2016 - 2017
DAVID BOWIE:
2015-2019
2018 - 2019

2014 ← 2015 2016 ↓

David Bowie:

Young Americans

(Parlophone DBYA40; EU 02/2015)

Format: 7"

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with sticker

Tracks: Young Americans (2007 Tony Visconti mix, single edit) // It's Gonna Be Me (with strings)*

Other notes: *studio recordings from the Young Americans sessions, Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, 08/1974

Collector's notes: The alternative version of It's Gonna Be Me had first been released on a 2007 CD re-issue of the Young Americans albums.



David Bowie:

"Heroes" - Chanté en Français

(Parlophone DBISF2015; France 02/2015)

Format: 7"

Release notes: blue vinyl, limited edition

Tracks: "Héros" (short French version) / "Heroes"*

Other notes: *live, Pacific National Exhibition Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada, 13/09/1983

Collector's notes: Released to accompany a French Bowie exhibition. Some copies came with a sticker promoting that exhibition.



David Bowie:

Aladdin Sane

(RCA RPL-2103; ?? 02/2015)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: pirate release, blue and purple marbled vinyl, insert

Tracks: Watch That Man / Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) / Drive-In Saturday / Panic in Detroit / Cracked Actor // Time / The Prettiest Star / Let's Spend the Night Together / The Jean Genie / Lady Grinning Soul // John, I'm Only Dancing (sax version)* / All the Young Dudes** / Hang On to Yourself*** / Cracked Actor° / Wild Is the Wind° // Changes°° / The Supermen°° / Life on Mars?°° / The Jean Genie°°° / Drive-In Saturday#

Other notes: disc 1 re-issue of 1973 Aladdin Sane album; *from the 1972 7"; **recorded during the Aladdin Sane sessions, 12/1972; ***Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris BBC programme, Maida Vale Studio 5, London, 18/01/1972; °live, BBC Radio Theatre, London, 27/06/2000; °°live, Music Hall, Boston, 01/10/1972; °°°live, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, 20/10/1972; #live, Public Hall, Cleveland, 25/11/1972

Collector's notes: And yet another pirate release with a bonus LP full of tracks that had already been officially released elsewhere (most of them on the 30th Anniversary Edition of the Aladdin Sane album). The sound quality is excellent throughout. The cover, which mimics a Japanese edition from 1982, is only a single sleeve and doesn't list the bonus tracks, probably because the album was also available in the same cover without the bonus disc.




David Bowie:

Diamond Dogs

(RCA YL 13889; EU 02/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: transparent green vinyl, pirate release

Tracks: see original UK issue

Collector's notes: Another pirate release, vaguely based on a 1981 Italian re-issue of the album. There are also copies in other colours, including black.




David Bowie:

The Man Who Sold the World

(Mercury 6338041; EU 03/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: dress cover, marbled green vinyl, pirate issue of UK edition

Tracks: see original US issue

Collector's notes: About one year after the release of the EU counterfeit, this green vinyl version was released. Since there is no way to confuse this issue with the original, I classify it as a pirate issue. Same cover and labels as the 2014 counterfeit, and also available in red vinyl, blue "glitter" vinyl, and possibly other colours (some of which may have been made in the following years).


David Bowie:

iSelect

(Parlophone DB1-SLP1; EU 03/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: red vinyl, fold-out insert, promo postcard, limited edition of 2.500 copies

Tracks: Tracks: Life on Mars? / Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (reprise) / The Bewlay Brothers / Lady Grinning Soul / Win / Some Are* // Teenage Wildlife / Repetition / Fantastic Voyage / Loving the Alien / Time Will Crawl (MM remix)** / Hang On to Yourself***

Other notes: all tracks from the original albums, except: *from the 1991 re-issue of Low; **original version with new instrumental overdubs; ***live, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, 20/10/1972; re-issue of 2008 CD.

Collector's notes: Distributed at the French "David Bowie Is" exhibition. There has been some confusion about the number of copies pressed. Originally, it was assumed that there were only between 250 and 275 copies. However, the final consensus seems to be that 2.500 copies were pressed, with 250+ copies reserved for the French exhibition, and that the rest will be distributed in different ways, especially at further exhibitions. The postcard that accompanied my copy identifies it as one of the few hundred sold in France.







David Bowie:

Strung Out on Heaven's High

(Discos Toro Salvaje; EU 04/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, picture disc, back insert and triangular front insert, plastic NC, limited edition: 97/100

Tracks: Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)* / It's No Game (Part 2) / Tired of My Life** / Up the Hill Backwards / Teenage Wildlife / Scream like a Baby // Kingdom Come / I Am a Laser*** / Because I'm Young° / I Feel Free°° / Panic in Detroit°°°

Other notes: alternative versions from the Scary Monsters sessions, Power Station Studios, New York, early 1980 (°early version of Because You're Young, °°instrumental backing track, mistitled Is There Life after Marriage? on cover); except: *alternative mix of the official version; **demo, Haddon Hall, 05/1970; ***performed by Ava Cherry and the Astronettes, produced by Bowie, studio recording, 11/1973; °°°re-recorded version, 12/1979.

Collector's notes: The material on this record had previously been released on CDs like Glamour and Monsters to Ashes, but this was the first time it turned up on vinyl. The sound quality is excellent, the quality of the pressing is okay if you can live with a few minor clicks and a minimal bit of crackle here and there.
Also available in white, pink and blue vinyl (150 copies each). No label name is mentioned on this issue, but it's obvious that this release was made by the same people who also made the coloured vinyl issues.



David Bowie:

Strung Out on Heaven's High

(Discos Toro Salvaje; EU 04/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, white vinyl, limited edition sticker on cover: 150/150

Tracks: see picture disc issue

Collector's notes: This is white vinyl issue referred to in the previous entry. The design of the cover is similar to that of the insert of the picture disc version. There are also copies in purple, clear and blue vinyl (which might be re-pressings, but I'm not sure).



David Bowie/Tom Verlaine:

Kingdom Come

(Parlophone/Elektra R7-547633 (K1); EU 04/2015)

Format: 7"

Release notes: translucent white vinyl, plastic NC with title sticker, catalogue number sticker and 2 Record Store Day stickers (1 Italian), limited edition

Tracks: David Bowie: Kingdom Come // Tom Verlaine: Kingdom Come

Collector's notes: A nice release for Record Store Day 2015. It couples Verlaine's original 1979 version of the song with Bowie's cover version from 1980.



David Bowie:

Changes

(Parlophone DBRSD2015; EU 04/2015)

Format: 7"

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with title sticker and 2 Record Store Day stickers (1 Italian), limited edition

Tracks: Changes // Eight Line Poem (Gem promo version)*

Other notes: *alternative version from the Gem promo album, recorded during the Hunky Dory sessions, Trident Studios, London, 06/1971-06/08/1971

Collector's notes: And another Record Store Day release. Note that this is the first in the picture disc series that is not also part of the "40th Anniversary" series.


David Bowie:

1966

(BMG/Sanctuary BMGRM047LP; EU 04/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: mono, white vinyl, limited edition of 2.000 (?) copies

Tracks: see album I Dig Everything

Other notes: 12" re-issue of 10" LP I Dig Everything - The 1966 Pye Singles

Collector's notes: Another Record Store Day release, which was primarily sold in the UK. Although the title implies that it's a re-issue of the 1987 LP of the same name, it is actually a re-release of the above-mentioned album, since it contains the same alternative mix of Do Anything You Say.



David Bowie with Dana Gillespie:

Make Way for the Rock and Rollers

(Casino Records; USA 06/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, white and blue vinyl, OIS, sticker on shrinkwrap: limited edition no. 116/300

Tracks: Oh! You Pretty Things*# / Eight Line Poem**# / Kooks*# / It Ain't Easy# / Queen Bitch*# / Quicksand*# // Bombers°#/Andy Warhol Intro**# / Mother Don't Be Frightened°°## / Andy Warhol°°## / Never Knew## / All Cut Up on You## / Lavender Hill##

Other notes: #performed by David Bowie, recorded at Trident Studios, London, 06/1971-06/08/1971; *different mix than on the Hunky Dory album, **different version than on the Hunky Dory album; °different mix than on the 1990 Hunky Dory re-issue album; ##performed by Dana Gillespie, recorded at Trident Studios, London, c. 06/1971, produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson; °°different version than on the Weren't Born a Man album.

Collector's notes: This bootleg is a copy of the legendary 1971 "BOWPROMO" (a.k.a. "Gem promo") promo-only LP. It contains numerous versions and mixes/edits that are different to those on the regular releases by Bowie and Gillespie. The sound quality is excellent, and so is the pressing. The record has a really beautiful and unusual design.
Note that I classify this album as a bootleg (rather than a pirate LP) because at the time of release the Bowie tracks were still quite rare - two years later they were re-issued on the BOWPROMO album. However, even after that release, the Gillespie tracks were still rare... so that this record retained its status as a bootleg.




David Bowie:

Hours...

(Iso/Columbia/Music on Vinyl MOVLP1400; EU 06/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: blue vinyl, booklet, sticker on protective plastic sleeve, limited edition no. 000079

Tracks: Thursday's Child / Something in the Air / Survive / If I'm Dreaming My Life // Seven­ / What's Really Happening? / The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell / New Angels of Promise / Brilliant Adventure / The Dreamers

Other notes: re-issue of 1999 CD album.

Collector's notes: Finally, an official vinyl issue of the Hours... album. Also available in black and green vinyl.



David Bowie:

Hours...

(Iso/Columbia/Music on Vinyl MOVLP1400; EU 06/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: mint green vinyl, booklet, sticker on protective plastic sleeve, limited edition no. 002338

Tracks: see blue vinyl issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1999 CD album.

Collector's notes: Apart from the details of the sticker and the number printed onto the cover back, this issue is identical to the blue vinyl copy.


David Bowie:

A Further Exploration of Ziggy on Channel Two - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Recorded Performances 1970 - 1973

((ZATB2); EU 07/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg

Tracks: The Width of a Circle* / The Supermen** / Oh! You Pretty Things*** / Space Oddity° / My Death°° // Andy Warhol°°° / Waiting for the Man* / Queen Bitch*** / Starman# / Drive-In Saturday##

Other notes: *Sounds of the 70: Andy Ferris BBC programme, Playhouse Theatre, London, 25/03/1970; **studio recording, Trident Studios, 12/11/1971, from the 1972 Revelations album; ***recorded for Old Grey Whistle Test TV programme, BBC TV Studios, 07/02/1972; °Johnny Walker Lunchtime Show BBC programme, Aeolian Hall Studio 2, London, 22/05/1972; °°live, Carnegie Hall, New York, 28/09/1972; °°°Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris BBC programme, Kensington House Studio T1, London, 21/09/1971; #live, Top of the Pops TV show, 06/07/1972, backing track recorded at Trident Studios, London, 29/06/1972; ##recorded for Russell Harty Plus Pop TV show, London Weekend Television Studios, London, 17/01/1973, broadcast 20/01/1973

Collector's notes: A follow-up to the Ziggy at the BBC album from the previous year. It's a compilation of BBC, TV and live recordings, none of which was particularly elusive. However, the sound quality is excellent throughout, and the liner notes are detailed (and correct!). A nice album.



David Bowie:

Day In Day Out

(Laser Media LM 160; 07/2015)

Format: 2CD

Release notes: bootleg

Tracks: Purple Haze (intro) / Intro/Up the Hill Backwards / Glass Spider/Up the Hill Backwards (reprise) / Day-In Day-Out / Bang Bang / Absolute Beginners / Loving the Alien / China Girl / Rebel Rebel / Fashion // Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / All the Madmen / Never Let Me Down / Big Brother / '87 and Cry / "Heroes" / Sons of the Silent Age / Time Will Crawl / Young Americans / The Jean Genie / Let's Dance / Fame / Time / Blue Jean / Modern Love

Other notes: live, Sydney, Australia, 03/11/1987

Collector's notes: This recording is taken from a radio broadcast, so the sound quality is excellent, but Fashion and Scary Monsters are incomplete. Note that although recordings from the Sydney shows have been released both officially and unofficially, the show on this album was recorded on a different night.
This bootleg, with its completely inappropriate artwork, is another "semi-legal" release, since it was available through regular channels.


David Bowie:

Fame

(Parlophone DBFAME40; EU 07/2015)

Format: 7"

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with title sticker, limited edition

Tracks: Fame (re-created single edit) // Right (alternative mix)

Collector's notes: Fame is a re-creation of the original edit, and the version of Right is the one originally released on the 1991 EMI/Ryko re-issues of the Young Americans album. This time, however, the speed has been corrected.


David Bowie:

Reality

(Iso/Columbia/Friday Music FRM-90576; USA 09/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: clear vinyl, multi-FOC with sticker, limited edition

Tracks: see original issue

Collector's notes: And a Friday Music issue of Reality. Same quality (in every respect) as the Heathen album.




David Bowie:

Five Years 1969-1973

(Parlophone 0825646284092 (DBXL 1); EU 09/2015)

Format: 13LP

Release notes: cardboard box with paper sheet on back, 10 covers (3 x FOC), 13 OIS, 3 inserts, book, limited edition

Tracks:

David Bowie*

(Parlophone 082564628390 (DB69731))

see original issue

The Man Who Sold the World*

(Parlophone 0825646287383 (DB69732))

see original UK issue

Hunky Dory*

(Parlophone 0825646289448 (DB69733))

see original issues

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

(Parlophone 0825646287376 (DB69734))

see original issues

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (2003 Mix)**

(Parlophone 0825646287352 (DB69738))

see original issues

Live Santa Monica '72

(Parlophone 0825646113743 (DB69737))

see 2008 issue

Aladdin Sane

(Parlophone 082564629431 (DB69735))

see original issues

Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture

(Parlophone 0825646113699 (DB69739))

see 2003 issue

Pin Ups*

(Parlophone 082564629424 (DB69736))

see original issues

Re:Call 1

(Parlophone 082564085187 (DB697310))

Space Oddity (UK single mono edit)°*** / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud (UK single edit)°*** / Ragazzo Solo Ragazza Sola°° / The Prettiest Star (single version)°°°*** / Conversation Piece (original version)°°°*** // Memory of a Free Festival (Part 1) (single version)# / Memory of a Free Festival (Part 2) (single version)# / All the Madmen (single edit)##*** / Janine###*** / Holy Holy (original version)+*** / Moonage Daydream (Arnold Corns version)++*** / Hang On to Yourself (Arnold Corns version)++*** // Changes (mono mix)+++*** / Andy Warhol (mono single edit)+++*** / Starman (single mix)^ / John, I'm Only Dancing (original version)^^ / The Jean Genie (single mix)^^^ / Drive-In Saturday (German single edit)% // Round and Round%% / John, I'm Only Dancing (sax version)%%% / Time (single edit)$ / Amsterdam$$ / Holy Holy (re-recorded version)$$$ / Velvet Goldmine&

Other notes: *2015 re-master; **2003 Ken Scott mix; ***mono; °from the 1969 UK 7"; °°from the 1970 7"; °°°from the 1970 7"; #from the 1970 7", but in stereo; ##from the 1970 promo 7"; ###from the B-side of the withdrawn stock copies of the aforementioned single; +from the 1971 7"; ++performed by Arnold Corns, from the 1971 7"; +++from the 1972 UK 7"; ^from the 1972 7"; ^^from the 1972 7"; ^^^from the 1972 7"; %from the 1973 Germany 7"; %%from the 1973 7"; %%%from the 1973 7"; $from the 1973 US 7"; $$from the 1973 7"; $$$from the 1974 7"; &from the 1975 7"

Collector's notes: This is an overwhelming box set! There's nothing particularly exciting in it for long-time collectors, but at least it is a box into which the makers have put some thought, especially concerning the design of the individual album covers (more on that below). The sound quality is nice, although I don't care much about the fact that in some cases this is the 2015 (re-re-re-...-)re-master.
As I wrote, the true gimmick is the design of the covers etc. Of course, they couldn't use the original record company logos and catalogue numbers, but apart from that almost every aspect of the original design - from the labels to the cover spines (!) - has been re-created. Although each record has a modern, plastic-padded inner sleeve, they even included copies of the original generic record company sleeves and even of the original plain white paper inner sleeves (when there was no printed generic one). The set is completed by an album-sized full colour hardcover book with information on the records included.

Some notes on the particular albums:

David Bowie: the fold-out cover is a nice attempt to re-create the original Philips cover. I only wonder why the inside of the gatefold sleeve is black, while it was blue on the original. The inner sleeve mocks the original generic company sleeve.

The Man Who Sold the World: housed in a great copy of the original dress cover, complete with the "canvas" structure of the original. Again, the inner sleeve mocks the design of the original company sleeve.

Hunky Dory: in a sense, this one is the most exciting re-issue in this set, since it is a very good copy of the very first UK issue - not only does it have a front-only-laminated cover, but it also lacks the GEM logo in the top right corner of the cover back. Note that apart from the regular plastic-padded inner sleeve (and the insert, which is a bit darker than that of the original), this album has an additional plain white paper inner sleeve!

Ziggy Stardust (original mix): the cover looks very much like that of the third UK issue, which had a rather broad space between the title and the left-hand margin of the cover. The record comes with a copy of the original inner sleeve.

Ziggy Stardust (2003 mix): this re-mix had been available on SACD and DVD before, but is available on vinyl for the first time here. Nice cover and inner sleeve!

Live Santa Monica '72: comes with the two inner sleeves of the first fully legal release, but lacks the poster included in that issue.

Aladdin Sane: comes in a gatefold sleeve that includes copies of the original inner sleeve and the fan club insert that came with the first UK issue.

Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture: the version included here is of course the 2003 mix. It comes in a gatefold cover with two inner sleeves, but omits the poster included in the 2003 issue.

Pin Ups: this album has a copy of the original insert and, like Hunky Dory, comes with an additional plain white paper inner sleeve.

Re:Call 1: comes in single cover with two (one-sided) inner sleeves. From the musical point of view, this album is, of course, the most interesting item from the set. It's a more or less complete collection of the single tracks (alternative versions, mixes and edits) from the era in question. As such, it doesn't offer anything particularly new, but the songs are in great quality here, which is quite nice, given that hardly any collector has all the original singles in mint condition (and also given that some of the original releases were not pressed in the best possible quality).

To sum up, then, Five Years is a set for two groups of buyers: collectors of Bowie vinyl, and nostalgic people who want to have all those old albums on vinyl again, since they once sold or threw away their original copies or don't want to listen to the battered originals anymore.





















David Bowie:

Pin Ups Radio Show

(Parlophone 0825646082179 (PURS 1); EU 09/2015)

Format: 10"EP

Release notes: promo-only, 1-sided, 33 1/3 rpm, PS with sticker, limited edition

Tracks: Rosalyn/comment / Here Comes the Night/comment / I Wish You Would / comment/Sorrow/comment / comment/I Can't Explain

Other notes: all tracks truncated

Collector's notes: A radio show in which Bowie gives some background information on the songs on Pin Ups. I don't know when and where exactly Bowie's spoken contribution was recorded. The record was given away with copies of the Five Years vinyl box set that were purchased from Bowie's web shop.



David Bowie:

Heathen

(Iso/Columbia/Friday Music FRM-86630; USA 10/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: blue vinyl, multi-FOC with sticker, limited edtion

Tracks: see original issue

Collector's notes: Another limited vinyl issue of the album. The trifold cover is interesting, but the reproduction of the cover design is rather poor. However, the quality of the pressing is excellent.
I'm not sure about the exact month of release. According to Discogs, it's August, but according to the usually reliable albums discography in the idbd forum it's 4th October. I originally listed it under June (but don't ask me for the source), but finally decided to go for the idbd date.
In 2016 there was a (re-)re-issue on clear vinyl.



David Bowie:

Space Oddity

(Parlophone DBSO140; EU 10/2015)

Format: 7"

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with title sticker, limited edition

Tracks: Space Oddity (UK stereo single edit) // Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud (full length version)

Collector's notes: A very weird issue. It celebrates the 1975 release, but is something like a re-issue of the 1969 single. However, the A-side is not the version released on the commercially available original UK single, but the stereo version - probably identical to the one on the very rare stereo promo (which I've never heard). The B-side, in turn, is the full-length (stereo) version not released in the UK, but in some European countries like Germany and France. The French single also provided the beautiful artwork for the A-side - including the original typo.


David Bowie:

Toy - The Lost Album

(Casino Records; USA 10/2015)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, clear vinyl, FOC, 2 OIS, limited edition sticker on protective sleeve: 65/500

Tracks: Uncle Floyd / Afraid / Baby Loves that Way* // I Dig Everything* / Conversation Piece* / Let Me Sleep beside You* / Your Turn to Drive // Hole in the Ground / Shadow Man* / In the Heat of the Morning* / You've Got a Habit of Leaving* // Silly Boy Blue* / Liza Jane* / The London Boys*

Other notes: recorded at Sear Sound Studios, New York, Looking Glass Studios, and Alice's Restaurant, New York, 5-10/2000; *re-recorded versions

Collector's notes: A nice re-issue of the 2011 CD bootleg and the first near-complete vinyl release of the Toy album. The sound quality is excellent, but the pressing could be a bit better.
Frifelt writes that this release omits Liza Jane, but it doesn't. It's present on my copy.






David Bowie:

C'est la Vie

(Deram DM 103; EU 10/2015)

Format: 7"

Release notes: bootleg, red vinyl, PS (insert in plastic sleeve), limited edition sticker: 84/100

Tracks: C'est la Vie (with vocals) // C'est la Vie (backing track)

Other notes: demos, Decca acetate, 10/1967

Collector's notes: A beautiful vinyl single that pretends to be a Japanese release, but is almost certainly from Europe. Also available in blue and clear vinyl (100 copies each).



David Bowie:

The Trident Tapes

(TTLP001; 10/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, pink marbled vinyl

Tracks: Tired of My Life* / Shadow Man* / How Lucky You Are* / Lightning Frightening** / Looking for a Friend*** / Rupert the Riley° // Bombers/Andy Warhol Intro°° / Amsterdam°°° / Velvet Goldmine# / Round and Round## / Holy Holy### / All the Young Dudes+

Other notes: *demos, Radio Luxembourg Studios, London, c. 11-12/1970; **recorded at Trident Studios, London, 23/04/1971, unedited mono mix; ***performed by Arnold Corns, Trident Studios, 17/6/1971; °studio recording, 23/04/1971, Mickey King on lead vocal, no sound effects; °°recorded during the Hunky Dory sessions, Trident Studios, London, 09-10/07/1971; °°°from the 1973 7"; #from the 1975 EP; ##from the 1973 7"; ###re-recording, from the 1974 7"; +recorded during the Aladdin Sane sessions, 12/1972

Collector's notes: A nice bootleg with some tracks that hadn't been available on vinyl in such good quality before, but I wonder why they included the officially released tracks. There are also copies in black vinyl.




David Bowie:

Ain't That Close to Love

((CTL-74); EU 10/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, blue vinyl, limited edition sticker: 72/150

Tracks: Young Americans* / Right** / Somebody Up There Likes Me* / Right** / Young Americans US radio promo ad*** // Can You Hear Me* / Across the Universe° / Fame° / Fame° / Young Americans°° / After Today°° / I Am a Laser°°° / Shilling the Rubes°°° / Young Americans US TV promo ad***

Other notes: *alternative mixes (some drastically stripped down) of officially released tracks, Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, 08/1974; **demos, Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, 08/1974; ***1975; °alternative mixes (some drastically stripped down) of officially released tracks, Electric Ladyland Studios, New York, 01/1975; °°alternative takes, incomplete, Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, 13/08/1974; °°°studio recordings, incomplete, Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, 13/08/1974

Collector's notes: Another nice bootleg in excellent sound quality. None of this stuff was actually new, but, again, it was on vinyl for the first time.



David Bowie:

Slinky Secrets

((DB95); 10/2015)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, black marbled vinyl

Tracks: The Motel / Look Back in Anger / The Hearts Filthy Lesson / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) // The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (as Beauty) / I Have Not Been to Oxford Town / Outside / Andy Warhol / The Man Who Sold the World // Boys Keep Swinging / Strangers When We Meet / I'm Deranged / Breaking Glass / We Prick You // Nite Flights / My Death / D.J. (version 1) / D.J. (version 2)*

Other notes: rehearsals, Elwood Studios, Watford, 08-12/11/1995; *vocals by George Simms

Collector's notes: A brilliant bootleg in excellent sound quality. The recordings had been available on CD before, but I hadn't heard them. The records look plain black when you put them on your turntable, but if viewed in light they have a slightly marbled design. Note that the recording studios are called "Elstree Studios" on the cover, but in case of doubt, I prefer the information from Pegg. There was a second issue on red vinyl.


