“He trod on sacred ground he cried aloud into the crowd”
Five years ago today, Johan Renck’s video for ★ was premiered.
Watch it here.
#Blackstar #imablackstar #BlackstarIsFive
When did The Man Who Sold The World arrive?
“And I asked “Why not?” and I replied “I don't know.””
Extra points for any of you that have remained awake by the end of this train-spotter special.
In a recent post regarding Metrobolist (AKA The Man Who Sold The World), we suggested we weren’t comfortable with the accepted release date of Wednesday 4th November, 1970, in the USA. Aside from Wednesday not being a normal release day for albums back then, we've yet to source an original review or press advert that was published before January 1971.
When one takes into consideration the Thanksgiving and Christmas break it’s possible that journalists weren’t tied to their desks at the time. But two months is still a long time after an album release for reviews to start appearing, particularly as they are normally published ahead of release date.
Of course, it could have been Bowie’s US promotional press trip in January/February 1971 that sparked journalists into action and gave Mercury the impetus to publish the one advert for The Man Who Sold The World we’ve managed to uncover, but it seems unlikely.
Also, two sets of tape boxes (four boxes in total) with the final version of The Man Who Sold The World (but still bearing the title Metrobolist), exist in the archive. One of those sets was transferred at Mercury Sound Studios in New York on November 10th, 1970, fifty years ago today.
That doesn't prove anything about the release date, safety masters can be made at any time, but it does confirm that the final running order that we know was still called Metrobolist, even though the album went through different sequencing before this one was settled upon.
So, we’re asking if anybody out there reading this has any actual concrete evidence of The Man Who Sold The World having a release of Wednesday 4th November, 1970, in the USA? Obviously information in books published since doesn’t count as evidence.
We’ll be scanning the forum for any suggestions. Fingers crossed.
#Bowie1970 #BowieMetrobolist #BowieTMWSTW
BLA Part 2 - No Trendy Réchauffé (Live Birmingham 95)
“Slinky secrets, Hotter than the sun”
VINYL AND CD AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY VIA THE DAVID BOWIE OFFICIAL STORE & WARNER MUSIC GROUP’S DIG! STORE (https://lnk.to/DB-BLA2)
‘BRILLIANT LIVE ADVENTURES’ PART 2: 'NO TRENDY RÉCHAUFFÉ (LIVE BIRMINGHAM 95)’ SECOND LIVE ALBUM TO BE RELEASED ON CD AND 2xLP 20 NOVEMBER
Parlophone Records is proud to announce further details for DAVID BOWIE 'BRILLIANT LIVE ADVENTURES', a series of six live albums from the 1990s which will be released on vinyl and CD as limited one run only pressings. There will also be special limited edition boxes for both vinyl and CD to house the full collection. The albums and boxes will be available only via the David Bowie official store and Warner Music Group’s Dig! store.
The first three albums and the special limited edition boxes will be released pre-Christmas, with the remaining three albums coming early next year.
The second release on CD and double vinyl is NO TRENDY RÉCHAUFFÉ (LIVE BIRMINGHAM 95) a previously unreleased live album recorded live at the Birmingham NEC 13th December 1995. This was the final show of the Outside tour in 1995 and was the first night of a five night festival promoted as "The Big Twix Mix Show”.
The set list features rare live performances of 'Jump They Say’ and 'Strangers When We Meet’—the latter featuring lyrics that inspired the album’s title.
The album also features two versions of 'Hallo Spaceboy,’ the second of which was filmed as ’Spaceboy’ was the intended next single at the time. The video was never completed, as the track was subsequently remixed by the Pet Shop Boys for single release and an alternative promotional video made.
Excerpts from the show were broadcast by the BBC, and 'Moonage Daydream' and 'Under Pressure' were mixed by David Richards for release on the 'Hallo Spaceboy' CD single. Both versions on this album are previously unreleased, included here as played and mixed on the night they were performed.
