Three Bowie discs for RSD 2018

“Getting some skin exposure to the blackout”

Parlophone will be issuing the following three limited edition David Bowie discs for Record Store Day on April 21st.

~ Welcome To The Blackout (Live London '78) - 3 x LP unreleased live set

~ Let’s Dance (Full-length) - 12” single featuring full length version of the demo and live version

~ Bowie Now - White vinyl LP issue of US promo only compilation with new interior artwork

Keep reading for the full press release.

#BowieRSD  #RSD2018  #BowieVinyl  #BowieBlackout  #BowieLetsDance  #BowieNow
 

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DAVID BOWIE RECORD STORE DAY APRIL 21, 2018

THREE VERY SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION RECORD STORE DAY RELEASES

‘WELCOME TO THE BLACKOUT (LIVE LONDON '78)’ 3 x LP UNRELEASED LIVE SET

‘LET’S DANCE (FULL-LENGTH DEMO)’ 12” SINGLE FEATURING THE FULL LENGTH VERSION OF THE DEMO AND A RARE LIVE VERSION OF THE SONG

‘BOWIE NOW’ WHITE VINYL LP RARE US ONLY PROMO COMPILATION WITH NEW INTERIOR ARTWORK
David Bowie vinyl releases are always a Record Store Day highlight, and 2018 will be no exception. On April 21st Parlophone will be releasing three very special limited edition David Bowie items; WELCOME TO THE BLACKOUT (Live London 1978), LET’S DANCE (DEMO) and, available for the first time commercially, the rare Berlin era US promo album BOWIE NOW.

WELCOME TO THE BLACKOUT (LIVE LONDON '78)’ 3 x LP SET
This previously unreleased 3 LP set was recorded live during the ISOLAR II tour at Earls Court, London on the 30th June and 1st July 1978 by Tony Visconti and was mixed by David and David Richards at Mountain Studios, Montreux, 17th – 22nd January 1979. The newly designed trifold sleeve features imagery by photographers Sukita and Chris Walter.

LET’S DANCE (FULL-LENGTH DEMO) c/w LET’S DANCE (LIVE)
The 45 rpm 12” single features the first appearance of the full length demo of ‘Let’s Dance’ which was previously released in an edited form digitally for David’s birthday on 8th January this year. The full-length demo version clocks in at 7.34 and like the edited version this was mixed by Nile Rodgers (original co-producer of the demo with David) in November/December of last year.

The demo is backed by the live version of ‘Let’s Dance’ recorded live at Pacific National Exhibition Coliseum, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 12 September, 1983 and mixed by Bob Clearmountain. This version can be seen in the Serious Moonlight concert film and was also previously available on the AA side of the now very rare Australian ‘David Bowie Is’ exhibition exclusive yellow vinyl 7” single. The sleeve of the 12” single is a differently coloured variation of the original ‘Let’s Dance’ single cover.

BOWIE NOW
This is the first commercial release of a rare 1977 US only promotional-only LP on white vinyl. The tracks are drawn from the Low and “Heroes” albums and all of the audio is from the A New Career In A New Town box set remastered by Tony Visconti. The package now features a newly designed inner sleeve with a rarely seen black and white image of David in Berlin in 1977.

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DAVID BOWIE - WELCOME TO THE BLACKOUT (LIVE LONDON ’78) (3 LP SET)

Side 1
1. Warszawa
2. "Heroes"
3. What In The World

Side 2
1. Be My Wife
2. The Jean Genie
3. Blackout
4. Sense Of Doubt

Side 3
1. Speed Of Life
2. Sound And Vision
3. Breaking Glass
4. Fame
5. Beauty And The Beast

Side 4
1. Five Years
2. Soul Love
3. Star
4. Hang On To Yourself
5. Ziggy Stardust
6. Suffragette City

Side 5
1. Art Decade
2. Alabama Song
3. Station To Station

Side 6
1. TVC 15
2. Stay
3. Rebel Rebel

Produced by David Bowie. Recorded live at Earls Court 30th June and 1st July 1978 by Tony Visconti. Mixed by David Bowie and David Richards at Mountain Studios, Montreux, 17th– 22nd January 1979.

