When Bowie got into bed with Laura Ashley

“The paintings are all your own”

On 31st March 1995, the Poole Edwards PR agency announced a forthcoming David Bowie solo exhibition of his art, running from 25 years ago today, 18th April, to 29th April, 1995, at the Gallery in Cork Street, London.

This was to be the first solo exhibition of his work and was eventually listed as New Afro Pagan and Work: 1975-1995.

The event featured various paintings and sculptures along with two wallpapers that caught the attention of the press, due to the marriage of traditional and new.

Here's the press release...

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31st March 1995

BOWIE AND LAURA ASHLEY CREATE ART WALLPAPER

Having designed two highly unusual wallpapers as art exhibits for his first solo exhibition of paintings, drawings sculptures and an installation, David Bowie found himself at a loss as to how to print them.

Help came in the most unlikely form of the fashion and home furnishings company, Laura Ashley, providing both the printing expertise and an original floral underlay for Bowie’s designs.

The papers will be part of an installation piece titled "District 6" featuring a box made up of African hairdressing advertisement boards. Sections of the papers will also be hung as framed prints.

"British Conflicts" features a charcoal portrait of the painter Lucien Freud, inside a Damien Hirst style box.

"The Crouch" portrays one of Bowie's charcoal drawings of a Minotaur against a large concrete block.

The two wallpapers have been printed in a limited run exclusively for the exhibition.

The Ashley/Bowie collaboration will debut at the forthcoming David Bowie 1975 - 1995 first solo exhibition showing. The exhibition runs from 18-29 April 1995 at the Gallery in Cork Street, 28 Cork Street, London WIX 1HB.

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Next week we'll be focusing on some of the collectables produced in conjunction with the show, which, for those who couldn't afford to buy any of Bowie’s actual art, turned out to be very good investments.

Pictured in our montage are the aforementioned wallpapers along with the private view invite and the embossed version of the exhibition catalogue which was sent out with the invites.

#BowieArt #BowieAfroPagan

Mick Rock Bowie feature in CLASH 115

“He wanted to stay home, I wish someone would phone”

The Spring issue (#115) of CLASH magazine has David Bowie as one of four different covers. With a theme of STAY HOME, apparently CLASH wants to use this latest issue as “a means to break down the barriers of self-isolation, to supply a sense of community at a time when many of us feel alone.”

They go on to say: “David Bowie turned isolation into an art form. Transforming himself into an alien outsider, his 1972 album 'The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars' flipped pop on its head, its metallic crunch exploding how rock could communicate.”

In celebration of the recent reissue of Mick Rock’s superb photo book, TASCHEN’s The Rise of David Bowie 1972-1973, Robin Murray interviews the photographer for the Bowie feature…

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“What conclusions do I come to?” Mick ponders aloud. “David was very articulate, he was very intelligent, and he did great interviews. So that helped a lot. He would talk about the future – he loved science fiction and philosophy. David was a very avid reader. He was highly self-educated. He was a man of great curiosity. He wanted to know about things. And of course he pushed it all forwards – not just music… but culturally in a huge way. And his legacy is amazing. It doesn’t stop. People’s interest in him is as high as it’s ever been.”

“But I loved him,” Mick adds, with an assertive bite to his voice. “He was a very kind man. He was personally very kind. He was very inspirational, and of course he was physically a very good-looking man. Which was a nice thing for photographers!”

There’s a sense of moments slipping away into the ether as our conversation draws to a close. “It was a magical time for me, and David was the most magical of them all,” he says. “And I miss him.”

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Also featured in this issue is H.E.R, Ryan Beatty, Alicia Keys, Kim Petras, Mae Muller, Inhaler, Gorillaz, Graham Coxon, Cavetown, Shaggy, and many more. Other covers to follow this week.

#BowieClash #BowieMickRock #BowieTASCHEN

CHANGESNOWBOWIE streaming reminder

“Really quite out of sight”

Wherever you are in the world, as Thursday 16th April turns to Friday 17th April, Parlophone are making available the streaming version of the full CHANGESNOWBOWIE LP.

