David Bowie (1969 album)
David Bowie | ||||
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![]() 1969 Philips LP (UK) | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 14 November 1969[1] | |||
Recorded | June–September 1969 | |||
Studio | Trident, London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 45:13 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
David Bowie chronology | ||||
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Singles from David Bowie | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
![]() 1969 Mercury LP (USA) | ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
![]() 1972 RCA LP |
David Bowie is the second studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released under that title by Philips Records in the UK, and as Man of Words/Man of Music by Mercury Records in the US, on 14 November 1969. It was reissued in 1972 by RCA Records as Space Oddity (the title of the opening track, which had reached No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart).
Space Oddity was the name used for releases of the album in 1984, 1990, and 1999, but it reverted to the original, eponymous title for 2009 and 2015 reissues. The 2019 reissue of the album as part of the box set Conversation Piece (and separately in CD, vinyl, and digital formats) once again invoked the Space Oddity title, in distinguishing a new, remixed and expanded version of the album from the original 1969 mix.[3]
The album came about after Bowie had made the transition from a cabaret/avant-garde-inspired musician to a hippie/folk-based sound and as such the album is a major turning point from his 1967 debut. Regarding its mix of folk, balladry and prog rock, NME editors Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray have said, "Some of it belonged in '67 and some of it in '72, but in 1969 it all seemed vastly incongruous. Basically, David Bowie can be viewed in retrospect as all that Bowie had been and a little of what he would become, all jumbled up and fighting for control..."[4]
Composition
Released as a single in July 1969, "Space Oddity" was a largely acoustic number augmented by the eerie tones of the composer's Stylophone, a pocket electronic organ. The title and subject matter were inspired by Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey and introduced the character of Major Tom. The song dates back as early as February 1969. It was written for a promotional video named "Love You till Tuesday". The video's intent was to sell Bowie to a new label as he had been dropped from Deram Records in April 1968. He was urged by his manager Kenneth Pitt to record some new material and so "Space Oddity" was born. Some commentators have also seen the song as a metaphor for heroin use, citing the opening countdown as analogous to the drug's passage down the needle prior to the euphoric 'hit', and noting Bowie's admission of a "silly flirtation with smack" in 1968.[5] His 1980 hit "Ashes to Ashes" declared "We know Major Tom's a junkie".[6]
"Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" reflected a strong Bob Dylan influence,[7] with its harmonica, edgy guitar sound and snarling vocal. "Letter to Hermione" was a farewell ballad to Bowie's former girlfriend, Hermione Farthingale, who was also the subject of "An Occasional Dream",[4] a gentle folk tune reminiscent of the singer's 1967 debut album. "God Knows I'm Good", Bowie's observational tale of a shoplifter's plight, also recalled his earlier style.[4]
"Cygnet Committee" has been called Bowie's "first true masterpiece".[8] Commonly regarded as the album track most indicative of the composer's future direction, its lead character is a messianic figure "who breaks down barriers for his younger followers, but finds that he has only provided them with the means to reject and destroy him".[4] Bowie himself described it at the time as a put down of hippies who seemed ready to follow any charismatic leader.[8] Another track cited as foreshadowing themes to which Bowie would return in the 1970s, in this case the fracturing of personality, was "Janine", which featured the words "But if you took an axe to me, you'd kill another man not me at all".[9]
The Buddhism-influenced "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" was presented in a heavily expanded form compared to the original guitar-and-cello version on the B-side of the "Space Oddity" single; the album cut featured a 50-piece orchestra. "Memory of a Free Festival" was Bowie's reminiscence of an arts festival he had organised in August 1969. Its drawn-out fade/chorus ("The Sun Machine is coming down / And we're gonna have a party") was compared to the Beatles' "Hey Jude";[10] the song has also been interpreted as a derisive comment on the counterculture it was ostensibly celebrating.[11] The background vocals for the crowd finale featured Bob Harris, his wife Sue, Tony Woollcott and Marc Bolan among other people.[12] In 1970 Bowie cut the tune in half for the A- and B-sides of a more rock-oriented version featuring the band that would accompany him on The Man Who Sold the World later that year: Mick Ronson, Tony Visconti and Mick Woodmansey – an embryonic form of Ziggy Stardust's Spiders From Mars.
