THE DAVID BOWIE PIN UPS RADIO SHOW

“And me I’m on a radio show...”

To mark the 40th anniversary of David Bowie’s Pin Ups, the Pin Ups Radio Show was launched on Spotify ten years ago today.

Originally recorded as a promotional tool for the release of the record in 1973, but never used, the recording features snippets from Pin Ups interspersed with brief but nevertheless wonderful observations from Bowie regarding some of the bands he covers on the album.

Adopting his very best mockney to recall his days as a mod during the period, it's great fun and if you’ve not heard it, it’s still available here.

Vinyl and CD versions of the release were made available in very limited quantities and command fairly stiff prices these days.

The closest idea to this promotion back in 1973 was a 7" record sent to RCA Record Club members in New Zealand.

Featuring Rosalyn and Where Have All The Good Times Gone the disc introduced listeners to the very enthusiastic Tim, The RCA Stereo Club Disc Jockey. His interjections over each track ensured lucky recipients had to buy the album if they wished to hear the tracks uninterrupted.

📸 Mick Rock

#BowiePinUps50 #BowiePinUpsRadioShow

GOODBYE MR UDO

If you were ever lucky enough to catch David Bowie live in Japan, you have Japanese concert promoter Seijiro Udo, aka ‘Mr Udo’, to thank for that.

Sad to report that Mr Udo has died at the age of 92 following a long illness.

Launching Udo Artists, Inc. in 1967, Udo staged more than 10,000 concerts in Japan in a career spanning over fifty years.

Udo promoted Bowie’s Japanese shows right up to and including A Reality Tour in 2004.

It’s clear to see from reading other tributes that he was extremely well respected and that this honest, honourable gentleman will be sorely missed.

#BowieInJapan

PIN UPS ALBUM IS FIFTY TODAY

“Singing old songs he loved...” *

As mentioned here last week, today (19th October) marks the 50th anniversary of David Bowie’s 1973 album of cover versions, Pin Ups.

When originally released, the David Bowie/Ken Scott produced LP was preceded by the only single from Pin Ups, Sorrow, which reached #3 on the UK chart. Pin Ups itself entered the UK album chart at #1 on the strength of pre-orders alone.

Joining Bowie on the sleeve for Justin de Villeneuve’s extraordinary photograph is Twiggy, name-checked earlier the same year on Aladdin Sane for Drive-In Saturday: “She’d sigh like Twig the Wonder Kid”. The image here is an alternative shot to the one used.

The photo session was shot in Paris for Vogue magazine, but, at Bowie's request, it was used for the Pin Ups cover instead. Bowie persuaded de Villeneuve that the album would have a considerably wider distribution than the magazine.

Here’s the note from the back cover where Bowie explained the Pin Ups concept :

+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +

These songs are among my favourites from the '64–67' period of London.

Most of the groups were playing the Ricky-Tick (was it a 'y' or an 'i'?) - Scene club circuit (Marquee, eel pie island la-la)

Some are still with us. Pretty Things, Them, Yardbirds, Syd's Pink Floyd, Mojos, Who, Easybeats, Merseys, Kinks.

Love-on ya!

Bowie x

+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +

Alan York and Jason Draper have pointed us at their in-depth piece which includes a track-by-track look at the album over on Dig!

📸 Justin de Villeneuve

* Original lyric from Scream Like A Baby: “Singing old songs we loved...”

#BowiePinUps #BowiePinUps50