CHANGESNOWBOWIE is a 9-track album, recorded for radio and broadcast by the BBC on David’s 50th birthday on 8th January, 1997. This mostly acoustic session was a stripped back affair featuring some of David’s favourites of his own compositions and was produced by Bowie himself, Reeves Gabrels and Mark Plati.

Some of you lucky folk who live in the future might already be listening. Pretty good, isn’t it?

DAVID BOWIE - CHANGESNOWBOWIE TRACKLISTING

The Man Who Sold The World

Aladdin Sane

White Light / White Heat

Shopping For Girls

Lady Stardust

The Supermen

Repetition

Andy Warhol

Quicksand

#CHANGESNOWBOWIE

Repetition '97 video and CHANGESNOWBOWIE version audio

“And he looks straight through you”

As promised last week, as Thursday 09th April turns to Friday 10th April (which it already has in some parts of the world), Parlophone makes available the Repetition ’97 video for streaming and download along with the Repetition CHANGESNOWBOWIE audio.

To hopefully clear up any confusion, although both tracks are Repetition from 1997, they are different recordings. The video is the previously unavailable Repetition ’97 video (filmed along with I Can’t Read at the Earthling Tour rehearsals in Hartford Connecticut by Tim Pope), and the audio of Repetition is the CHANGESNOWBOWIE version.

As previously mentioned, Parlophone will be releasing a streaming version of the full CHANGESNOWBOWIE album on 17th April.

Here's the current release schedule:

★ Friday 10th April: Repetition ’97 video available for streaming and download.

★ Friday 10th April: Repetition CHANGESNOWBOWIE version audio available for streaming.

★ Friday 17h April: CHANGESNOWBOWIE available for streaming.

★ Friday 19th June: Space Oddity picture disc vinyl LP released.

★ Saturday 20th June: CHANGESNOWBOWIE vinyl LP and CD released for Record Store Day.

★ Saturday 20th June: I’M ONLY DANCING (THE SOUL TOUR 74) Double vinyl LP and 2CD released for Record Store Day.

#CHANGESNOWBOWIE #BowieRepetition97 #BowieIOD74 #BowieRSD20 #SpaceOddityPicDisc #BowieVinyl

ChangesNowBowie LP and Repetition video update

“And he could have had a Cadillac”

As you are all now aware, Record Store Day 2020 (RSD) has been rescheduled to 20th June. Given the current world situation, it remains to be seen if that date is still a little ambitious.

However, we obviously understand how disappointed fans will be, so Parlophone will be releasing a streaming version of CHANGESNOWBOWIE on 17 April, the day before the original RSD.

Prior to that on 10th April, the previously unavailable Repetition ’97 video (filmed at the Earthling Tour rehearsals in Hartford Connecticut by Tim Pope), will be made available for streaming and download.

The audio of Repetition CHANGESNOWBOWIE version will also be available to stream from the same date.

Here's the updated release schedule:

★ Friday 10th April: Repetition ’97 video available for streaming and download.

★ Friday 10th April: Repetition CHANGESNOWBOWIE version audio available for streaming.

★ Friday 17h April: CHANGESNOWBOWIE available for streaming.

★ Friday 19th June: Space Oddity picture disc vinyl LP released.

★ Saturday 20th June: CHANGESNOWBOWIE vinyl LP and CD released for Record Store Day.

★ Saturday 20th June: I’M ONLY DANCING (THE SOUL TOUR 74) Double vinyl LP and 2CD released for Record Store Day.

#CHANGESNOWBOWIE #BowieRepetition97 #BowieIOD74 #BowieRSD20 #SpaceOddityPicDisc #BowieVinyl

Keep Reading for the full press release.

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DAVID BOWIE ‘CHANGESNOWBOWIE' ALBUM OF UNRELEASED MATERIAL AVAILABLE TO STREAM FROM 17th APRIL

PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE 'REPETITION ’97' VIDEO ALSO AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING AND DOWNLOAD FROM 10th APRIL

DAVID BOWIE ‘REPETITION (CHANGESNOWBOWIE VERSION)’ AVAILABLE TO STREAM FROM 10th APRIL

‘CHANGESNOWBOWIE' LIMITED EDITION NINE TRACK LP/CD OF PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED MATERIAL TO BE ISSUED FOR RECORD STORE DAY 20th JUNE, 2020

1st April 2020 London:

Parlophone Records is happy to announce that DAVID BOWIE CHANGESNOWBOWIE, a previously unreleased nine-track album, is to be made available early for fans on streaming services to mark the original date of Record Store Day 2020, which was to feature the LP and CD but has now been postponed to 20th June.