David Bowie:

Hours...

(Iso/Columbia/Friday Music FRM-48155; USA 10/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: blue vinyl, multi-FOC with sticker, limited edition

Tracks: see original issue

Collector's notes: Amazon Germany lists this as an October release, but several international webshops say November. So the latter date is probably correct.




David Bowie:

Golden Years

(Parlophone DBGOLD40; EU 11/2015)

Format: 7"

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with title sticker, limited edition

Tracks: Golden Years (single edit) // Station to Station (single edit)

Collector's notes: The absurd French single edit of Station to Station had previously been re-released on the 2011 album box of the same name.



David Bowie:

1. Outside

(Iso/Columbia/Friday Music FRM-40711; USA 11/2015)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: white vinyl, multi-FOC with sticker, limited edition

Tracks: Leon Takes Us Outside / Outside / The Hearts Filthy Lesson / A Small Plot of Land // Segue - Baby Grace (A Horrid Cassette) / Hallo Spaceboy / The Motel / I Have Not Been to Oxford Town // No Control / Segue - Algeria Touchshriek / The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (as Beauty) / Segue - Ramona A. Stone/I Am with Name / Wishful Beginnings // We Prick You / Segue - Nathan Adler / I'm Deranged / Thru' these Architects Eyes / Segue - Nathan Adler* / Strangers When We Meet

Other notes: *called Segue - Nathan Adler (version #2) on the cover

Collector's notes: For the first time we got a full vinyl version of the Outside album. The cover is a triple-FOC similar to that of the previous releases on Friday Music.







David Bowie:

1. Hurling Disdain - Volume One

(Bureau Supply BSDBLP01/02; UK 11/2015)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, blue "splatter" vinyl, FOC, limited edition

Tracks: Intro: Subterreneans/Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)* / Reptile* // Hallo Spaceboy* / Hurt* / Look Back in Anger // I'm Deranged / 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

Other notes: live, Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, USA, 11/10/1995; *performed by David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails

Collector's notes: A beautiful bootleg in excellent sound quality. Together with the second volume it is an extended version of the Live. Inside CD bootleg from 1996. Note that the cover says that the tracks were recorded in Philadelphia, 22/09/1996. However, they are definitely the same versions as on the earlier bootleg.




David Bowie:

1. Hurling Disdain - Volume Two

(Bureau Supply BSDBLP03/04; UK 11/2015)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, orange "splatter" vinyl, FOC, limited edtion

Tracks: We Prick You / Joe the Lion / A Small Plot of Land // Nite Flights / band introduction / Under Pressure / Teenage Wildlife // Look Back in Anger* / The Man Who Sold the World* / Strangers When We Meet* / Hallo Spaceboy* // We Prick You* / Teenage Wildlife* / Hallo Spaceboy** / The Man Who Sold the World** / Strangers When We Meet**

Other notes: live, Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, USA, 11/10/1995; except: *live, Wembley Arena, London, 17/11/1995; **Later... with Jools Holland TV programme, 02/12/1995

Collector's notes: The second part of the set. Like the first volume it claims that the St. Louis tracks are from Philadelphia.




David Bowie:

My Death

(Bureau Supply BSDBLP05/06/07; UK 11/2015)

Format: 3LP

Release notes: bootleg, white "splatter" vinyl, multi-FOC, limited edtion of 500

Tracks: Introduction by Barry Bethal / Medley: Space Oddity/Ziggy Stardust/John, I'm Only Dancing/Life on Mars?* / Intro: Ode to Joy / Hang on to Yourself // Ziggy Stardust / Watch That Man / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud/All the Young Dudes/Oh! You Pretty Things // Moonage Daydream / Changes / Space Oddity // My Death / Intro: The William Tell Overture / Cracked Actor / Time // The Width of a Circle / Let's Spend the Night Together / Suffragette City // White Light/White Heat / The Jean Genie/Love Me Do / Round and Round / Farewell Speech / Rock'n'Roll Suicide

Other notes: live, Odeon Hammersmith, London, 03/07/1973; *performed by Mike Garson

Collector's notes: At first thought, it seemed absurd to release another bootleg version of the old Hammersmith Odeon show, since official versions had been available for more than thirty years. However, this bootleg wasn't as useless as it seemed. For the first time we got the entire show! This one included all the intros, The Jean Genie/Love Me Do (which had already been available on the old His Master's Voice album, though) and, most important, Round and Round.
The sound quality is quite good, but not comparable to the official releases: it's a mono recording, and there are several audible flaws in the tape. As Robert Steeden let me know (thanks!), this recording was made by Robin Mayhew, straight from the soundboard. Despite the minor flaws it's an interesting release, and the beautiful triple gatefold cover and the great quality of the pressing add to the positive impression.








David Bowie:

The Man Who Play in Dublin

(Iso DB 1256; Japan? 12/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: picture disc, pirate release, limited edition

Tracks: Rebel Rebel / New Killer Star / Reality / Fame / Cactus / Sister Midnight // Afraid / All the Young Dudes / Be My Wife / The Loneliest Guy / The Man Who Sold the World / Fantastic Voyage

Other notes: live, Point Depot, Dublin, Ireland, 22-23/11/2003

Collector's notes: A nice and well-pressed picture disc. However, that's as far as it goes. It's simply a copy of the first twelve tracks of the A Reality Tour CD set as a vinyl LP. After all, this record is similar to the 1986 Berlin '78 LP, which also was a pirate record pretending to be a bootleg. According to the cover, all tracks were recorded on 23/11/2003. This may be correct, but I don't know, so I've given the less precise recording date from the official CD set.
The cover says that this record is a Japanese product, but I'm not sure if that is correct. In any case, the awkward grammatical mistake in the title shows that it wasn't made in an English-speaking country.
The month of release is based on the earliest internet reference to the record that I could find.



David Bowie:

Man of Words/Man of Music

(Parlophone DBISHLP 2015; Netherlands 12/2015)

Format: LP

Release notes: blue vinyl, FOC, limited edition of 1.500 (?)

Tracks: see album David Bowie

Other notes: re-issue of album David Bowie (UK Philips edition)

Collector's notes: An apparent re-issue of the 1969 US version of Bowie's second album, made for the Dutch David Bowie Is exhibition. The cover and labels are beautiful copies of the US issue. However, the record plays the UK version including Don't Sit Down.
Originally, 1.500 copies should be pressed, but it is suspected that the record was re-pressed before the end of the exhibition.
My copy of this record and the Amsterdam single came with a magazine, a booklet, and a number of flyers promoting the exhibition and events related to it - I show only the front of each.




David Bowie:

Amsterdam

(Parlophone DBISH 2015; NL 12/2015)

Format: 7"

Release notes: orange vinyl, sticker on shrinkwrap, limited edition of 1.500 (?)

Tracks: Amsterdam* // My Death**

Other notes: *from the 1973 7"; **live, Carnegie Hall, New York, 28/09/1972

Collector's notes: Another exclusive issue for the Dutch exhibition. Again, the number of copies actually pressed is not entirely clear.



↑ 2015 2016 ↓ 2017

David Bowie:

Blackstar

(Iso/Columbia 888751738713 (cover)/888751888517 (sticker); USA 01/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: clear vinyl, die-cut FOC with bar code sticker, plastic OIS, booklet, download card, limited edition of 5.000

Tracks: Blackstar / 'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore* / Lazarus // Sue (or In a Season of Crime)* / Girl Loves Me / Dollar Days / I Can't Give Everything Away

Other notes: recorded at The Magic Shop Studios and Human Studios, New York, 03/01-05/2015; *re-recordings

Collector's notes: Bowie's swansong. Clear vinyl issues of both the US and the EU version were available by pre-order and immediately became major rarities after Bowie's untimely death. I'm not sure if "limited to 5.000 copies worldwide" refers to each of the clear pressings or to both of them.
Note that I had to lighten up some of the pictures to make the text more easily visible.





David Bowie:

Blackstar

(Iso/Columbia 88875173871; EU 01/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: die-cut FOC with sticker, plastic OIS, booklet, download card

Tracks: see US issue

Collector's notes: This copy can be identified as a first pressing by the information on the cover back: the "printed" and "copyright" date is 2015, whereas later pressings have the year 2016 in addition. Furthermore, this copy was made by Celebrate Records; copies made by MPO have "MPO" as part of the matrix numbers.





David Bowie:

Jesus on Dateline

(Bureau Supply BSDBLP08/09; UK 01/2016)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, red vinyl and blue vinyl, FOC, numbered limited edtion: 253/500

Tracks: New Killer Star / Rebel Rebel / Fashion / Fall Dog Bombs the Moon / Cactus // Ashes to Ashes / The Man Who Sold the World / The Loneliest Guy / She'll Drive the Big Car // I'm Afraid of Americans / "Heroes" / Sunday / China Girl // New Killer Star* / I'm Afraid of Americans* / Rebel Rebel* / Fall Dog Bombs the Moon* / Days*

Other notes: live, Atlantis Paradise Island Hotel, Nassau, Bahamas, 20/12/2003, except: *AOL session, 10/10/2003

Collector's notes: The Nassau show had been released before, but for all I know, this was the first vinyl issue. Excellent sound, pressing and cover. A very pleasant bootleg.




David Bowie:

Bowie at the Beep - The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68-72

(Parlophone DBBBCLP6872 08256409585; EU 03/2016)

Format: 4LP

Release notes: box, booklet, sticker on shrinkwrap

Tracks: In the Heat of the Morning* / London Bye Ta-Ta** / Karma Man** / Silly Boy Blue** / Let Me Sleep beside You*** / Janine*** // Amsterdam° / God Knows I'm Good° / The Width of a Circle° / Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed° // The Cygnet Committee° / Memory of a Free Festival° / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud°° / The Supermen°° // Bombers°°° / Looking for a Friend°°° / Almost Grown°°° / Kooks°°° / It Ain't Easy°°° // The Supermen# / Oh! You Pretty Things# / Eight Line Poem# / Hang On to Yourself## / Ziggy Stardust## / Queen Bitch## // Waiting for the Man## / Five Years## / White Light/White Heat### / Moonage Daydream### // Hang On to Yourself### / Suffragette City### / Ziggy Stardust### / Starman+ / Space Oddity+ // Changes+ / Oh! You Pretty Things+ / Andy Warhol++ / Lady Stardust++ / Rock'n'Roll Suicide++

Other notes: *Top Gear BBC programme, Piccadilly Studio 1, London, 18/12/1967, falsely assigned to the 13/05/1968 session in the booklet; **Top Gear BBC programme, Piccadilly Studio 1, London, 13/05/1968; ***Dave Lee Travis Show BBC programme, Aeolian Hall Studio 2, London, 20/10/1969; °The Sunday Show BBC programme, Paris Cinema Studio, London, 05/2/1970; °°Sounds of the 70: Andy Ferris BBC programme, Playhouse Theatre, London, 25/03/1970; °°°In Concert: John Peel BBC programme, Paris Cinema Studio, London, 03/06/1971; #Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris BBC programme, Kensington House Studio T1, London, 21/09/1971; ##Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris BBC programme, Maida Vale Studio 5, London, 18/01/1972; ###Sounds of the 70s: John Peel BBC programme, Maida Vale Studio 4, London, 16/05/1972; +Johnny Walker Lunchtime Show BBC programme, Aeolian Hall Studio 2, London, 22/05/1972; ++Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris BBC programme, Maida Vale Studio 5, London, 23/05/1972

Collector's notes: Finally, there was an official release of the BBC album, which had been available on CD and pirate vinyl. Note, though, that this official release had two bonus tracks, namely alternative versions of The Supermen and Oh! You Pretty Things.
There seems to be general consensus among Bowie collectors that In the Heat of the Morning is from a 1967 session. However, the booklet of this vinyl version still lists it as a 1968 recording.




David Bowie:

Live - The F.M. Broadcast

(Laser Media LM001V; 03/2016)

Format: 7"

Release notes: bootleg, 33 1/3 rpm

Tracks: Absolute Beginners // China Girl

Other notes: live, Sydney, Australia, 03/11/1987

Collector's notes: An exploitation release taken from the equally "semi-legal" Day In Day Out double CD issued on the same label the previous year.


Tin Machine:

Let's Roll Some Tape on This - The Tin Machine II Rehearsals and Outtakes

(Eat a Peach! EAT 101/2/3/4; EU 04/2016)

Format: 4CD

Release notes: bootleg, cardboard slipcase, 4 paper covers, booklet

Tracks: Baby Universal (take 1) / Baby Universal (take 2) / Baby Universal (take 3) / Baby Universal (take 4) / One Shot (take 1) / One Shot (take 2) / One Shot (take 3) / One Shot (take 4) / One Shot (take 5) / One Shot (take 6) / You Belong in Rock n'Roll (take 1/instrumental) / You Belong in Rock n'Roll (take 2) / You Belong in Rock n'Roll (take 3) / Amlapura (take 1/instrumental) / Amlapura (take 2) / Amlapura (take 3/Indonesian version) / Amlapura (take 4) // Betty Wrong (take 1/instrumental) / Betty Wrong (take 2) / Betty Wrong (take 3) / Betty Wrong (take 4) / You Can't Talk (take 1) / You Can't Talk (take 2) / You Can't Talk (take 3) / You Can't Talk (take 4) / You Can't Talk (take 5) / Stateside (take 1) / Stateside (take 2) / Stateside (take 3) / Stateside (take 4) / Shopping for Girls / A Big Hurt (take 1) / A Big Hurt (take 2/instrumental) / A Big Hurt (take 3) // Sorry (take 1) / Sorry (take 2) / Hammerhead / It's Tough (take 1) / It's Tough (take 2) / It's Tough (take 3) / Exodus / Needles on the Beach (take 1) / Needles on the Beach (take 2) / Needles on the Beach (take 3/edit) / "Blues Tunes" 1 / "Blues Tunes" 2 / "Blues Tunes" 3 / "Blues Tunes" 4 / "Blues Tunes" 5 / Untitled Instrumental // A Big Hurt* / One Shot** / If There Is Something** / Stateside** / You Belong in Rock n'Roll** / Heaven's in Here** / Debaser*** / I've Been Waiting for You*** / Go Now*** / "Jazz Odyssey"°

Other notes: alternative versions and outtakes recorded during the Tin Machine II sessions in Sydney, Australia, 10-12/1989, and Los Angeles, 03/1991, except: *Mark Goodier's Evening Session BBC programme, Maida Vale Studio 5, London, 13/08/1991, from the Baby Universal 12"; **live, Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands, 28/10/1991; ***live, Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan, 30-31/01/1992; °live, Riviera Theater, Chicago, 07/12/1991

Collector's notes: To begin with, I had missed the release of this bootleg, so I can't say when exactly it was issued: 2016 is definitely correct, but April is a guess, since this was the oldest date with a reference to this compilation that I found on the web.
It's a nice bootleg in excellent sound quality. Of course, the various versions of one and the same song can be a bit tiresome at times, but by and large it's quite interesting. Most of the tracks don't sound much different than on the final album, but in some cases there are (minor) surprises, for example take 1 of You Can't Talk with its almost "funky" rhythm in the verses. The most interesting tracks are of course those that didn't make it onto the album, like It's Tough, the various instrumentals, and the live versions of Debaser and the rather elusive I've Been Waiting for You.
It's a pity that it is difficult to say when and where exactly the tracks were recorded. The Tin Machine II session were in 1989 and 1991, and it's likely that the rougher versions were recorded in 1989, but that's only a guess. It's also unclear during which of the two Osaka shows the tracks included here were recorded.
Some notes on the titles: "Blues Tunes" is of course a "mock title" I have given to some of the tracks because a version of these recordings joined into one track circulates on the web under that title. The cover simply calls them "Unknown" 1-5, which is equally appropriate. After all, they are only jams with occasional vocals by one of the Sales brothers. Whether or not Bowie was actually involved in them is unclear. What is called "Jazz Odyssey" on the cover (a "mock title" I have adapted here) is simply the instrumental intro to Betty Wrong, which can also be heard on the Heaven's in Here bootleg from 1992, but is not listed as a separate track there.






David Bowie:

The Man Who Sold the World

(Parlophone DBRSDP 2016; EU 04/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with insert and Record Store Day sticker, limited edition

Tracks: see original US and UK issues

Other notes: fade-out on The Supermen identical to that on original US and UK pressings

Collector's notes: A nice picture disc with the design of the original German version. However, it's a pity that they didn't actually copy the German issue (with its different fade-out on the final track). What's more, the pirate picture disc from 2004 was actually more interesting, since it had a cover and an insert with the design of the original inner sleeve. The insert that comes with this release is plain white on the back.



David Bowie:

TVC 15

(Parlophone DBTV40; EU 04/2016)

Format: 7"

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with title sticker and Record Store Day sticker, limited edition

Tracks: TVC 15 (original single edit) // Wild Is the Wind (2010 Harry Maslin mix single edit)

Collector's notes: Nothing exciting on this one...



David Bowie:

In Memory of David Bowie

(Laser Media LM005V; 04/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, limited edition

Tracks: China Girl / Let's Dance / Look Back in Anger / Lavender Blue/"Heroes" // Wild Is the Wind / Space Oddity / Ashes to Ashes / Young Americans

Other notes: rehearsals, Sound Stage, Las Colinas, Dallas, 27/04/1983

Collector's notes: Another semi-legal exploitation release by Laser Media, released only two years after the bootleg 3LP set that gave a fuller picture of these sessions. But it's a relatively cheap bootleg with a good sound and pressing quality and some interesting tracks. However, the title should be changed to "In Memory of Our Bank Account", and it's probably limited to "as many copies as can be sold"...


David Bowie:

Glastonbury XXV.VI.MM

(Bureau Supply BSDBLP 20/21/22; UK 04/2016)

Format: 3LP

Release notes: bootleg, beige "splatter" vinyl, multi-FOC, poster, limited edition: 481/500

Tracks: Wild Is the Wind / China Girl / Changes // Stay / Life on Mars? / Absolute Beginners // Ashes to Ashes / Rebel Rebel / Little Wonder / Golden Years // Fame / All the Young Dudes / The Man Who Sold the World / Station to Station // Starman / Hallo Spaceboy / Ziggy Stardust // "Heroes" / Let's Dance / I'm Afraid of Americans

Other notes: live, Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury, UK, 25/06/2000

Collector's notes: And another beautiful release by Bureau Supply. The sound quality is excellent. The accuracy of this release can be seen from the fact that "Heroes" is actually put in quotation marks on the cover - who does this nowadays? However, the show isn't complete: Under Pressure, which had been on earlier CD releases and on the 2018 official release is missing.
Note that all four labels are minimally different: each one has a different little picture of Bowie on it. However, to save space, I've decided to show only one of them.





David Bowie:

1.0 Wishful Beginnings

(Bureau Supply BSDBLP 23/24; UK 04/2016)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, clear "splatter" vinyl, FOC, poster, limited edition: 102/500

Tracks: Unknown 1: I Am with Name/"Hide Me"/We'll Creep Together // Unknown 2: Leon Takes Us Outside/"The First Time"/"I'd Rather Be Chrome"/We'll Creep Together // Unknown 3: spoken sequence/Nothing to Be Desired/Baby Grace segue/The Enemy Is Fragile/instrumental // Algeria Touchshriek segue/"Leon, Lift Up Your Eyes" / Get Real* / Nothing to Be Desired** / A Small Plot of Land***

Other notes: outtakes recorded during the first part of the 1. Outside sessions, Mountain View Studios, Montreux, Switzerland, 03-11/1994; except: *from the Japanese issue of the 1. Outside CD, **from the 1995 CDS, ***from the Basquiat soundtrack.

Collector's notes: A truly great release! These recordings had been circulating on the internet for years, and parts of them had been previously released on the Something Really Fishy bootleg CD. However, this bootleg has the complete set of recordings, without any omissions or repetitions. Moreover, on some of the tracks the sound quality is much better than on the earlier CD. The pressing is excellent, too.
As in the case of the Fishy CD, the titles in quotation marks are "mock titles"; the cover has only one title for each major sequence.
An interesting note is that I hadn't seen another bootleg with the full set of these recordings. So this album seems to be first factory-pressed issue with them - on vinyl, not on CD! I must admit, however, that I don't keep track of all Japanese bootleg CDs, and so on...
All four labels are slightly different: each label has a different "hand-written" inscription. To save space, I disregard these minimal differences and show only one label.




David Bowie:

When God Was an Englishman - Vancouver Rehearsal 76

(no number; EU 04/2016)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, (slightly marbled) white vinyl, FOC, colour sticker on cover, limited edition sticker on protective plastic NC, limited edition of 150 (in white)

Tracks: Station to Station / Suffragette City / Waiting for the Man // Word on a Wing / Stay / TVC 15 // Sister Midnight / Life on Mars? / Five Years / Panic in Detroit // Fame / Changes / The Jean Genie / Queen Bitch / Rebel Rebel

Other notes: rehearsals for the 1976 tour, Vancouver, Canada, 02/02/1976

Collector's notes: A brilliant release of the 1976 tour rehearsals. It has one more track than earlier issues like Vancouver Station (The Jean Genie). However, this track sounds more carefully mixed than the rest.
A very good pressing with a great sound and a nice cover. There is no identifiable record label or number - not even matrix numbers! There are 150 copies in white, red and blue each, and 55 in splatter vinyl. Interestingly, Bureau Supply released an alternative bootleg issue almost simultaneously.





David Bowie:

Falling Up through the Years

((DBFUTTY); EU 04/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg

Tracks: The Man Who Sold the World / The Supermen / Andy Warhol / Repetition / Lady Stardust / White Light/White Heat / Shopping for Girls // Quicksand / Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)* / Seven Years in Tibet* / Dead Man Walking* / Life on Mars?**

Other notes: recorded for Changes Now radio session, Looking Glass Studios, New York, 11/1996; except: *live radio session, Fort Apache Recording Studios, Cambridge, MA., 08/04/1997; **BBC radio session, Maida Vale Studios, London, 18/09/2002

Collector's notes: A nice release in excellent sound quality. Especially the inclusion of Shopping for Girls is interesting, since this was one of the few occasions on which Bowie played a Tin Machine track as a solo artist.
Note that the cover gives different recording dates for most of the tracks: 04-06/01/1997 for the 1996 recordings and 19/09/2002 for the Maida Vale song. However, I have decided to use the dates given by the cover of the official release of the Changes Now session, and Pegg for Maida Vale.
Note further that although some of the recordings on this record are identical to those on the Unplugged bootleg, the tracks from 08/04/1997 are not identical: Bowie recorded two radio sessions on that day.



David Bowie:

Changes One

(Parlophone 0190295994082 COBLP 2016; EU 05/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: transparent vinyl, sticker on shrinkwrap

Tracks: see original UK issue

Collector's notes: Note that the link to the first UK issue of the album is not a mistake: the album actually contains the "sax version" of John, I'm Only Dancing.
Half of the copies were in black vinyl, and half of them transparent, and which colour was in the cover was not indicated anywhere on the outside. A stupid idea: why, for heaven's sake, should I want another black vinyl copy of the album? The only gimmick that makes this "40th anniversary" release interesting is the transparent vinyl.
Note, though, that there is a way to find out whether a sealed copy contains a black or a transparent LP: as Peter Bollen, Gary Jones and Chris Hanington pointed out to me independently of each other, you can hold the sealed record against a strong light, and if the light shines through, you've got a transparent record - as simple as that!



David Bowie:

Hunky Dory

(7 91843-1; EU 05/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: pirate release, picture disc, die-cut cardboard NC

Tracks: Changes / Oh! You Pretty Things / Eight Line Poem / Life on Mars? / Kooks / Quicksand / Fill Your Heart / Andy Warhol // Song for Bob Dylan / Queen Bitch / The Bewlay Brothers / Bombers* / The Supermen** / Quicksand*** / The Bewlay Brothers°

Other notes: re-issue of 1971 album with bonus tracks: *recorded during the Hunky Dory sessions, Trident Studios, London, 09-10/07/1971; **from the Revelations various artists album (1972); ***demo, Haddon Hall, London, spring 1971; °alternate mix

Collector's notes: A beautiful picture disc pirate re-issue of the 1990 EMI/Ryko release of Hunky Dory. The distribution of the tracks on the sides follows the EMI issue, which I haven't got. The pressing is so-so, but let's face it: who would buy such a record to listen to it?