NO TRENDY RÉCHAUFFÉ was produced by David Bowie and performed by Bowie – vocals and saxophone, Carlos Alomar – rhythm guitar, Reeves Gabrels – lead guitar and vocals, Gail Ann Dorsey – bass and vocals, Zachary Alford – drums, Peter Schwartz - musical director, keyboards and synthesisers, George Simms – vocals, and Mike Garson – piano and keyboards.
NO TRENDY RÉCHAUFFÉ (LIVE BIRMINGHAM 95) TRACKLISTING
CD
Look Back In Anger (David Bowie/Brian Eno)
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (David Bowie)
The Voyeur Of Utter Destruction (As Beauty) (David Bowie/Brian Eno/Reeves Gabrels)
The Man Who Sold The World (David Bowie)
Hallo Spaceboy (David Bowie/Brian Eno)
I Have Not Been To Oxford Town (David Bowie/Brian Eno)
Strangers When We Meet (David Bowie)
Breaking Glass (David Bowie/George Murray/Dennis Davis)
The Motel (David Bowie)
Jump They Say (David Bowie)
Teenage Wildlife (David Bowie)
Under Pressure (David Bowie/Freddie Mercury/Roger Taylor/John Deacon/Brian May)
Moonage Daydream (David Bowie)
We Prick You (David Bowie/Brian Eno)
Hallo Spaceboy (version 2) (David Bowie/Brian Eno)
LP
Side 1
Look Back In Anger (David Bowie/Brian Eno)
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (David Bowie)
The Voyeur Of Utter Destruction (As Beauty) (David Bowie/Brian Eno/Reeves Gabrels)
The Man Who Sold The World (David Bowie)
Side 2
Hallo Spaceboy (David Bowie/Brian Eno)
I Have Not Been To Oxford Town (David Bowie/Brian Eno)
Strangers When We Meet (David Bowie)
Breaking Glass (David Bowie/George Murray/Dennis Davis)
Side 3
The Motel (David Bowie)
Jump They Say (David Bowie)
Teenage Wildlife (David Bowie)
Side 4
Under Pressure (David Bowie/Freddie Mercury/Roger Taylor/John Deacon/Brian May)
Moonage Daydream (David Bowie)
We Prick You (David Bowie/Brian Eno)
Hallo Spaceboy (version 2) (David Bowie/Brian Eno)
Recorded live at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, 13th December, 1995. Produced by David Bowie
Photography © Getty Images
#BowieBirmingham95 #DBBLA #BrilliantLiveAdventures
The Man Who Sold The World lyric video
“President Joe once had a dream...” *
To mark today’s release of Metrobolist (AKA The Man Who Sold The World), enjoy this rather beautiful lyric video for the title track.
Also, well worth a read is this piece regarding the album by Alan York over on the Dig! Site.
* For those not yet familiar with Metrobolist/The Man Who Sold The World for one reason or another, today’s lyric quotation is from the song Saviour Machine which appears on it.
#Bowie1970 #BowieMetrobolist #BowieTMWSTW #TMWSTW2020Mix
The Man Who Sold The World is 50 today
“In the corner of the morning in the past...”
Here's an exclusive photograph kindly donated by writer/journalist/musician and occasional photographer, John Mendelssohn.
John took the shot during a session at the Holiday Inn in San Francisco in February 1971, while Bowie was in the city for a brief press junket in America to promote The Man Who Sold The World.
We've posted it in celebration of what is recorded as the 50th anniversary of the release of The Man Who Sold The World in the US, Wednesday, 4th November, 1970.
The accuracy of that date has been called into question recently, but we'll present the findings of our investigation to those that care about such details in the near future. If you have any actual real evidence of the release date, aside from the myriad Bowie books where the date is repeated, then we’d love to hear from you.
The inset in our montage is from John’s Rolling Stone review for The Man Who Sold The World, dated 18th February, 1971.