CHANGESNOWBOWIE is a 9-track album, recorded for radio and broadcast by the BBC on David’s 50th birthday on 8th January, 1997. This mostly acoustic session was a stripped back affair featuring some of David’s favourites of his own compositions and was produced by Bowie himself, Reeves Gabrels and Mark Plati.

From 10th April the previously unavailable REPETITION ’97 video filmed at the Earthling Tour rehearsals in Hartford Connecticut by Tim Pope will be made available for streaming and download. The CHANGESNOWBOWIE audio version of the track will also be available to stream from the same date.

CHANGESNOWBOWIE was recorded and mixed at Looking Glass Studios in New York in November 1996. Gail Ann Dorsey (bass, vocals), Reeves Gabrels (guitars, vocals) and Mark Plati (keyboards and programming) accompanied David on the recording.

CHANGESNOWBOWIE will be released in limited quantities on LP and CD for Record Store Day on 20th June, 2020. The cover art for the album features a stunning black and white portrait of David by renowned photographer Albert Watson, taken in New York in 1996.

DAVID BOWIE - CHANGESNOWBOWIE TRACKLISTING

The Man Who Sold The World

Aladdin Sane

White Light / White Heat

Shopping For Girls

Lady Stardust

The Supermen

Repetition

Andy Warhol

Quicksand

CHANGESBOWIE at #1 in the UK 30 years ago today

“Ch, ch, ch, ch, changes”

The CHANGESBOWIE best of compilation LP hit the top spot in the UK 30 years ago today, promoted by Bowie’s SOUND + VISION World Tour which kicked off in Quebec, Canada, on 4th March.

Released on Monday 12th March 1990 by EMI in the UK (with three extra tracks on the 21 track LP & cassette), the 18-track US version was issued by RYKO on Friday 16th March 1990.

CHANGESBOWIE collected together songs chronologically that had previously appeared on both CHANGESONEBOWIE (11 tracks) and CHANGESTWOBOWIE (4 tracks) with other hits released after CHANGESTWOBOWIE and a couple of live favourites thrown in for good measure.

The album was released in several formats, including CD, Double Vinyl LP, Minidisc and cassette, while RYKO released limited editions on Clear vinyl and gold numbered Au20 CD, not forgetting a CD and cassette bundle with a free CD rack!

It could be argued that the compilation was UK-centric as it included 16 UK Top 20 hits, of which 10 were Top 5 hits, while also containing 6 US Top 20 hits of which 2 made the Top 5.

Either way, the album's sales were very healthy with it attaining Platinum status in the US where 1,000,000 copies were shipped, and Platinum in the UK and France were 300,000 were shipped in each country. CHANGESBOWIE was also Gold status in many other countries.

C1 = included on CHANGESONEBOWIE

C2 = included on CHANGESTWOBOWIE

N/A = Not applicable as either wasn't released as a single or didn't make the UK Top 30 or the American Bilboard Hot 100

01 - Space Oddity (UK #1 US #15) (C1)

02 - Starman (UK #10 US #65) (C2) (Exclusively on the EMI LP & cassette)

03 - John, I'm Only Dancing (UK #12 US N/A) (C1)

04 - Changes (UK N/A US #41) (C1)

05 - Ziggy Stardust (UK N/A US N/A) (C1)

06 - Suffragette City (UK N/A US N/A) (C1)

07 - The Jean Genie (UK #2 US #72) (C1)

08 - Life On Mars? (UK #3 US N/A) (N/A) (Exclusively on the EMI LP & cassette)

09 - Diamond Dogs (UK #21 US N/A) (C1)

10 - Rebel Rebel (UK #5 US #64) (C1)

11 - Young Americans (UK #18 US #28) (C1)

12 - Fame 90 (Gass mix) (UK #17 US #1) (C1)*

13 - Golden Years (UK #8 US #10) (C1)

14 - Sound And Vision (UK #3 US #69) (C2) (Exclusively on the EMI LP & cassette)