Production
Held to be "the first Bowie album proper",[9] and his first deemed worthy by record companies of regular reissue, David Bowie featured a notable list of collaborators, including session players Herbie Flowers, Tim Renwick, Terry Cox, and Rick Wakeman, as well as cellist Paul Buckmaster, multi-instrumentalist and producer Tony Visconti, and bassist John Lodge (not the The Moody Blues' bassist of the same name). Before recording for the album commenced at Trident Studios, the song "Space Oddity" had been selected as the lead single based on an earlier demo.[5] Visconti saw it as a "novelty record" and passed the production responsibility for the song on to Gus Dudgeon.[9] However, Visconti produced all the remaining songs on the album. Tim Renwick, John 'Honk' Lodge, Mick Wayne and John Cambridge – all from the band 'Junior's Eyes' – featured on the album sessions and briefly served as Bowie's backing band for live appearances and on an October 1969 BBC Radio session.[13][14]
Cover art
The original UK David Bowie LP cover artwork showed a facial portrait of Bowie by British photographer Vernon Dewhurst exposed on top of a work by artist Victor Vasarely with blue and violet spots on a green background.[15] A similar portrait was used on the US Mercury LP Man of Words/Man of Music, but on a plain blue background. When the album was rereleased as Space Oddity in 1972 by RCA, a more recent portrait from the Ziggy Stardust period was displayed on the front cover.[16] This new cover was replicated in early CD releases of the album. For the 1999 CD reissue, the original UK portrait was restored, although the Space Oddity title was added to the cover. The 2009 and 2015 editions of the album used the original UK cover, reverting to the original green tint and David Bowie title.
Release and reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Classic Rock | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 6.7/10[20] |
PopMatters | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Record Collector | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Although the opening song had given Bowie a No. 5 hit in the UK earlier in the year, the remainder of the material bore little resemblance to it and the album was a commercial failure on its initial release, despite some decent reviews.[10] The New York Times, in a review published over a year after the album's release, praised the album, calling it, "a complete, coherent and brilliant vision".[24] On the other hand, Village Voice critic Robert Christgau considered this album, along with Bowie's follow-up, The Man Who Sold the World, to be "overwrought excursions".[25] However the November 1972 reissue, released in the wake of Bowie's breakthrough The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and featuring a contemporary Ziggy photo on the cover, made No. 17 in the UK charts and No. 16 in the United States.
Track listing
All tracks written by David Bowie.
- Side one
- "Space Oddity" – 5:16
- "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" – 6:55
- "Letter to Hermione" – 2:33
- "Cygnet Committee" – 9:35
- Side two
- "Janine" – 3:25
- "An Occasional Dream" – 3:01
- "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" – 4:52
- "God Knows I'm Good" – 3:21
- "Memory of a Free Festival" – 7:09
"Don't Sit Down", an unlisted 40-second jam heard at the end of the album's second song on the UK Philips LP,[a] was excluded from the US Mercury release and from the 1972 RCA reissue. The piece was included once again – and listed as an independent track – on releases of the album in the 1990s. The 2009 and 2015 reissues returned the piece to its original status as a hidden track.[26]
Release history
Region | Date | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK | 14 November 1969[1] | David Bowie | Philips | Stereo LP | SBL 7912 |
USA | 1969 | Man of Words/Man of Music | Mercury | Stereo LP | SR 61246 |
USA | 1972 | Space Oddity | RCA | Stereo LP | LSP 4813 |
USA | 1972 | Space Oddity | RCA | Stereo 7 inch open reel tape | EPPA 4813-C |
CD releases
Space Oddity was first released on CD by RCA in 1984. In keeping with the 1972 RCA LP release, "Don't Sit Down" remained missing. The German (for the European market) and Japanese (for the US market) masters were sourced from different tapes and are not identical for each region.
In 1990, the album was reissued by Rykodisc/EMI with "Don't Sit Down" included as an independent song and three bonus tracks: "Conversation Piece", a March 1970 B-side recorded during the 1969 Space Oddity sessions and originally intended for the album, and a two-part remake of "Memory of a Free Festival", recorded in the spring of 1970 and released as a single that June.