David Bowie:

A Reality Tour

(Iso/Columbia/Friday Music FRM-88272; USA 06/2016)

Format: 3LP

Release notes: box, 2 inserts (1 fold-out), transparent blue vinyl, sticker on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks: Rebel Rebel / New Killer Star / Reality / Fame / Cactus / Sister Midnight // Afraid / All the Young Dudes / Be My Wife / The Loneliest Guy / The Man Who Sold the World / Sunday // Fantastic Voyage / Hallo Spaceboy / Under Pressure / Life on Mars? / Battle for Britain (The Letter) / Never Get Old // Ashes to Ashes / The Motel / Loving the Alien / Changes / I'm Afraid of Americans // "Heroes" / Bring Me the Disco King / Slip Away / Heathen (The Rays) // Five Years / Hang On to Yourself / Ziggy Stardust / Fall Dog Bombs the Moon / Breaking Glass / China Girl

Other notes: live, Point Depot, Dublin, Ireland, 22-23/11/2003

Collector's notes: And, finally, a vinyl release of the A Reality Tour album. Note that the running order of the songs is slightly different from that on the CDs. It's a beautiful release, but it would have been better to distribute the tracks over four LPs, since the volume is rather low.








David Bowie & Stevie Ray Vaughan:

Space Oddity - F.M. Broadcast 1983

(Laser Media LM010V; 06/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, limited edition

Tracks: Station to Station / Cracked Actor / Ashes to Ashes / Space Oddity // Young Americans / Soul Love / Hang On to Yourself / Look Back in Anger

Other notes: rehearsals, Sound Stage, Las Colinas, Dallas, 27/04/1983

Collector's notes: Some kind of follow-up to the In Memory of David Bowie bootleg released two months earlier. However, some of the tracks are on both albums, and what really makes this album a nuisance is that the actual contents of the record has little to do with what is listed on the cover and labels. In fact, only two of the songs listed are actually on the record!


David Bowie:

Ragazzo Solo Ragazza Sola

(Parlophone DBISIT 2016; IT 07/2016)

Format: 7"

Release notes: blue vinyl, PS, 2 stickers on shrinkwrap (plus bar code sticker), limited edition

Tracks: Ragazzo Solo Ragazza Sola // London Bye Ta-Ta*

Other notes: *re-recorded version, Trident Studios, 08-15/01/1970, mono

Collector's notes: Released for the Bowie exhibition in Bologna, Italy. I suppose it is limited, although I can't say to how many copies.



David Bowie:

You Got to Have a Job

(Pigs on the Groove POTG 39; EU 07/2016)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: mono, bootleg, green and clear vinyl, FOC (opening inside), small "Pigs on the Groove" sticker on sleeve, poster, numbered limited edition: 57/300

Tracks: Hang On to Yourself / Ziggy Stardust / The Supermen / Queen Bitch / Song for Bob Dylan / Changes // Starman / Five Years / Space Oddity / Andy Warhol / Amsterdam // I Feel Free / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud / Moonage Daydream / White Light/White Heat // You Got to Have a Job (If You Don't Work - You Can't Eat)/Hot Pants / Suffragette City / Waiting for the Man

Other notes: live, The Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, UK, 07/05/1972

Collector's notes: A nice one. The sound quality is quite good for an audience recording from the time. It's a bit dull at the beginning, but gets better in the course of the show. Especially the two elusive songs I Feel Free and, in particular, You Got to Have a Job sound better than on the Kingston Polytechnic bootleg. Note that the latter song might include excerpts from further (James Browne?) songs, but I haven't been able to identify them.
The cover and the poster are also beautiful. The 300 copies made comprise four sets of different vinyl colours. There are also 30 "promo copies" in a black and white cover.
I don't know which exact month this album was released, but I have placed it under July because the catalogue number indicates that it was released shortly before My Secret Memories, which was released around that time.



David Bowie & John 'Hutch' Hutchinson:

My Secret Memories - The Space Oddity Demos

(Pigs on the Groove POTG 40; EU 07/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, yellow vinyl, envelope-FOC, 3 cardboard inserts, sticker on sleeve, colour sticker on protective plastic sleeve, numbered limited edition: 205/300

Tracks: Space Oddity / Janine (includes Hey Jude) / An Occasional Dream / Conversation Piece / Ching-a-Ling // Letter to Hermione / Love Song / When I'm Five / Life Is a Circus / Lover to the Dawn

Other notes: demos, home recordings; London (probably Clareville Grove), spring 1969 (probably 03/1969)

Collector's notes: An improved re-issue of A Letter to Hermoine. Unlike that bootleg (and the earlier The Beckenham Oddity) it also includes Lover to the Dawn, which had previously been available on The Forgotten Songs of David Robert Jones.
The cover says that the recordings were re-mastered from the original source tape, which may be true because the sound quality is actually slightly better than on the earlier bootleg. In the case of Space Oddity this is no wonder, of course, since this track has obviously been copied from the official Sound + Vision box.
What is really great about this release is the beautiful cover. Both that and the inserts have a canvas-like structure, similar to that of the original UK issue of The Man who Sold the World. The album was available in yellow, white and clear vinyl (100 copies each). For those who need such stuff there were also 30 "test-pressings" in a black and white cover.
In 2019 the entire set of tracks (including Lover to the Dawn) was officially released.





David Bowie:

Demanding Billy Dolls, and Other Friends of Mine

((HALL-12); UK? 07/2016)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, red vinyl, FOC, plain white labels, 4 label stickers, cover sticker, limited edition of 150

Tracks: Hang On to Yourself / Ziggy Stardust / Changes / The Supermen / Life on Mars? / Lady Stardust // Queen Bitch / Five Years / Space Oddity / Andy Warhol / My Death // The Width of a Circle / John, I'm Only Dancing / Starman / Moonage Daydream // Waiting for the Man / White Light/White Heat / Suffragette City / Round and Round

Other notes: live, Music Hall, Boston, USA, 01/10/1972

Collector's notes: A beautiful bootleg, but not particularly interesting from a musical point of view. It's an average early 1970s audience recording. The pressing is very good, though. The record comes with four label stickers, which have no side markings, so that you can apply them in any order you like (although very few buyers will actually apply them, I guess...).
Available in white, blue and red (150 copies each). There is also a strictly limited number of picture discs. I've also seen copies with one record in green and one in orange. I'm not sure if these are later issues.





Nine Inch Nails with David Bowie:

Back in Anger Volume 1

(Parachute PARA057LP; EU 08/2016)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, clear vinyl, FOC, sticker on cover, limited edition of 1.000

Tracks: Terrible Lie / March of the Pigs / The Becoming / Sanctified // Piggy / Burn / Closer / Wish // Gave Up / Down in It / Eraser / Subterreneans* // Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)* / Reptile* / Hallo Spaceboy*

Other notes: live, Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, USA, 11/10/1995; performed by Nine Inch Nails, except: *performed by David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails

Collector's notes: This set of two double LPs had been released as a 2CD set some months ago. Since both the CD and the vinyl version were available through the usual channels it must count as some kind of "semi-legal" release. The parts featuring Bowie had been available on bootlegs like Live. Inside and 1. Hurling Disdain before.
This set could have been a great release - it could have been the first vinyl issue of this interesting show in full length, including the Nine Inch Nails part. But, alas, they missed the chance. This does not apply to this volume 1. The sound quality is great: although the tracks seem to be MP3-based, the general sound quality of the tracks with Bowie is even better than on the above-mentioned older bootlegs (which already had an excellent sound). The problem is the more interesting volume 2.




Nine Inch Nails with David Bowie:

Back in Anger Volume 2

(Parachute PARA058LP; EU 08/2016)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, clear vinyl, FOC, sticker on cover, limited edition of 1.000

Tracks: Hurt* / Look Back in Anger / I'm Deranged / 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 / Joe the Lion / A Small Plot of Land // Nite Flights / Under Pressure / Teenage Wildlife

Other notes: live, Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, USA, 11/10/1995; performed by David Bowie, except: *performed by David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails

Collector's notes: Unlike volume 1 of this set, this album is a disaster. I don't refer to the occasional clicks in the pressing, but to the fact that they used a defective source: there are numerous "skips" on several tracks (which are in the recording, not on the record), and a lot of annoying noise (again in the source) on other tracks. So, despite the generally "fuller" sound of this album, the Live. Inside bootleg is certainly the better representation of Bowie's solo part than this album (in any format - I've read that the CD version has the same flaws).




David Bowie:

Who Can I Be Now? [1974-1976]

(Parlophone 0190295989835 (DBXL 2); EU 09/2016)

Format: 13LP

Release notes: cardboard box with paper sheet on back, 9 covers (3 x FOC, 1 triple FOC), 13 OIS, 4 inserts, book, limited edition

Tracks:

Diamond Dogs

(Parlophone DB 74761)

see original issues

David Live

(Parlophone DB 74762)

see original UK issues

David Live (2005 Mix)*

(Parlophone DB 74763)

1984 / Rebel Rebel / Moonage Daydream / Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (reprise) // Changes / Suffragette City / Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) / All the Young Dudes // Cracked Actor / Rock'n'Roll with Me / Watch that Man / Knock on Wood // Here Today, Gone Tomorrow / Space Oddity / Diamond Dogs // Panic in Detroit / Big Brother/Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family** / Time // The Width of a Circle / The Jean Genie / Rock'n'Roll Suicide

The Gouster***

(Parlophone DB 74764)

John, I'm Only Dancing (Again) (long version) / Somebody Up There Likes Me° / It's Gonna Be Me // Who Can I Be Now? / Can You Hear Me°° / Young Americans / Right°°

Young Americans

(Parlophone DB 74765)

see original issues

Station to Station

(Parlophone DB 74766)

see original issues

Station to Station (2010 Mix)°°°

(Parlophone DB 74767)

see original issues

Live Nassau Coliseum '76+

(Parlophone DB 74768)

Station to Station / Suffragette City / Fame // Word on a Wing / Stay / Waiting for the Man / Queen Bitch // Life on Mars? / Five Years / Panic in Detroit++ / Changes / TVC 15 // Diamond Dogs / Rebel Rebel / The Jean Genie

Re:Call 2

(Parlophone DB 74769)

Rebel Rebel (single edit)+++ / Diamond Dogs (Australian single edit)# / Rebel Rebel (US single version)## / Rock'n'Roll with Me (promo live edit)### / Panic in Detroit (live)^ / Young Americans (single edit)^^ // Fame (single edit)^^^ / Golden Years (single edit)% / Station to Station (single edit)%% / TVC 15 (single edit)%%% / Stay (single edit)& / Word on a Wing (single edit)&& / John, I'm Only Dancing (Again) (single edit)&&&

Other notes: *live, Tower Theater, Philadelphia, 08-12/07/1974, extended and remixed 2005 version; **not listed on cover; ***recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, 08/1974 and 11-12/1974; °different mix than on the Young Americans album; °°different version than on the Young Americans album; °°°2010 remix by Harry Maslin; +live, Nassau Veterans' Memorial Coliseum, New York, 23/03/1976; ++edited version; +++from the 1974 7" singles; #from the 1974 Australia 7"; ##from the 1974 USA 7"; ###live, Tower Theater, Philadelphia, 08-12/07/1974, "short version" from the 1974 USA promo 7"; ^live, Tower Theater, Philadelphia, 08-12/07/1974, original mix from the 1974 Knock on Wood 7" singles, ^^from the 1975 7" singles; ^^^from the 1975 7" singles; %from the 1975 7" singles; %%from the (withdrawn?) 1976 France 7" single; %%%from the 1976 7" singles; &from the 1976 US 7"; &&from the 1976 Japan Stay 7"; &&&from the 1979 7" singles

Collector's notes: Another impressive box set, similar, of course, to the Five Years box from the previous year. And, again, it leaves long-time collectors with mixed feelings. On the on hand, it's full of beautiful details, like the fake generic paper sleeves that come with albums that didn't have original inner sleeves, on the other hand, it's disappointing from the musical point of view. Did we really need the 2010 remix of Station to Station on vinyl? The extended 2005 version of David Live is more interesting, since it's really different from the original album and here available on vinyl for the first time.
Before the release, much fuss had been made about The Gouster, Bowie's original draft of what later became Young Americans. But what do we get? Three previously released tracks, two alternative versions, one alternative mix, and one track that ended up on the final product in exactly the same form. I'm aware that songs like Shilling the Rubes and I Am a Laser are unfinished and were not intended to be included in the album, but since long fragments of these tracks are circulating anyway, it would have been nice if complete versions had been thrown in as bonus tracks. Re:Call 2 is the usual hotchpotch of edits/mixes. Some of them, especially the drastic edit of Station to Station are quite funny, but after all they're good for a laugh, and that's it.

Some notes on the particular albums:

Diamond Dogs: the fold-out cover comes close to the original. In addition to the plastic-padded neutral inner sleeve, there is a generic company sleeve (with "Patent Nos." etc. on it), which I haven't shown here - in fact, I haven't even shown such sleeves in the entries of original records.

David Live: the gatefold cover is a faithful reproduction of that of the first UK issue. Even the wrong recording dates on the inside have been copied. It goes without saying that the record comes with replicas of the original inner sleeves.

David Live (2005 Mix): comes in a beautiful tri-fold gatefold cover with three printed inner sleeves and an additional insert. In fact, from a vinyl collector's point of view this is the most interesting album from this box, since this is the first release of the full-length David Live on vinyl. So far, this recording had only been available on CD.

The Gouster: in addition to the plastic-padded inner sleeve, there are another generic paper inner sleeve (which I don't show) and a printed insert. The version of Young Americans is the one that finally ended up on the album of the same name.

Young Americans: the cover has a canvas-like structure similar to that of some original issues. Comes with an additional plain white paper sleeve and two inserts.

Station to Station: comes with a replica of the original generic company sleeve ("Made in England..." etc.), which I haven't shown here, plus a replica of the original (one-sided) insert.

Station to Station (2010 Mix): comes with a one-sided printed inner sleeve. This mix had previously been available on audio-DVD as part of the Station to Station box set, and is here available on vinyl for the first time.

Live Nassau Coliseum '76: comes in a gatefold cover with plain black inner sleeves, just like the original album, which had previously been available as part of the Station to Station box set.

Re:Call 2: comes in single cover a printed inner sleeve.

Ultimately, Who Can I Be Now? is another set for completists and people who want to replace their long-lost Bowie vinyl records.




















David Bowie:

The 1980 Floor Show

(RDBSLP02; UK 09/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg

Tracks: 1984/Dodo / Sorrow / Everything's Alright / Space Oddity / I Can't Explain // Time / The Jean Genie / I Got You Babe* / Drive-In Saturday**

Other notes: live, 1980 Floor Show, Marquee, London, 18-20/10/1973 (*duet with Marianne Faithfull), except: **recorded for Russell Harty Plus Pop TV show, London Weekend Television Studios, London, 17/01/1973, broadcast 20/01/1973

Collector's notes: A nice re-issue of this old show. It's the same mix as on the Absolutely Rare CD, identifiable by the uncensored version of Time. The sound quality is excellent, but not as good as on the CD. Drive-In Saturday is from the 2013 7".


David Bowie:

Low/Montreux

(RDBASLP07; UK 10/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg

Tracks: Warszawa / Speed of Life / Breaking Glass / What in the World / Sound and Vision // Art Decade / Always Crashing in the Same Car / Be My Wife / A New Career in a New Town / Subterreneans

Other notes: live, Montreux Jazz Festival, Auditorium Stravinski, Montreux, Switzerland, 18/07/2002

Collector's notes: A great bootleg! The pressing is very good (with the occasional click and crackle) and the sound quality - it is a soundboard recording - is excellent. By and large, this bootleg is much better than the earlier Low Live album. The only sad thing is that it is not a rendition of the complete Low album: Bowie doesn't play Weeping Wall, although it is erroneously listed on the cover.


Various Artists:

Lazarus - The Original Cast Recording to the Musical by David Bowie and Enda Walsh

(Sony/Columbia 88985 367455 1; EU 10/2016)

Format: 2LP/12"

Release notes: 2 LPs and 1 one-sided LP, triple-FOC, 3 OIS, booklet, download card, sticker on cover (plus "Parental Advisory" sticker)

Tracks (Bowie): - // - // - // Sound and Vision* // Lazarus / No Plan** / Killing a Little Time** / When I Met You**

Other notes: *original version, excerpt; **recorded in New York, 2015

Collector's notes: Whether or not you need the musical recordings of Bowie tracks depends on your personal taste. The most interesting aspect about the album is of course the fifth side, which features, apart from the album version of Lazarus, three new tracks. These are said to be the last songs Bowie ever recorded.








Various Artists:

Lazarus - The Original Cast Recording to the Musical by David Bowie and Enda Walsh

(Columbia 88985 376851 6; USA 10/2016)

Format: 2LP/12"

Release notes: 2 LPs (black vinyl) and 1 one-sided LP (white vinyl), triple-FOC, 3 OIS, booklet, download card, barcode sticker on cover (plus "Parental Advisory" sticker), limited edition of 5.000

Tracks: see regular issue

Collector's notes: A limited edition of the Lazarus album, with the Bowie record in white vinyl. It's said to be limited to 5.000 copies worldwide. Note that the catalogue number is only on the barcode sticker. The cover is that of the regular US issue. My copy hasn't got any title sticker.









David Bowie:

Digging into the Archives

(Casino Records (A/B); EU? 10/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, blue vinyl, OIS, limited edition sticker on protective sleeve: 304/500

Tracks: David Bowie's Revolutionary Song* / Baal's Hymn** / Remembering Marie A.** / The Dirty Song** / The Drowned Girl** / The Ballad of the Adventurers** / David Impersonates*** // Wild Things° / America°° / Wild Is the Wind°°° / Fantastic Voyage°°°# / Changes°°°#

Other notes: *performed by The Rebels, from the Just a Gigolo LP; **recorded at the BBC Television Centre, London, 08/1981; ***part of the backing track of Absolute Beginners with Bowie impersonating Bruce Springsteen, Marc Bolan, Tom Waits, Lou Reed, Anthony Newley and Iggy Pop to new lyrics, Abbey Road Studios, London, 06/1985; °early version (probably demo) of Chilly Down, probably recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, 06/1985; live, °°Robin Hood Benefit, Javits Center, New York, 30/05/2002; °°°live, Black Ball, Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, 09/11/2006; #featuring Alicia Keys

Collector's notes: A truly brilliant bootleg (the best unofficial compilation within many years)! Of course, no long-time collector would have needed the Revolutionary Song again. But especially Wild Things and the brilliant David Impersonates, the two tracks that turned up shortly after Bowie's death, are certainly valuable additions to anyone's collection. The cover says that Impersonates was recorded at West Side Studios, probably because there is a photo of the tape from which the track originates and which says "West Side Studios 18/8/85". However, since the tape also lists an "album mix" of Absolute Beginners, it probably refers to the mixing of the tracks.
The original versions of the songs from Baal are also very interesting. They are quite different from the re-recorded versions that had been officially released, and it's very strange that it took 35 years for them to turn up on a bootleg - especially because they had never been particulary rare: video tapes were already common in the early 1980s, and a DVD version of the TV play had been circulating on the internet for many years.
The pressing of this record is very good, and the sound quality is excellent, with the exception of the last three tracks, which have a rather poor sound, but are interesting nonetheless, since they are Bowie's last-ever live performance. Note that the cover claims that this is a US bootleg, but since most copies are sold from Europe, I suppose that it was made in Europe.




David Bowie:

All the Young Dudes

(EMI DB 116 AU; 10/2016)

Format: 10"LP

Release notes: bootleg, picture disc, limited edition of 250

Tracks: Tracks: All the Young Dudes / Dodo / Footstompin'/Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate / Somebody Up There Likes Me / Under Pressure // Space Oddity / Lady Stardust / Tired of My Life / How Lucky You Are / Rupert the Riley

Other notes: re-issue of Space Oddities album with sides inverted (see there for details)

Collector's notes: A beautiful picture disc, excellent sound and decent pressing. But apart from that it's a superfluous re-issue. A mere collectors' item.
The cover says that this is an Australian release, but I doubt that - as much as I doubt that the original issue was made in Japan.



Davie Jones with the King Bees:

Liza Jane

(Vocalion Pop V.9221; UK 11/2016)

Format: 7"

Release notes: pirate release, green vinyl, PS (insert with NC)

Tracks: Liza Jane // Louie, Louie Go Home

Other notes: re-issue of 1964 7"

Collector's notes: A nice, Japanese-style pirate issue of Bowie's first single. Also available in black, blue and pink.
Black label copies are also available in re-printed Vocalion company covers, but the solid centre easily identifies these records as pirate issues.


David Bowie:

Fame in Paris

(Iso DB 1267; EU 11/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, picture disc, limited edition of 500 (?)

Tracks: Fame / I'm Afraid of Americans / 5:15 The Angels Have Gone / I've Been Waiting for You / Afraid // Fashion / Rebel Rebel / "Heroes" / Heathen (The Rays) / A New Career in a New Town

Other notes: live, Zenith, Paris, 24/09/2002

Collector's notes: A pleasant release. It's an audience recording, but in truly excellent sound quality. The pressing is okay, especially for a picture disc. And the design is nice, although, as so often, the pictures are not really appropriate...



David Bowie:

The Buddha of Suburbia

(Arista/BMG 150.8220; EU 11/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: pirate release, yellow vinyl, FOC opening to the left (with European cover design on the outside), 2 inserts, limited edition sticker on protective sleeve: 387/400

Tracks: Buddha of Suburbia / Sex and the Church / South Horizon / The Mysteries / Bleed like a Craze, Dad // Strangers When We Meet / Dead against It / Untitled No. 1 / Ian Fish, U.K. Heir / Buddha of Suburbia*

Other notes: *featuring Lenny Kravitz on guitar

Collector's notes: The only vinyl release of this album so far had been a Brazilian issue from 1994, which I haven't got. Even the legitimacy of that release is sometimes called into question, although it probably is an official item. Be that as it may, here is a beautiful pirate album, available in two cover variations. The cover front and back and the second insert of this version are based on those of the Brazilian issue (which was in turn that of the 1993 European issue). The design on the inside is based on that of the 1995 US CD issue. Some more remarks on the cover will be made in the next entry, which is about the version in the alternative cover.
The sound quality of the album is quite good, although the volume is rather low - probably because of the length of the album. So the naturally present background noise is audible on the quieter tracks.
There are 400 copies altogether: 100 in yellow (or lime) vinyl, 100 in white (or rather light yellow), 100 in gold brown, 70 in black, and 30 "promo" copies (colour unknown to me).








David Bowie:

The Buddha of Suburbia

(Arista/BMG 150.8220; EU 11/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: pirate release, white (or light yellow) vinyl, FOC opening to the right (with US cover design on the outside), 2 inserts, limited edition sticker on protective sleeve: 193/400

Tracks: see alternative issue

Collector's notes: This alternative issue of the album has the design of the 1995 US issue on the outside and that of the European (or Brazilian) version on the inside. The inserts and labels are identical to those of the other issue, so I don't show them again here.
The cover opens to the left, which is quite unusual for a gatefold sleeve. If you examine it more closely, you will see that there is printing on the inside of the part that holds the record, too. They used a very clever trick here: both versions actually have the same cover, and which variant you get only depends on the way the cover is folded and glued!



Various Artists:

Lost Highway

(Universal/Interscope/Music on Vinyl MOVATM101; EU 11/2016)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: FOC, insert, protective plastic wallet with sticker and seal

Tracks (Bowie): I'm Deranged (edit) // - // - // I'm Deranged (reprise)

Other notes: remixed edits

Collector's notes: This wasn't the first vinyl release of this album. After a very rare one on Simply Vinyl (1998?), there was a counterfeit/pirate release (on the same label and in numerous colours) in 2015. This second official vinyl version of the soundtrack was also available in yellow (same number), limited to 2.000 copies. However, since it's not one of the most interesting albums, the cheaper black version of this re-issue will do for me.
For the sake of completeness: in 2017 there was an additional limited edition of 2.000 copies of this issue in blue. The same year there were issues on Nothing Records in orange and black with different catalogue numbers, depending on the area of release.





Various Artists:

Underworld - Music from the Motion Picture

(Lakeshore/Phineas Atwood 760137884910; USA 11/2016)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: clear/black swirl vinyl, FOC, 2 OIS, limited edition 001297/2.000

Tracks (Bowie): - / Bring Me the Disco King (Loner mix)* / - / -

Other notes: vinyl re-issue of 2003 soundtrack CD; *remix featuring Maynard James Keenan and John Frusciante

Collector's notes: I must admit that I hadn't noticed the existence of this (nice) remix for two decades. Most of the rest of the music is the typical Industrial stuff of the time. Since I've got the vinyl issue, I won't bother to buy the original CD.
This vinyl issue was released for 2016 Record Store Day Black Friday. There were 2.000 copies altogether: 1.000 in clear/black swirl vinyl (this issue) and 1.000 copies in translucent blue vinyl. According to Discogs the two versions were randomly distributed. My copy bears a black and white sticker that indicates the vinyl colour. I don't show it here, because it might have been added by a retailer after opening the shrinkwrap.