15 - "Heroes" (UK #24 US N/A) (N/A)

16 - Ashes to Ashes (UK #1 US N/A) (C2)

17 - Fashion (UK #5 US #70) (C2)

18 - Let's Dance (UK #1 US #1) (N/A)

19 - China Girl (UK #2 US #10) (N/A)

20 - Modern Love (UK #2 US #14) (N/A)

21 - Blue Jean (UK #6 US #8) (N/A)

* (Information relates to the original Fame single which later replaced Fame 90 on the CHANGESBOWIE Au20 CD)

#CHANGESBOWIE #BowieFame90 #BowieSOUNDandVISION

Hype and David Bowie’s future fifty years ago

“They fall on today, They beat on the outside.”

Fifty years ago this week the issue of Melody Maker dated 28th March, 1970, featured a David Bowie interview by Raymond Telford.

Titled: “HYPE AND DAVID BOWIE'S FUTURE”, here’s an edited excerpt from it:

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What then does the future hold for his new release with Hype’s Prettiest Star?

“I think a lot of people are expecting another Space Oddity,” said David, “and Prettiest Star is nothing like it. I'm sure this is why the BBC aren't plugging it. Everyone wanted another song with the same feel as Space Oddity but as I'd done it, I didn't see the point of doing it again. The song served its purpose but I hope I'm not going to be expected to write and record a whole lot of stuff that is so obvious as Space Oddity.”

The conversation then swung once more to the intriguing Hype.

“I'm very happy with the band,” says David. “I have Tony Visconti who has played bass on nearly all my records, John Cambridge, who used to be with Juniors Eyes and Mick Ronson on guitar and I play 12-string guitar. Although we're all happy with the set up, I can't see it becoming a really permanent thing. I want to retain Hype and myself as two separate working units whereby we can retain our own identities.”

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In the event, that particular line-up of Hype certainly didn’t become a permanent thing. A 30th March gig at the Star Hotel in West Croydon (fifty years ago tonight and a mere two days after the Melody Maker publish date), would be drummer John Cambridge’s last gig with the band.

Another Hull musician, Mick 'Woody' Woodmansey, would fill the vacant spot immediately and though he even signed a contract with Philips on 3rd April as a member of Hype, it’s hard to find evidence that the name Hype was used for any more gigs after 30th of March. We’d love to be proved wrong on that if you have printed evidence to the contrary.

So, if our theory is correct, as a gigging entity with its name appearing in listings, it seems Hype lasted a little over a month, from 28th February to 30th March.

Either way, John Cambridge himself remained friends with David over the years and they met several more times. Our picture shows them backstage at Hammersmith Apollo on 2nd October, 2002.

#Bowie1970 #BowieHype

Is It Any Wonder? EP in Official UK Album Chart Top 10

“Little wonder then, little wonder, You little wonder, little wonder you”

The 6-track limited edition Is It Any Wonder? EP has entered the new official album chart in the UK today at #10, following its release last Friday.

This from the Official Charts:

“…while previously unreleased David Bowie EP Is It Any Wonder? enters at Number 10 following its release on vinyl - the week’s biggest seller on black wax.”

Which, as you've no doubt worked out, means that Is It Any Wonder? Is #1 on the official vinyl album chart too.

Thanks to all of you that bought either the CD or the vinyl for returning Bowie to the Top 10.

#BowieIIAW #BowieVinyl #BowieOCC

Fame 90 released 30 years ago today

“Fame. What’s your name?”

Fame 90 was released as a single in the UK on 26th March 1990, the very day that David Bowie’s SOUND + VISION World Tour continued its globe trot with a 3-day stint at the London Arena. CHANGESBOWIE, the best of compilation LP whence the single came, was at #2 on the official UK album chart that day, reaching the top spot later that week.

Fame 90 was released on the following formats in the UK: • 7" • Cassette • 7" Limited Edition Changes Envelope Pack with three prints • 12" • 12" Shrink Wrap Pack • CD • 7" picture disc •

Despite the formats and different mixes, not to mention a brand new video, the single only just scraped into the Top 30.

