A series of 1969 home recordings by David Bowie will be released on vinyl on June 28.
As part of the ongoing celebrations marking 50 years since the late rocker's first hit, "Space Oddity," “The Mercury Demos” follows the recent “Spying Through A Keyhole” and “Clareville Grove Demos” collections.
The package presents ten early Bowie recordings captured live in one take to a Revox reel to reel tape machine in the singer’s London apartment in spring 1969, with accompaniment from John "Hutch" Hutchinson on guitar and vocals.
The version of "Space Oddity" – originally released with edits on the 1989 “Sound + Vision” boxed set – is presented here in its true context for the first time, while the other nine recordings are all previously-unreleased.
In addition to the Bowie originals, the session also includes the Roger Bunn composition "Life Is A Circus" (which features in an earlier demo version on the Clareville Grove Demos set) and the Lesley Duncan composition "Love Song," recorded a year later by Elton John for his 1970 album, “Tumbleweed Connection.”
“The Mercury Demos” were recorded at the request of the record label’s A&R man, Calvin Mark Lee, who presented the material to executives at the company prior to Bowie signing a recording deal with Mercury Records.
The 2019 release will come in a replica of the original tape box and will feature one LP, a print, two photo contact sheets, and sleeve notes by Mark Adams.
David Bowie
“The Mercury Demos”
Bowie with John “Hutch” Hutchinson
Release date: June 28
Side One
"Space Oddity"
"Janine"
"An Occasional Dream"
"Conversation Piece"
"Ching-a-Ling"
"I'm Not Quite (aka Letter To Hermione)"
Side Two
"Lover To The Dawn"
"Love Song"
"When I'm Five"
"Life Is A Circus"
See also:
David Bowie: Clareville Grove Demos vinyl singles box set announced
David Bowie vinyl box set to feature Space Oddity demos
VIDEO: Pearl Jam perform David Bowie classic at Wrigley Field in Chicago
David Bowie: Glastonbury 2000 live package due this fall
Search David Bowie at hennemusic