David Bowie:

VH1 Storytellers

(EMI 5099996-490938/DBVH1; EU 12/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: pirate release

Tracks: Life on Mars? / Rebel Rebel (truncated) / Thursday's Child / Can't Help Thinking about Me // China Girl / Seven / Drive-In Saturday / Word on a Wing

Other notes: live, Manhattan Center, New York, 23/08/1999

Collector's notes: A pirate vinyl release of the official CD. Excellent sound. There are also copies in white vinyl.


David Bowie:

On the Airwaves

(no number; EU 12/2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, silver vinyl, OIS, limited edition sticker on protective sleeve: 399/500

Tracks: New Killer Star* / I'm Afraid of Americans* / Rebel Rebel* / Fall Dog Bombs the Moon* / Days* // Everyone Says 'Hi'** / Life on Mars?** / Ziggy Stardust*** / The Loneliest Guy***

Other notes: *AOL session, New York, 23/09/2003; **Parkinson UK TV show, 19/09/2002 (broadcast 21/09/2002); ***Parkinson UK TV show, 27/09/2003 (broadcast 29/09/2003)

Collector's notes: A very nice compilation bootleg, very good to excellent sound and excellent pressing.




David Bowie:

New York's A Go-Go

((RADIO 73); EU 12/2016)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, poster, limited edition of 500

Tracks: Intro / Hang On to Yourself / Ziggy Stardust / Changes / Soul Love / John, I'm Only Dancing / Drive-In Saturday // Five Years / Space Oddity / My Death / The Supermen / Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) // Panic in Detroit / Moonage Daydream / The Width of a Circle // Time / Let's Spend the Night Together / Watch that Man / Suffragette City / Rock'n'Roll Suicide

Other notes: live, Radio City Music Hall, New York, 15/02/1973

Collector's notes: This album contains the same show as a 1984 bootleg called Aladdin Sane/Watch that Man (on which the tracks were distributed over the sides in a different way). Since I have never heard that release I can't say if the sound quality of that one was different. The sound of this release is rather dull. It's acceptable, but not overwhelming. Mainly of historical interest.
There are also versions of this release in purple, white and clear vinyl. I suppose that the number of 500 copies refers only to the black label issue. December as the month of release is a guess based on the earliest reference to this bootleg that I could find on the internet.
According to the cover, the record was made in the UK, but since most copies seem to be sold from continental Europe, I suppose that I'm on the safe side with classifying the album as an EU release (at the time...).



David Bowie:

The Man Who Sold the World

(Mercury SR 61325; UK 2016)

Format: LP

Release notes: marbled yellow vinyl, no matrix numbers, cartoon cover, cover made of thin cardboard, colour sticker on shrinkwrap, pirate release

Tracks: see original issues

Collector's notes: This album is identical to the counterfeit from the same year, except for the colour of the vinyl and the sticker on the shrinkwrap. Due to the coloured vinyl, this issue must of course be classified as a pirate album.



↑ 2016 2017 ↓ 2018

David Bowie:

Legacy

(Parlophone DBLP64161 (0190295918323); EU 01/2017)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: FOC, 2 OIS, 2 prints, 2 stickers on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks: Let's Dance* / Ashes to Ashes* / Under Pressure** / Life on Mars? (2016 mix) / Changes // Oh! You Pretty Things / The Man Who Sold the World / Space Oddity / Starman*** / Ziggy Stardust // The Jean Genie / Rebel Rebel / Golden Years* / Dancing in the Street° / China Girl* // Fame / Sound and Vision / "Heroes" (English single version) / Where Are We Now? / Lazarus (radio edit)

Other notes: *single edit; **performed by Queen & David Bowie; ***single mix; °performed by David Bowie & Mick Jagger, Clearmountain mix

Collector's notes: Our yearly Bowie compilation give us today... I'm quite glad that this isn't actually Bowie's "legacy" - much of his best work is ignored. But I like the cover. I can't say how many copies of this limited issue with the prints were made.
The CD issues of this album had already been released in November 2016.





David Bowie:

The Collaborator - The Legendary Broadcasts

(Coda/mcps CPLCD247; Czechia 01/2017)

Format: 4CD

Release notes: bootleg, cardboard multi-FOC

Tracks: Sorrow* / Everything's Alright* / Space Oddity* / 1984* / I Can't Explain* / Time* / The Jean Genie* / I Got You Babe*+ // Warszawa** / "Heroes"** / Fame** / Beauty and the Beast** / Five Years** / Soul Love** / Star** / Hang On to Yourself** / Ziggy Stardust** / Suffragette City** / Station to Station** / TVC 15** // Subterreneans/Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)***++ / Reptile***++ / Hallo Spaceboy***++ / Hurt***++ / Look Back in Anger*** / I'm Deranged*** / 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*** / Nite Flights*** / Under Pressure*** // Young Americans medley°+++ / Fame° / Can You Hear Me°+++ / Stay°° / Five Years°° / "Heroes"°°° / Funtime# / Sister Midnight# / Life on Mars?## / Ashes to Ashes## / The Man Who Sold the World### / Nite Flights^ / Black Tie White Noise^ / Strangers When We Meet^^ / The Hearts Filthy Lesson^^^ / China Girl%

Other notes: *live, 1980 Floor Show, Marquee, London, 18-20/10/1973, +duet with Marianne Faithfull; **live, NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan, 12/12/1978; ***live, Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, USA, 11/10/1995, ++performed by David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails; °Cher TV show, 23/11/1975, +++duets with Cher; °°live, Dinah Shore TV show, 03/01/1976; °°°live, Dutch Top Pop TV show, 06/11/1977; #performed by Iggy Pop featuring Bowie, live, Dinah Shore TV show, 15/04/1977; ##live, Tonight TV show, 03/09/1980; ###live, Saturday Night Live TV show, 15/12/1979, featuring Klaus Nomi; ^live, Tonight TV show, 13/05/1993; ^^live, Tonight TV show, 27/10/1995; ^^^live, The Late Show with David Letterman TV show, 26/09/1995; %performed by Iggy Pop featuring David Bowie, live, Midnight Mantra Studios, Chicago, 28/03/1977

Collector's notes: This album was available through legal channels at very cheap prices, but quickly unavailable - I can't say whether that was due to legal complaints or to high demand. In any case this album was a nice addition to one's collection: you got a lot of great music for little money, especially because the sound quality is very good to excellent.
Disc 1 has the old 1980 Floor Show again. The recordings as such are identical to those on the Dollars in Drag and Absolutely Rare bootlegs, but this album shows how different identical recordings from different sources can sound. To begin with the flaws: 1984 is incomplete (it fades out where Dodo should start), Time has a short gap where the word goddamn has been edited out (which had been cleverly masked on the old Dollars bootleg), and I Got You Babe is the edited version. However, with the exception of the edited 1984 and, possibly, Time (due to the gap) this is certainly the best-sounding version of this show in my collection - note, though, that the vinyl version of this disc is even better. And, by the way, for purists I must point out that the music is based on compressed files.
Disc 2, originally recorded for and broadcast on Japanese TV, had previously been circulating as a DVD on the internet (and probably been available in some audio form, too), but it's nice to have it on CD. Disc 3 is an incomplete version of the Riverport Amphitheater show that had previously been released on Live.Inside and the Back in Anger volume 1 and volume 2 bootlegs. There are no sound dropouts on this version, but there is some distortion on the last two tracks. Disc 4 is a hotchpotch of TV recordings in nice sound quality, but not particularly exciting.
After all, I can only repeat that it's a great collection for little money - and they seem to have put more thought into the cover design than some designers have for some official releases!









David Bowie:

My Early Memories - The Mid Sixties Demos

(Pigs on the Groove POTG 41; EU 01/2017)

Format: LP

Release notes: Bootleg, mono, blue vinyl, envelope gimmick cover, poster, limited edition: 213/500

Tracks: That's Where My Heart Is* / I Want My Baby Back* / Bars of the County Jail* / I'll Follow You* / Glad I've Got Nobody* / I Pity the Fool* / Take My Tip* / That's a Promise** / Silly Boy Blue** / Over the Wall We Go*** // Interview° / Take My Tip°° / Rubber Band°°° / The London Boys+

Other notes: *from the Early On CD, see there for details; **demos, recorded with The Lower Third, R.G. Jones Oak Studios, 31/08/1965; ***demo, 12?/1966; °Tonight BBC TV show, 12/11/1964, with later introduction; °°not Bowie, performed by Kenny Miller; °°°single version; +original version

Collector's notes: A nice, but not exciting compilation bootleg with excellent sound. Much of the stuff is from the Early On CD and on vinyl here for the first time. The remaining tracks on side 1 are probably taken from The Forgotten Songs of David Robert Jones. The tracks on side 2 are not really interesting: in addition to the inevitable "long hair interview" we get a Kenny Miller track, and two familiar Deram tracks (called "alternate single versions" on the cover, but actually the standard single versions - there is no other original version of The London Boys, anyway). Note that the cover lists seven tracks for each side, whereas the tracks are actually distributed as listed above.
The cover is truly beautiful. It is a kind of envelope opening at the top. The triangles on the front can be opened to reveal the picture printed on the inside. I can't show this here because in order to scan the opened front I would have to bend the triangles so far that the cover could get damaged.



David Bowie:

Blackstar

(Iso/Columbia SIJ7 1; Japan 01/2017)

Format: 12"

Release notes: red vinyl, die-cut cover, insert, poster, sticker on protective plastic sleeve

Tracks: Blackstar // Lazarus (radio edit) / I Can't Give Everything Away (radio edit)

Collector's notes: Made for the Japanese David Bowie Is exhibition. My copy came with two flyers and a plastic bag of the exhibition. Since these are not actually "part" of the record, but only "associated items", I show only the front (the bag has the same design on both sides, anyway).



David Bowie:

Lady Stardust

(Parlophone DBISN 2017; Japan 01/2017)

Format: 7"

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with title sticker, made in the EU exclusively for the Japanese market

Tracks: Lady Stardust* // Crystal Japan

Other notes: *4 track demo, stereo version

Collector's notes: Another release for the Japanese Bowie exhibition. The demo version of Lady Stardust is basically the same as the one on the Ryko and EMI re-issues of the Ziggy album. However, the version here is longer and in stereo, similar to that on the old Little Toy Soldier bootleg, but mastered and mixed differently.
In early 2021 (or possibly late 2020) counterfeits of this record turned up. They can easily be identified by the broader black rim around the record and a different moulding (concentric rims around the centre hole).
Sellers sometimes claim that these are original copies made in Japan (the number of 140 copies is often mentioned), which were withdrawn because Parlophone weren't happy with the design, so that they had the final pressing made in the EU. But if this was true, why didn't they realize the mistake and pressed 140 copies? And why did they package and seal these rejected copies? And why did they use seals that say "Made in the EU" for the "original Japanese" copies...?
Sometimes the story is told the other way round. I'll quote an Ebay seller (typos corrected): "Manufactured with black rim print and dull orange background. So rejected and switched to Japan manufacturer." As far as I understand this story, the original copies that were made (in the EU?) were rejected, so that they finally used a Japanese pressing plant. But why did the pressing plant in the EU fail to make this record, while numerous other Bowie picture singles were successfully made in the EU before and after this release? Why does the label moulding of this "original pressing" look different from other EU pressings while the final "Japanese pressing" looks exactly like other EU pressings? And, again, why should the final "narrow rim" issues (said to be made in Japan) bear seals saying "Made in the EU"? And why did all these 140 "original copies" suddenly turn up in early 2021?
Ultimately, all these stories are too silly to even consider their authenticity. They are just made up to enhance the desirability of the counterfeits!



David Bowie:

Sound and Vision

(Parlophone DBSAV40; EU 02/2017)

Format: 7"

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with title sticker, limited edition

Tracks: Sound and Vision (original) // Sound and Vision 2013*

Other notes: *remix of original version

Collector's notes: Promo CDs left aside, this was the first physical release of the beautiful 2013 remix of Sound and Vision. It's a pity that the sound quality is so poor - even by the standards of a picture disc.



David Bowie:

Cleveland '72

(Road Crew Records RC1903; EU 04/2017)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, white vinyl, generic colour sticker on cover, poster, limited edition

Tracks: Intro/Ode to Joy / Hang On to Yourself / Ziggy Stardust / Changes / The Supermen / Life on Mars? // Five Years / Space Oddity / Andy Warhol / Drive-In Saturday // The Width of a Circle / John, I'm Only Dancing / Moonage Daydream // band introduction* / Waiting for the Man / The Jean Genie / Suffragette City / Rock'n'Roll Suicide / Outro/Ode to Joy

Other notes: live, Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, 25/11/1972; *not listed on cover

Collector's notes: Queen Bitch and a short part of Hang On to Yourself are missing, but apart from that, this is a great bootleg. The sound quality is really good for an audience recording from that time.
Disc 1 has blue labels and disc 2 red labels. According to the cover, this is a German release, but that doesn't appear reliable, so I have filed it under "EU". There are also copies in pink vinyl and later copies in blue.
The exact month of release is derived from the fact that an offer from April 2017 was the earliest reference to the record that I could find on the web.



David Bowie:

No Plan EP

(Iso/Columbia 88985419651; EU 04/2017)

Format: 12"

Release notes: 1-sided, 33 1/3 rpm, blank etched B-side with blank label, download card, cover sticker

Tracks: Lazarus / No Plan / Killing a Little Time / When I Met You

Other notes: re-issue of the third disc of the Lazarus various artists album

Collector's notes: Not a particularly interesting release, but the practice of milking the cow as long as possible is not really new, given that seven out of eight tracks of the Let's Dance album were released on 7" singles.
The last picture shows the etched B-side with the blank label.




David Bowie:

No Plan EP

(Iso/Columbia 88985419651; EU 04/2017)

Format: 12"

Release notes: 1-sided, 33 1/3 rpm, transparent (actually marbled transparent blue) vinyl, blank etched B-side with blank label, download card, cover sticker, limited edition number 007955

Tracks: Lazarus / No Plan / Killing a Little Time / When I Met You

Other notes: re-issue of the third disc of the Lazarus various artists album

Collector's notes: A limited edition of who-knows-how-many copies of the above record.
I haven't shown the etching because it's identical to that of the other issue.




Placebo featuring David Bowie:

Without You I'm Nothing

(Elevator 0600753757772; EU 04/2017)

Format: 12"

Release notes: picture disc, die-cut cover, limited edition of 5.000 copies

Tracks: Without You I'm Nothing (single mix) / Without You I'm Nothing (Unkle remix) // Without You I'm Nothing (The Flexirol mix)

Other notes: first vinyl issue of 1999 CDS minus one of the remixes

Collector's notes: This release (for Record Store Day) was similar to the original CDS issue. So far, the rather different promo-only 12" had been the only vinyl release.



David Bowie:

Cracked Actor (Live Los Angeles '74)

(Parlophone 0902586973/DBRSD 7476; EU 04/2017)

Format: 2LP/12"

Release notes: 5-sided 3 LP set with blank etched B-side (without label), triple FOC, Record Store Day sticker, limited edition of 17.000

Tracks: introduction / 1984 / Rebel Rebel / Moonage Daydream / Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise) // Changes / Suffragette City / Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)/On Broadway* / All the Young Dudes / Cracked Actor // Rock'n'Roll with Me / Knock on Wood / It's Gonna Be Me / Space Oddity // Future Legend*/Diamond Dogs / Big Brother/Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family* / Time // The Jean Genie / Rock'n'Roll Suicide / band introduction*/John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)

Other notes: live, Los Angeles Amphitheater, Los Angeles, California, 05/09/1974; *not listed on cover

Collector's notes: A very nice release for Record Store Day. The soundboard recording of this show had been available before, for example on the Strange Fascination bootleg, but here all songs are complete, and the sound quality is better. A recording with comparable sound had been circulating on the internet, and might have been released on bootleg CD (I'm not sure), but it was great to have the show as an official release in a beautiful packaging.
The second last picture shows the etched B-side - as you might realize, it was extremely difficult to scan.






David Bowie:

BOWPROMO

(Parlophone 0190295875329; EU 04/2017)

Format: LP

Release notes: 1-sided LP without label on B-side, box with "Gem" sticker and barcode sticker, cover with "Gem" sticker on back (wrapped in semi-transparent green paper with "Gem" seal), re-sealable envelope with 5 prints and 3-page insert, limited edition of 15.000

Tracks: Oh! You Pretty Things*/Eight Line Poem** / Kooks* / It Ain't Easy / Queen Bitch* / Quicksand* / Bombers°/Andy Warhol Intro**

Other notes: recorded at Trident Studios, London, 06/1971-06/08/1971; *different mix than on the Hunky Dory album, **different version than on the Hunky Dory album; °different mix than on the 1990 Hunky Dory re-issue album

Collector's notes: Finally, we got an official release of the legendary "BOWPROMO" LP - unfortunately without the Dana Gillespie B-side. The packaging of this Record Store Day release is beautiful, but from the musical point of view the 2015 Make Way for the Rock and Rollers bootleg LP was superior.
The pictures show the front of the box (the back is plain white), the barcode sticker, the front of the cover with its sealed wrapping (it can be taken out without breaking the seal), the front and back of the cover (without the wrapping), the front of the envelope (the back is plain brown), the five prints, the front of the insert, and the label.





David Bowie:

No Plan EP

(Iso/Columbia 88985421071; USA 05/2017)

Format: 12"

Release notes: 1-sided, 33 1/3 rpm, white vinyl, blank etched B-side with blank label, die-cut cover, download card, cover sticker, lithograph in semi-transparent paper and additional plain white cover with barcode sticker, limited edition number 3729

Tracks: see original issue

Collector's notes: A lot of description and a lot of pictures for what is - strictly speaking - simply a re-issue of a record that had been released a month earlier. It was exclusively available as a pre-order through Bowie's official webside. The number of exact copies is unknown; the number pressed depended on the number of pre-orders.
I haven't tried to show the etched B-side, since it's difficult to scan and the design is the same as on the European issues.





David Bowie:

I'm Afraid of Americans

(Parlophone DBISE 2017/0190295845575; Spain 05/2017)

Format: 7"

Release notes: red vinyl, PS with 2 cover stickers, magazine, limited edition

Tracks: I'm Afraid of Americans (V1 edit)* // "Heroes"**

Other notes: *edited version of the mix from the 1997 12"; **live, Bridge School Benefit, Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, California, 20/10/1996, from the 1997 The Bridge School Concerts Vol. One 2LP.

Collector's notes: Released for the Barcelona exhibition. An edit of an old mix and a re-issue of a track from a various artists compilation. Al Alba would actually have been more interesting... The magazine (third picture) is, of course, not an integral part of the release, but comes from the same exhibition.



David Bowie:

Be My Wife

(Parlophone DBBMW40; EU 06/2017)

Format: 7"

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with title sticker, limited edition

Tracks: Be My Wife // Art Decade*

Other notes: *live, Perth Entertainment Centre, Perth, Australia, 15/11/1978

Collector's notes: Somehow they never get it right. This time there's no distortion or crackle, but the B-side runs off-centre.



David Bowie:

The Collaborator - The Legendary Broadcast Collaborations

(Coda Publishing/American Icons CLPVNY247; Czechia 06/2017)

Format: 4LP

Release notes: bootleg, transparent vinyl, wraparound cardboard box, 4 covers, limited edition

Tracks:

David Bowie and His Guests: Ziggy's Last Floor Show - The Legendary Broadcast

(Coda Publishing/American Icons CLPVNY254)

Sorrow* / Everything's Alright* / Space Oddity* / 1984/Dodo* // I Can't Explain* / Time* / The Jean Genie* / I Got You Babe*+

Bowie plus Guests: Across the Ether - The Legendary US Broadcasts

(Coda Publishing/American Icons CLPVNY255)

Black Tie White Noise** / Fame*** / Sister Midnight° / The Man Who Sold the World°° / Can You Hear Me°°° // Life on Mars?# / Ashes to Ashes# / Nite Flights** / Stay## / The Hearts Filthy Lesson### / Funtime°

David Bowie & Nine Inch Nails: Industrial Collaborations - The Legendary US Broadcast

(Coda Publishing/American Icons CLPVNY256)

Subterreneans/Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)%^ / Reptile%^ / Hallo Spaceboy%^ / Hurt%^ // Outside% / Andy Warhol% / Breaking Glass% / The Man Who Sold the World% / Nite Flights%

David Bowie: Berlin in Tokyo - The Legendary Broadcast

(Coda Publishing/American Icons CLPVNY257)

"Heroes"%% / Fame%% / Five Years%% / Soul Love%% / Star%% // Hang On to Yourself%% / Ziggy Stardust%% / Suffragette City%% / Station to Station%%

Other notes: *live, 1980 Floor Show, Marquee, London, 18-20/10/1973, +duet with Marianne Faithfull; **live, Tonight TV show, 13/05/1993; ***Cher TV show, 23/11/1975; °performed by Iggy Pop featuring Bowie, live, Dinah Shore TV show, 15/04/1977; °°live, Saturday Night Live TV show, 15/12/1979, featuring Klaus Nomi; °°°Cher TV show, 23/11/1975, duet with Cher; #live, Tonight TV show, 03/09/1980; ##live, Dinah Shore TV show, 03/01/1976; ###live, The Late Show with David Letterman TV show, 26/09/1995; %live, Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, USA, 11/10/1995, %^performed by David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails; %%live, NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan, 12/12/1978
Extended vinyl version of disc 1 of the The Collaborator bootleg 4CD set, edited vinyl versions of the 3 other discs of that set.

Collector's notes: A more or less truncated version (see below for an explanation of this strange formulation) of the The Collaborator CD set. All four parts are good pressings with excellent sound quality. However, if you're only after the music, then go for the CD set... with the exception of disc 1, however!
The weird thing is that this LP does not only have all the tracks of the CD, but that it's actually longer and better: I Got You Babe is still the truncated version, but 1984/Dodo is complete (including the Dodo part and the reprise of the title track), and Time is uncensored, that is, without a gap. They must have used a different source than on the CD, so this might really be the best version of the show in my collection.
The other LPs are incomplete versions of the CDs. Sometimes the choice of songs is odd, but by and large it's worth buying for vinyl collectors.
All four records had been available separately in May and I had originally listed them in this way, but I replaced my copies by the box set. I don't know when exactly the box set turned up, but it can't have been long after the separate LPs, which is why I have listed it under June.





David Bowie:

Hunky Dory

(Parlophone DBXL1/DB 69733 (0825646289448); EU 06/2017)

Format: LP"

Release notes: gold vinyl, insert, cover sticker (plus 2 barcode stickers), limited edition

Tracks: see original issues

Other notes: re-issue of 1971 album

Collector's notes: A stand-alone issue of the album from the Five Years box in coloured vinyl. Exactly what we've waited for...
I haven't shown the barcode stickers.




David Bowie:

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

(Parlophone DBXL1-4/DB 69734 (0825646287376); EU 06/2017)

Format: LP"

Release notes: gold vinyl, OIS, cover sticker (plus 2 barcode stickers), limited edition

Tracks: see original issues

Other notes: re-issue of 1972 album

Collector's notes: Another stand-alone issue from the Five Years box in coloured vinyl.
Again, I haven't shown the barcode stickers.




Various Artists:

Making Time - A Shel Talmy Production

(ACE CDCHD 1497; EU 06/2017)

Format: CD

Release notes: mostly mono (including Bowie track), jewel case with booklet and back inlay

Tracks (Bowie): Davy Jones: You've Got a Habit of Leaving (alternate overdub)

Other notes: studio recording, IBC Studios, Portland Place, 25/06/1965

Collector's notes: Although the version included here is listed as an "alternate overdub" it's practically a completely different version with different vocals. Maybe superior to the one originally released.


David Bowie:

Ziggy's Birthday - Madison Square Garden

(Hedgehog Records; EU 07/2017)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, pink vinyl

Tracks: Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)* / Fashion* / Hallo Spaceboy** / Seven Years in Tibet*** // The Last Thing You Should Do° / Quicksand° / I'm Afraid of Americans°° / Under Pressure // Queen Bitch°°° // Waiting for the Man°°° / Dirty Boulevard°°° / White Light/White Heat°°° // Happy Birthday# / All the Young Dudes## / The Jean Genie## / Space Oddity

Other notes: live, Madison Square Garden, New York, 09/01/1997; *featuring Frank Black; **featuring The Foo Fighters; ***featuring Dave Grohl; °featuring Robert Smith; °°featuring Sonic Youth; °°°featuring Lou Reed; #sung by Gail Ann Dorsey; ##featuring Billy Corgan

Collector's notes: Unlike the Birthday Celebration 3LP set with the same material, this album is in stereo. However, unlike that album, this one is incomplete: with the exception of Space Oddity it includes only the tracks featuring other artists (on Under Pressure this is of course Gail Ann Dorsey). So we'll still have to wait for the definite vinyl version of this show.