Watch the Fame 90 (Official Video) over on the David Bowie YouTube channel:

#BowieFame90 #BowieSOUNDandVISION

David and Tina’s live duet 35 years ago

“Everything will be alright tonight”

As you are no doubt aware, Tonight is a song written by David Bowie and Iggy Pop originally released on Iggy’s 1977 Lust For Life album. Bowie’s own version was recorded as a duet with Tina Turner for 1984’s Tonight LP and was released as a single later that year.

On 23rd March, 1985, 35 years ago tonight, at a Tina Turner concert at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham in the UK, Bowie performed the song live with Turner along with a section of the Chris Montez hit, Let’s Dance, seguing into Bowie’s song of the same name.

Bowie guested the following night too, but the first night was filmed and released as part of the Tina Live Private Dancer Tour video the same year and the Tina Live in Europe album three years later.

This live duet of Tonight was also released as a single in late 1988, becoming a #1 hit in the Netherlands and also reaching #3 in Belgium, not to mention making Switzerland’s Top 20.

Tina Live In Europe also contained a live version of the Bowie/Kızılçay penned Girls, which Turner had originally recorded for the 1986 Break Every Rule album.

View the live version of Tonight on Tina’s official YouTube channel, but for those of a nervous disposition, be warned… apparently it's steamy, whatever that means? Any lip readers out there?

#BowieTurner #BowiePop #BowieKızılçay

Fun (Dillinja mix) single out now

“My dream dogs have arrived”

The 1 track digital download and streaming single of the drum and bass mix of Fun (Dillinja mix), is out now.

The track had only been available previously on the exclusive to BowieNet members Liveandwell.com CD, released in 2000.

This is the digital debut of Fun (Dillinja mix) and you can also find it on the Club Bowie playlist now.

(Images by Floria Sigismondi)

#BowieFun

Is It Any Wonder? EP out now

“Bang Bang - I got mine”

The 6-track limited edition vinyl and CD of the Is It Any Wonder? EP (out now), has completely sold out at the Bowie Official Store.

However, Warner/Rhino still have limited stock remaining here.

Also, as you may have read, along with the Record Store Day date change, the Space Oddity picture disc has now been moved to 19th June.

Here's the updated release schedule:

★ Friday 20th March: Limited Edition 6-track IS IT ANY WONDER? physical EP on 12” vinyl and CD released.

★ Friday 20th March: FUN (Dillinja mix) 1 track digital download and streaming single due.

★ Friday 19th June: Space Oddity picture disc vinyl LP released.

★ Saturday 20th June: CHANGESNOWBOWIE vinyl LP and CD released for Record Store Day.

★ Saturday 20th June: I’M ONLY DANCING (THE SOUL TOUR 74) Double vinyl LP and 2CD released for Record Store Day.

#BowieIIAW #SpaceOddityPicDisc #BowieIOD74 #CHANGESNOWBOWIE #BowieRSD20 #BowieVinyl

Record Store Day 2020 moves to 20th June

“It's the safest thing to do”

In response to the current global Coronavirus situation, The folks at Record Store Day have decided to postpone until Saturday, 20th June. Here's an excerpt from the press release:

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There is no perfect solution. There is no easy answer. We’ve decided that the best of all possible moves is to change the date of Record Store Day this year to Saturday, June 20.

We’re working with all of our partners and our stores to make this change as smooth as possible for everyone who participates in Record Store Day: customers, record stores, artists, labels and more. Record Store Day is everywhere and we want to hold our party when everyone can gather around safely to celebrate life, art, music and the culture of the indie record store.

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Meanwhile here's the updated release schedule:

~ Friday 20th March: Limited Edition IS IT ANY WONDER? physical EP on 12” vinyl and CD released.

~ Friday 20th March: FUN (Dillinja mix) 1 track digital download and streaming single due.

~ Friday 17th April: Space Oddity picture disc vinyl LP released.

~ Saturday 20th June: CHANGESNOWBOWIE vinyl LP and CD released for Record Store Day.

~ Saturday 20th June: I’M ONLY DANCING (THE SOUL TOUR 74) Double vinyl LP and 2CD released for Record Store Day.

#BowieIOD74 #CHANGESNOWBOWIE #BowieRSD20 #BowieIIAW #SpaceOddityPicDisc #BowieVinyl

Space Oddity 1972 picture disc due next month

“Well, ain’t that poster love?”