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
Background vocals - Carlos Alomar, Adrian Belew, Sean Mayes, George Murray and Roger Powell

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DAVID BOWIE - LET’S DANCE (FULL-LENGTH DEMO) (12” SINGLE)

Side A
Let’s Dance (Full-length demo) (7.34)
Produced by David Bowie and Nile Rodgers
Arranged by David Bowie and Nile Rodgers
Mixed by Nile Rodgers and Russell Graham at Le Crib Studios, November/December 2017
Recorded on 19th December 1982 at Mountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland by David Richards

Side B
Let's Dance (Live) (4.34)
Mixed by Bob Clearmountain. Recorded live at Pacific National Exhibition Coliseum, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 12th September 1983

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DAVID BOWIE - BOWIE NOW (WHITE VINYL LP)

Side 1
1. V-2 Schneider
2. Always Crashing In The Same Car
3. Sons Of The Silent Age
4. Breaking Glass
5. Neuköln

Side 2
1. Speed Of Life
2. Joe The Lion
3. What In The World
4. Blackout
5. Weeping Wall
6. The Secret Life Of Arabia

Side 1 tracks 2 and 4 and side 2 tracks 1, 3 and 5:
Mixed by Tony Visconti at Hansa by the Wall, Berlin
Recorded at The Château d'Hérouville and Hansa by the Wall, Berlin between September and October 1976.

Side 1 tracks 1, 3 and 5 and side 2 tracks 2, 4 and 6:
Recorded at Hansa by the Wall, Berlin between July and August 1977.

Engineers - Tony Visconti and Colin Thurston, and Mountain Studios, Montreux
Assistant engineers – David Richards and Eugene Chaplin
Hansa By The Wall in-house engineer – Eduard Meyer
Mixed at Mountain Studios, Montreux
Remastering overseen by Tony Visconti

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Exclusive Bowie vinyl for Brooklyn Museum

“Time, is waiting in the wings...”

Parlophone announces the following three David Bowie exclusives in conjunction with David Bowie is at the Brooklyn Museum.

~ Time (U.S. single edit) / The Prettiest Star - silver vinyl picture sleeve 7” single

~ Live In Berlin (1978) - 8-track orange vinyl mini-LP

~ iSelectBowie - 12-track red vinyl LP

Continue reading for the full press release.

#DavidBowieIs  #davidbowieisbkm  #DBisNYTime  #DBisNYBerlin78  #BowieiSelect  #BowieVinyl

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DAVID BOWIE IS…

PARLOPHONE ANNOUNCES DAVID BOWIE EXCLUSIVES IN CONJUNCTION WITH DAVID BOWIE IS AT THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM

‘TIME’ (US SINGLE EDIT) 7" SILVER VINYL
‘LIVE IN BERLIN (1978)’ 8 TRACK ORANGE VINYL MINI LP
‘iSELECT’ 12 TRACK RED VINYL LP     

On the occasion of the opening of David Bowie Is at the Brooklyn Museum, Parlophone is pleased to announce a selection of exclusives, only available at the Brooklyn Museum starting 2nd March.

The exhibition - David Bowie Is has been touring globally for the past five years visiting London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Tokyo, Melbourne, Bologna, Chicago and will be taking its final bow at the Brooklyn Museum in New York from 2nd March.

As with many of the other stops on the tour there will be exclusive limited Bowie vinyl for sale at the Brooklyn Museum.

‘TIME’ (U.S. single edit) / ‘THE PRETTIEST STAR’ (7” silver vinyl single / rare picture sleeve)

Exclusive to the exhibition shop at the Brooklyn Museum, this item is a translucent silver vinyl version of the 1973 ‘Time’/‘The Prettiest Star’ US 7” single complete with a reproduction of the original undistributed picture sleeve.

LIVE IN BERLIN (1978) (8 Track orange vinyl mini-LP) 

Also exclusive to the exhibition shop will be an 8-track mini-LP on transparent orange vinyl, recorded live in Berlin at the Deutschland Halle, Berlin on 16th May, 1978. Four of the tracks are completely unreleased and the remaining four were only issued within the last six months, three on a digital streaming only E.P. which was only available for five days and one on the B-side of the 40th Anniversary “Beauty And The Beast” 7” picture disc released on 5th January this year. The front cover features a shot taken by fan Antoine Loogman at the show.

iSELECT (Red vinyl LP)

Due to overwhelming demand this exhibition only exclusive red vinyl LP will be made available once more. The iSelect compilation features tracks chosen personally by Bowie along with sleeve notes on a fold out insert. This LP has only previously been available in very limited quantities at other David Bowie is exhibition shops. All tracks are the studio versions from the original albums other than “Some Are”, “Time Will Crawl (MM remix)” and the live “Intro/Hang On To Yourself”. The version of “Time Will Crawl” is exclusive to vinyl on this compilation.