David Bowie/Trevor Jones:

From the Original Soundtrack of the Jim Henson Film Labyrinth

(Capitol/EMI 00602557354843 (record)/602557694482 (barcode sticker on cover back); EU 08/2017)

Format: LP

Release notes: purple vinyl, OIS, barcode sticker on cover back, limited edition of 1.500

Tracks (Bowie): Opening Titles including Underground / Magic Dance* / Chilly Down // As the World Falls Down / Within You / Underground

Other notes: re-issue of 1986 album with *new edit

Collector's notes: One the one hand, a vinyl re-issue of this album was overdue. On the other, I wonder why they used an edit of Magic Dance that is almost a minute shorter than the original version (and which had previously been available as a digital download, as I've read). There were two coloured pressings: this purple (or "lavender") one and a green one, each limited to 1.500 copies. However, the pressing of this relatively rare and expensive record is awful. There are lots of clicks!



David Bowie:

Something for the Sigma Kids

(Slinky Vagabond Sounds SVD1974; USA 08/2017)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, marbled blue vinyl, 2 OIS, limited edition of 300 copies

Tracks: Rebel Rebel / John, I'm Only Dancing (Again) / Sorrow / Changes / Moonage Daydream // Can You Hear Me / Young Americans / 1984 / Footstompin'/Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate° / Rock'n'Roll with Me // Love Me Do/The Jean Genie / Somebody Up There Likes Me / Suffragette City / Rock'n'Roll Suicide // Diamond Dogs/It's Only Rock'n'Roll / Memory of a Free Festival*°° / It's Gonna Be Me*

Other notes: live, Spectrum Theatre, Philadelphia, 18/11/1974; except: *Dane County Memorial Coliseum, Madison, Wisconsin, 10?/10/1974; °not listed on cover; °°performed by the Mike Garson Band

Collector's notes: There were copies in white and blue; it's not sure if the 300 copies mentioned on the cover refer to all of them or to each colour.
Note that according to Pegg it is not clear if there was a Madison show on 10/10/1974. If there was no such show the tracks are most likely to be from the next day.
But let's get to the music and begin with the flaws: the show is incomplete and the sound quality is at best mediocre. Despite all this, this is a nice bootleg. For an audience recording from that era the sound is acceptable - worse things from the early 1970s have been released on bootlegs. Only Blue-Eyed Soul in Boston had presented a show from the "Phillydogs" leg of the Diamond Dogs tour in (slightly) better sound quality - that is, until the official album I'm Only Dancing was released.
The pressing of this release is very good and the cover and the inner sleeves are beautiful and absolutely appropriate to the time of the show. By and large, this is a nice addition to one's collection!
Re-issues of this album in a rather boring and inappropriate insert cover circulate under the title Still the One.





David Bowie:

Man, I'm in Danger

(HUR-01; EU 08/2017)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, green and transparent red vinyl, small labels, 4 label stickers, limited edition of 100 copies (in this combination of colours)

Tracks: Rebel Rebel / Fame / Battle for Britain (The Letter) / Sister Midnight / New Killer Star / Cactus // All the Young Dudes / China Girl / Modern Love / Station to Station / The Man Who Sold the World // Changes / The Loneliest Guy / band introduction* / Under Pressure / Ashes to Ashes / Quicksand // I'm Afraid of Americans / "Heroes" / Life on Mars? / Suffragette City / Ziggy Stardust

Other notes: live, Hurricane Festival, Scheessel, Germany, 25/06/2004; *not listed on cover

Collector's notes: There were 300 copies in different colours altogether.
Finally, after 13 years, there was a bootleg release of Bowie's last ever full show. The bootleg is beautiful. It has small black labels and four label stickers you can use to identify the sides, which haven't even got matrix numbers. Note that the catalogue number is only on the label stickers, there is no number on the cover. As enjoyable as the set is, there is one major drawback: the sound quality! When I bought the record I expected a soundboard recording, especially since parts of the show were professionally filmed (and broadcast). This recording, however, is a mediocre audience recording, even by the standards of that time. The sound is rather thin and there is a lot of talking by the audience ("Ich mag die Musik nicht!" - "I don't like the music!" - I've always wanted to know that). So we'll still have to wait for a really good release of this historical show.




David Bowie:

"Heroes"

(Parlophone DBHERO 40; EU 09/2017)

Format: 7"

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with title sticker, limited edition

Tracks: "Heroes" (short English version) // "Heroes"*

Other notes: *Marc TV show, Granada Studios, Manchester, 09/09/1977

Collector's notes: This time they got it right. The sound quality and the pressing are very good for a picture disc. Especially the sound of the B-side is much better than on previous bootleg releases.



David Bowie:

A New Career in a New Town [1977-1982]

(Parlophone 0190295842987 (DBXL 3); EU 09/2017)

Format: 12LP/12"

Release notes: 2 LPs in yellow vinyl, cardboard box with paper sheet on back, 9 covers (1 with sticker on back, 2 with sticker on front, 3 x FOC, 1 triple FOC), 11 OIS, 8 inserts (4 fold-out), book, limited edition

Tracks:

Low

(Parlophone DB 77821)

see original issues

"Heroes"

(Parlophone DB 77822)

see original UK issue

"Heroes" E.P.

(Parlophone DB 77823)

Tracks: "Heroes"/"Helden" (long English/German version) / "Helden" (short German version) // "Heroes"/"Héros" (long English/French version) / "Héros" (short French version)

Stage

(Parlophone DB 77824)

see original issue

Stage (2017)*

(Parlophone DB 77825)

Warszawa / "Heroes" / What in the World // Be My Wife / The Jean Genie** / Blackout / Sense of Doubt // Speed of Life / Breaking Glass / Beauty and the Beast / Fame // Five Years / Soul Love / Star / Hang On to Yourself / Ziggy Stardust / Suffragette City*** // Art Decade / Alabama Song / Station to Station // Stay / TVC 15

Lodger

(Parlophone DB 77826)

see original issue

Lodger (2017)°

(Parlophone DB 77827)

see original issue

Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)

(Parlophone DB 77828)

see original issues

Re:Call 3

(Parlophone DB 77829)

"Heroes" (short English version)°° / Beauty and the Beast (extended version)°°° / Breaking Glass (Australian single version)+ / Yassassin (single edit)++ / D.J. (single edit)+++ // Alabama Song# / Space Oddity (re-recording)# / Ashes to Ashes (single edit)## / Fashion (single edit)### / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (single edit)% // Crystal Japan%% / Under Pressure%%% / Cat People (Putting Out Fire)^ / Dialogue/Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy^^ // Baal's Hymn^^^ / Remebering Marie A.^^^ / The Ballad of the Adventurers^^^ / The Drowned Girl^^^ / The Dirty Song^^^

Other notes: *live, Spectrum Arena, Philadelphia, 28-29/4/1978, Civic Center, Providence, 5/5/1978, New Boston Garden Arena, Boston, 6/5/1978, extended 2005 version with further additions: **live in Boston, ***live in Philadelphia; °re-mixed by Tony Visconti; °°from the 1977 7"; °°°from the 1978 US 12"; +extended mix from the 1978 Australia 7"; ++from the 1979 Netherlands 7"; +++from the 1979 7"; #from the 1980 7"; ##from the 1980 7"; ###from the 1980 7"; %from the 1981 7"; %%from the 1980 Japan 7"; %%%performed by Queen & David Bowie, from the 1981 7"; ^from the 1982 Giorgio Moroder LP; ^^performed by David Bowie & Bing Crosby, mono, "Dialogue" not listed on cover, from the 1982 12"; ^^^from the 1982 EP David Bowie in Bertolt Brecht's Baal

Collector's notes: The third box in this major re-issue series, not much different to the two previous ones. This time the highlights were the extended version of Stage and the Tony Visconti re-mix of Lodger. Although it was a practically complete collection of everything Bowie had released during that era, the Re:Call album included still omitted the Revolutionary Song. Some notes on the particular albums:

Low: like the original UK issue this one has got the titles on the back as a sticker. Comes with two inserts: the lyric sheet and a fold-out fanclub card. In addition to the plastic-padded inner sleeve it has a reproduction of the original neutral inner sleeve with some record company babble on it (not shown here).

"Heroes": like Low this one comes with a fanclub and a lyric insert. There is again a reproduction of the original neutral inner sleeve (not shown). It has been criticized that the colour of the cover (especially of the back) is much darker than that of the original release.
Note that there is a strange and much-discussed volume drop in the title track.

"Heroes" E.P.: this is similar to the 1982 Germany 12" which also provided the basic pattern for the cover front. However, it adds the German and French single versions of the track.

Stage: a reproduction of the 1978 UK issue in yellow vinyl. It comes in a gatefold sleeve with a sticker on the front, the inevitable reproductions of the neutral inner sleeves and another fanclub insert.

Stage (2017): one of the pleasant surprises in this box. This is not simply a vinyl issue of the 2005 CD release, but has two additional tracks. For all I know it has never been clarified when and where exactly each individual track was recorded, but at least for the additions the locations are given in the book that accompanies this box. The records come in a nice tri-fold FOC (with sticker on the front) with three beautiful inner sleeves.

Lodger: it had never been clear to me that there is any controversy concerning the question of what the front and the back of the Lodger cover is - there is, as I recently realized. I only have a German original copy, and judging from the spine and the position of the inside of the gatefold sleeve of that issue I had always thought that the "face" side of cover was the front and the "title" side was the back. According to the design of the cover in this box, however, it is exactly the other way round. The record comes in a gatefold sleeve with a lyric insert and a "half-neutral" inner sleeve (not shown).

Lodger (2017): of the re-mixes of old albums that had been released as part of these boxes, this one sounds most interesting to me. The new mixes are not necessarily better than the original ones, but in some cases Visconti gave the tracks more "punch" and the vocals became clearer.
The cover solves the "front/back" problem by putting Bowie's face on the title side. It's a gatefold sleeve with a lyric insert.

Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps): comes with a fold-out insert (with blank back, not shown here) and a completely neutral additional paper inner sleeve.

Re:Call 3: another collection of single tracks, mixes and edits from all over the world, plus the album version of Cat People and the complete Baal EP. Comes in a single cover with two inner sleeves.





















David Bowie:

"Helden"

(Parlophone 121793; Germany 09/2017)

Format: 7"

Release notes: 33 1/3 rpm, PS, free with Rolling Stone magazine

Tracks: "Helden" (short German version)* // "Heroes"**

Other notes: *1989 remix, from Sound + Vision; **live version from Stage

Collector's notes: Nothing exciting, but a pleasant release and a very good pressing. Note that although the record came with the October issue of the German Rolling Stone magazine, it was already available in late September.



David Bowie:

KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas Show

((153063E1/A; 153063E2/A); EU 10/2017)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, transparent green vinyl, OIS, limited edition sticker on protective sleeve: 261/500

Tracks: Heaven's in Here/The Jean Genie / Panic in Detroit / I'm Afraid of Americans / The Man Who Sold the World // Fame / Fashion / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / Little Wonder

Other notes: live, Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, California, 06/12/1997

Collector's notes: A pleasant bootleg of a show that was anything but acoustic. The sound quality is almost excellent, but could be a bit better. Heaven's in Here is just an instrumental intro.




David Bowie:

Sounds & Visions - The Legendary Broadcasts

(Coda Publishing CPLCD268; EU 10/2017)

Format: 6CD

Release notes: bootleg, box, 2 multi-FOC cardboard covers

Tracks:

Major Tom's a Junkie

(Coda Publishing CPLCD281)

Space Oddity / Changes / TVC 15 / Rebel Rebel / Be My Wife / Ashes to Ashes / Starman / Fashion / Life on Mars? / Blue Jean / Let's Dance / Stay / China Girl / Sound and Vision / Ziggy Stardust // Station to Station / Young Americans / Suffragette City / Fame / "Heroes" / Panic in Detroit / Pretty Pink Rose / Modern Love / The Jean Genie / Rock'n'Roll Suicide // Space Oddity* / Rebel Rebel* / Ashes to Ashes* / Life on Mars?* / Stay* / Blue Jean* / Let's Dance* / Sound and Vision* / Ziggy Stardust* / China Girl* / Station to Station* / Young Americans* / Fame* / "Heroes"* / Changes* / Baby What You Want Me to Do°/The Jean Genie/Gloria*

We Could Be Heroes

(Coda Publishing CPLCD282)

Space Oddity** / Life on Mars?** / Rebel Rebel** / Ashes to Ashes** / Stay** / Pretty Pink Rose** / Blue Jean** / Let's Dance** / Sound and Vision** / Ziggy Stardust** / China Girl** // Panic in Detroit** / Young Americans** / Suffragette City** / Fame** / "Heroes"** / Changes** / White Light/White Heat** / The Jean Genie/Baby What You Want Me to Do°/Gloria** / Fashion** / Modern Love** // Space Oddity*** / Life on Mars?*** / Rebel Rebel*** / Ashes to Ashes*** / Stay*** / Pretty Pink Rose*** / Blue Jean*** / Let's Dance*** / Sound and Vision*** / Ziggy Stardust*** / China Girl*** / Suffragette City*** / Fame*** / "Heroes"*** / Modern Love***

Other notes: live, Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, 16/05/1990, except: *live, Sambodromo de Rio, Rio de Janeiro, 20/09/1990; **Santiago de Chile, Chile, Rock in Chile Festival, 27/09/1990; ***live, River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 29/09/1990; °not listed on covers

Collector's notes: Another semi-official exploitation release from Coda Publishing, similar to the The Collaborator 4CD set. A lot of scorn has been poured on this cheap exploitation release (and similar ones with roughly the same material), and, of course, it is faulty: some shows are incomplete, the intro of Space Oddity on disc 1 is missing, and the cover shots are ridiculously inappropriate. But let's face it: for those who haven't downloaded each and every Bowie torrent and/or bought every exotic CD bootleg, this collection is very interesting. As in the case of the above-mentioned CD set you get a lot of great music for very little money! The sound quality is excellent throughout, since all shows are taken from radio or TV broadcasts. Especially the Santiago show, which seems to be complete, hadn't been easily available before. By and large, it's a pleasant release.
Note that all discs have the same basic design, only the colours are different. Since these are visible in the pictures of the insides of the two covers, I have only shown one of the discs in detail.











David Bowie:

Sounds & Visions - The Legendary Broadcasts

(Coda Publishing CPLVNY281; EU 10/2017)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, marbled grey vinyl, 2nd limited edition 813/1.000

Tracks: Space Oddity* / Changes / Rebel Rebel / Ashes to Ashes / Starman // Fashion / Life on Mars?* / Blue Jean** / Let's Dance**

Other notes: live, Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, 16/05/1990, except: *live, Santiago de Chile, Chile, Rock in Chile Festival, 27/09/1990; **live, Sambodromo de Rio, Rio de Janeiro, 20/09/1990

Collector's notes: Basically, this album and its second and third part form a truncated version of the 6CD set from the previous entry. It's not taken from a single show, but culled from different performances. Although this might be a purist's nightmare, the result is astonishingly consistent, because the performances are blended quite nicely. So this set of three LPs is something like the Stage album for the Sound + Vision tour. The sound quality is excellent, but the covers are as inappropriate as those of the CD set.
What strikes me as odd is that Frifelt claims that all the tracks from the three parts of this bootleg set are from the Tokyo show. They are definitely from various shows!
Note that there was also a first issue of 500 numbered copies.



David Bowie:

We Could Be Heroes - The Legendary Broadcasts

(Coda Publishing CPLVNY282; EU 10/2017)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, marbled blue vinyl, 2nd limited edition 33/1.000

Tracks: China Girl* / Sound and Vision / Ziggy Stardust / Young Americans* // "Heroes" / Modern Love* / Baby What You Want Me to Do°/The Jean Genie/Gloria* / Rock'n'Roll Suicide

Other notes: live, Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, 16/05/1990, except: *live, Sambodromo de Rio, Rio de Janeiro, 20/09/1990; °not listed on the cover

Collector's notes: Part 2 of the LP from the previous entry. There I wrote that these two LPs are "basically" a truncated version of the Sounds & Visions CD set. In fact, this LP continues the story of strange discrepancies between vinyl and CD releases that seem to be typical of Coda Publishing (see the remarks on the 1980 Floor Show in the entry of the The Collaborator vinyl box). The version of Modern Love included here is the Rio de Janeiro recording that had previously been released on bootlegs like Rock in Rio but is not included in the CD set.
Again there was also a first issue of 500 numbered copies.



David Bowie:

Last Night Earls Court

((DBISOLAR); UK 11/2017)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, marbled dark and light green vinyl

Tracks: Warszawa / "Heroes" / What in the World / Be My Wife / The Jean Genie // Blackout / Sense of Doubt / Speed of Life / Sound and Vision / Breaking Glass / Fame / Beauty and the Beast // Five Years / Soul Love / Star / Ziggy Stardust / Suffragette City / Art Decade / Alabama Song // Station to Station / TVC 15 / Stay

Other notes: live, Earls Court, London, 01/07/1978

Collector's notes: A very nice bootleg with a cover that mocks the The Next Day design in a very clever way. It's an almost complete soundboard recording of the show - only Hang On to Yourself and Rebel Rebel are missing, and Stay is truncated. For all I know, this was the first practically complete release of a soundboard recording of a 1978 show (leaving aside the Stage album, of course, which doesn't count because it had been compiled from several shows). Expectedly, the sound quality is excellent... more or less, that is. It sounds quite dull, but that can be easily corrected by playing around with the equalizer settings. I only wonder why they didn't do that before releasing the album... Some of the tracks had previously been released on the White Light 1978 bootleg box.
The pressing of the album is quite good, with the occasional click. There are also copies in red and in blue vinyl.
Within half a year there was also an official release of (some of) this material. Note that the official album was recorded on two consecutive nights, whereas this release was recorded on a single night. This means that despite the official release this bootleg still contains tracks that are unavailable on any regular release.




David Bowie:

From Station to Station - The Legendary Broadcasts

(Coda Publishing CPLVNY310; EU 12/2017)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, white vinyl, 2nd limited edition 9/1.000

Tracks: Station to Station / TVC 15 / Stay* / Be My Wife // Suffragette City / Panic in Detroit / White Light/White Heat** / Pretty Pink Rose**

Other notes: live, Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, 16/05/1990, except: *live, Sambodromo de Rio, Rio de Janeiro, 20/09/1990; **live, Santiago de Chile, Chile, Rock in Chile Festival, 27/09/1990

Collector's notes: The third part of the series that started with Sounds & Visions. Strictly speaking, this is the middle part of the series, since the aforementioned album included the intro and We Could Be Heroes included the end of a typical show from the 1990 tour. Of this album, too, there was a first issue of 500 numbered copies.



David Bowie:

Under the Moonlight - The Classic Broadcasts

(MCPS/American Icons CRNVNY001; EU 12/2017)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, white vinyl, limited edition

Tracks: Ziggy Stardust / Life on Mars?* / Changes / Starman / Space Oddity* / Suffragette City // "Heroes" / Sound and Vision / Ashes to Ashes / Let's Dance** / Modern Love**

Other notes: live, Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, 16/05/1990, except: *live, Santiago de Chile, Chile, Rock in Chile Festival, 27/09/1990; **live, Sambodromo de Rio, Rio de Janeiro, 20/09/1990

Collector's notes: An LP that is similar to the previous vinyl albums derived from the Sounds & Visions CD set. Since it duplicates material from the other LPs, it's quite superfluous. Again, it includes the Rio version of Modern Love that is not included on the CD set.



↑ 2017 2018 ↓ 2019

David Bowie:

Beauty and the Beast

(Parlophone DBBATB 40; EU 01/2018)

Format: 7"

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with title sticker, limited edition

Tracks: Beauty and the Beast // Blackout*

Other notes: *live, Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany, 16/05/1978

Collector's notes: Again, the sound quality is astonishingly good for a picture disc.



David Bowie:

Best of Seven Months in America

(Cult Legends CL72753; EU 01/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, 2nd edition with corrected date and "180 grams edition" on cover

Tracks: The Jean Genie / Seven Years in Tibet / I Can't Read / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / Dead Man Walking // I'm Afraid of Americans* / Fashion* / Little Wonder* / Moonage Daydream*

Other notes: live, Smith's Olde Bar, Atlanta, 08/04/1997; except: *live, GQ Awards, New York, 15/10/1997

Collector's notes: A semi-official release available via official channels. This re-issue of an almost identical bootleg from the previous year was released around January 2018. Both the sound quality and the pressing are excellent throughout.
Side 1 is the familiar acoustic show, only The Supermen is missing. Dead Man Walking had already been officially released on 99X Live IV "Home". The source of the tracks on side 2 isn't mentioned on the cover, but the tracks are from the New York show. I'm Afraid of Americans and Little Wonder had seen an official release on Liveandwell.com, but the mix is different here.


David Bowie:

Davie Jones... and Other Stories

(Audrey AR 022; IT 01/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: mono, pirate release, green vinyl, octagonal cover, limited edition of 200 (in this colour/cover)

Tracks: Liza Jane* / Louie, Louie Go Home* / I Pity the Fool** / Take My Tip** / You've Got a Habit of Leaving*** / Baby Loves that Way*** / Can't Help Thinking about Me° / And I Say to Myself° // Do Anything You Say°° / Good Morning Girl°° / I Dig Everything°°° / I'm Not Losing Sleep°°° / Rubber Band+ / The London Boys+

Other notes: *performed by Davie Jones with the King Bees, from the 1964 single; **performed by The Manish Boys, from the 1965 single; ***performed by Davy Jones, from the 1965 single; °performed by David Bowie with the Lower Third, from the 1966 single; °°from the 1966 single; °°°from the 1966 single; +from the 1966 UK single

Collector's notes: A nice compilation of the early singles, for those who want them on vinyl but don't want to spend the money to buy the originals...
The sound quality is excellent, but the pressing could be a bit better. The octagonal cover is a nice gimmick. There are also copies with other covers (referring to both the design and the shape).



David Bowie:

Live in Berlin [1978] L.P.

(Parlophone DBISNY 20181; USA 03/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: orange vinyl, cover sticker, limited edition, made in the EU exclusively for the US market

Tracks: "Heroes" / Be My Wife / Blackout / Sense of Doubt // Breaking Glass / Fame / Alabama Song / Rebel Rebel

Other notes: live, Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany, 16/05/1978

Collector's notes: A pleasant release for the New York David Bowie Is exhibition, although the sound quality is not as good as on the Blackout album released a month later. Obviously, this is only a rough two-track recording. The track Blackout had previously been released on the Beauty and the Beast 7".



David Bowie:

Time

(Parlophone DBISNY 20182; USA 03/2018)

Format: 7"

Release notes: silver marbled vinyl, PS, cover sticker, barcode sticker, limited edition, made in the EU exclusively for the US market

Tracks: Time (single edit) // The Prettiest Star (re-recorded version)

Other notes: re-issue of 1973 USA 7"

Collector's notes: A re-issue of the old single with its odd edit, made for the New York exhibition. Beautiful cover. I haven't shown the barcode sticker.



David Bowie:

Interview

(Easy Action DJL1-3840/5060446070093; UK 03/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg?, OIS, first limited edition of 100 with A4 print, postcard and sticker

Tracks: see original issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1980 promo-only LP

Collector's notes: A re-issue of the 1980 interview LP. This seems to be a semi-legal release. The bonus that came with the first 100 copies is really nice.
Note that the record doesn't mention Easy Action as the name of the company, but that's where I bought it from and they seem to have produced it.




David Bowie:

Davie Jones... and Other Stories Vol. 2

(Audrey AR 024; IT 04/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: mostly mono, pirate release, clear grey vinyl, octagonal cover, limited edition of 200 (in this colour/cover)

Tracks: The Laughing Gnome* / The Gospel According to Tony Day* / Love You till Tuesday** / Did You Ever Have a Dream** / Rubber Band*** / There Is a Happy Land*** // That's Where My Heart Is° / I Want My Baby Back° / I'll Follow You° / Glad I've Got Nobody° / Bars of the County Jail°

Other notes: *from the 1967 single; **from the 1967 single; ***stereo album versions; °from Early On

Collector's notes: Part 2 of this series of pirate/bootleg LPs, covering a few more early singles and the demos from Early On. Note that they "cheated" in one case here: for their re-creation of the 1967 US Rubber Band single they used the stereo versions from the first album; the original single, however, was in mono!
Again, there are copies with a different cover design/shape.