On Friday 17th April (the day before RSD2020), Parlophone will release a limited edition picture disc replicating the 1972 RCA edition of Space Oddity.

The disc features the same iconic Mick Rock shots that were used on the front and back of the original sleeve, albeit in much better quality due to Mick Kindly supplying new scans of the negatives. The pictures were taken at Bowie’s then home, Haddon Hall, in the spring of 1972.

The album also comes with a replica of the cover image poster which was part of the package at the time and no doubt helped launch a thousand punk hairdos a few years later. The back sleeve image was taken in Zowie’s (Duncan Jones) pink bedroom.

Along with The Man Who Sold The World, the November 1972 edition of Space Oddity was repackaged for the new Bowie audience to make available the increasingly hard to find Philips and Mercury originals.

Needless to say, both albums performed considerably better released in the wake of Ziggy’s success, with Space Oddity peaking at #17 in the UK chart and #16 in the US.

The picture disc will feature the 2009 40th anniversary remaster of the album, which was undertaken to match as closely as possible to the original vinyl issue.

We’ll leave you with the notes that appeared on the back of the 1972 original…most likely very familiar to fans of a certain age.

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SPACE ODDITY

Finally, words cannot speak of music, they cannot elucidate nor illuminate. Both sounds enter through the ears, but only music travels throughout and animates the whole body. David Bowie has always known this.

Space Oddity, which opens this album, and which in 1968 (sic) brought David Bowie into music’s world arena as one to be reckoned with, inhabits and charges the whole being. As with all of Bowie’s music it is both ecstatic and uncomfortable — discomforting. lt dates early in the mutable yet paradoxically consistent Bowie odyssey and remains archetypal. Its achievement, and this is so of Bowie’s music in general, is that it was NOW then, and it still is now NOW: personal and universal, perhaps galactic, microcosmic and macrocosmic.

Everything we are is engaged here. We have only to let it in.

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Well, it was 1972.

DAVID BOWIE - SPACE ODDITY 1972 PICTURE DISC RELEASED BY PARLOPHONE 17th APRIL 2020

#SpaceOddity72 #SpaceOddityPicDisc #BowieVinyl

18-year-old Manish Boy is 55

“You’re playing with the spider, who possesses the sky”

No, it’s not Brian Jones and Keith Relf. It’s Davie Jones and Davie Jones.

In the week that we celebrate the 55th anniversary of Davie Jones and The Manish Boys on BBC 2’s Gadzooks! It's All Happening (8th March, 1965), and the release of their one and only single, I Pity The Fool (5th March, 1965), we thought it would be nice to mark the occasion with a couple of pictures from around the same time.

The promo shots were taken in EMI’s boardroom at the Manchester Square offices in London.

I Pity The Fool was the follow up to the previous year's debut by Davie Jones with The King Bees, Liza Jane, and was notable for having the first ever released Bowie composition in Take My Tip on the B-side. Good to see a spider reference in his first ever published song, see today’s lyric quotation.

The A-side has an urgency that still cuts through today, no doubt helped somewhat by a lead guitar played by the young Jimmy Page and a brass section that included Davie Jones himself.

Within two months, Jones had left the group and joined The Lower Third, but that’s another story

As you would expect, I Pity The Fool is far more sought after now than it was fifty five years ago, with an acetate selling for £3,833 GBP three months ago and a stock copy fetching £2,500 GBP in 2018.

And, despite the record’s age, it’s travelled extremely well as you can hear for yourself here.

#Bowie1965

Young Americans album is 45 today

“All right, you want the young American”

David Bowie’s ninth studio album, the Bowie/Visconti/Maslin produced Young Americans, was released in the UK on this day in 1975.

A top ten album in both the US (#9) and the UK (#2) it also furnished Bowie with his first ever #1 single in the shape of the Bowie/Lennon/Alomar composition, Fame.

Have a listen to this episode of In The Studio with Redbeard, wherein we hear from Bowie regarding the creation of the Young Americans and Station To Station albums.

Also, if you’ve not listened in a while, check Young Americans out again on Spotify now.