1990 bonus tracks
- "Conversation Piece" (Single B-side of "The Prettiest Star"), 1970 – 3:05
- "Memory of a Free Festival Part 1" (single version A-side), 1970 – 3:59
- "Memory of a Free Festival Part 2" (single version B-side), 1970 – 3:31
1999 remaster
The album was reissued again in 1999 by EMI/Virgin, without bonus tracks but with 24-bit digitally remastered sound and again including a separately listed "Don't Sit Down". The Japanese mini LP replicates the cover of the original Philips LP.
2009 remaster and special edition
In 2009, the album was released as a remastered 2-CD special edition by EMI/Virgin as David Bowie with the original cover art and containing the original album's tracks on the first disc and a second bonus disc compilation of unreleased demos, stereo versions and previously released B-sides and BBC session tracks. "Don't Sit Down" reverted to its status as a hidden track. The 2009 remaster of the album became available on vinyl for the first time in June 2020, in a picture disc release (with artwork based on the 1972 RCA reissue).[27]
2009 bonus disc
All songs written by David Bowie, unless otherwise indicated.
- "Space Oddity" (Demo version) – 5:10 different from the demo released on Sound + Vision, 2003
- "An Occasional Dream" (Demo version) – 2:49
- "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" (B-side of "Space Oddity", 1969) – 4:56 previously released on Sound + Vision, 2003
- Brian Matthew interviews David / "Let Me Sleep Beside You" (BBC Radio session D.L.T. (Dave Lee Travis Show), 1969) – 4:45 previously released on Bowie at the Beeb, 2000
- "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" (BBC Radio session D.L.T. Show, 1969) – 3:54
- "Janine" (BBC Radio session D.L.T. Show, 1969) – 3:02 previously released on Bowie at the Beeb, 2000
- "London Bye Ta–Ta" (Stereo version) – 3:12 previously released on Sound + Vision, 2003
- "The Prettiest Star" (Stereo version) – 3:12 previously released on The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974, 1997
- "Conversation Piece" (Stereo version) – 3:06
- "Memory of a Free Festival (Part 1)" (Single A-side) – 4:01 previously released on EMI/Rykodisc reissue of Space Oddity, 1990
- "Memory of a Free Festival (Part 2)" (Single B-side) – 3:30 previously released on EMI/Rykodisc reissue of Space Oddity, 1990
- "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" (Alternate album mix) – 4:45
- "Memory of a Free Festival" (Alternate album mix) – 9:22
- "London Bye Ta–Ta" (Alternate stereo mix) – 2:34
- "Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola" (Bowie (music), Mogol (lyrics)) (Full-length stereo version) – 5:14
2015 remaster
In 2015, the album was remastered for the Five Years (1969–1973) box set.[28][29] It was released in CD, vinyl, and digital formats, both as part of this compilation and separately.[30]
2019 remix
In 2019, the album was remixed and remastered by Tony Visconti, and released in the CD boxed set Conversation Piece, as well as being made available separately in CD, vinyl, and digital formats. The new version of the album inserted the song "Conversation Piece" in the track listing for the first time, while omitting "Don't Sit Down".
In addition to the remixed 2019 version, the original 1969 mix was included in the Conversation Piece boxed set. (The 2009 remaster, rather than the 2015 remaster, was used for this rerelease of the original mix.)[31]
Personnel
Album credits per the 2009 reissue liner notes and biographer Nicholas Pegg.[32][33]
- David Bowie – vocals, acoustic guitar, stylophone (1), chord organ (9), kalimba
- Tim Renwick – electric guitar
- Keith Christmas – acoustic guitar
- Mick Wayne – guitar
- Rick Wakeman – Mellotron, electric harpsichord
- Tony Visconti – bass guitar, flute, recorder
- Herbie Flowers – bass guitar
- Terry Cox – drums
- Benny Marshall and friends – harmonica, backing vocals (9)
- Paul Buckmaster – cello
Charts
Year | Chart | Peak Position |
---|---|---|
1972 | UK Albums (OCC)[34] | 17 |
1972 | Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[35] | 21 |
1972 | Finnish Albums [citation needed] | 27 |
1973 | Canadian Albums (RPM)[36] | 13 |
1973 | Spanish Albums (Promusicae)[37] | 8 |
1973 | US Billboard Pop Albums[38] | 16 |
2016 | French Albums (SNEP)[39] | 105 |
2016 | Italian Albums (FIMI)[40] | 60 |
2016 | Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] | 66 |
2019 | Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[42] | 68 |
2020 | Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[43] | 60 |
2020 | Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[44] | 132 |
2020 | German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[45] | 63 |
References
- ^ a b Cann 2010, pp. 167–168.
