“The boy in the bright blue jacket, jumped up on the stage” *
(ANCIANT = A New Career In A New Town)
Today we continue our album focus on Stage, the recorded document of the ISOLAR 2 tour, or, as it was known at the time: The 1978 World Tour.
Here’s the introduction of Matt Damsker’s review of one of the Spectrum Arena shows in Philadelphia, where much of Stage was recorded.
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Flamboyant David Bowie Returns — in Triumph. By MATT DAMSKER of The Bulletin Staff
Even without the benefit of a current hit record, David Bowie continues to assert his eminence among ‘70s rock heroes with one of the year’s most impressive tours and last night at the Spectrum the flamboyant British star returned in triumph to a near-capacity houseful of more than 18,000. As in past appearances here, Bowie alternately transfixed and roused the audience with his coolly cultivated performing style and daringly original music.
Announcing at the onset of last night’s show that it was being taped for yet another album of in-concert material – his first, “David Live”, was recorded in 1974 at Upper Darby’s Tower Theatre – Bowie made clear that Philadelphia remains the most inspiring market for his stage efforts.
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STAGE FACT FILE:
Originally released in the UK as RCA PL 02913 on 8th September, 1978.
Peak UK chart position: #5
Peak US chart position: #44
Produced by DAVID BOWIE and TONY VISCONTI.
Mixed by TONY VISCONTI.
Live sound mixed by BUFORD JONES.
Recorded by TONY VISCONTI with the RCA MOBILE UNIT
MUSICIANS
DAVID BOWIE – vocals, chamberlain
CARLOS ALOMAR – rhythm guitar
ADRIAN BELEW – lead guitar
DENNIS DAVIS – drums, percussion
SIMON HOUSE – electric violin
SEAN MAYES – piano, string ensemble
GEORGE MURRAY – bass guitar
ROGER POWELL – keyboards, synthesizer
CARLOS ALOMAR, ADRIAN BELEW, SEAN MAYES,
GEORGE MURRAY and ROGER POWELL – background vocals
Stage was recorded live at the Spectrum Arena, Philadelphia, 28th and 29th April, 1978, Civic Center, Providence, 5th May, 1978 and New Boston Garden Arena, Boston, 6th May, 1978.
On 14th November, 2005, an expanded and recompiled version of Stage was released on EMI on CD 836 4362 and also in 5.1 on the DVD-Audio EMI 863 4369.
The 2017 version has been further augmented by the inclusion of ‘The Jean Genie’ from the Boston show and ‘Suffragette City’ from the Philadelphia show.
Stage 2017 Tracklisting:
SIDE 1
1. WARSZAWA
2. “HEROES”
3. WHAT IN THE WORLDSIDE 2
1. BE MY WIFE
2. THE JEAN GENIE
3. BLACKOUT
4. SENSE OF DOUBTSIDE 3
1. SPEED OF LIFE
2. BREAKING GLASS
3. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
4. FAMESIDE 4
1. FIVE YEARS
2. SOUL LOVE
3. STAR
4. HANG ON TO YOURSELF
5. ZIGGY STARDUST
6. SUFFRAGETTE CITYSIDE 5
1. ART DECADE
2. ALABAMA SONG
3. STATION TO STATIONSIDE 6
1. STAY
2. TVC 15
Associated UK release:
3-track Breaking Glass EP released November 1978 - (Peak UK chart position: #54)
Tracks: Breaking Glass/Art Decade/Ziggy Stardust
Associated US release:
3-track promotional only white vinyl 12".
Tracks: Star/What In The World/Breaking Glass
Associated Japanese release:
Soul Love/Blackout
Stage’s release was delayed somewhat from the original scheduled date. Apparently this was in no small part due to Bowie having seen a report in the French magazine Best, regarding the US leg of the tour. The review included an unauthorised shot by Gilles Riberolles, which so enamoured DB that he delayed the release of the album to have the cover changed to the one we now know.
Don’t forget you can listen to the official David Bowie: A New Career In A New Town playlist here. Pre-order ANCIANT here.
* No, we’re not colour-blind. The green jacket in our illustration was originally a sort of blue, blue...electric blue.
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