(Original photo from Young Americans promo video shoot by Ellen Graham)

#YoungAmericansLP45

The Prettiest Star and The World Of David Bowie are 50

“It can all but break your heart, in pieces”

March 6th 1970 saw the release of both an album and a single for David Bowie in the shape of the Mercury 45, The Prettiest Star/Conversation Piece, and the Decca album, The World Of David Bowie.

The Prettiest Star was the beautifully melodic and worthy follow-up to Space Oddity and yet another label change for Bowie. Mercury was the sixth label that David had released UK singles on.

However, it looked like the label’s faith was well-placed with the signs looking good for another top ten UK hit, as suggested by an NME review of the single.

Sadly that was not to be and taking in to account the gentleness of both sides of the 45, it was an unusual follow-up considering David was plugging his new, rather loud, electric band, Hype, in both the press and on stage around the time of the single's release.

Bowie obviously recognised how strong a song The Prettiest Star was as he rescued it for the 1973 Aladdin Sane album, with Mick Ronson affectionately recreating Marc Bolan's original solo.

The B-side, Conversation Piece, was also re-recorded thirty years later for the Toy project and finally issued in 2002 as a Heathen bonus track.

DECCA realised it was time to cash in their chips following the Philips label's success with the Space Oddity 45 a few months earlier, and they did exactly that with The World Of David Bowie on March 6th 1970.

With David’s blessing the compilation rounded up ten tracks from the original fourteen-track UK Deram album, (marked thus * in the tracklisting below) discarding We Are Hungry Men, Join The Gang, Maid of Bond Street and Please Mr. Gravedigger.

Joining the ten album tracks were The London Boys, plus three unreleased tracks recorded with Tony Visconti in 1968. Here's the tracklisting...

Side 1

1 Uncle Arthur*

2 Love You Till Tuesday*

3 There Is A Happy Land*

4 Little Bombardier*

5 Sell Me A Coat*

6 Silly Boy Blue*

7 The London Boys (From Deram single DM 107)

Side 2

1 Karma Man (Previously unreleased)

2 Rubber Band*

3 Let Me Sleep Beside You (Previously unreleased)

4 Come And Buy My Toys*

5 She's Got Medals*

6 In The Heat Of The Morning (Previously unreleased)

7 When I Live My Dream*

Originally, the single versions of both Love You Till Tuesday and When I Live My Dream were meant to replace the album versions for this compilation, but this didn't transpire.

Illustrated in the montage here is the original copy of the album, complete with the nineteen shillings and eleven pence recommended retail price sticker (this was pre-decimal), as advertised in the trade press advert.

As well as the German picture sleeve for The Prettiest Star and the common or garden* Irish pressing of the same, the other item pictured is the UK 8-track cartridge along with its outer cardboard slipcase. This format had the same content as the vinyl version, albeit with the tracks in a different running order.

Listen to the original recordings of The Prettiest Star as it was originally released and the 1997 stereo mix, below.

The Prettiest Star – Original Mono Version

The Prettiest Star – 1997 Stereo Version

* The collectors among you will know that the original Mercury Irish pressing of The Prettiest Star is actually very far from common, or indeed, garden. It remains one of the most collectable Bowie pressings of all time, coveted by a very select few. (Hi Mauro, Roel and Reto)

#Bowie1970

Bowie’s once in a lifetime performance

“We've got four years”

Despite playing many February shows during his concert career, David Bowie only ever played one concert on this date, 29th February.

It's generally accepted that a David Bowie performance scheduled for the Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland, on Tuesday 29th February, 1972, was cancelled.

However, in 1976, exactly four years later, he performed at the Olympia Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, and not at the Cobo Arena in the same city as is sometimes reported. (He did play the Cobo on tours either side of the 1976 Isolar Tour in 1974 and 1978.)

The picture here was taken by MICHAEL MARKS At the Olympia Stadium Show on the 29th (Bowie also played the following evening at the same venue).

In fact, it's most likely that he never performed on this date again on account of 29th February being a four-yearly occurrence every leap year. But why let a flimsy theory stand in the way of a great picture? 😉

#BowieDetroit

David Bowie Ultimate Record Collection Part 1

“Where there's trouble there's poetry”

Editor John Robinson has been in touch with an exclusive first look at the latest in Uncut’s Ultimate Record Collection series, the first of their artist-led specials: David Bowie: 1964-1976.

