“A trumpet you can blow, And a lunch at Rules…”
We close our 45th anniversary celebrations of 1973 today with a look back at New Year’s Eve, 1973. Today’s pictures (by Michael Putland), were taken at an RCA Records luncheon at the prestigious Rules restaurant in London’s Covent Garden, to mark Bowie’s extraordinary performance on the UK album charts.
With the publication of the ‘The Bowie five-star constellation’ advert (bottom right) in September, it was clear that RCA were more than happy with the way things were going. Here’s the wording from that advert:
+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +
The Bowie five-star constellation
Unbelievable but a fact - David Bowie takes five places in the Top Fifty album charts for ten whole weeks - a musical achievement unique in our time.
And now, the man who made Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold The World, Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars and Aladdin Sane is putting a new album into orbit. It’s called PIN-UPS and will be released in mid-October.
+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +
Things got even crazier with the release of Pin Ups on October 19th. The album entered the chart at #1 on November 3rd. Here are the positions taken from that week’s chart:
#01 Pin Ups
#14 Aladdin Sane
#16 Hunky Dory
#22 Ziggy Stardust
#46 The Man Who Sold The World
#50 Space Oddity
That week, the man who released his debut RCA album just two years previously, had six albums in the Top Fifty. As far as we are aware, that’s a feat that hasn't been equalled by a living artist since.
At one point, Bowie also had five albums in the Top Fifty for nineteen consecutive weeks.
The plaque in the framed album presentation was inscribed thus:
“Awarded to David Bowie for outstanding musical achievements. From your friends at RCA.“
At the New Year's Eve presentation, David apparently rose from the head of a long table in an upstairs room to thank everyone:
“I don’t know what to say, I feel like a rock ‘n’ roll star. At least it keeps the kids on the streets. Thanks to everyone who bought or were given the albums.”
They don’t make 'em like that anymore. Here’s to the brilliance of David Bowie and an exciting 2019.
FOOTNOTE: Rules was also the venue for the festive photoshoot that put David on the cover of the December 1969 edition of Fabulous 208.
#BowieCoolYule #BowieOCC