- ^ Carlick, Stephen (9 March 2016). "David Bowie Fantastic Voyage". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel. "David Bowie Box Set Collects Early Home Demos, 'Space Oddity' 2019 Mix". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- ^ a b c d Carr & Murray 1981, pp. 28–29.
- ^ a b Pegg 2016, pp. 255–260.
- ^ Pegg 2016, p. 27.
- ^ Pegg 2016, p. 295.
- ^ a b Pegg 2016, pp. 67–68.
- ^ a b c Buckley 1999, pp. 36–79.
- ^ a b Sandford 1997, p. 60.
- ^ Pegg 2016, pp. 182–184.
- ^ Kevin Cann (2009). Space Oddity 2009 reissue liner notes.
- ^ David Bowie and Junior's Eyes BBC recording session Archived 15 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine at The Illustrated db Discography
- ^ Battersea Power Station (Junior's Eyes) Liner Notes, David Wells (2000)
- ^ Poulsen, Jan (2007) [2006]. David Bowie – Station til station (in Danish) (2nd ed.). Gyldendal. p. 47. ISBN 978-87-02-06313-4. Archived from the original on 14 December 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
- ^ Poulsen (2007), p. 91
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Space Oddity – David Bowie". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- ^ Wall, Mick (November 2009). "David Bowie – Space Oddity 40th Anniversary Edition". Classic Rock. No. 138. p. 98.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press.
- ^ Wolk, Douglas (1 October 2015). "David Bowie". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- ^ Schiller, Mike (16 December 2009). "David Bowie: Space Oddity (40th anniversary edition)". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 14 July 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
- ^ Staunton, Terry. "David Bowie – Space Oddity: 40th anniversary edition". Record Collector. Archived from the original on 3 March 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- ^ Sheffield 2004, pp. 97–98.
- ^ "TimesMachine: Bowie, Bolan, Heron -- Superstars? - NYTimes.com". Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: david bowie". Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ Bowie 69 LP David Bowie/Space Oddity Archived 15 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine at The Illustrated db Discography
- ^ David Bowie / Space Oddity album issued as vinyl picture disc Archived 12 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine at superdeluxeedition.com
- ^ Five Years (1969–1973) (Box set liner notes). David Bowie. UK, Europe & US: Parlophone. 2015. DBXL 1.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Five Years 1969 – 1973 box set due September". David Bowie Official Website. Archived from the original on 18 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ Spanos, Brittany (23 June 2015). "David Bowie to Release Massive Box Set 'Five Years 1969–1973'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
{{cite web}}
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/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; 16 August 2020 suggested (help) - ^ ‘David Bowie / Conversation Piece box Archived 4 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine at superdeluxeedition.com
- ^ David Bowie [Space Oddity] (CD booklet). David Bowie. UK & Europe: EMI. 2009. 50999-307522-2-1.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Pegg 2016, pp. 333–334.
- ^ "David Bowie | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
- ^ "Hits of the World – Spain". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 14 July 1973. p. 60. Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ^ "David Bowie Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – David Bowie – Space Oddity". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – David Bowie – Space Oddity". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – David Bowie – Space Oddity". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – David Bowie – Space Oddity". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – David Bowie – Space Oddity" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – David Bowie – Space Oddity" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – David Bowie – Space Oddity" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
Sources
- Buckley, David (1999). Strange Fascination – David Bowie: The Definitive Story. London: Virgin Books. ISBN 978-1-85227-784-0.
- Cann, Kevin (2010). Any Day Now – David Bowie: The London Years: 1947–1974. Croyden, Surrey: Adelita. ISBN 978-0-95520-177-6.
- Carr, Roy; Murray, Charles Shaar (1981). Bowie: An Illustrated Record. London: Eel Pie Publishing. ISBN 978-0-38077-966-6.
- Pegg, Nicholas (2016). The Complete David Bowie (Revised and Updated ed.). London: Titan Books. ISBN 978-1-78565-365-0.
{{cite book}}
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(help) - Sandford, Christopher (1997) [1996]. Bowie: Loving the Alien. London: Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80854-4.
- Sheffield, Rob (2004). "David Bowie". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). New York City: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
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External links
- David Bowie at Discogs (list of releases)
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