“Singing old songs he loved...” *
As mentioned here last week, today (19th October) marks the 50th anniversary of David Bowie’s 1973 album of cover versions, Pin Ups.
When originally released, the David Bowie/Ken Scott produced LP was preceded by the only single from Pin Ups, Sorrow, which reached #3 on the UK chart. Pin Ups itself entered the UK album chart at #1 on the strength of pre-orders alone.
Joining Bowie on the sleeve for Justin de Villeneuve’s extraordinary photograph is Twiggy, name-checked earlier the same year on Aladdin Sane for Drive-In Saturday: “She’d sigh like Twig the Wonder Kid”. The image here is an alternative shot to the one used.
The photo session was shot in Paris for Vogue magazine, but, at Bowie's request, it was used for the Pin Ups cover instead. Bowie persuaded de Villeneuve that the album would have a considerably wider distribution than the magazine.
Here’s the note from the back cover where Bowie explained the Pin Ups concept :
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These songs are among my favourites from the '64–67' period of London.
Most of the groups were playing the Ricky-Tick (was it a 'y' or an 'i'?) - Scene club circuit (Marquee, eel pie island la-la)
Some are still with us. Pretty Things, Them, Yardbirds, Syd's Pink Floyd, Mojos, Who, Easybeats, Merseys, Kinks.
Love-on ya!
Bowie x
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Alan York and Jason Draper have pointed us at their in-depth piece which includes a track-by-track look at the album over on Dig!
📸 Justin de Villeneuve
* Original lyric from Scream Like A Baby: “Singing old songs we loved...”
#BowiePinUps #BowiePinUps50