David Bowie:

Davie Jones... and Other Stories Vol. 3

(Audrey AR 029; IT 04/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: pirate/bootleg release, red vinyl, octagonal cover, limited edition of 200? (in this colour/cover)

Tracks: That's a Promise* / Silly Boy Blue* / Love You till Tuesday** / Over the Wall We Go*** / When I Live My Dream° / Let Me Sleep beside You°° // Karma Man°°° / Little Bombardier+ / When I Live My Dream+ / In the Heat of the Morning+ / Love You till Tuesday+ / Silly Boy Blue+

Other notes: *demos, recorded with The Lower Third, R.G. Jones Oak Studios, 31/08/1965; **demo, 1966; ***demo, 12?/1966; °Love You till Tuesday movie version with different vocals; °°early mix with partly different vocals, 1967; °°°official version with additional count-in; +Top Gear BBC programme, Piccadilly Studio 1, 18/12/1967

Collector's notes: Part 3 of the series, which now turns to demos and BBC recordings. The first seven tracks seem to be copied straight from the The Forgotten Songs of David Robert Jones bootleg CD. The remaining tracks are from the deluxe edition of the debut album. In principle it isn't a bad idea transfer these recordings to vinyl, but the sound quality of the sources is really better. They shouldn't spend so much time on thinking about vinyl colours and more on the sound quality.
As usual, there are also copies with a different cover design/shape.



David Bowie:

David Bowie

(Universal-UMC/Deram 671 544-3; EU 04/2018)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: 1 LP blue vinyl, 1 LP red vinyl, FOC, 2 OIS, download card, sticker on shrinkwrap, limited edition of 3.000 copies

Tracks: see 2010 issue

Other notes: re-issue of 2010 re-release

Collector's notes: A not really necessary re-issue for Record Store Day. However, it's nice and the quality of the pressing is excellent. The cardboard inner sleeves are different from those of the "original" issue. This time they mimic the red and blue mono and stereo sleeves of the 1967 albums: the red mono sleeve holds the blue vinyl record and vice versa.




David Bowie:

Let's Dance

(Parlophone DBRSD 20181; EU 04/2018)

Format: 12"

Release notes: PS, barcode sticker and Record Store Day sticker on shrinkwrap

Tracks: Let's Dance (full length demo)* // Let's Dance (live)**

Other notes: *demo, Mountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland, 18/12/1982; **live, Vancouver, Canada, 12/09/1983

Collector's notes: A very pleasant release - the demo version of the song is quite interesting. The B-side is less exciting, but it's the first audio-only release of this version.
I haven't shown the stickers here, because they are standard designs.


David Bowie:

Bowie Now

(Parlophone DBNOW 77; EU 04/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: white vinyl, insert, sticker and Record Store Day sticker on shrinkwrap

Tracks: see original issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1978 promo LP

Collector's notes: A re-issue of a 1978 promo-only LP. It's in white vinyl and has a nice insert. Otherwise a not particularly interesting release.




David Bowie:

Changes Two

(Parlophone 0190295740542 CTBLP 2018; EU 04/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: blue vinyl, OIS, promo insert

Tracks: see original issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1981 album

Collector's notes: A re-issue of the old compilation. Just like the 2016 re-issue of Changes One this one was released with half of the copies in coloured vinyl and half of them in standard black. Again, you didn't know which colour you would get. And I guess that this time it is more difficult to find out the colour without opening the record, due to the darker colour of the cover.
The promo insert that came with my copy might be computer-printed.



David Bowie:

Welcome to the Blackout (Live London '78)

(Parlophone DBRSD 7782; EU 04/2018)

Format: 3LP

Release notes: multi-FOC, Record Store Day sticker on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks: Warszawa / "Heroes" / What in the World // Be My Wife* / The Jean Genie / Blackout* / Sense of Doubt // Speed of Life* / Sound and Vision* / Breaking Glass / Fame* / Beauty and the Beast // band introduction***/Five Years* / Soul Love* / Star* / Hang On to Yourself** / Ziggy Stardust* / Suffragette City // Art Decade* / Alabama Song / Station to Station // TVC 15* / Stay* / Rebel Rebel**

Other notes: live, Earls Court, London, 30/06/1978, except: *01/07/1978, **30/06-01/07/1978 (exact date unknown); ***not listed on cover

Collector's notes: An official release that followed high on the heels of the bootleg that featured the almost complete show from 01/07/1978. Not surprisingly, the Parlophone release is more complete (it includes Hang On to Yourself and Rebel Rebel) and the sound quality is better. I have worked out the recording dates for the tracks by comparing them to those on the above-mentioned bootleg. I hope I got it right... I couldn't detect an exact date for Hang On to Yourself and Rebel Rebel because I had no reference.
It's interesting that most of the material had already been mixed by Bowie and David Richards in 1979.
The side 1 labels of all three records are plain black, in accordance with the "blackout" theme. Again, I haven't shown the generic RSD sticker.





David Bowie:

Aladdin Sane

(Parlophone DBXL1; EU 04/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: silver marbled vinyl, FOC, OIS, sticker on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks: see original issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1973 album

Collector's notes: A re-issue of Aladdin Sane. And... erm... it's silver.




David Bowie:

Telecasts

(MCPS/Roxborough ROXMB004 (cover)/ROXMB005 (label); UK 04/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, blue vinyl, promo flyer, limited edition stamp on label: 290/300

Tracks: Young Americans (truncated)* / Fame** / Can You Hear Me* / Stay*** / Five Years*** // The Man Who Sold the World° / Nite Flights°° / Black Tie White Noise°° / Strangers When We Meet°°° / The Hearts Filthy Lesson+

Other notes: *duets with Cher, Cher TV show, 23/11/1975; **Cher TV show, 23/11/1975; ***Dinah Shore TV show, 03/01/1976; °Saturday Night Live TV show, 15/12/1979, featuring Klaus Nomi; °°The Tonight Show with Jay Leno TV show, 13/05/1993; °°°The Tonight Show with Jay Leno TV show, 27/10/1995; +The Late Show with David Letterman TV show, 26/09/1995

Collector's notes: Another "semi-legal" broadcast bootleg. Although it starts with a real disappointment (Young Americans fades out where the medley begins), it's not bad: sound quality and pressing are excellent, and some recordings are relatively rare. Moreover, in some cases the sound quality is even a bit better than on earlier bootlegs. The information on the cover is mostly correct, but Stay has been turned into Star...
Also available in red vinyl - that version seems to have been released in February.



David Bowie:

Odds and Sods

(Casino Records Entertainment; USA? 05/2018)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, transparent blue marbled vinyl, FOC, 2 OIS, limited edition sticker on protective sleeve: 256/500

Tracks: You've Got a Habit of Leaving1 / Even a Fool Learns to Love2 / The Supermen1 / Changes4 / Life on Mars? (truncated)5 / Life on Mars?6 / Young Americans7 // Sleeping Next to You (intro)8 / Sleeping Next to You (instrumental)8 / Sleeping Next to You (intro 2)8 / intro rehearsal 18 / intro rehearsal 28 / intro rehearsal 38 / Sleeping Next to You8 / Madman (instrumental)8 / Madman 18 / Madman 28 / "Heroes"9 / Sleeping Next to You10 / Boys Keep Swinging11 // Imagine12 / David Impersonates13 / Wild Things14 / We Prick You15 // Mother16 / Without You I'm Nothing17 / America18 / Fashion19 / (She Can) Do That20

Other notes: 1performed by Davy Jones, studio recording, IBC Studios, Portland Place, 25/06/1965, from the album Making Time; 2demo (excerpt), Bowie's vocal dubbed over Claude Francois' original recording, 02/1968; 3In Concert: John Peel BBC programme, Paris Cinema Studio, London, 03/06/1971; 4demo, Radio Luxembourg Studios, London, 06/1971; 5demo, 1971; 6instrumental mix, Trident Studios, London, 06/1971-06/08/1971; alternative ending, 7Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, 08/08/1974-11/1974; 8performed by Bowie and Marc Bolan, rehearsals, Marc Bolan's hotel room, Post House, Manchester, 09/09/1977; 9Marc TV show, Granada Studios, Manchester, 09/09/1977; 10performed by Bowie and Marc Bolan, Marc TV show, Granada Studios, Manchester, 09/09/1977; 11The Kenny Everett Video Show TV show, 23/04/1979; 12live, Coliseum, Hong Kong, 08/12/1983; 13part of the backing track of Absolute Beginners with Bowie impersonating Bruce Springsteen, Marc Bolan, Tom Waits, Lou Reed, Anthony Newley and Iggy Pop to new lyrics, Abbey Road Studios, London, 06/1985; 14early version (probably demo) of Chilly Down, probably recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, 06/1985; 15rehearsal, Elwood Studios, Watford, 08-12/11/1995; 16studio recording, New York 08/1998; 17performed by Placebo feat. David Bowie, live, Irving Plaza, New York, 29/03/1999; 18live, Robin Hood Benefit, Javits Center, New York, 30/05/2002; 19performed by Bowie and Damon Albarn, France 2 TV special, 04/09/2003; 20demo, late 2004 or early 2005 with more prominent vocals by Kristeen Young

Collector's notes: A nice compilation bootleg in very good to excellent sound quality. Some tracks had been rare or actually unavailable so far, but it's always the same: don't believe the hype and what the cover says. The Robin Hood Benefit version of America, David Impersonates and Wild Things had been released on Digging into the Archives two years ago, the "demo" of The Supermen is actually a BBC recording, the "alternative version" of We Prick You is the rehearsal version that had previously been released on Slinky Secrets, etc.
However, some tracks are really interesting. Even a Fool Learns to Love is much longer than the fragment that had previously been circulating: it's obviously combined from two different sources, but the result is quite nice. The demo of Life on Mars? is fascinating. It's a pity that it's only such a short fragment! Side 2 is basically a re-issue of the old Sleeping Next to You bootleg. The sound quality is far from perfect, but much better than on the old record, and probably the best that can be made of a home-recorded tape. Imagine has a longer spoken intro than on previous releases and some other tracks are here available on vinyl for the first time.
I haven't shown the labels of disc 2 because their design is the same as those of disc 1.






David Bowie:

David Bowie in Bertolt Brecht's Baal

(Regal Zonophone DBBAAL 2018; EU 06/2018)

Format: 10"EP

Release notes: multi-FOC, limited edition

Tracks: see original 7" issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1982 7"EP

Collector's notes: An "enlarged" replica of the original UK issue. A nice joke is the re-activation of the old Regal Zonophone label that had released 10" shellac records since the 1930s (but also the original Tyrannosaurus Rex albums around 1970).





Various Artists:

Beside Bowie - The Mick Ronson Story - The Soundtrack

(Universal/Content/Emperor 00600753826324; Czechia 06/2018)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: FOC, 2 OIS, download card, cover sticker

Tracks (Bowie): All the Young Dudes* // Moonage Daydream** / Cracked Actor** / Time** // - // Like a Rolling Stone*** / "Heroes"°

Other notes: *live, Wembley Stadium, London, 20/04/1992, Freddie Mercury Tribute, performed by Ian Hunter, Queen and Mick Ronson with Bowie on backing vocals, from the Mick Ronson album Heaven and Hull; **original album versions; ***performed by Mick Ronson with Bowie on lead vocals, from the Mick Ronson album Heaven and Hull; °live, Wembley Stadium, London, 20/04/1992, Freddie Mercury Tribute, performed by David Bowie, Queen and Mick Ronson

Collector's notes: A nice release celebrating the life and work of Mick Ronson. From a collector's point of view the most interesting aspect is of course the inclusion of "Heroes", which, for all I know, had never before been released on any official audio-only source. I only wonder why they didn't include any tracks from Ronson's first two solo albums...
There is also a limited number of copies in red vinyl.





David Bowie:

Original Soundtrack - "Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo"

(Parlophone DBCFLP 2018/0190295667443; EU 06/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: red vinyl, OIS, cover sticker, limited edition

Tracks: see original issues

Other notes: re-issue of 1981 LP

Collector's notes: It's a re-issue... and it's red.
In fact, this release is slightly different from the original ones: the cover has the German title, but the layout follows the 1982 US issue (albeit inconsequently). The inner sleeve is all new.



David Bowie:

Standing on My Own

(Casino Records (PIERROT); EU 07/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: pirate/bootleg release, clear purple vinyl, OIS, limited edition sticker on protective sleeve: 157/500

Tracks: Interview* / Love You till Tuesday** / London Bye Ta-Ta*** / In the Heat of the Morning° / Ching-a-Ling°° / Love You till Tuesday°°° / When I Live My Dream°°° // Sell Me a Coat+ / When I Live My Dream+ / When I Live My Dream (version 1)++ / Columbine++ / Harlequin (a.k.a. The Mirror)++ / Threepenny Pierrot++ / When I Live My Dream (version 2)++ / Space Oddity+++

Other notes: *live, Marquee Club, London, 1966; **demo, 1966; ***demo, 1968; °edited version of the official track; °°studio recording, Trident Studios, 24/10/1968, unedited version; °°°original versions from 1967 with voice overdubs recorded at Trident Studios, 29/01/1969; recorded for the non-realised German broadcast of the Love You till Tuesday movie; +from the original vinyl version of the Love You till Tuesday soundtrack; ++from the movie The Looking Glass Murders, recorded 01/02/1970, Gateway Theatre, Edinburgh; +++live, Ivor Novello Awards, Talk of the Town, London, 10/05/1970

Collector's notes: They should have called this album When I Live My Dream, because it actually contains four (!) different versions of the song. Like Davie Jones... and Other Stories Vol. 3, released earlier in the year, it is a collection of early "rarities" on vinyl. And again, the bootleggers seemed to have had a copy of The Forgotten Songs of David Robert Jones. However, the sound is often very dull and the pressing is quite crackly. Nonetheless, this album held one pleasant surprise: the second version of When I Live My Dream from the Looking Glass Murders movie was rather rare at the time and not included on any of the other bootlegs in my collection. However, it was officially released on The Width of a Circle.




David Bowie:

Thunder Ocean - The Serious Moonlight Tour Rehearsals

(Roxborough ROXMB014; UK 08/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, blue "star" vinyl, limited edition of 500

Tracks: "Heroes" / What in the World / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / Golden Years / Fashion // Wild Is the Wind / Let's Dance / Look Back in Anger / Joe the Lion / Red Sails / Rebel Rebel

Other notes: rehearsals, Sound Stage, Las Colinas, Dallas, 27/04/1983

Collector's notes: All of these tracks had been previously released on earlier bootlegs such as this series, but the sound quality and the pressing are very good.
"Star" vinyl means that the record has a really beautiful glitter effect.



David Bowie:

Brazil 90

(Roxborough ROXMB034; UK 08/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, dark orange marbled vinyl, limited edition of 500

Tracks: China Girl / Station to Station / Young Americans // Fame / "Heroes" / Changes / Baby What You Want Me to Do*/The Jean Genie/Gloria

Other notes: live, Sambodromo de Rio, Rio de Janeiro, 20/09/1990; *not listed on cover

Collector's notes: Not a particularly interesting release from Roxborough. It's another compilation of stuff that had previously been collected on bootlegs such as Rock in Rio or Sounds & Visions. However, the sound quality is excellent and it has a beautiful cover, like most Roxborough releases.
In 2020 the album was re-released in pink vinyl and with an altered cover. More re-issues in different colours may exist. Roxborough has become notorious for re-releasing the same stuff again and again.



David Bowie:

Live in New York 1987 - Radio Recordings

(Digital Legends DL 3906; EU 08/2018)

Format: CD

Release notes: bootleg, jewel case with insert and back inlay

Tracks: Introduction (to Glass Spider) / Glass Spider / Day-In Day-Out / Bang Bang / Absolute Beginners / Loving the Alien / Shining Star (Makin' My Love) / Fashion / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / All the Madmen / Never Let Me Down / Big Brother / '87 and Cry / "Heroes"

Other notes: rehearsals, New York City, 04/1987

Collector's notes: Another cheap "semi-legal" bootleg, but a pleasant one. It's disc 1 of a 1991 2CD bootleg called New York's A Go Go. Part 2 (i.e. disc 2 of the original bootleg) was (re-)released the same month. Although the title is absolutely misleading, the recordings are interesting (especially those that were not or only rarely played during the actual tour) and the sound quality is excellent. Recommended!



David Bowie:

Lost Radio Tapes

(Laser Media LM 6885; EU 08/2018)

Format: CD

Release notes: bootleg, jewel case with insert and back inlay

Tracks: Because You're Young / Scream like a Baby / Sons of the Silent Age / New York's in Love / Dancing with the Big Boys / Time Will Crawl / Beat of Your Drum / Let's Dance / Zeroes / Fame / Time / Blue Jean / China Girl / Modern Love

Other notes: rehearsals, New York City, 04/1987

Collector's notes: Although this one was released on another "label" (the well-known Laser Media), it is part 2 of the set mentioned in the previous entry. In fact, it's the more interesting part, since it includes the rarer tracks. The sound quality is again excellent.



David Bowie:

Zeroes (2018)

(Parlophone DB7 8388; EU 09/2018)

Format: 7"

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with title sticker, limited edition

Tracks: Zeroes (2018) (radio edit) // Beat of Your Drum (2018) (radio edit)

Other notes: radio edits of the re-workings of the tracks from the forthcoming box set

Collector's notes: The pressing is okay - there is practically no crackle, but the sound is rather dull.



David Bowie:

The Marquee Club Rehearsals - London 1973

(Protus PR2CD3001; EU 09/2018)

Format: 2CD

Release notes: bootleg, fold-out digipak, fold-out insert, cover sticker

Tracks: The Jean Genie (alt. version 1) / 1984/Dodo (alt. version 3) / Time (alt. version 2) / Everything's Alright (alt. version 1) / Space Oddity (take 5) / I Can't Explain (take 1) / I Got You Babe (take 1)* / Sorrow (take 2) / Everything's Alright (takes 1 & 2) / Space Oddity (takes 1° & 2°) / I Can't Explain (take 2) / The Jean Genie (takes 1* & 2) / 1984/Dodo (take 1°) / 1984/Dodo (take 2)** // I Got You Babe (take 2)* / Space Oddity (alt. versions 1° & 2) / Everything's Alright (alt. versions 3°, 4 & 5°) / Space Oddity (alt. versions 3°, 4° & 5) / Everything's Alright (alt. versions 7°, 8 & 9) / The Jean Genie (alt. versions 2° & 3) / Time (alt. versions 1° & 3) / Sorrow (take 3) / 1984/Dodo (alt. versions 1° & 2)

Other notes: rehearsals for The 1980 Floor Show, Marquee Club, London, 18-20/10/1973; *feat. Marianne Faithfull; **not listed on cover; °heavily truncated

Collector's notes: A nice compilation of material from the Marquee rehearsals. Due to the rehearsal nature of the tracks some of them are fragments, rather than full songs. I don't know why some versions are called "versions" and others "takes", but I've left it like that to avoid confusion with the numbering.









David Bowie:

Loving the Alien [1983-1988]

(Parlophone 0190295693527 (DBXL 4); EU 10/2018)

Format: 14LP/12"

Release notes: 14 LPs and 1 one-sided LP (back etched), cardboard box with paper sheet on back, 8 covers (1 x FOC, 1 x triple FOC), 15 OIS, insert with Ricochet book promotion, book, limited edition

Tracks:

Let's Dance

(Parlophone DB 83881)

see original issues

Serious Moonlight [Live '83]1

(Parlophone DB 83882)

Look Back in Anger / Lavender Blue2/"Heroes" / What in the World / Golden Years / Fashion / Let's Dance // Breaking Glass / Life on Mars? / Sorrow / Cat People (Putting Out Fire) / China Girl / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / Rebel Rebel // White Light/White Heat / Station to Station / Cracked Actor / Ashes to Ashes // Space Oddity/band introduction / Young Americans / Fame / Modern Love3

Tonight

(Parlophone DB 83883)

see original issues

Never Let Me Down

(Parlophone DB 83884)

Day-In Day-Out / Time Will Crawl / Beat of Your Drum / Never Let Me Down / Zeroes // Glass Spider / Shining Star (Makin' My Love) / New York's in Love / '87 and Cry / Bang Bang

Never Let Me Down (2018)4

(Parlophone DB 83885)

Day-In Day-Out / Time Will Crawl / Beat of Your Drum // Never Let Me Down / Zeroes / Glass Spider // Shining Star (Makin' My Love) / New York's in Love / '87 and Cry / Bang Bang

Glass Spider [Live Montreal '87]5

(Parlophone DB 83886)

Intro: Up the Hill Backwards / Glass Spider / Up the Hill Backwards (reprise)2 / Day-In Day-Out / Bang Bang // Absolute Beginners / Loving the Alien / China Girl / Rebel Rebel // Fashion / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / All the Madmen / Never Let Me Down // Big Brother/Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family2 / '87 and Cry / "Heroes" / Sons of the Silent Age / Time Will Crawl/band introduction // Young Americans / Beat of Your Drum / The Jean Genie / Let's Dance // Fame / Time / Blue Jean / Modern Love

Dance

(Parlophone DB 83887)

Shake It (re-mix a.k.a. long version) / Blue Jean (extended dance mix) / Dancing with the Big Boys (extended dance mix) // Tonight (vocal dance mix) / Don't Look Down (extended dance mix) / Loving the Alien (extended dub mix) // Tumble and Twirl (extended dance mix) / Underground (extended dance mix) / Day-In Day-Out (Groucho mix) // Time Will Crawl (Dance Crew mix) / Shining Star (Makin' My Love) (12" mix) / Never Let Me Down (dub/acapella)

Re:Call 4

(Parlophone DB 83888)

Let's Dance6 / China Girl6 / Modern Love6 / This Is Not America7 / Loving the Alien8 // Don't Look Down8 / Dancing in the Street9 / Absolute Beginners / That's Motivation / Volare // Opening Titles including Underground / Magic Dance / As the World Falls Down / Within You / Underground // When the Wind Blows6 / Day-In Day-Out6 / Julie / Beat of Your Drum10 / Glass Spider10 // Shining Star (Makin' My Love)10 / New York's in Love10 / '87 and Cry10 / Bang Bang10 / Time Will Crawl6 // Girls11 / Never Let Me Down12 / Bang Bang13 / Tonight14 / Let's Dance142/Let's Dance14

Other notes: 1live, PNE Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada, 12/09/1983, except: 3live, Forum, Montreal, Canada, 13/07/1983; 2not listed on cover; 4re-mixed version with additional production by Mario J. McNulty and overdubs; 5live, Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada, 30/08/1987; 6single edit; 7performed by David Bowie/Pat Metheny Group; 8re-mix; 9performed by David Bowie and Mick Jagger, Clearmountain mix; 10vinyl album edit; 11extended edit; 12remix edit; 13live, Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada, 30/08/1987, promotional mix; 14performed by Tina Turner and David Bowie, live, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, 23/03/1985

Collector's notes: And here is the fourth box set. It basically includes what you could expect from the era. Highlights are the Serious Moonlight and Glass Spider live sets (of which the former is far from perfect), and the re-worked version of Never Let Me Down. The Re:Call album isn't complete.
Some notes on the particular albums:

Let's Dance: comes with a copy of the original inner sleeve.

Serious Moonlight [Live '83]: although it is nice to have an official 1983 live album on vinyl, this album is a disappointment. It is basically an audio-only re-issue of the old Serious Moonlight film, so that the show is incomplete, although the Montreal version of Modern Love has been added. I wonder why they didn't release a triple album of the entire show, which would have made this album much more interesting. Note that I originally wrote that the entire album was from the Montreal show. That was of course incorrect, and I apologize for that.
The album comes with a gatefold cover and two inner sleeves.

Tonight: comes with a copy of the original inner sleeve.

Never Let Me Down: although this is meant to be the "standard version" (as opposed to the 2018 re-working - see below), this is a reproduction of an album that never existed in this form. Unlike the 1987 "standard versions" it has the full-length versions of all tracks, and unlike the original Japanese issue it omits the Japanese version of Girls. Moreover, unlike all original vinyl versions it omits Too Dizzy! Nobody knows the actual reasons for Bowie's damnatio memoriae over this song. There is sillier stuff in this box (Day-In Day-Out, Volare...). The idea that Bowie condemned the song because he had a falling out with co-author Erdal Kizilcay doesn't sound really plausible, either. He had had problem with other collaborators before, but never took such drastic measures...
Be that as it may, I think it's ridiculous to manipulate an original album in this way, and omit a song that is easily available on tenths of thousands of original copies of the album and just a few clicks away on the internet.