The magazine apparently presents: “every record Bowie made, in order, in the period – with contributions from the people who made them.”.

An example is artist Mike Weller’s explanation of how the original title of the album eventually known as The Man Who Sold The World came about.

Weller: “I said to DB, “These are very troubled songs”, and he said, in a cod Yorkshire accent, “Aye, it’s me troubled-est.” And I said, “And that’s going to be your title.” That was DB – very serious, and also very, very funny. And that, spelled ‘Metrobolist’, was going to be the title.”

Here is the concluding section of John Robinson’s introduction:

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Lifetimes have been dedicated to the many delightful regional sleeve variations in this period of the Bowie catalogue, and we’ve given a flavour of them here, even if we can’t (as we have elsewhere in this magazine as far as possible) hope to track and trace them all.

Perhaps that’s key to the appeal of Bowie that we’re trying to elucidate in this magazine. As much as you can look, listen and read, there always seems to be more to discover. As the godfather of our Bowie

collection, Jens Döpke (of the Bowie-collection.de website), explains in our Miscellany, “There’s no such thing as a ‘complete’ Bowie collection…”

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Never a truer word spoken, Jens.

#BowieURC

Alabama Song at #1 on the Official UK Vinyl Singles Chart

“You know why“

Following the trend started when the Official UK Vinyl Singles Chart started in April 2015, Alabama Song (the latest David Bowie 40th Anniversary 7” vinyl picture disc issued by Parlophone), has entered today’s new chart at #1, after its release last week.

Of the 40th Anniversary discs, the only one not to hit the top spot so far is Be My Wife, though it still managed a very respectable second place. It’s also fair to assume that had the chart been around at the time, all of the other 40th Anniversary discs from Starman onward would have performed similarly well.

Currently the Official Vinyl Singles Chart covers the period from 12th April 2015 to 21st February 2020 . All releases listed below are 40th Anniversary 7” vinyl picture discs, unless otherwise stated.

#1 - Alabama Song - February 2020

#1 - D.J. (2017 Tony Visconti mix - single edit) - July 2019

#1 - Boys Keep Swinging (2017 Tony Visconti Mix) - May 2019

#1 - The Rebels - David Bowie’s Revolutionary Song - April 2019 - RSD (Music On Vinyl - Numbered sleeve, transparent blue vinyl 7”)

#1 - Breaking Glass EP - November 2018

#2 - Let's Dance (Full Length Demo) - April 2018 – RSD (Black vinyl 12")

#1 - Beauty And The Beast - January 2018

#1 - "Heroes" (Single Version) - September 2017

#2 - Be My Wife - June 2017

#1 - No Plan EP - April 2017 – RSD - (Sony Music - Numbered sleeve, transparent blue marbled vinyl 12”)

#8 - Placebo Featuring David Bowie ‎- Without You I'm Nothing - April 2017 - RSD - (Universal Music - picture disc 12”)

#1 - Sound And Vision (2017 Remastered Version) - February 2017

#1 - TVC15 (Original Single Edit) - April 2016

#1 - Golden Years (Single Version) - November 2015

#1 - Space Oddity (UK Single Edit) - October 2015

#1 - Fame (Original Single Edit) - July 2015

#1 - Changes - April 2015 - RSD

#2 - Tom Verlaine Kingdom Come - David Bowie Kingdom Come - April 2015 - RSD (Elektra/Parlophone Side By Side series - translucent white 7")

The week after Bowie’s passing (in January 2016), the Official Vinyl Singles Chart top 20 was dominated by 13 different Bowie singles.

Of course, not only is this an indication of how Bowie’s music endures, it’s also a reflection of how faithful Bowie fans are, for it is you that have made the David Bowie 40th Anniversary 7” vinyl picture disc series the success it is. Thank you.

The images used on the A and B sides of the picture disc are by (A-side 1980) DEAN CHAMBERLAIN © THE DAVID BOWIE ARCHIVE® (AA-Side 1978) CHRIS WALTER © CHRIS WALTER COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

#BowieVinyl #BowieOCC #DBALAS40