Here’s a short excerpt from it:
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In an album that, save for the impotently sarcastic 'Running Gun Blues', is uniformly excellent, at least four tracks demand special attention: 'Saviour Machine' demonstrates that Bowie far from exhausted his talent for quietly moralistic rock sci-fi in his earlier 'Space Oddity'. The almost insufferably depressive 'After All' contains the strangest refrain perhaps ever conceived — a haunting, mantric "Oh, by jingo". 'The Width of the Circle' is both a hallucination with religious overtones that recall both Dante and Adam and Eve and a sound of enormity.
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That last phrase was even picked up for the strapline for the only advert we've managed to find for this first release of the album.
For those of you wondering about the DailyBowieThing hashtag, search #DailyBowieThing on Instagram and Facebook to find out what it’s all about.
#DailyBowieThing #Bowie1970 #BowieMetrobolist #BowieTMWSTW #BowieMendelssohn
Ouvrez Le Chien out now
A Bowie Celebration streaming event
“Just for one day”
For those of you who don't subscribe to Mike Garson’s newsletter, he has just sent out a mailshot to subscribers regarding “an amazing star-studded streaming show”, in the form of A Bowie Celebration: Just For One Day which livestreams on January 8, 2021 at 6pm PT and will be available to stream for 24 hours to follow.
We are duty bound to point out, however, that though we are happy to publicise this event, it isn't officially endorsed by or affiliated to the Bowie Estate.
Here’s an edited excerpt from the newsletter with links...
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The Celebration Returns January 8!
We're performing an amazing star-studded streaming show for the world and you're the first to know with tickets available now!
In 2016, David Bowie left this planet far too soon. In 2020, our A Bowie Celebration tour and the live music industry was shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic. Today, we're announcing to you first exclusively that on January 8, an enormous group of fabulous artists are coming together with Mike Garson for the weekend of the fifth anniversary of David's passing and what would have been his birthday to reconnect, heal, and share the music. David's music means so much to so many that we can't wait to perform a beautiful setlist of some of his most memorable hit songs along with a collection of deep cut Bowie gems... and we would love for you to join the Celebration!
The concert will feature performances from Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), William Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), Bowie’s good friend and Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman, Gavin Rossdale (Bush), Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction), Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), Grammy-winning singer Macy Gray, Ian Astbury (The Cult), Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Gail Ann Dorsey (David Bowie, Lenny Kravitz), Bernard Fowler (Rolling Stones), Corey Glover (Living Color), Tony-winning rocker Lena Hall, vocal phenom Judith Hill (Grammy winner for 20 Feet From Stardom), and many, many more still to be announced!
We're bringing together dozens of Bowie alumni band members spanning David's career from his 1969 self-titled album to Blackstar including David’s complete final touring band of Mike Garson, Gail Ann Dorsey, Earl Slick, Sterling Campbell, Gerry Leonard, and Catherine Russell along with Zack Alford, Carlos Alomar, Kevin Armstrong, Alan Childs, Robin Clark, Emm Gryner, Omar Hakim, Clare Hirst, Erdal Kızılçay, Tim Lefebvre, Martha Mooke, Holly Palmer, Mark Plati, Carmine Rojas, Charlie Sexton, Bowie’s long-time record producer and musician Tony Visconti, and many more to be announced...
A Bowie Celebration: Just For One Day livestreams on January 8, 2021 at 6pm PT and will be available to stream for 24 hours to follow. More info and ticket bundles here.
Mike Garson
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Photo of Mike and David backstage at Glastonbury 2000 by Mark Adams
#ABowieCelebration #BowieGarson
Watch Bowie’s Lennon tribute now
“Imagine all the people”
To mark what would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday today, David Bowie’s tribute to his friend (an emotional performance of Imagine live in Hong Kong on 8th December, 1983), has been restored from the original film to 4K and is available to view here.
#BowieLennon
Geoff MacCormack Bowie exhibition in Brighton
“No one else I’d rather be…”
You may have already heard about this one and usually we try not advertise events outside of the country that they are happening in.
