# The David Bowie single Tony Visconti says is like “a Swiss Watch” – and the unlikely song that inspired it

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-david-bowie-single-tony-visconti-says-is-like-a-swiss-watch-and-the-unlikely-song-that-inspired-it/
- Published: 2026-11-08T17:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-08T18:49:31+00:00
- Original publisher: Louder
- Original article: https://www.loudersound.com/music/tracks-singles/the-unlikely-inspiration-behind-the-classic-david-bowie-single-producer-tony-visconti-says-is-like-a-swiss-atch-you-wouldnt-believe-the-amount-of-my-songs-that-have-sort-of-spun-out-of-that-one-song
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- “Inchworm” inspired “Ashes to Ashes”.
- Visconti likened its arrangement to a Swiss watch.
- The 1980 single became Bowie’s second No. 1.

## Summary

David Bowie’s “Ashes to Ashes” drew on the unlikely inspiration of “Inchworm”, a song from the 1952 musical *Hans Christian Andersen*. The 1980 single revisited Major Tom, the character from Bowie’s breakthrough hit “Space Oddity”, while marking a move beyond his Berlin period and into a new decade.

Producer Tony Visconti compared the intricate arrangement to a Swiss watch, with many small musical parts working together towards a clear result. Recorded in New York with guitarist Carlos Alomar, bassist George Murray, drummer Dennis Davis, pianist Roy Bittan and guitar-synth player Chuck Hammer, it became Bowie’s second UK No. 1 single after “Space Oddity”.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.