‘TIME’ (U.S. single edit) 7” SILVER VINYL (David Bowie is Brooklyn Museum Exhibition Exclusive)

Side A
Time (U.S. single edit) (3.41)
Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott
Arranged by David Bowie and Mick Ronson.
Mixed and engineered by Ken Scott.

Side B
The Prettiest Star (3.31)                                         
Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott
Arranged by David Bowie and Mick Ronson.
Mixed and engineered by Ken Scott.

LIVE IN BERLIN (1978) 8 TRACK ORANGE VINYL MINI-LP (David Bowie is Brooklyn Museum  Exhibition Exclusive)

Side 1.
1. “Heroes” (7.21)
2. Be My Wife (2.51)
3. Blackout (3.39)
4. Sense Of Doubt (3.18)

Side 2.
1. Breaking Glass (3.36)
2. Fame (4.05)
3. Alabama Song (4.08)
4. Rebel Rebel (3.37)

Produced by David Bowie
Recorded live at the Deutschlandhalle, Berlin on 16th May, 1978.
Cover photography by Antoine Loogman © 1978 Antoine Loogman

iSELECT RED VINYL LP (David Bowie is Exhibition Exclusive)

Side 1
1. Life On Mars?                   
2. Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise)     
3. The Bewlay Brothers
4. Lady Grinning Soul
5. Win
6. Some Are

Side 2
1. Teenage Wildlife  
2. Repetition
3. Fantastic voyage
4. Loving The Alien
5. Time Will Crawl (MM Remix)
6. Intro/Hang On To Yourself (from Live Santa Monica ’72)

David Bowie is March 2nd to July 15th at The Brooklyn Museum

MUTE and The Berlin Trilogy out now

“Got to keep searching and searching...”

As you know, the five stand-alone albums from last year’s A New Career In A New Town (1977 – 1982) (ANCIANT) box set were released today, February 23rd.

It’s also not really news to anybody who regularly visits these pages, that the wonderfully dark and quite superb Duncan Jones-directed MUTE premiered worldwide on NETFLIX today.

So how have we shoehorned that information into one item? Simple really…

MUTE is set in a Berlin 34 years into the future. Three of the five Bowie break out albums released today, Low, "Heroes" and Lodger, are collectively referred to by the misnomer: The Berlin Trilogy.

After watching MUTE, we at DBHQ noted that the music contained within the three albums runs to approximately 114 minutes and that MUTE, without the end titles and skipping to the end of the Philip Glass rendition of "Heroes" runs to a similar length. So we hit the mute button (pun obviously intended), and attempted to synch the film and the music. Alas, though there were some serendipitous moments, overall it didn’t really work.

Anyway, our montage shows Bowie in Berlin during the filming of Just A Gigolo, along with Jones the younger in a brief cameo and aforementioned Berlin Trilogy, which were joined in the record racks today by Stage 2017 and Scary Monsters.

On a final note, when the first opus of The Berlin Trilogy was released, Low, it wasn’t received so well by some of the prominent critics of the day. The public ignored the advice and the album went to #2 on the UK chart. Low remains a work very much loved by all who have taken it in.

If you haven’t already seen MUTE, go watch it on NETFLIX now.

How proud would Jones the elder be of his son right now?

#MUTEmovie  #DuncanJones  #ANewCareerInANewTownBox  #BowieVinyl  

Two days till ANCIANT break outs

“He opened strange doors that we'd never close again”

The five selected stand-alone albums from last year’s A New Career In A New Town (1977 – 1982) (ANCIANT) box set will be released this Friday, February 23rd. Pre-order here:

Low - https://lnk.to/LowMP
"Heroes" - https://lnk.to/HeroesMP
Stage 2017 - https://lnk.to/StageMP
Lodger - https://lnk.to/LodgerMP
Scary Monsters - https://lnk.to/ScaryMMP

Go here for the press release.

#ANewCareerInANewTownBox  #BowieVinyl  #BowieScaryMonsters

David Bowie is… looking at New York

“If you can see me I can see you”

Just a dozen days to go before the critically acclaimed David Bowie is exhibition will make the final stop of its world tour at the Brooklyn Museum from March 2nd to Jul 15th.

