The Next Day is the 25th studio album by English musician David Bowie, released over several dates in March 2013. It was his first studio release in ten years having retreating from public after his 2004 heart attack. Co-produced by Bowie and longtime collaborator Tony Visconti, the album was recorded in New York City at the Magic Shop and Human Worldwide Studios between May 2011 and October 2012. It featured contributions from new musicians and returning contributors, including Gerry Leonard, Earl Slick, Gail Ann Dorsey, Steve Elson, Sterling Campbell and Zachary Alford. The sessions took place under secrecy; all personnel involved signed non-disclosure agreements.
Primarily an art rock album, The Next Day contains many call-backs to Bowie's earlier works. The lyrics are overall bleak, and draw on his reading of English and Russian history in their coverage of topics such as tyranny and violence. The characters vary from soldiers and assassins to school shooters and street gangs. The album was released through his ISO Records label in association with Columbia Records, with cover art designed by Jonathan Barnbrook, adapted from Bowie's 1977 album "Heroes". A white square with the album's title obscures his face and while the "Heroes" title is crossed out.
The debut single "Where Are We Now?" and announcement of the album were posted online on 8 January 2013, Bowie's 66th birthday. It made headlines around the world, surprising fans and media who had assumed he had retired from music. Preceded by a viral marketing campaign, The Next Day topped charts worldwide and debuted at number one and two on the UK Albums Chart and US Billboard 200, respectively. It was his first UK number-one album since 1993 and his highest charting US album since 1976. Several singles with accompanying music videos were released throughout 2013. Outtakes and additional remixes appeared on The Next Day Extra in November.
The Next Day was released to critical acclaim and regarded as Bowie's best work in decades. Many reviewers highlighted the vocal and musical performances, and made positive comparisons to his earlier works. However, some felt the album lacked innovation and was overlong; it placed on several year-end lists. Among the first surprise albums of the 2010s, The Next Day was included in the 2014 revised edition of Robert Dimery's book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