Never Let Me Down (2018): unlike the new versions of old albums included in the earlier box sets, this one is not simply a re-mix, but a complete "re-production" of the original album. Much of the typical 1980s sound of the previous version has been eliminated and new instrumental tracks (for instance by Reeves Gabrels and Sterling Campbell) have been added. In most cases, the result sounds very good, but there are some songs which sounded better in the original version, Glass Spider for example, which loses its original ironical touch. But that's a matter of taste, of course. After all, it's an interesting experiment. Needless to say that Too Dizzy has been omitted again.
The record comes with two printed inner sleeves. It's a 3-sided LP, the fourth side is etched, so that the second disc is counted as a 12" under "format" above.

Glass Spider [Live Montreal '87]: unlike the Serious Moonlight album, this one is complete and has the tracks in the right order. The show had been available on bootlegs (like Bon Soir Montreal parts 1 and 2) and CD, but this is the first time that it is available on official vinyl.
Comes in a triple FOC with three inner sleeves.

Dance: a few words on the history of this album. In late 1985 EMI planned the release of an album called Dance, which was intended to consist of re-mixes of tracks from Let's Dance and Tonight. A cover was designed, but the project was cancelled. In 2001 a pirate CD of re-mixes was released. It used the original official cover design, but from the musical point of view it had little to do with the official album as it had been planned. And, finally, here is an official version of Dance using the original cover design again. It's a collection of re-mixes from the entire era covered by this box set, and thus not identical to what EMI had projected in 1985. The "Groucho mix" of Day-In Day-Out is identical to the "remix" from the German 12", and the "12" mix" of Shining Star had originally been released on a digital EP in 2007. The album isn't a complete collection of the re-mixes from the time, various dub mixes etc. are missing. However, in my strictly personal opininon this version of the record is as superfluous as the projected LP would have been in 1985...
Comes with two inner sleeves.

Re:Call 4: the album contains the vinyl edits from Never Let Me Down, all the Bowie tracks from Labyrinth and Absolute Beginners, other soundtrack and non-album tracks and the usual mix of single edits. I'm not entirely sure if I've already had the "remix edit" of Never Let Me Down, but if I hadn't, it wouldn't have been a great loss. An obvious omission is the Japanese version of Girls, which is still only available on the Japanese Never Let Me Down album.
The album has three inner sleeves. The front of all three sleeves is identical, so I have shown only one of them.





















David Bowie and Friends:

Live Broadcasts

(Laser Media LM 7088; EU 10/2018)

Format: CD

Release notes: bootleg, jewel case with insert and back inlay

Tracks: Tonight* / Dancing in the Street** / Under Pressure*** / Hurt° / The Last Thing You Should Do°° / Young Americans°°° / Fame+ / Hallo Spaceboy++ / Hallo Spaceboy+++ / Sorrow#

Other notes: *performed by Tina Turner and David Bowie, live, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, 23/03/1985; **performed by David Bowie and Mick Jagger, live, The Prince's Trust Rock Gala, Wembley Stadium, London, 20/06/1986; ***performed by David Bowie and Annie Lennox, live, Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, Wembley Stadium, London, 20/04/1992; °performed by David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails, live, Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, USA, 11/10/1995; °°performed by David Bowie and Robert Smith, live, Madison Square Garden, New York, 09/01/1997; °°°performed by David Bowie and Cher, Cher TV show, 23/11/1975; +Cher TV show, 23/11/1975; ++performed by David Bowie and Foo Fighters, live, Madison Square Garden, New York, 09/01/1997; +++performed by David Bowie and Pet Shop Boys, live, Brit Awards, 19/02/1996; #1980 Floor Show, Marquee, London, 18-20/10/1973

Collector's notes: A "semi-legal" bootleg available via official websites. Most of it is superfluous: the recordings with Nine Inch Nails and Cher and those from the 1997 birthday show and the 1980 Floor Show had been available on numerous bootlegs before. One track (Tonight with Tina Turner) had even been officially released.
However, there are some tracks on this CD that are rather elusive: Bowie's live duets with Jagger (the sound quality of which is far from perfect), the Pet Shop Boys, and Annie Lennox, of which the latter had previously been available on A Tribute to Freddie Mercury (and a rare bootleg 7", which I haven't got).



David Bowie:

Santa Monica 1972 - Live Radio Broadcast - Best of Live Santa Monica, 20th October 1972

(Cult Legends CL77024; EU 10/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg

Tracks: Ziggy Stardust / Changes / Life on Mars? / The Supermen / Space Oddity / Andy Warhol / John, I'm Only Dancing // Moonage Daydream / My Death / Waiting for the Man / The Jean Genie / Rock'n'Roll Suicide

Other notes: live, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, 20/10/1972

Collector's notes: Another (semi-legal) Santa Monica bootleg... I wonder how it can still be possible to release this material via official channels, since there have also been perfectly legitimate issues.
Be that as it may, the sound quality and pressing are impeccable, the cover picture is appropriate and even the track listing is correct.


Nine Inch Nails and David Bowie:

Back in Anger 1995 - Live Radio Broadcast - Best of Back in Anger 1995

(Cult Legends CL77123; EU 11/2018)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg

Tracks: Hallo Spaceboy / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / Look Back in Anger* / Wish** / Andy Warhol* // The Man Who Sold the World* / Hurt / Terrible Lie** / March of the Pigs** / Closer**

Other notes: live, Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, USA, 11/10/1995; performed by David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails, except: *performed by David Bowie, **performed by Nine Inch Nails

Collector's notes: And another "semi-legal" album with material from that show... Like its complete counterpart from 2016 it's taken from a defective source: there are skips on Andy Warhol (or Andy Warholl, as it is spelt on the cover).


Tin Machine:

Someone Sees It All - Tokyo 92

(V10 V10001; UK 11/2018)

Format: 10"LP

Release notes: bootleg, mono, white vinyl, limited edition of 300

Tracks: Goodbye Mr. Ed / If There Is Something / Baby Universal / Crack City // Bus Stop (Country version)* / Bus Stop / You Belong in Rock n'Roll / Shopping for Girls / Sacrifice Yourself

Other notes: live, Budokan, Tokyo, 17/02/1992; *not listed on cover

Collector's notes: A nice little item for vinyl lovers, but not more. The recording is in mono and the sound is a bit tinny.



David Bowie:

Breaking Glass (Live E.P.)

(Parlophone DBBG 40; EU 11/2018)

Format: 7"EP

Release notes: 33 1/3 rpm, picture disc, plastic NC with title sticker, limited edition

Tracks: Breaking Glass* / Art Decade // Hang On to Yourself** / Ziggy Stardust

Other notes: live, Earls Court, London, 30/06/1978, except: *01/07/1978, **30/06-01/07/1978

Collector's notes: Again, no crackle, but dull sound. The sticker's claim that these recordings were previously unreleased is correct: none of the versions on this EP was included in the Welcome to the Blackout set. As in the case of that album I have worked out the recording dates, but again I couldn't for Hang On to Yourself, for lack of a reference track.
Although this EP is part of the 40th Anniversary Edition series, it has absolutely nothing to do with the original issue: none of the recordings was on that EP!



David Bowie:

Glastonbury 2000

(Parlophone 0190295570453; EU 11/2018)

Format: 3LP

Release notes: multi-FOC, 3 OIS, booklet

Tracks: Introduction (Greensleeves) / Wild Is the Wind / China Girl / Changes // Stay / Life on Mars? / Absolute Beginners // Ashes to Ashes / Rebel Rebel / Little Wonder / Golden Years // Fame / All the Young Dudes / The Man Who Sold the World / Station to Station // Starman / Hallo Spaceboy / Under Pressure / Ziggy Stardust // "Heroes" / Let's Dance / I'm Afraid of Americans

Other notes: live, Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury, UK, 25/06/2000

Collector's notes: High on the heels of the brilliant 2016 bootleg release we got an official release of this show. It's more complete than the older vinyl issue, because it features Under Pressure, which, for unknown reasons, had been left off the bootleg.
Note that the cover erroneously lists Changes twice: once correctly as the last track on side 1, and once falsely as the last track on side 2. On the 2019 re-pressing this error was corrected.






David Bowie:

Glastonbury 2000

(Parlophone 0190295568764; EU 11/2018)

Format: 2CD/DVD

Release notes: box, OBI, 2 fold-out cardboard covers, 3 OIS, booklet

Tracks (CDs): Introduction (Greensleeves) / Wild Is the Wind / China Girl / Changes / Stay / Life on Mars? / Absolute Beginners / Ashes to Ashes / Rebel Rebel / Little Wonder / Golden Years // Fame / All the Young Dudes / The Man Who Sold the World / Station to Station / Starman / Hallo Spaceboy / Under Pressure / Ziggy Stardust / "Heroes" / Let's Dance / I'm Afraid of Americans

Tracks (DVD): Introduction (Greensleeves) / Wild Is the Wind / China Girl / Changes / Stay / Life on Mars? / Absolute Beginners / Ashes to Ashes / Rebel Rebel / Little Wonder / Golden Years / Fame / All the Young Dudes / The Man Who Sold the World / Station to Station / Starman / Hallo Spaceboy / Under Pressure / Ziggy Stardust / "Heroes" / Let's Dance / I'm Afraid of Americans

Other notes: live, Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury, UK, 25/06/2000

Collector's notes: This CD version of the album comes with an NTSC-DVD of the show. This edition, which was also intended for sale in the UK, has an OBI-type paper band, which is not present on copies intended to be sold only in Germany.






David Bowie:

C'est la Vie - The Ultimate Rare Tracks 1964/2016

(Godfather Records; Italy 11/2018)

Format: 11LP

Release notes: bootleg, red vinyl, box, 11 OIS, booklet, limited edition insert and sticker on protective sleeve: 118/300

Tracks:

C'est la Vie - The Sixties
Long hair interview1 / I Pity the Fool2 / Take My Tip2 / That's a Promise3 / Silly Boy Blue3 / Over the Wall We Go4 / The Laughing Gnome5 / Little Toy Soldier - Little Sadie6 / Silly Boy Blue7 / Waiting for the Man8 // Silver Tree Top School for Boys9 / Everything Is You10 / Social Kind of Girl10 / Silver Tree Top School for Boys11 / C'est la Vie12 / C'est la Vie13 / Even a Fool Learns to Love14 / Ching-a-Ling15 / April's Tooth of Gold16 / When I'm Five16 / Space Oddity17

C'est la Vie - The Seventies, Part One
The Supermen18 / Tired of My Life19 / Shadow Man19 / How Lucky You Are19 / Lightning Frightning20 / Looking for a Friend21 / Rupert the Riley22 // Rupert the Riley23 / Bombers24 / Life on Mars?25 / Oh! You Pretty Things26 / Five Years26 / All the Young Dudes27 / The Jean Genie28

C'est la Vie - The Seventies, Part Two
Young Americans29 / Shilling the Rubes30 / I Am a Laser30 / After Today30 / Young Americans30 / Can You Hear Me31 / Win32 // "Heroes"/"Helden" (long English/German version)33 / "Heroes"/"Héros" (long English/French version)33 / Breaking Glass (extended version)34 / Rebel Rebel35 / Art Decade36 / Alabama Song37

C'est la Vie - The Eighties, Part One
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)38 / Ashes to Ashes38 / Cat People (extended remix)39 // Cat People (full length version)40 / Waiata Song41 / Imagine42 / Wild Things43

C'est la Vie - The Eighties, Part Two
Dancing in the Street44 / This Is Not America45 / Dancing in the Street46 / Al Alba47 / Girls (extended Japanese version)48 // Modern Love49 / Modern Love (The Choice Is Right)50 / Look Back in Anger51 / You've Been Around52

C'est la Vie - The Nineties, Part One
It's Tough53 / A Big Hurt54 / You've Been Around (Dangers Trance mix)55 / Strangers When We Meet56 / Unknown: Nothing to Be Desired57 // Unknown: I'd Rather Be Chrome58 / My Death59 / I Can't Read60 / Fun Fade 261

C'est la Vie - The Nineties, Part Two
Tryin' to Get to Heaven61 / Fun #2 (Clownboy mix 3)61 / Fun #3 (Clownboy Mutant mix)61 / Fun #5 (Clownboy mix vocal up)61 / Fun #7 (Clownboy instrumental)61 / Fun62 // Mother63 / Omikron (New Angels of Promise)64 / Awaken 2 (No One Calls)64 / Without You I'm Nothing65 / Thursday's Child66 / Survive66 / The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell (take 1)66 / The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell (take 2)66 / promo speech66 / message to John Peel66

C'est la Vie - The Thousands, Part One
Silly Boy Blue67 / Space Oddity68 / Everyone Says 'Hi' (Metro remix)69 / I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship (Deepsky's Space Cowboy remix)69 // Cactus70 / I Feel So Bad71 / One Night71 / New Killer Star72 / Your Turn to Drive73 / The Man Who Sold the World74 / Suffragette City74 / 5:15 The Angels Have Gone74

C'est la Vie - The Thousands, Part Two
Try Some, Buy Some74 / China Girl74 / The Loneliest Guy74 / New Killer Star74 / Modern Love74 / Fashion75 / Starman (Metrophonic remix)76 / Liza Jane77 // Life on Mars?78 / Wake Up78 / Five Years78 / The Little Fat Man (with the Pug-Nosed Face)79 / Sound and Vision 201380 / I'd Rather Be High (Luis Vuitton advertisement mix)81 / Blackstar (The Last Panthers mix)82

C'est la Vie - The Collaborations, Part One
Kenny Miller: Take My Tip83 / Oscar: Over the Wall We Go84 / Ronnie Hilton: The Laughing Gnome85 / Dee Dee: Love Is Always86 / Dee Dee: Pancho86 / Slender Plenty: Silver Tree Top School for Boys87 / The Beatstalkers: Silver Tree Top School for Boys87 / Billy Fury: Silly Boy Blue88 / The Beatstalkers: Everything Is You89 // The Beatstalkers: When I'm Five90 / Computers: Ragazzo Solo, Ragazza Sola91 / Peter Noone: Oh! You Pretty Things92 / Peter Noone: Right On Mother93 / Lulu: The Man Who Sold the World94 / Lulu: Watch that Man95

C'est la Vie - The Collaborations, Part Two
Ronnie Wood: I Can Feel the Fire96 / Mick Ronson: Stone Love97 / The Rebels: David Bowie's Revolutionary Song98 / David Bowie & John Cale: Velvet Couch99 / David Bowie & John Cale: Piano-La99 / Cuddly Toys: Madman100 // Queen: Cool Cat101 / Queen: Action this Day102 / Iggy Pop: Fire Girl103 / Kristeen Young: Saviour104 / David Bowie & BT: (She Can) Do That105

Other notes: 1Tonight BBC TV show, 12/11/1964; 2performed by The Manish Boys, alternative takes, IBC Studios, Portland Place, 15/01/1965, from the Early On CD; 3demos, recorded with The Lower Third, R.G. Jones Oak Studios, 31/08/1965; 4demo, 12?/1966 (according to the booklet: R.G. Jones Oak Studios, 01/09/1965); 5alternative vocal take, Decca Studios, West Hampstead, 07/02/1967 (excerpt); 6demo recorded with The Riot Squad, 1967; 7acoustic demo, mid-1967, from the The Toy Soldier EP; 8studio recording with The Riot Squad, Decca Studios, 05/04/1967, false start; 9demo, mid-1967, not featuring Bowie on lead vocals; 10demos from an Emidisc acetate, 1967; 11demo from an Essex Music acetate, 1967; 12demo, Decca acetate, 10/1967, backing track; 13demo, Decca acetate, 10/1967, version with vocals; 14demo (excerpt), Bowie's vocal dubbed over Claude Francois' original recording, 02/1968; 15performed with Turquoise, 16/08/1968 (excerpt); 16demos, 1968; 17excerpt from a demo, home recording with John 'Hutch' Hutchinson, Clareville Grove, London, late 1968 (see the notes in the entry of the Kiss Away the Darkest Day bootleg; 18studio demo, probably 23/03/1970 (excerpt), mis-labeled as a BBC recording; 19demos, Radio Luxembourg Studios, London, c. 11-12/1970; 20recorded at Trident Studios, London, 23/04/1971, unedited mono mix; 21performed by Arnold Corns, Trident Studios, 17/6/1971; 22studio recording, 23/04/1971, Mickey King on lead vocal, no sound effects; 23studio recording, 23/04/1971, Mickey King on lead vocal, with sound effects; 24live, Glastonbury Festival, 20/06/1971 (excerpt); 25Abbey Road mix, 1971; 26recorded for Old Grey Whistle Test TV show, 07/02/1972; 27Mott the Hoople version with Bowie's guide vocal mixed over the verses (Bowie's voice also in the chorus); 28recorded for Top of the Pops TV show, 03/01/1973, broadcast 04/01/1973, same version as on the B-side of the 2012 single; 29excerpts of early versions from the Young Americans sessions, Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, 13/08/1974; 30version with longer outro, from the 2010 Rock Band 3 game; 31demo, Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, 08/1974; 32live, The Omni, Atlanta, 01/12/1974; 33taken from the German and French editions of the "Heroes" album, respectively; 34taken from the Australian or New Zealand 7"; 35from the 2018 album Live in Berlin [1978] L.P.; 36from the 2017 Be My Wife 7"; 37soundcheck, Sydney, Australia, 24/11/1978 (excerpt); 38early versions from the Scary Monsters sessions, Power Station Studios, New York, early 1980 (excerpts); 39from second issue of the Australian 12"; 40unreleased 10:18 mix of unknown origin; 41recorded 23/11/1983, Porirua, New Zealand, at a meeting with Maori; 42live, Coliseum, Hong Kong, 08/12/1983; 43early version (probably demo) of Chilly Down, probably recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, 06/1985; 44performed by David Bowie and Mick Jagger, alternative mix without brass section, from the video shown at the Live Aid concert; 45performed by David Bowie/Pat Metheny Group, alternative DVD mix; 46performed by David Bowie and Mick Jagger, live, Prince's Trust concert, Wembley Stadium, London, 20/06/1986; 47studio recording, 1986 (or early 1987), Spanish version of Day-In Day-Out; 48download-only track; 49alternative Pepsi mix; 50studio recording, 1987, alternative version of Modern Love for a Pepsi commercial, featuring Tina Turner; 51live, Intruders at the Palace, London, 01/07/1988; 52performed by Tin Machine, live, The World, New York, 14/06/1989; 53performed by Tin Machine, studio recording, 1989-1991, outtake from the Tin Machine II sessions; 54performed by Tin Machine, BBC version from the UK Baby Universal 12"; 55first released on the UK Black Tie White Noise promo 12"; 56alternative version from a Dutch promo cassette; 57alternative version from the 1. Outside sessions, Mountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland, 03-11/1994; 58outtake from the 1. Outside sessions, Mountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland, 03-11/1994; 59rehearsal, Elwood Studios, Watford, 08-12/11/1995; 60alternative mix of the 1998 re-issue, same vocal performance (?); 61studio recordings, 1998, from in-house promo-only CDRs; 62studio recording, 1998, alternative mix from a Bowienet members-only CD-ROM; 63studio recording, New York 08/1998; 64studio recordings, 1999, from the Omikron computer game; 65performed by Placebo featuring David Bowie, live, Irving Plaza, New York, 29/03/1999; 66rehearsals for Top of the Pops TV show, 23/08/1999?, all tracks excerpts, except Survive; 67live, Tibet House benefit concert, Carnegie Hall, New York, 26/02/2001; 68rehearsal for Tibet House benefit concert, Carnegie Hall, New York, 22/02/2002 (excerpt); 69from the US promo-only 12"; 70performed with Moby, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno TV show, 12/08/2002; 71live, Gorge Amphitheater, George, Washington, 16/08/2002; 72studio recording, Looking Glass Studios, New York, and Allaire Studios, Glen Tonche, 01-05/2003, alternative version (demo?) from an alternative video clip (excerpt); 73studio recording, Sear Sound Studios, New York, 07-08/2000, and Looking Glass Studios, New York, 10/2000, download-only track in 2004; 74rehearsals, New York, 12/07/2003 (excerpts); 75performed with Damon Albarn, 04/09/2003, for Trafic Musique TV show (broadcast 18/09/2003); 76from a 2003 in-house promo-only CDR; 77live, PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, New Jersey, 05/06/2004 (incomplete); 78performed with Arcade Fire, live, Fashion Rocks Radio City Music Hall, New York, 08/09/2005; 79from the BBC comedy Extras, 05-07/06/2006; 80from the UK promo-only CDS (and subsequent releases); 81from a 2013 TV commercial; 82from the 2015 TV series The Last Panthers; 837" A-side, 1965, written by Bowie; 847" A-side, 1967, songwriting and backing vocals by Bowie; 857" B-side, 1967, written by Bowie; 867" B and A-side, respectively, English lyrics by Bowie; 87both 7" A-sides, 1967, written by Bowie; 887" A-side, 1968, written by Bowie; 897" B-side, 1968, written by Bowie; 907" B-side, 1969, written by Bowie; 917" A-side, 1970, cover version of Bowie's Italian version of Space Oddity; 927" A-side, 1971, songwriting, backing vocals and piano by Bowie; 937" B-side, 1971, songwriting, backing vocals and piano by Bowie; 94studio recording, 1973, alternative take with studio talk, songwriting, guitar, saxophone, backing vocals and co-production by Bowie; 957" B-side, songwriting, guitar, saxophone, backing vocals and co-production by Bowie; 961974, backing vocals by Bowie; 971976, cover version of Soul Love, bonus track on the Play Don't Worry CD; 98performed by The Rebels, from the 1979 7"; 99demos, Ciarbis Studio, New York, 05/10/1979; 1007" A-side, 1980, written by Bowie, Marc Bolan and Harley; 101studio recording, Mountain Studios, Montreux, 07/1981, backing vocals by Bowie; 102from the 1982 Hot Space album, probably featuring Bowie on backing vocals; 103demo version, Mountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland, 04-??/1986, backing vocals by Bowie; 104alternative version with different vocals by Bowie, probably recorded in early 2002, distributed on promo-CDR only; 105demo, late 2004 or early 2005 with more prominent vocals by Kristeen Young; information in booklet partly incorrect

Collector's notes: An extended vinyl version of the 6 CD set from 2014. Most of the tracks that have been added aren't too exciting. Some, like Bowie's duet with Moby on Cactus, are quite nice, but other choices, like the track from the Be My Wife picture single and the arbitrarily chosen song from Live in Berlin [1978], are rather odd. By and large, there is little to say beyond what I wrote about the original issue. Note that The Supermen isn't a fragment (as on the CD set), but the full-length version. The demo version of Let's Dance is shorter than on the recently released official 12". Not only does it have an earlier fade-out, but it is also edited in the intro.
What is a pity is that the pressing isn't very good, since there are occasional clicks and crackle on some records. Moreover, the sound is duller than on the CD on many tracks. Be that as it may, it's a beautiful release for collectors. And it's almost needless to say that there is an even more limited issue in blue vinyl (60 copies)...


















Various Artists:

Live Aid - Wembley Stadium 1985

(Wardour-310; Japan 12/2018)

Format: 2CD

Release notes: bootleg, jewel case with insert and back inlay, limited edition sticker on case: 320

Tracks (Bowie): - // Dancing in the Street* / TVC 15 / Rebel Rebel / Modern Love / "Heroes" / Let It Be** / Do They Know It's Christmas?***

Other notes: live, Live Aid Concert, Wembley Arena, London, 13/07/1985, except: *studio recording by Bowie and Mick Jagger shown on screen, original mix; **performed by Paul McCartney (featuring Bowie, Bob Geldof, Alison Moyet, Pete Townshend on backing vocals); ***performed by Bowie and others

Collector's notes: For all those who have always wanted an audio-only recording of Bowie's contribution to this show this could have been the ideal release... could! The problem is that this is an audience recording - and who for heaven's sake needs an audience recording of a show of which a near-perfect soundboard mix exists?



David Bowie:

The Shape of Things to Come

(The Reel-to-Reel Music Company Ltd. BOWIE02 (cover)/BOWIE03 (label); EU 12/2018)

Format: 7"

Release notes: bootleg, mono, yellow vinyl, PS, limited edition: 363/500

Tracks: That's a Promise* / Over the Wall We Go**

Other notes: *demo, recorded with The Lower Third, R.G. Jones Oak Studios, 31/08/1965; **demo, 12?/1966

Collector's notes: Although this record contains nothing new, it's a nice release in a tasteful cover. Impeccable pressing and sound quality (given the quality of the sources).
I once found the information that the first issue of this record (red vinyl) was released in 2017, but according to Frifelt, there were no issues before 2018. Since then, issues in different colours (with covers adjusted to the colours), a version with a different cover and two different picture discs (one of them can be seen here) have been released.