But it would be mean to deprive anybody of the wonderful image on the left of Geoff and David having a bit of a caper in Moscow in 1973.
The previously unpublished image has just come to light at the eleventh hour and we got the exclusive. Here's the blurb...
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An exhibition of unique photographs taken by David Bowie’s close friend and travelling companion Geoff MacCormack between 1973-76.
From Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane and the ground-breaking Diamond Dogs’ tour across the USA, Japan and the UK via Russia (on the Trans-Siberian Express) to Bowie’s first major film The Man Who Fell To Earth, and the recording of Station To Station, this exhibition of intimate photographs gives a glimpse of a close friendship and life on the road with one of the greatest rock stars of all time.
The exhibition includes recently rediscovered and never previously seen images of Bowie alongside rarely seen film footage shot by Bowie of the May Day Parade in Moscow, 1973, film of Bowie as Ziggy Stardust, and a specially created exhibition playlist.
Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust
73-76 Rock ‘N’ Roll With Me
Photographs by Geoff MacCormack
17 October 2020 - 6 June 2021
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
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The exhibition commences next week in Brighton in the UK and after a false start, tickets are on sale now.
#GeoffMacBowie
The Man Who Sold The World (2020 mix) digital single
“You’re face to face”
Parlophone is proud to announce DAVID BOWIE's THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD (2020 MIX) digital single release.
The track is taken from the 2020 re-release of Metrobolist (AKA The Man Who Sold The World), due on 6th November, which has been remixed by original producer Tony Visconti.
THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD (2020 MIX) is available from Friday, 9th October, some of you in certain time zones may have already had a listen.
Here’s the press release regarding Metrobolist which we posted last month.
#Bowie1970 #BowieMetrobolist #BowieTMWSTW #TMWSTW2020Mix
Brilliant Live Adventures slipcase box update
“Then I got the small red box”
As you are more than aware, last week we posted details of the Brilliant Live Adventures six album live set and the first release from it, Ouvrez Le Chien.
Along with other associated merchandise, we also offered LP and CD sized slipcase boxes to house the releases for those that intended to buy the full set of six albums.
Of course, estimating the demand for such a thing is far from an exact science. Even when trying to gauge quantities by asking people to register their interest beforehand, as did the DIG! site.
Clearly we underestimated and all copies from both the Official David Bowie Store and the Dig! (Rhino) store have now sold out.
HOWEVER… Due to the incredible interest and the fact that so many of you have been left disappointed, we will be manufacturing more of both slipcase boxes to meet the demand.
The new batch won’t go on sale till the new year, around the time of the sixth and last release of the Brilliant Live Adventures campaign. We’ll post details of how to pre-order well before then.
Thanks again for your enthusiasm and apologies for any distress caused.
#DBBLA #BrilliantLiveAdventures
Brilliant Live Adventures available for pre-order
“It’s happening now”
See below for the press release and pre-order links.
#DBBLA #BrilliantLiveAdventures
DAVID BOWIE ‘BRILLIANT LIVE ADVENTURES’ - A SERIES OF SIX DAVID BOWIE LIVE ALBUMS FROM THE 1990s
VINYL, CD AND LIMITED EDITION BOXES TO HOUSE THE COMPLETE SETS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY VIA THE DAVID BOWIE OFFICIAL STORE & WARNER MUSIC GROUP’S DIG! STORE
FIRST LIVE ALBUM TO BE RELEASED IS 'OUVREZ LE CHIEN (LIVE DALLAS 95)' CD AND 2xLP TO BE RELEASED ON 30th OCTOBER
Parlophone Records is proud to announce release details for DAVID BOWIE 'BRILLIANT LIVE ADVENTURES' a series of six live albums from the 1990s which will be released on vinyl and CD as limited one run only pressings. There will also be special limited edition boxes for both vinyl and CD to house the full collection. The albums and boxes will only be available via the David Bowie official store and Warner Music Group’s Dig! store.