Keep an eye on their Facebook Page for a bunch of Bowie standees dotted about the Big Apple and for general updates.

More details and tickets here.

FOOTNOTE: Obviously, that's the current edition of TONY pictured with the Earthling.

#DavidBowieIs  #davidbowieisbkm

Four days till ANCIANT break outs

Four days till ANCIANT break outs

“Waiting so long, I've been waiting so, waiting so”

The five selected stand-alone albums from last year’s A New Career In A New Town (1977 – 1982) (ANCIANT) box set will be released on February 23rd. Pre-order here:

Low - https://lnk.to/LowMP
"Heroes" - https://lnk.to/HeroesMP
Stage 2017 - https://lnk.to/StageMP
Lodger - https://lnk.to/LodgerMP
Scary Monsters - https://lnk.to/ScaryMMP

Go here for the press release.

#ANewCareerInANewTownBox  #BowieVinyl  #BowieLodger

Six days till ANCIANT break outs

“The boy in the dark blue jacket, Jumped up on the stage”

As we mentioned previously, these Parlophone reissues are a great starting point for those wanting to build a Bowie vinyl collection from scratch. And this 2017 version of Stage is now more complete than it ever was.

The five selected stand-alone albums from last year’s A New Career In A New Town (1977 – 1982) (ANCIANT) box set will be released on February 23rd. Pre-order here:

Low - https://lnk.to/LowMP
"Heroes" - https://lnk.to/HeroesMP
Stage 2017 - https://lnk.to/StageMP
Lodger - https://lnk.to/LodgerMP
Scary Monsters - https://lnk.to/ScaryMMP

Go here for the press release.

#ANewCareerInANewTownBox  #BowieVinyl  #BowieStage

Bowie worldwide 7"s softback now available

“The solid book we wrote, can now be found again (again)”

BEWARE - These men could bankrupt you! OK, not directly, but by helping you embark on a course you may previously have managed to circumnavigate. So be warned, and don’t blame us if those of you who aren't already, get hooked to collecting David Bowie’s considerable 7" back catalogue!

Back in April last year, we told you about the now sold out SPECIAL DELUXE EDITION of the DAVID BOWIE WORLD 7” RECORDS DISCOGRAPHY 1964 – 1981 by Marshall Jarman  (left in our picture), and Reto Stöcklin (on the right). But don't fear, a softback version is now available for pre-order here.

Here’s a flavour of what this level of collecting is all about...

Q - What is the most expensive Bowie 7"?
A - It changes, but a "Space Oddity" Japan Philips sold for the incredible sum of US $20,000 in Japan last year.

Q - Do you think there is a particular area more popular among the big collectors?
A - Pre-RCA stuff and the more exotic RCA Picture Sleeves from countries like Mexico, Turkey and Japan.

Q - What would you say is the holy grail of Bowie 7" collectables?
A - "The Prettiest Star" Ireland is exceptionally rare. Only one of the well-known collectors has a copy.

Keep reading for exclusive contributions from both authors.

#BowieVinyl  #WorldBowie7s

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Marshall Jarman

I was never interested in sports as a kid, it was always music with me. The only radio station playing a steady stream of pop music was Radio Luxemburg and the reception was appalling.  I  got my first record player for my 11th birthday and watched "Ready Steady Go!" on the television for all the latest sounds. I did paper rounds, worked on the market, caddying at the golf club ... and spent the lot on records, which I bought mainly second-hand.

There were things called jumble sales, there were second-hand shops, and every market in every town seemed to have a stall with second hand records. I first became aware that some people would pay way above nominal prices when 'Rolling Stone' magazine started and small ads in the back were offering far more for some records than I could buy them for. I consequently started dealing in records when I was 14 and still at school, selling mainly 60’s beat records to Americans and later on buying American records to sell here (UK).

As far as I recall, I wasn't aware of all of David Bowie's early stuff until the George Tremlett book which was 1974. Record fairs and "Record Collector" magazine were still in the future so trading was mainly 'word of mouth' contacts and small ads in the music press. The biggest difference between the 70's and now is of course the prices. I bought my first "Liza Jane" for £40.

