MAJOR TOM (I’M COMING HOME)

PETER SCHILLING

Peter Schilling, a German musician whose songs often feature science-fiction themes. Is best-known for his 1983 hit single “Major Tom (Coming Home)”.

According to Wikipedia…The song was originally recorded in German and released in West Germany in January 1983. It reached No. 1 in West Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The English version was first released in the United States in September 1983. It reached No. 1 in Canada, No. 4 in South Africa and peaked at No. 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart the week in December 1983.

It was unofficially based on the “Major Tom” character from David Bowie’s 1969 classic “Space Oddity”. It’s been used in plenty of mainstream media, including the movie “Atomic Blonde”, and T.V. shows “The Americans”, and well as the Netflix hit “The Umbrella Academy”.

I once got into an argument on the way back from New Town with a friend who was trying to remember Peter Schilling’s name. I told him “Major Tom” was from David Bowie. He claimed someone did a different version. I said he was drunk, which he was, and it was “Space Oddity” by Bowie.

The sad thing was, I new this song. Why I completely forgot about on a desolate highway in North Dakota I’ll never know. But one thing for sure…it will forever be a Cassette Classic.