The first three albums and the special limited edition boxes will be released pre-Christmas, with the remaining three albums coming early next year.
The first release on CD and double vinyl is DAVID BOWIE OUVREZ LE CHIEN (LIVE DALLAS 95), previously a streaming only live album which was recorded live at the Starplex Amphitheater, Dallas, 13th October, 1995, during the U.S. leg of the Outside tour. The title OUVREZ LE CHIEN ("open the dog" in French) originally appeared in the song ‘All The Madmen’ taken from The Man Who Sold The World album which celebrates its 50th anniversary later this year. Bowie also used the phrase in the lyrics of his 1993 single ‘Buddha Of Suburbia’, once again spelling “ouvre" without a Z. The Z was restored when the phrase and its English translation were prominently featured in the stage set of the 1995 Outside tour.
OUVREZ LE CHIEN was produced by David Bowie and recorded by Steve Guest. The musicians are David Bowie – vocals and saxophone, Carlos Alomar – rhythm guitar, Reeves Gabrels – lead guitar and vocals, Gail Ann Dorsey – bass and vocals, Zachary Alford – drums, Peter Schwartz - musical director, keyboards and synthesisers, George Simms – vocals, Mike Garson – piano and keyboards.
The cover image of OUVREZ LE CHIEN was taken by Iman during the ’95 tour.
DAVID BOWIE - OUVREZ LE CHIEN TRACKLISTING
CD:
Look Back In Anger
The Hearts Filthy Lesson
The Voyeur Of Utter Destruction (As Beauty)
I Have Not Been To Oxford Town
Outside
Andy Warhol
Breaking Glass
The Man Who Sold The World
We Prick You
I’m Deranged
Joe The Lion
Nite Flights
Under Pressure
Teenage Wildlife
LP
SIDE ONE
Look Back In Anger (David Bowie/Brian Eno)
The Hearts Filthy Lesson (David Bowie/Brian Eno/Michael Garson/Sterling Campbell/Erdal Kizilcay/Reeves Gabrels)
The Voyeur Of Utter Destruction (As Beauty) (David Bowie/Brian Eno/Reeves Gabrels)
SIDE TWO
I Have Not Been To Oxford Town (David Bowie/Brian Eno)
Outside (David Bowie/Kevin Armstrong)
Andy Warhol (David Bowie)
Breaking Glass (David Bowie/George Murray/Dennis Davis)
SIDE THREE
The Man Who Sold The World (David Bowie)
We Prick You (David Bowie/Brian Eno)
I’m Deranged (David Bowie/Brian Eno)
Joe The Lion (David Bowie)
SIDE FOUR
Nite Flights (Scott Engel)
Under Pressure (David Bowie/Freddie Mercury/Roger Taylor/John Deacon/Brian May)
Teenage Wildlife (David Bowie)
Recorded live at the Starplex Amphitheater, Dallas, 13th October, 1995
DAVID BOWIE - OUVREZ LE CHIEN (LIVE DALLAS 95) IS AVAILABLE ON PARLOPHONE RECORDS ON 30th OCTOBER ON CD AND 2xLP
Brilliant Live Adventures
“Sordid details following…”
#DBBLA #BrilliantLiveAdventures
David Bowie Era Five box set update
“Looking at the future solid as a rock because of you...”
On the day that we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Station To Station box set, we thought it would be a good time to bring you up to speed with the plans for the Era 5 set.
It seems that every time we make a post on the official channels regarding new releases, a great number of you use the opportunity to comment on the lack of news regarding the Era 5 set. That's to be expected and your frustration is understandable.
But first, here's a reminder of the first four era box releases:
Era 1 = Five Years (1969–1973) - Released 2015 = 42 years
Era 2 = Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976) - Released 2016 = 40 years
Era 3 = A New Career in a New Town (1977–1982) - Released 2017 = 35 years
Era 4 = Loving the Alien (1983–1988) - Released 2018 = 30 years
As you can see, the amount of time between the last year covered by each era box and its release date is decreasing exponentially, if that makes sense.
