Festive greetings to all

“Hand in hand in love with love...”

Twenty years ago this month, friends and associates of Bowie’s received an envelope containing the annual greeting card for 2001. Some were personally signed by David. Packs of the cards were also made available to purchase in aid of CRUSAID.

Though the image was listed on the back of the card as UNTITLED David Bowie, it was in fact a photograph that David had taken of his daughter Lexi’s hand.

Of course, the image was used again earlier this year for the limited edition 7” single birthday release: David’s cover versions of John Lennon’s Mother and Bob Dylan’s Tryin’ To Get To Heaven.

The picture of Lexi with her proud parents in our montage was taken by Brian Aris in 2000.

Season’s Greetings to all and thanks for the Bowie love throughout 2021.

#BowieBirthdaySingle2021 #BowieCard #BowieForever #PeaceOnEarth

Changes 2021 Alt Mix and Hunky Dory picture disc

“...and lo it was midnight, Back o' the kitchen door...”

As mentioned here on 4th December, David Bowie’s Hunky Dory LP was released fifty years ago tomorrow in the UK, on 17th December 1971.

For those of you already poking around in the 17th, you may be enjoying the latest Bowie streaming single: CHANGES (2021 ALTERNATIVE MIX)

If you’re not, why not try this Changes lyric video featuring images from the Hunky Dory cover session (including some previously unpublished), until your clock strikes midnight?

#HunkyDory #BowieHunkyDory50 #DavidBowieChanges

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DAVID BOWIE - TWO SPECIAL RELEASES TO CELEBRATE THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF HUNKY DORY

CHANGES (2021 ALTERNATIVE MIX) SINGLE AVAILABLE TO STREAM FROM 17th DECEMBER:

WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO FOR THE ORIGINAL MIX FEATURING PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED PHOTOS FROM THE HUNKY DORY ALBUM SESSION HERE

HUNKY DORY LIMITED EDITION 50th ANNIVERSARY VINYL PICTURE DISC TO BE RELEASED 7th JANUARY 2022

16th DECEMBER 2021 - Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of David Bowie’s classic fourth studio album, HUNKY DORY, and to celebrate, Parlophone Records is proud to announce release details for two very special releases to mark the album’s Golden Jubilee.

A streaming single CHANGES (2021 ALTERNATIVE MIX) is available from 17th December and has been mixed from the original multi tracks by HUNKY DORY co-producer Ken Scott. Of this new mix, Ken says:

“The new version of ‘Changes’ is a fresh look at David’s classic. When listening to the original multi-track I discovered a few things that I had eliminated from the original mix and also a completely different sax solo at the end. It was those things that led me to try a new mix, trying for a slightly harder, more contemporary edge to it.”

On 7th January, 2022, the day before what would have been Bowie’s 75th birthday and 50 years to the day since the U.K. release of CHANGES as a single, HUNKY DORY will be issued as a limited edition 50th anniversary picture disc, featuring the 2015 vinyl remaster and a poster of David’s original version of the annotated back cover image.

Although now widely acknowledged as one of the best albums of all time, HUNKY DORY didn’t make a dent on the U.K. album charts upon its 1971 release. It wasn’t until August 1973 that it finally peaked in the U.K. Top 5 in the wake of a reissue of LIFE ON MARS?, following the 1972 release of Bowie’s breakthrough album THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS.

Despite being one of David’s most recognisable songs and aside for 40th anniversary versions, CHANGES was never a top 40 hit in the U.K., although it did peak at #41 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. It has long since stood alongside LIFE ON MARS? as one of the several beloved Bowie classics featured on HUNKY DORY, which also include KOOKS, QUEEN BITCH, OH! YOU PRETTY THINGS, QUICKSAND and THE BEWLAY BROTHERS.

DAVID BOWIE HUNKY DORY TRACKLISTING

Side One

Changes – 3:37

Oh! You Pretty Things – 3:12

Eight Line Poem – 2:55

Life On Mars? – 3:43

Kooks – 2:53

Quicksand – 5:08

Side Two

Fill Your Heart – 3:07

Andy Warhol – 3:56

Song For Bob Dylan – 4:12

Queen Bitch – 3:18

The Bewlay Brothers – 5:22

CHANGES (2021 ALTERNATIVE MIX) STREAMING SINGLE AVAILABLE 27TH DECEMBER ON PARLOPHONE

HUNKY DORY LIMITED EDITION VINYL PICTURE DISC AVAILABLE 7TH JANUARY, 2022 ON PARLOPHONE

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Hunky Dory hits half a century

“Oh, look out you rock ’n rollers”

David Bowie’s Hunky Dory LP (his first for RCA), was purportedly released on this day (4th December 1971) in the US, a couple of weeks before the UK release on the 17th.

The attendant single, Changes, was also issued around this time in the US, a whole month before the UK release.

Brian Ward’s iconic cover image was first revealed publicly as early as August 1971 (for a feature in the UK‘s Sounds magazine), albeit flipped and yet to receive Terry Pastor’s colourisation treatment.

We’ll get even more trainspottery for you with the UK celebration of Hunky Dory in a couple of weeks.

(See the Facebook or Instagram version of this post for more)

#HunkyDory #BowieHunkyDory50

Rubber Band 45 is 55 today

“How I wished that I had joined your Rubber Band”

Released on 2nd December 1966, David Bowie’s first release for DERAM was his fourth single release that year.

This review of the single from Disc and Music Echo is not unfair.

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I do not think Rubber Band is a hit. What it is is an example of how David Bowie has progressed himself into being a name to reckon with, certainly as far as songwriting is concerned. He is not the David Bowie we once knew. Even a different voice - distinctly reminiscent of a young Tony Newley - has emerged.

Listen to this record then turn it over and listen to The London Boys, which actually I think would have been a much more impressive topside. But both are worth thinking about.

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Rubber Band was re-recorded for the DERAM album released the following year. Bowie was fond enough of The London Boys (not The London Boy’s, as the original label and publicity material stated), to revisit the song for TOY, which it seems a few of you have been enjoying.

(Label scans courtesy of the Tris Penna Archive)

#BowieRubberBand #BowieLondonBoys