie singles chronology

"Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" is a song recorded by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie as the title track of the 1982 erotic horror film Cat People. Bowie became involved with the track after director Paul Schrader reached out to him about collaborating. The song was recorded at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland in July 1981. Bowie wrote the lyrics, which reflected the film, while the Italian producer Giorgio Moroder composed the music, which is built around only two chord changes.

The song was released as a single by Moroder's label MCA Records in March 1982, appearing in different edits between the 7" and 12" releases, alongside edits for other countries. It also appeared on the accompanying soundtrack album. The single was a commercial success, charting in the UK and the US, and topping the charts in New Zealand, Sweden, Norway and Finland. It is considered one of Bowie's finest recordings of the 1980s. The song has since appeared on numerous compilation albums and was remastered in 2017 for inclusion on the A New Career in a New Town (1977–1982) box set.

Unhappy with the original recording, Bowie remade the track for his 15th studio album Let's Dance (1983), recording it at the Power Station in New York City in December 1982. Featuring production by Chic member Nile Rodgers and lead guitar by blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, the remake is more aggressive. Despite the remake being the more well-known version due to its parent album's success, some critics have expressed a preference for the original recording. The remake was remastered in 2018 as part of the Loving the Alien (1983–1988) box set.