So with the Era 5 box which was originally going to cover the years 1993 to 1999, the plan was to release last year. Though that meant it was only a 20 year gap between 'hours...' and the release of the Era 5 box, it was considered a set that many fans were clamouring for due to the titles that hadn't been released on vinyl originally or were hard to find.
However, we then decided to increase the span of the box up to 2001, so to keep at least a 20 year gap between the last year covered and release date, it means the box won't now be released till next year.
Also, due to the effect of COVID, not only on everyday life, but its impact on plans within the music industry as a whole too, this has been an evolving situation and we thank you for your patience.
Of course, that doesn't mean you won't be getting anything new until next year. You may have noticed that various other releases have peppered the months in-between the era boxes, including live albums and the Conversation Piece set last year, along with other releases.
Indeed, stay tuned for the announcement of another exciting project before the end of next week.
May we also take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and for the enthusiasm shown for the era boxes.
#BowieEraBoxes
Space Oddity 45 reissued 45 years ago today
“I’ll be your King Volcano”
In the very same week that David Bowie achieved his first ever #1 US single with Fame (September 20th, 1975), RCA issued the Space Oddity EP. Though the original 1969 Philips issue furnished Bowie with his first top five hit in the UK, it was the 1975 reissue that gave him his first #1 UK single.
The 3-track EP was released forty years ago today (September 26th, 1975), and that's the original 1975 UK press advert in our montage, along with Steve Schapiro's beautiful shot and the Yugoslavian sleeve, possibly the only country to utilise the full colour version of the shot, albeit reversed.
It’s easy to see why the single was such a success in the UK and other European territories. Space Oddity was already well-known and loved by even the most casual appreciator of Bowie’s back catalogue, as was one of the bonus tracks, Changes.
However, for the long-term fan, the previously unreleased Ziggy-era song, Velvet Goldmine (from where today’s lyric quotation was lifted), was too hard to resist. Originally recorded in November 1971, Bowie was a little peeved that the recording had been issued without his consent, complaining that it hadn’t even been mixed properly.
David’s reservations aside, the fans weren’t complaining at this 59 new pence, picture sleeve bargain.
#SpaceOddity45
Outside hits quarter of a century today
“I'm already twenty five years older”
David Bowie’s 1. Outside album was released on this day in 1995 (26th in the US), the same week that the first single from the album, The Hearts Filthy Lesson, entered the UK Top 40.
The Bowie/Eno/Richards produced LP peaked at #8 on the UK album chart and narrowly missed the US Billboard Top 20 when it reached #21 there.
The release was supported by the 1995/1996 Outside World Tour (which kicked off on September 14th in Hartford in the US), and the beautifully disturbing video for The Hearts Filthy Lesson single.
Various CD versions of 1. Outside were released around the globe, among other formats. Friday Music had the distinction of issuing the very first double vinyl Bowie studio album when they issued a white vinyl of the full 1. Outside five years ago. A single disc version titled Excerpts From Outside was released on vinyl originally, but it omitted several tracks and had edits of others.
#BowieOutsideLP
Nacho's 40th anniversary Elephant Man trailer
“I could take you to heaven, I could spin you to hell, Or take you to New York”
That jolly good egg, Nacho, has been in touch again with his David Bowie is The Elephant Man in New York City 1980 • 40th Anniversary Documentary Trailer. Over to you Nacho:
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There is a trailer I made 4 years ago, for an imaginary documentary that I honestly thought I would never actually get around to making. Well, here we are in 2020, the 40th anniversary of Bowie in the role of John Merrick, The Elephant Man, and the documentary will be out soon.
