Mott the Hoople recorded "All the Young Dudes" at Olympic Studios in London on 14 May 1972, with Bowie producing. The song was engineered and mixed by Keith Harwood, and featured handclaps by Nicky Graham and security guard Stuey George. Describing the session, Hunter said: "It was a high, because we knew we were singing a hit." Bowie recorded a guide vocal for Hunter, which was remixed over the original backing track and released on the 1998 box set "All the Young Dudes: The Anthology".