“For which my reputation swept back home in drag”
Back in November of last year we said we weren’t sure about the accepted release date of Wednesday 4th November 1970, for Mercury’s US release of The Man Who Sold The World (TMWSTW).
We have since uncovered more information which points to the album coming out sometime in January 1971, though we don’t yet have an exact date. We will do a follow up with some of the ‘evidence’ that led us to that conclusion at some point.
Meanwhile, next week sees the 50th anniversary of the release of the UK version of TMWSTW, also via Mercury. The recorded release date for what is often referred to as the 'drag' or 'dress' sleeve is 10th April, 1971. Being a Saturday, this was another date that didn’t sit comfortably with us.
Tris Penna came to the rescue only yesterday with some items from his impressive collection, namely original release sheets and a reviewer’s copy with a date stamp on the back sleeve. (Look closely, it is there.)
So, here’s hard evidence that TMWSTW was actually released on Thursday 8th April 1971. With Friday 9th April 1971 being Good Friday, this Thursday release makes perfect sense. The release of Aladdin Sane was similarly affected by Easter.
Mercury’s failure to promote the release of TMWSTW won’t have helped the dismal UK sales, prompting Bowie to make this comment later the same year: “It sold like hotcakes in Beckenham, and nowhere else.”
#Bowie1970 #Bowie1971 #BowieTMWSTW #ManDress