Written by: David Bowie, Brian Eno, Reeves Gabrels, Mike Garson, Erdal Kızılçay, Sterling Campbell
Recorded: May 1994 – February 1995
Producers: David Bowie, Brian Eno, David Richards
Released: 25 September 1995
Available on:
1.Outside
Personnel
David Bowie: vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, treatmentsBrian Eno: keyboards, synthesizer, treatments
Reeves Gabrels: guitar
Erdal Kızılçay: bass guitar, keyboards
Mike Garson: piano
Sterling Campbell: drums
‘(Segue) – Ramona A Stone’ is the third of five spoken-word pieces on David Bowie’s 1.Outside album.
In the Outside story, Baby Grace Blue was a 14-year-old murder victim. Her death is being investigated by detective Nathan Adler and his assistant Paddy, who work for Art-Crime Inc.
The murderer is a mysterious artist known as The Minotaur. There are three main suspects: Leon Blank, a former convict and outsider; Ramona A Stone, Blank’s former lover, who may also have been in a relationship with Adler; and Algeria Touchshriek, a septuagenarian man who portrays himself – perhaps falsely – as lonely and frail.
Outside, Track 12 – Segue – Ramona A. Stone / I Am with Name
Much of this album reminds me of concepts David explored decades earlier with Diamond Dogs – a post apocalyptic waining days of the millennium feel. #TimsTwitterListeningParty
— Mike Garson (@mikegarson) July 5, 2020
The track segues into the song ‘I Am With Name’, which is sung from the point of view of Stone and her acolytes.
It seems this track is nearly all elaborately created and electronically altered sounds except for my piano parts on which really makes the piano even more haunting on this one. #TimsTwitterListeningParty
— Mike Garson (@mikegarson) July 5, 2020
Lyrics
I was Ramona A Stone.
I started with no enemies of my own.
I was an artiste in a tunnel, but I’ve been having a MIDI-life crisis and I’ve been dreaming in a sleep, and ape men with metal hearts.
I’ve spat upon deeply felt age. I’ve hid my hearts in and I hate the funny-coloured English.
We’ll creep together you and I, for I know who the small friends are.