↑ 2018 2019

David Bowie:

The Shape of Things to Come

(The Reel-to-Reel Music Company Ltd. BOWIE02; EU 01/2019)

Format: 7"

Release notes: bootleg, mono, picture disc, plastic NC, limited edition of 1.000

Tracks: That's a Promise* / Over the Wall We Go**

Other notes: *demo, recorded with The Lower Third, R.G. Jones Oak Studios, 31/08/1965; **demo, 12?/1966

Collector's notes: This is the picture disc mentioned in the previous entry. It's beautiful and the sound quality is astonishingly good for a pic disc.
Note that there is an alternative issue with a different design.


David Bowie:

Live 1983 - Live - Montreal Forum, Montreal, Canada, 13th July, 1983

(White Trash BOWIE04; EU 02/2019)

Format: 3LP

Release notes: bootleg, blue vinyl, multi-FOC, limited edition: 283/500

Tracks: Intro* / Look Back in Anger / Breaking Glass / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / Rebel Rebel / Lavender Blue*/"Heroes" // What in the World / Life on Mars? / Sorrow / Golden Years / Fashion // Let's Dance / Red Sails / China Girl / White Light/White Heat // Station to Station / Cracked Actor / Ashes to Ashes / Space Oddity // band introduction / Young Americans / Cat People (Putting Out Fire) / TVC 15 / Fame / Star // Stay / The Jean Genie / I Can't Explain / Modern Love

Other notes: live, Forum, Montreal, Canada, 13/07/1983, *not listed on cover

Collector's notes: A very pleasant "semi-legal" release. This is what the Serious Moonlight [live '83] album included in the Loving the Alien box set should have been like: it's a complete show in the correct running order. Although all of these tracks had been released on promo-only LPs (and bootlegs) before, I classify this as a bootleg because this music had never been available to a wider public. After all, it's nice to have such a good vinyl issue of this recording, especially because both the sound quality and the pressing are brilliant.
There is also an issue in white vinyl.





David Bowie:

Spying through a Keyhole - Demos and Unreleased Songs

(Parlophone 010295495054; EU 04/2019)

Format: 3 x 7", 7"EP

Release notes: mono, box, fold-out insert, postcard, 4 brown cardboard inner sleeves

Tracks: Mother Grey* // In the Heat of the Morning* // Goodbye Threepenny Joe** // Love All Around** // London Bye Ta-Ta* // Angel, Angel, Grubby Face (version 1)*** // Angel, Angel, Grubby Face (version 2)*** / Space Oddity (excerpt)° // Space Oddity°+

Other notes: demos, home recordings; *early 1968, Manchester Street, London; **probably early 1968, Manchester Street, London; ***1968; °late 1968, Clareville Grove, London, +featuring John Hutchinson

Collector's notes: Needless to say that this is a more than pleasant release. It's a collection of demos, including previously unreleased songs like Mother Grey and Angel, Angel... of which only the titles had been known, and some songs the existence of which hadn't been known at all. Both versions of Space Oddity have lyrics that are different from those of the final version. Note that Threepenny Joe has nothing to do with Threepenny Pierrot, but is a completely different song.
The labels mock those of typical acetates from the 1960s. The brown sleeves were probably added to add to that impression. Each record has an additional plastic-padded standard inner sleeve.




David Bowie:

The World of David Bowie

(Decca SPA5890/602577246708; EU 04/2019)

Format: LP

Release notes: blue vinyl, OIS, download card, cover sticker, limited edition

Tracks: Uncle Arthur / Love You till Tuesday* / There Is a Happy Land / Little Bombardier / Sell Me a Coat / Silly Boy Blue / The London Boys** // Karma Man*** / Rubber Band* / Let Me Sleep beside You*** / Come and Buy My Toys / She's Got Medals / In the Heat of the Morning / When I Live My Dream

Other notes: revised re-issue of 1970 stereo album; *album versions; **mono; ***stereo version from the CD version of the 2010 deluxe re-issue of the Deram album

Collector's notes: The most interesting item among 2019's Record Store Day releases. Of course it is basically a re-issue of the 1970 album, but this time there are no fake stereo tracks: The London Boys is in mono, and Let Me Sleep beside You and Karma Man are the 2010 true stereo mixes (although one might still argue about the quality of these mixes).
Note that the blue spot on the cover back is not a hole (as in the case of the original release), but printed onto the cover. It is also interesting that what once was a generic record company inner sleeve has now become something that is worth replicating (although, due to the lack of the hole in the cover, it has lost much of its original function).




David Bowie:

Pin Ups

(Parlophone DB69736P; EU? 04/2019)

Format: LP

Release notes: picture disc, die-cut PS, insert, barcode and generic record store stickers on cover, limited edition

Tracks: see original issues

Other notes: re-issue of 1973 album

Collector's notes: A nice, but not really necessary re-issue.
I haven't shown the two cover stickers, since they are of the standard type. I couldn't find a country of manufacture on the record, so I can only guess that it was made in the EU.



The Rebels/Marlene Dietrich:

Songs from the Original Soundtrack Just a Gigolo

(Music on Vinyl MOV 7053; EU 04/2019)

Format: 7"

Release notes: blue vinyl, PS, record company sticker on protective sleeve, limited edition imprint on cover: MOV 003652

Tracks: The Rebels: David Bowie's Revolutionary Song (album version) // Marlene Dietrich: Just a Gigolo

Collector's notes: One more Record Store Day release. Unlike the 1979 Japan 7", this issue plays the album version of the Revolutionary Song.



David Bowie with John 'Hutch' Hutchinson:

Clareville Grove Demos

(Parlophone 0190295495060; EU 05/2019)

Format: 3 x 7"

Release notes: mono, box, fold-out insert, postcard, 3 brown cardboard inner sleeves

Tracks: Space Oddity // Lover to the Dawn // Ching-a-Ling // An Occasional Dream // Let Me Sleep beside You // Life Is a Circus

Other notes: demos, home recordings; Clareville Grove, London, 01/1969

Collector's notes: Another nice 7" box set. Space Oddity and An Occasional Dream had previously been released on the 40th Anniversary 2CD set of Bowie's Philips album. The remaining tracks had so far been unreleased. It's very nice to hear, for example, Lover to the Dawn and Life Is a Circus in excellent sound quality. The general design of the box follows that of the recently released Spying through the Keyhole set.




David Bowie:

Boys Keep Swinging

(Parlophone DBBOYS 40; EU 05/2019)

Format: 7"

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with title sticker, limited edition

Tracks: Boys Keep Swinging (2017 Tony Visconti remix) // I Pray, Olé

Collector's notes: Sound and pressing are okay.



David Bowie:

Diamond Dogs

(Parlophone DB 74761; EU 05/2019)

Format: LP

Release notes: red vinyl, FOC, cover sticker, limited edition

Tracks: see original issues

Other notes: re-issue of album Diamond Dogs

Collector's notes: It's a re-issue. And it's red...



David Bowie with John 'Hutch' Hutchinson:

The 'Mercury' Demos

(Parlophone DBMD 1969; EU 06/2019)

Format: LP

Release notes: mono, box with "velvet" appliqués, picture cover, re-sealable 12" envelope with 3 prints and sheet set, stickers on cover front and back

Tracks: Space Oddity / Janine (includes Hey Jude) / An Occasional Dream / Conversation Piece / Ching-a-Ling / Letter to Hermione* // Lover to the Dawn / Love Song / When I'm Five / Life Is a Circus

Other notes: demos, home recordings; London (probably Clareville Grove), spring 1969 (probably 03/1969); *called I'm Not Quite on the cover

Collector's notes: Finally, an official version of the recordings that had previously been released on various bootlegs (most recently on My Secret Memories). However, not only is the recording complete and in the correct running order, but it is also in perfect sound quality. Of course, the price of the box was extremely high and a simpler release might have been justified, but after all, this release is worth the money!





David Bowie:

D.J.

(Parlophone DBDJ 40; EU 06/2019)

Format: 7"

Release notes: picture disc, plastic NC with title sticker, limited edition

Tracks: D.J. (2017 Tony Visconti remix) // Boys Keep Swinging*

Other notes: *live, The Kenny Everett Video Show TV show, 23/04/1979

Collector's notes: Decent pressing and sound quality and an interesting performance on the B-side.



David Bowie:

Isolar II Tour 1978 - Tokyo FM Broadcast Recording

(Parachute Recording Company PARA260LP; EU 06/2019)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, FOC

Tracks: Warszawa / "Heroes" // Fame / Beauty and the Beast / Five Years // Soul Love / Star / Hang On to Yourself / Ziggy Stardust / Suffragette City // Station to Station / TVC 15

Other notes: live, NHK Hall, Tokyo, 12/12/1978

Collector's notes: A nice release of the "semi-official" kind. It is not the entire show, but all tracks that were broadcast (on TV, not on the radio, as the title suggests). The sound quality is very good, but a bit "thin", given that this is a broadcast recording. Note that Star is listed as Stay on the cover.



David Bowie:

Space Oddity (50th Anniversary Edition)

(Parlophone DBSO 72019; EU 07/2019)

Format: 2 x 7"

Release notes: mono/stereo, box with sticker, 2 PS, 2 inserts (1 double-sided), poster, limited edition

Tracks: Space Oddity (UK mono single edit) / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud (UK mono single version) // Space Oddity (2019 mix, single edit)* / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud (2019 mix, single version)*

Other notes: *stereo, re-mixed by Tony Visconti

Collector's notes: A beautiful box. I didn't know there were pressing plants that could still produce singles with push-out centres (single 1). From a musical point of view, however, this release is superfluous: disc 1 is a re-production of the original UK single, and the re-mixes on disc 2 are not particularly interesting: Visconti has added some echo to Space Oddity, and Wild Eyed Boy doesn't sound very different.
Note that the picture of the front of the box does not truly represent the colours of the actual item: the colours are purple on silver with white text - and metallic items are difficult to scan.






David Bowie:

David Bowie

(Parlophone DBXL1/69731; EU 07/2019)

Format: LP

Release notes: blue/yellow "space" vinyl, FOC, cover sticker (plus barcode sticker), limited Paul Smith edition of 3.000

Tracks: see 1969 LP

Other notes: re-issue of 1969 Philips album

Collector's notes: A limited edition re-issue of the album from the Five Years box set, which was also separately made available (in black vinyl) in 2016. This issue was on "space vinyl", designed by designer Paul Smith, and available only at Paul Smith stores. I don't show the barcode sticker here. There are also 10 copies signed by Smith.
This is one of those releases that are rare, expensive and more or less superfluous. However, it's a really beautiful record.



David Bowie:

The Tokyo Dome 1990 - Volume One

(Roxborough ROXMB061; UK 08/2019)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, orange vinyl, limited edition of 280

Tracks: Space Oddity / Changes / TVC 15 / Rebel Rebel / Be My Wife // Ashes to Ashes / Starman / Fashion / Life on Mars?

Other notes: live, Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, 16/05/1990

Collector's notes: Another collection of material from the old Tokyo broadcast. Excellent sound quality, though it might have been copied straight from the Sounds & Visions CD box. But again, Roxborough designed a beautiful cover.
Note that a "Volume Two" doesn't seem to exist, although Roxborough might have released other albums featuring the rest of the show.



Various Artists:

Just a Gigolo - The Original Soundtrack

(Music on Vinyl MOVATM248; EU 08/2019)

Format: LP

Release notes: blue vinyl, sticker and seal on protective sleeve, limited edtion number 000006/3.000

Tracks (Bowie): The Rebels: David Bowie's Revolutionary Song (Part I) // The Rebels: David Bowie's Revolutionary Song (Part II) / The Rebels: David Bowie's Revolutionary Song (Part III)

Other notes: altered re-issue of 1979 LP

Collector's notes: An improved re-issue of the soundtrack album, which (among other things) leaves out the superfluous Village People track. The Revolutionary Song is here split into three parts.
The six-digit numbering of the LPs is a bit funny, given that there were only 3.000 copies altogether.



David Bowie:

... But I Can't Trace Time

(TIME A/B; ?? 09/2019)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, blue vinyl, limited edition sticker 60/100

Tracks: Life on Mars?* / Wake Up* / Five Years* / Queen Bitch** / Arnold Layne*** / Comfortably Numb° // Comfortably Numb*** / The Little Fat Man (with the Pug-Nosed Face)°° / Wild Is the Wind°°° / Fantastic Voyage°°°+ / Changes°°°+

Other notes: *performed with Arcade Fire, live, Fashion Rocks Radio City Music Hall, New York, 08/09/2005; **performed with Arcade Fire, live, Central Park Summerstage, New York, 15/09/2005; performed by David Gilmour featuring David Bowie, live, Royal Albert Hall, London, 29/05/2006; °performed by David Gilmour featuring David Bowie, rehearsal (excerpt), London, 29/05/2006 plus interview recorded 30/05/2006; °°from the BBC comedy Extras, 05-07/06/2006, Joe Murphy edit, called Chubby Little Loser on the cover; live, Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, 09/11/2006, +featuring Alicia Keys

Collector's notes: A nice compilation bootleg featuring most of Bowie's last live and TV appearances. Interesting tracks are the excerpts from the Comfortably Numb rehearsals and the Joe Murphy edit of The Little Fat Man.... That version first turned up on the internet and is, in fact, a kind of re-mix with additional instrumentation. It's fake, of course, but it's also nice, because it turns the fragmentary ditty into a fully-fledged song. The sound quality is mostly excellent, because lots of the songs had been officially released. The sound of the Hammerstein Ballroom recordings is so-so, but a bit better than on the older Digging into the Archives bootleg.
The month of release given here is the oldest reference to the record that I could find on the internet.



David Bowie:

Outside in Budapest - Hungary Broadcast 1997

(Iconography ICON071; EU 10/2019)

Format: CD

Release notes: bootleg, jewel case with fold-out insert and back inlay

Tracks: Quicksand / Queen Bitch / Waiting for the Man / Driftin' Blues*/The Jean Genie / I'm Afraid of Americans / Battle for Britain (The Letter) / The Man Who Sold the World / Fashion / Seven Years in Tibet / Stay / Looking for Satellites / Under Pressure / Hallo Spaceboy / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / Little Wonder / White Light/White Heat

Other notes: live, Student Island Festival, Óbudai-Sziget, Budapest, Hungary, 14/08/1997; *not listed on cover

Collector's notes: A very pleasant release. It is basically a re-issue of a more than twenty-year-old bootleg of the same name, but this "semi-legal" broadcast release, available via official shops, was much cheaper. It omits Fame, but adds the final two tracks. Although it's incomplete, it's a great show in excellent sound quality.


David Bowie:

Dallas 1978 - Isolar II World Tour

(Protos/Obiterdictum PR2LP3008; EU 10/2019)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, FOC

Tracks: Intro/What in the World* / Blackout* / Sense of Doubt* / Speed of Life*° / Hang On to Yourself* / Ziggy Stardust* // Warszawa / "Heroes" / Fame / Beauty and the Beast // Five Years / Soul Love / Star / Hang On to Yourself / Ziggy Stardust // Suffragette City / Station to Station / TVC 15

Other notes: live, NHK Hall, Tokyo, 12/12/1978, except: *live, Convention Center, Dallas, Texas, 10/04/1978; °not listed on cover

Collector's notes: A truly awful bootleg! Let's begin with the good thing: the first six tracks are actually the tracks from the Dallas gig that had previously been released on bootlegs, and they are in very good to excellent sound quality. So if you haven't had these tracks before (like me) this might be a reason to buy this release.
However, it's the only one! After all, they compiled this bootleg in the following way. They took six tracks from the Dallas show, but didn't listen closely enough to them to list them correctly. Then they used the worst tape of the Tokyo show that they could find, cut it into bits in the worst possible way, and deliberately mis-labelled the songs as being from the Dallas gig, even going as far as to call the second occurrences of Hang On to Yourself and Ziggy Stardust "reprises" - to conceil the fact that Bowie certainly didn't play the same songs twice during the same show. Note that the sound quality of the recently released Isolar II Tour bootleg of the Tokyo show is much better.
There is also a single LP picture disc issue of this record, composed of tracks from both discs. It's beautiful, but given that it isn't even a compilation of all Dallas tracks, it's absolutely superfluous.



David Bowie:

VH1 Storytellers

(Parlophone DBVH1 9919/0190295474096; EU 10/2019)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: FOC, 2 OIS

Tracks: Life on Mars? / Rebel Rebel (truncated) / Thursday's Child // Can't Help Thinking about Me / China Girl / Seven // Drive-In Saturday / Word on a Wing / Survive // I Can't Read / Always Crashing in the Same Car / If I'm Dreaming My Life

Other notes: live, Manhattan Center, New York, 23/08/1999

Collector's notes: On this vinyl re-issue of the 2009 CD/DVD issue the bonus tracks from the DVD have finally been included.




Tin Machine:

Japan 1992 - The Classic Budokan Broadcast

(Parachute Recording Company PARA299LP; EU 10/2019)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, FOC

Tracks: Sorry / Goodbye Mr. Ed / If There Is Something / Baby Universal / Crack City // I Can't Read / You Can't Talk / Stateside // Go Now / Bus Stop (Country version)* / Bus Stop / You Belong in Rock n'Roll / Debaser // Heaven's in Here (incl. In Every Dream Home a Heartache/I'm a King Bee/Boom Boom) / Shopping for Girls / Sacrifice Yourself

Other notes: live, Budokan, Tokyo, 17/02/1992?; *not listed on cover

Collector's notes: And another semi-legal broadcast bootleg. It's a soundboard recording in near-excellent quality. Decent pressing, too. This is a cheap bootleg I can really recommend!
I put a question mark after the recording date because Frifelt doubts that this is actually the show from 17/02.



David Bowie:

Small Club Broadcast - Paris Show 1999

(Parachute Recording Company PARA301LP; EU 10/2019)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, FOC

Tracks: Life on Mars? / Thursday's Child / Something in the Air // Word on a Wing / Can't Help Thinking about Me / China Girl // Always Crashing in the Same Car / Survive / Drive-In Saturday / Changes // Seven / I Can't Read / The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell / Rebel Rebel

Other notes: live, Elysée Montmartre, Paris, France, 14/10/1999

Collector's notes: This semi-legal broadcast bootleg is basically a re-issue of Hours in Paris, but for some strange reason it omits Repetition. However, for those who don't want to buy the old and expensive 2LP/DVD bootleg, this one is a nice and cheap alternative. Excellent sound and pressing.
The full show (including Repetition) was officially released on Something in the Air in 2021.



David Bowie:

Space Oddity (2019 Mix)

(Parlophone DBSPOLP50/0190295410735; EU 11/2019)

Format: LP

Release notes: FOC, die-cut cardboard slipcase, cover sticker, light blue OIS

Tracks: Space Oddity / Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed / Letter to Hermione / Cygnet Committee // Janine / An Occasional Dream / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud / Conversation Piece / God Knows I'm Good / Memory of a Free Festival

Other notes: re-issue of Man of Words/Man of Music with additional Conversation Piece, all tracks re-mixed by Tony Visconti

Collector's notes: Although the cover design is closer to that of the British Philips album, the track list omits Don't Sit Down (but adds Conversation Piece instead).
By and large, the Visconti re-mixes are close to the originals. However, An Occasional Dream sounds much livelier and more enthusiastic than the original version. Visconti did a good job here.
The pictures show the slipcase with the record, then the back of the case, the sticker, and then the cover, etc. I haven't shown the front of the slipcase without the cover because the inside of the case is plain blue.
There is also a limited number of copies in silver and in gold vinyl.




David Bowie:

Conversation Piece

(Parlophone DBCP 6869/0190295389291; EU 11/2019)

Format: 5CD

Release notes: partly mono, box with paper sheet on back, hardcover book, 5 cardboard CD sleeves

Tracks:

Home Demos

April's Tooth of Gold* / The Reverend Raymond Brown (Attends the Garden Fête on Thatchwick Green)* / When I'm Five* / Mother Grey* / In the Heat of the Morning* / Goodbye Threepenny Joe** / Love All Around** / London Bye Ta-Ta* / Angel Angel Grubby Face (version 1)*** / Angel Angel Grubby Face (version 2)*** / Animal Farm*** / Space Oddity (excerpt)° / Space Oddity (version 1)°+ / Space Oddity (version 2)°+ / Space Oddity (version 3)°°+ / Lover to the Dawn°°+ / Ching-a-Ling°°+ / An Occasional Dream°°+ / Let Me Sleep beside You°°+ / Life Is a Circus°°+ / Conversation Piece°°° / Jerusalem# / Hole in the Ground##++

The 'Mercury' Demos###+

Space Oddity / Janine (includes Hey Jude) / An Occasional Dream / Conversation Piece / Ching-a-Ling / Letter to Hermione / Love Song / When I'm Five / Life Is a Circus

Conversation Pieces

In the Heat of the Morning (Decca mono version)% / London Bye Ta-Ta (Decca alternative version)% / In the Heat of the Morning%% / London Bye Ta-Ta%% / Karma Man%% / When I'm Five%% / Silly Boy Blue%% / Ching-a-Ling / Space Oddity (alternative take)%%%+ / Space Oddity (UK single edit) / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud (single mono mix) / Janine (mono mix) / Conversation Piece / Let Me Sleep beside You§ / Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed§ / Janine§

1969 Stereo Mixes - The Original David Bowie (aka Space Oddity) Album

Space Oddity / Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed/Don't Sit Down / Letter to Hermione / Cygnet Committee / Janine / An Occasional Dream / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud / God Knows I'm Good / Memory of a Free Festival / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud (single stereo mix) / Letter to Hermione (early mix) / Janine (early mix) / An Occasional Dream (early mix) / Ragazzo Solo Ragazza Sola (full length version)

2019 Mixes - The Space Oddity Album§§

Space Oddity / Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed / Letter to Hermione / Cygnet Committee / Janine / An Occasional Dream / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud / Conversation Piece / God Knows I'm Good / Memory of a Free Festival / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud (single version) / Ragazzo Solo Ragazza Sola

Other notes: *demos, home recordings, Manchester Street, London, early 1968; **demos, home recordings, Manchester Street, London, probably early 1968; ***demos, home recordings, 1968; °demos, home recordings, Clareville Grove, London, late 1968; +with John 'Hutch' Hutchinson; °°demos, home recordings, Clareville Grove, London, 01/1969; °°°demo, home recording, Clareville Grove, London, early 1969; #demo, home recording, Clareville Grove, London, spring 1969; ##demo, home recording, Clareville Grove, London, mid to late 1969; ++ with George Underwood; ###demos, home recordings; London (probably Clareville Grove), spring 1969 (probably 03/1969); %studio recordings, Decca No. 2 Studio, London, 12/03/1968; %%Top Gear BBC programme, Piccadilly Studio 1, London, 13/05/1968; %%%studio recording, Morgan Studios, London, 02/02/1969; §Dave Lee Travis Show BBC programme, Aeolian Hall Studio 2, London, 20/10/1969; §§2019 Tony Visconti re-mixes

Collector's notes: A nice box, but (with a few exceptions) not particularly exciting, since most of the material had been available before. Disc 1 is the most interesting item of course. Most of the tracks had previously been released on the Spying through a Keyhole and Clareville Grove Demos 7" boxes from earlier the same year, but there were still some unreleased songs/versions on the disc. Note that this release solved the old puzzle of what kind of recording the excerpt from Space Oddity on the old Kiss Away the Darkest Day bootleg is: it's the intro to the previously unreleased "version 2" on this disc.
Disc 2 had been released on vinyl as The 'Mercury' Demos a few months earlier.
Disc 3 is the usual hotchpotch of radio sessions, alternative versions (including an unreleased version of Space Oddity), and single tracks. Note that London Bye Ta-Ta is not only different from the version on the Deluxe CD set of the first album, but also from that on the The Forgotten Songs of David Robert Jones bootleg.
Disc 4 is the original Philips album plus a few alternative mixes and single tracks, and disc 5 is basically the re-mixed Space Oddity album - plus re-mixed versions of Wild Eyed Boy (single version) and Ragazzo Solo.
Songs for which I haven't added information about the recording date etc. are the long-familiar versions.
The back of the box is plain white, which is why I have only shown the paper sheet. The back of the (really beautiful and informative) book is also plain white.







Lou Reed:

The Raven

(Sire/Reprise R1 48372/603497850150; EU 11/2019)

Format: 3LP

Release notes: multi-FOC, insert, sticker and generic Record Store Day sticker on shrinkwrap, limited edition of 5.000

Tracks (Bowie): - / - / - / - / - / Hop Frog

Other notes: vocals by Bowie and Lou Reed, Bowie's vocal recorded in New York, 11/2001; re-issue of 2CD edition of 2003 CD album

Collector's notes: This is the first the vinyl issue of this album, and thus the first vinyl release of Hop Frog. It's a pity that such a release has clearly audible clicks on some tracks (on my copy at least).






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