“David Bowie is The Elephant Man in New York City 1980” is an approximately 30-minute documentary, ostensibly detailing Bowie in the role of The Elephant Man. In addition, the scope of the film contains an overview of Bowie’s time in New York during that pivotal period. The film includes all known scenes of Bowie as The Elephant Man character, and pertinent interview and other archive material.
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Go here for Nacho’s original 2016 version of the trailer and extensive notes.
#Bowie1980 #NachoBowie #BowieElephantMan
Fame #1 on BILLBOARD HOT 100 45 years ago today
“Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame…FAME!”
As we pointed out recently and you likely knew anyway, Fame hit the top spot on the BILLBOARD HOT 100, 45 years ago today, on 20th September 1975.
Here’s a bit from Tony Visconti expressing his disappointment about the recording of Fame:
“At the same time I was working on the strings and new mixes something was afoot in New York. David personally phoned me to tell me he had met up with John Lennon and got him into to the studio with a band now consisting of Carlos Alomar, Dennis Davis and bassist Emir Ksasan. They wrote and recorded ‘Fame’ in one evening, also recording Lennon’s ‘Across The Universe’ for good measure. David said, “I’m sorry Tony, but they have to be on the album.” I also met John Lennon earlier for the first time with David and responded with, “If you gave me a day’s warning I would’ve flown myself on the Concorde to do that session.” I was quite upset. Well, anyway, ‘Fame’ is a great song; a great record and we all love it.”
And who could disagree with that? David Bowie and Harry Maslin made a pretty good fist of things and America agreed by giving Bowie his first #1 45 there.
A side: Fame (Bowie/Lennon/Alomar)
B side: Right (Bowie)
Original UK release date: July 18 1975
Highest chart position: UK: #17 US: #1
Originally appeared on: Young Americans
Produced by: David Bowie, Harry Maslin
#BowieFame #YoungAmericansGold
Bowie and Garson and My Death
“As surely as our love is bright...”
Mike Garson was singled out on many occasions to perform with Bowie as a duo for a fair few memorable one offs. Back in 2016 Mike chose one such performance for an instalment of DB Deep Cut Of The Day.
It’s a heartbreakingly emotional rendition of My Death from September 18th 1995, 25 years ago this evening. The occasion was a benefit for The Joseph Papp Public Theater, at The Grand Ballroom, Manhattan Center, New York.
Over to Mike...
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When I played the first few notes with Lorde at the rehearsal in London ALL I could think was how at times I took the gig with David for granted.
I made a decision to appreciate every moment from there on. As humans that is difficult but I will continuously try.
This version of MY DEATH might be the most poignant version ever. David’s voice is low and rich and creamy.
Not too many fans no less the world have heard this. It is beyond gorgeous. David and I performed this in NYC for a fund raiser in 1995.
I never understood why David and I never did a duet tour. Hopefully posthumously we can put out all the songs the 2 of us did together over the years.
I think you might be able to play this song 100 times and never stop crying.
Mike Garson
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You can hear the performance here on YouTube.
Photos by KEVIN MAZUR
#DBDCOTD #BowieDeepCut #BowieGarson
Young Americans gold vinyl reminder
“Fame - what you need you have tomorrow” *
As previously mentioned, in celebration of the 45th anniversary of David Bowie’s Fame becoming his first #1 single in the US, Parlophone has issued a limited edition ‘bricks & mortar’ only, gold vinyl version of the album from whence it came, Young Americans.
The Young Americans gold edition is released tomorrow on Friday 18th September, Fame peaked at #1 on the BILLBOARD HOT 100 45 years earlier to the week, on 20th September, 1975.
Fame was preceded by the Young Americans single in the US, a release which was also a Top 30 hit in May of the same year.
* Yes, the original lyric is “Fame - what you need you have to borrow...”
FOOTNOTE: Due to the continued restrictions of the pandemic, you should be able to find the Young Americans gold edition in the online stores of your favoured high street vinyl emporiums.
#YoungAmericansGold #BowieFame #BowieVinyl