By the latter half of the 70's there were a few mail order dealers with rare records in their catalogues ... and record fairs had started ... and then "Record Collector" magazine ... and record collecting boomed during the 80's. Consequently, record shops and even market stalls all purchased the "Rare Record Price Guide" and the odds of finding a bargain dwindled. Today, with the various internet sites, the world is literally at your fingertips and finding rare records couldn't be easier. I doubt that it’s anywhere near as much fun though!

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Reto Stöcklin

David Bowie’s multifaceted creativity is amazing and that is reflected in his record releases across the decades. In the book we look in particular on 7" vinyl released worldwide between 1964 (Liza Jane) and 1981 (Scary Monsters). This represents well over 1,000 different records produced worldwide in not less than 45 countries.

Some will collect all issues, promotional copies and test pressings - sometimes even tiny typographic variations on the cover or labels, a never ending quest. Others will focus on a specific country, a period or look for picture sleeves only.

Amongst the most beloved 7" records are early records, picture sleeves from the Sixties, Japanese pressings (of high quality and many with unique illustrations) and a few highly sought after records, such as the USA Time or Columbian Fame picture sleeves.

The rarest - and thus most expensive ones - are doubtless the unique Japanese and UK (never released) picture sleeves of Space Oddity (both pictured in our montage), together with the South African picture sleeve of Love You Till Tuesday, some stunning Mexican sleeves (i.e. Sorrow or Rebel Rebel) and the Irish (pictured) and South African releases of The Prettiest Star, to name a few.

Some records, although much easier to find are beloved because of the originality or beauty of their sleeves (Portugal, Turkey or Yougoslavia for example). Coloured vinyl, picture discs mispressings and unofficial records are also topics of interest.

Last but not least, a hot topic are acetates (see p 8-9). These are not records per se, but direct transcriptions of recordings on metallic plates covered by a lacquer of vinyl acetate. The most valuable ones are playback acetates: those that were cut in the recording studio in a few copies only, typically used to find a record label to commercialise a new title - some containing unreleased songs. The record companies then also had their own acetates cut for internal evaluation purposes. Acetates were also used in the mastering process ("Mastering acetates") to produce master plates and stampers to press the records.

For me this project is an achievement. Collecting is quite egoistic and not productive. This book allowed me some creativity.

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Thanks for that chaps, much appreciated. Now all we need is a better relationship with our bank managers or a lottery win!

Eight days till ANCIANT break outs

“Listen to tracks by Sam Therapy and King Dice”

As we mentioned previously, original second-hand vinyl copies of most Bowie albums are attracting far higher prices in the last couple of years than they ever have done. These Parlophone reissues are a great starting point for those wanting to build a Bowie vinyl collection from scratch.

The five selected stand-alone albums from last year’s A New Career In A New Town (1977 – 1982) (ANCIANT) box set will be released on February 23rd. Pre-order here:

Low - https://lnk.to/LowMP
"Heroes" - https://lnk.to/HeroesMP
Stage 2017 - https://lnk.to/StageMP
Lodger - https://lnk.to/LodgerMP
Scary Monsters - https://lnk.to/ScaryMMP

Go here for the press release.

#ANewCareerInANewTownBox  #BowieVinyl  #BowieHeroes

Aladdin Sane 45th anniversary silver vinyl due

“Just in time for sunrise”

April sees the release of two limited edition Bowie vinyl albums, Aladdin Sane and CHANGESTWOBOWIE.

This strictly limited one run only silver vinyl edition of Aladdin Sane will contain Ken Scott’s approved 2013 remaster and will be released on 20th April, 2018, 45 years to the day since the original release date for the album. Previously thought to have been issued on 13th April, 1973, new evidence has come to light that proves the release date was officially the 20th, but being Good Friday in the UK the album was 'made available' on the 19th.

This silver vinyl edition of Aladdin Sane will only be available to ‘bricks and mortar’ retail stores and not through on-line stores.

CHANGESTWOBOWIE will be reissued on the 13th April with all tracks remastered on CD in a digipak sleeve, high-resolution 192/24 and 96/24 digital and standard digital for streaming and download, as well as a 180gram vinyl edition available randomly on its initial limited run in black and blue vinyl before reverting solely to black vinyl.

Finally, 192/24 and 96/26 high-resolution digital versions of CHANGESONEBOWIE will be released for streaming and download on April 13th too.

Keep reading for the full press release.

