“To the seat with the clearest view...”
With the many celebrations posted today, you’ve no doubt noticed that 22nd June 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the Life On Mars? single.
The song was originally released on the Hunky Dory album at the tail end of 1971 and by the following year Bowie had answered his own question by finding some Spiders on the Red Planet.
According to music press reports from the time, the single was issued due to the overwhelming positive audience response to the song during the current 1973 tour. Ironic then that Bowie didn’t perform it at Hammersmith on 3rd July when the single had entered the top five of the official UK charts.
Meanwhile, feast your eyes on this 4k upgrade of the Mick Rock directed promotional video over on YouTube.
A word of warning for those of you used to the oversaturated previous versions of the video, you’re in for a bit of a shock. This upgrade has finally been colour corrected to something approaching reality. Those of you who saw the Life On Mars? suit at the David Bowie Is exhibition will recognise that this version is a far more accurate representation of the original colouring.
And just for fun, we’ve also synced the video to the audio of the Life On Mars? Original Ending Version from Divine Symmetry.
For a more in-depth appreciation of the track, Alan York’s piece from November 2021: LIFE ON MARS?: HOW DAVID BOWIE CREATED AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD CLASSIC, is still well worth a read.
#BowieLOM #BowieLOM50 #BowieMickRock