Rare (David Bowie album)
Rare | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | December 1982 | |||
Recorded | 1969-1980 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 42:02 | |||
Label | RCA Records | |||
David Bowie Compilation chronology | ||||
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rare (often referred to as Bowie Rare) was a compilation released by RCA Records to cash in on David Bowie for the 1982 Christmas market. The artist's relations with the company were at a low – Bowie had recorded his last music for RCA Records with the Baal EP, and had been annoyed by the release of a five-year-old duet with Bing Crosby ("Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy") as a single without his consultation. Bowie informed RCA he was unhappy with the Rare compilation, and would sign with EMI Records for his next album. All tracks on Rare were being issued for the first time on LP and cassette.
The compilation contained rarities recorded between 1969 and 1980. RCA did not issue Rare in the United States; nor was the album reissued on CD along with most of Bowie's other RCA albums in 1984. A future reissue seems unlikely as much of the content is available on other CDs.
On the UK Album Chart, where it remained for eleven weeks, the album peaked at number 34.
Track listing
All songs are written by David Bowie except where noted.
Side one
- "Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola" (Bowie, Mogol) – 5:02
- An Italian-language song featuring all new lyrics set to the music of "Space Oddity", released as single in Italy in late-1969/early-1970
- "Round and Round" (Chuck Berry) – 2:41
- A cover of the Chuck Berry song "Around and Around", recorded for the Ziggy Stardust sessions, and released as the B-side to the single "Drive-In Saturday"
- "Amsterdam" (Jacques Brel, Mort Shuman) – 3:25
- A cover of a Jacques Brel song, recorded for the Ziggy Stardust sessions, and released as the B-side to the single "Sorrow"
- "Holy Holy" – 2:15
- A newer version of Bowie's 1970 single, recorded for the Ziggy Stardust sessions, and released as the B-side to the single "Diamond Dogs"
- "Panic in Detroit" – 5:49
- Live recording from the same concerts as David Live, and released as the B-side to the single "Knock on Wood"
- "Young Americans" – 3:11
- US single edit
Side two
- "Velvet Goldmine" – 3:08
- Recorded for the Ziggy Stardust sessions, and released as the B-side to the 1975 reissue of "Space Oddity"
- "Heroes"/"Helden" (Bowie, Brian Eno, Antonia Maass) – 6:07
- A version of "Heroes" with English and German lyrics, released as single in West Germany in 1977
- "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)" – 3:26
- Single edit
- "Moon of Alabama" (Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill) – 3:51
- Recorded 1978, released as single A-side, 1980
- "Crystal Japan" – 3:07
- Recorded 1979 for the soundtrack of a Japanese commercial, released as a Japanese single A-side, 1980, then internationally as the B-side to "Up the Hill Backwards" single, 1981.
Charts
Chart (1983) | Peak position |
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UK Album Chart | 34[3] |
Norway Album Chart | 11 |
Notes
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r31309
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press.
- ^ "UK Top 40 Hit Database". Retrieved 27 July 2008.