#AladdinSaneSilver  #BowieVinyl

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DAVID BOWIE‪

ALADDIN SANE 45th ANNIVERSARY SILVER VINYL ‘BRICKS & MORTAR’ RETAIL EXCLUSIVE: RELEASED ON PARLOPHONE  20th APRIL, 2018

CHANGESTWOBOWIE BLUE VINYL / BLACK VINYL  / CD / DD / HD: RELEASED ON PARLOPHONE  13th APRIL, 2018

CHANGESONEBOWIE HD DOWNLOAD / STREAM: RELEASED ON PARLOPHONE  13th APRIL, 2018

‪ALADDIN SANE

2017 saw gold vinyl versions of Hunky Dory and The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, released 45 years to the day of the first issuing of Ziggy. To celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the ALADDIN SANE album; there will be a special limited edition silver vinyl version released.

This strictly limited one run only silver vinyl edition of ALADDIN SANE will contain Ken Scott’s approved 2013 remaster and will be released on 20th April, 2018, 45 years to the day since the original release date for the album. Previously thought to have been issued on 13th April, 1973, new evidence has come to light that proves the release date was officially the 20th, but being Good Friday in the UK the album was 'made available' on the 19th.

This will only be available to ‘bricks and mortar’ retail stores and not through on-line stores.

‪ALADDIN SANE

Side One
Watch That Man
Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)
Drive-In Saturday
Panic In Detroit
Cracked Actor

Side Two
Time
The Prettiest Star
Let’s Spend The Night Together
The Jean Genie
Lady Grinning Soul

CHANGESTWOBOWIE

This follow up to David’s hugely successful first Best Of compilation CHANGESONEBOWIE, has not officially been available since the late 1980s. Featuring iconic cover photography by Greg Gorman, it was first released in 1981 and was only briefly available on CD in 1985 but has long since been deleted.

Drawing on material spanning from HUNKY DORY (1971) to SCARY MONSTERS (AND SUPER CREEPS) (1980) it achieved gold status in the U.K. album chart in 1982. It will be reissued on the 13th April with all tracks remastered on CD in a digipak sleeve, high-resolution 192/24 and 96/24 digital and standard digital for streaming and download, as well as a 180gram vinyl edition available randomly on its initial limited manufacturing run in black and blue vinyl before reverting solely to black vinyl.

CHANGESONEBOWIE

192/24 and 96/26 high-resolution digital versions of CHANGESONEBOWIE will be released for streaming and download on April 13th.

CHANGESTWOBOWIE
Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)
Oh! You Pretty Things
Starman
1984
Ashes To Ashes*
Sound And Vision
Fashion*
Wild Is The Wind
John, I'm Only Dancing (Again) 1975
D.J.*

*Single versions

CHANGESONEBOWIE

Space Oddity
John, I'm Only Dancing (original version)
Changes
Ziggy Stardust
Suffragette City
The Jean Genie
Diamond Dogs
Rebel Rebel
Young Americans
Fame
Golden Years

ALADDIN SANE 45th ANNIVERSARY SILVER VINYL
Will be released on Parlophone 20th April, 2018.

CHANGESTWOBOWIE VINYL / CD / DD / HD and
CHANGESONEBOWIE HD DOWNLOAD / STREAM
Will be released on Parlophone 13th April, 2018.

Ten days till ANCIANT break outs

“There’ll be others on the line filing past, who’ll whisper Low”

David Bowie was always one of the more collectable musicians, and with original second-hand vinyl copies of most Bowie albums attracting far higher prices in the last couple of years than they ever have done, the Parlophone reissues are a great starting point for those with a smaller budget wanting to build a Bowie vinyl collection from scratch.

A cursory look at recent sales on popular online sites have seen copies of Low (originally released in 1977, but unavailable on vinyl since 1991), exchange hands for an average of £35 -£45 (GBP) (USD $49-$62) and over £200 ($280) for a “used” condition promo copy just last week.

The five selected stand-alone albums from last year’s acclaimed A New Career In A New Town (1977 – 1982) (ANCIANT) box set will be released on February 23rd. Pre-order here:

Low - https://lnk.to/LowMP
"Heroes" - https://lnk.to/HeroesMP
Stage 2017 - https://lnk.to/StageMP
Lodger - https://lnk.to/LodgerMP
Scary Monsters - https://lnk.to/ScaryMMP

Go here for the press release.

