“Commencing countdown, engines on”
In the run up to the release of the David Bowie (Five Years 1969 – 1973) box set (due September 25th), we’re going to be taking a look at each of the albums contained within the collection. So this week we’ll be focusing on the first album in the set, Space Oddity, kicking off with a brief fact file...
Originally issued as David Bowie on Philips in the UK, the album was released as Man Of Words/Man Of Music on Mercury in the US.
Though released hot on the heels of the top five single, Space Oddity, the album didn't chart upon release in either the UK or the US.
Three years later in 1972, it was reissued worldwide on RCA retitled Space Oddity with a Mick Rock Ziggy-era portrait on the cover. This version, which omitted the unlisted track, Don't Sit Down, made it to #17 on the UK album chart.
Design:
David Bowie/CML33 - Design concept
Vernon Dewhurst - Front cover photograph and artwork based on 'CTA 25 Neg' by Victor Vasarely
George Underwood: Back cover illustration Width Of A Circle
Released: November 1969
Label: Philips UK, Mercury US
Producers: Tony Visconti, except Space Oddity. Gus Dudgeon, Space Oddity only
Original tracklisting
01 Space Oddity
02 Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed
03 Don't Sit Down (Deleted from the album when it was rereleased as Space Oddity)
04 Letter To Hermione
05 Cygnet Committee
06 Janine
07 An Occasional Dream
08 Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud
09 God Knows I'm Good
10 Memory Of A Free Festival
Stay tuned for more Space Oddity celebrations throughout the week.
#FiveYearsBox #SpaceOddity