#ANewCareerInANewTownBox  #BowieVinyl  #BowieLow

David Bowie: Glamour Issue 3

“You better not mess with Major Tom”

Here’s an exclusive first look at Helen Green’s delicious fold-out cover for issue 3  of Andy Jones and Nick Smart’s David Bowie: Glamour fanzine. (Animation here)

The fanzine is beautifully designed by Milky Cereal and Issue 3 is available for pre-order now.

The publication boasts exclusive and original content contributed by Bowie fans and collaborators...

Issue 3 includes these alphabetically listed contributors:

Jimmy C
Robin Clark
Ian Hunter
Paul Cuddeford
Terry O’Neill
Nicholas Pegg
Mark Plati
Catherine Russell
Tony Sales
Morgan Visconti

Visit the David Bowie: Glamour fanzine site to submit contributions for Issue 4 and to pre-order Issue 3.

*We are duty-bound to point out that David Bowie: Glamour is not an official publication.

#DavidBowieGlamourFanzine

Listen along with Starman...for eternity

“Can you hear me Major Tom?”

Well you may not have had the opportunity to join Starman on his fantastic voyage, but at least you can join him in spirit by having a taste of what he’ll be listening to for evermore, here.

FOOTNOTE: OK, so you can’t hear anything in space with there being no atmosphere and all that. However, do you think SpaceX would have been that cruel. Obviously they're pumping the music straight into his space helmet. Those cats are smart.

#NowPlaying  #BowieForever  

DB does DB with Choir! Choir! Choir!

“For ever and ever”

You’ve most likely seen this already, but it bears repeating for those of you that may have missed it.

Choir! Choir! Choir! teamed up with David Byrne and a large group of enthusiastic singers for an emotionally charged rendition of "Heroes" in NYC last month.

The event took place in the Ford Foundation lobby of the Public Theater during the Under the Radar Festival on January 13th, and this is how David Byrne announced his involvement earlier in the day...

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How Do They Do It?

I've sat mesmerized watching online videos of the Canadian group Choir! Choir! Choir!

They somehow manage to get hundreds of strangers to sing beautifully together—in tune and full-voiced—with rich harmonies and detailed arrangements. With almost no rehearsal—how do they do it??

Well, opportunity knocks! I’m going to find out their secret tonight, as I’m singing a song with them (not one of my own) in the lobby of the Public Theater in New York along with, yes, hundreds of (mostly) strangers.

David Byrne, NYC

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On his online journal, Byrne also had this to say regarding the song selection...

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Why that song?

Well, it has to be something familiar—participants get lyric sheets but aren’t expected to be able to read music. It can’t be too difficult. My own thought on “Heroes”, the song we jointly agreed to do, is that given the structure of the song, it would probably build nicely—we’d possibly get a big triumphant climax, (ahem) which we did. I also had a hunch there MIGHT be a tiny subtext in doing that song, given the present state of the world and nation. An unspoken subtext, but one felt nonetheless—I believe that happened too. People confirmed it to me afterwards. I felt it.

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It was a particularly moving performance which you can view for yourself here.

Of course, this isn't the first time that Choir! Choir! Choir! Have tackled the music of David Bowie. Follow this link to hear their versions of Space Odditty, Rebel Rebel and The Man Who Sold The World.

Finally, read more of Mr Byrne’s thoughts regarding the performance via aforementioned journal.

FOOTNOTE: The two DBs are pictured here backstage at the 2003 MSG Bowie A Reality Tour show in New York.

#WeCanBeHeroes  #BowieForever

Bowie songs used for historic space flight

“There’s a Starman waiting in the sky”

History was made today (Tuesday Feb 6) with the very emotional launch of Elon Musk’s midnight cherry Tesla Roadster car into space, with David Bowie’s Life on Mars? as the soundtrack, and a character called Starman in the driving seat.

Mr Musk’s SpaceX used a super rocket – the Falcon Heavy vehicle – to send the car into orbit around Mars, deploying technology with twice the launch power of any existing rocket, and double that of the Saturn V, used for the Apollo lunar missions.

Before the launch, Mr Musk explained that the Roadster “will be in deep space for a billion years or so, if it doesn't blow up on ascent”. He needn’t have worried, the rocket successfully took off at 3.45pm local time with an estimated half a million people gathered in Florida to watch.

At the convertible’s wheel is SpaceX’s ‘Starman’, a dummy in a white-and-black-trimmed spacesuit, and on the soundtrack is another nod to Bowie: his 1969, pre-Apollo 11 song, Space Oddity, on repeat for eternity.

Imagine that, Bowie still playing somewhere in space as Earth is eventually swallowed by our sun. Sorry for the spoiler if you didn’t know about that.

Earlier in the week, in an animated YouTube video to promote the launch, Life On Mars? played as the Falcon Heavy was shown in its various flight stages. Watch the video here.

#FalconHeavy  #SpaceX  #StarmanBowie  #HalloSpaceboy

Philip Glass Lodger tickets on general sale Tuesday

“...popular musics and aftershocks...”

As regular readers of this page will know, Philip Glass has been promising the third and final symphony of his Bowie/Eno trilogy for many years. Now his 12th symphony, based on Bowie’s Lodger album, will have its European premiere at the Southbank Centre next year following the world premiere in Los Angeles.

Lodger will be performed alongside his First (Low) and Fourth ("Heroes") symphonies by new music ensemble the London Contemporary Orchestra with innovative organist James McVinnie. Hugh Brunt and Robert Ames will be conducting.

Based on Bowie’s 1979 album of the same name, Lodger completes Glass’s reimagining of Bowie’s Berlin trilogy, following 1992’s Low symphony and 1996’s "Heroes" symphony. The composer had discussed the piece with Bowie, but only now has it been realised.

In a recent statement, Glass said: “For the past two decades, I had hoped to find an opportunity to complete the trilogy of symphonies. I’m now delighted to have that chance to compose the Lodger symphony, and equally delighted that it will be heard in London at Southbank Centre.”

The work has been co-commissioned by Southbank Centre, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra.

Tickets are already on sale to members with the general sale commencing on Tuesday February 6th. Go here for more information and ticket links.

“My approach was to treat the themes very much as if they were my own and allow their transformations to follow my own compositional bent when possible. In practice, however, Bowie and Eno’s music certainly influenced how I worked, leading me to sometimes surprising musical conclusions.” - Philip Glass

#BowieEnoGlass  #BerlinTrilogy

Duncan recommends book #2

“I’m lookin’ thru African eyes”

Following last month’s recommendation, Peter Ackroyd’s Hawksmoor, Duncan Jones has posted his second selection for the Bowie Book Club on Twitter.

It’s James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time. Here’s a couple of posts from Duncan on Twitter.

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Duncan Jones @ManMadeMoon Jan 28

Book 2 I’m going to be reading from dad’s favs, will be James Baldwin’s THE FIRE NEXT TIME. 

Hopefully not as hard to get hold of this book as the last, and possibly a quicker read.

Reading deadline?  March 1st!

Duncan Jones @ManMadeMoon Jan 28

Can’t wait.  1st book of this reading marathon was lite on quotables, heavy on brain strain!

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Here’s the synopsis of a work as poignant now as it was when first published 55 years ago.

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The landmark work on race in America from James Baldwin, whose life and words are immortalized in the Oscar-nominated film I Am Not Your Negro

‘We, the black and the white, deeply need each other here if we are really to become a nation’

James Baldwin’s impassioned plea to ‘end the racial nightmare’ in America was a bestseller when it appeared in 1963, galvanising a nation and giving voice to the emerging civil rights movement. Told in the form of two intensely personal ‘letters’, The Fire Next Time is at once a powerful evocation of Baldwin’s early life in Harlem and an excoriating condemnation of the terrible legacy of racial injustice.

‘Sermon, ultimatum, confession, deposition, testament, and chronicle ... all presented in searing, brilliant prose’ - The New York Times Book Review

‘Baldwin writes with great passion ... it reeks of truth, as the ghettoes of New York and London, Chicago and Manchester reek of our hypocrisy’ - Sunday Times

‘The great poet-prophet of the civil rights movement ... his seminal work’ - Guardian

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The Fire Next Time is in DAVID BOWIE'S TOP 100 BOOKS list.

If you don’t do Twitter (where you can respond to Duncan directly), feel free to leave your thoughts about Peter Ackroyd’s Hawksmoor in the comments section on FaceBook.

FOOTNOTE: Apologies to the American Library Association for the appropriation of the Bowie READ campaign poster from 1987.

#BowieBookClub  #BlackHistoryMonth  #ReadingIsBrainFood