On October 7, 2003, David Bowie launched A Reality Tour in support of his 23rd studio album, Reality. The tour took the legendary artist to North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and The Bahamas for 112 electrifying shows before it was curtailed due to Bowie's health. In October 2004, A Reality Tour was issued on DVD, capturing the Point Theatre, Dublin performances of November 2003. In 2010, the audio to the concerts was released on CD. On June 3 of this year, Friday Music will issue A Reality Tour on vinyl for the first time ever. The deluxe 3-record box set will have each disc on 180-gram vinyl, joining the late, great superstar's other titles in the Friday Music vinyl catalogue including Heathen, Reality, Earthling, Outside and Hours.
For A Reality Tour, Bowie was supported by a trusted cadre of musicians including Earl Slick and Gerry Leonard on guitar, Mark Plati on bass and guitar, Gail Ann Dorsey on bass and vocals, Sterling Campbell on drums, Mike Garson on piano and keyboards, and Catherine Russell on keys, percussion, guitar and vocals. Bowie led this dynamic group through a tour of his career from The Man Who Sold the World (1970) through Reality, including hits and fan favorites like "Heroes", "Ziggy Stardust", "Changes", "Fame", "Ashes to Ashes," "Life on Mars?," "All the Young Dudes," and "Rebel, Rebel" as well as collaborations "Sister Midnight" and "Under Pressure."
This limited edition release has been remastered by Friday's Joe Reagoso at Friday Music and Capitol Mastering and will be housed in a sturdy box with two poster inserts featuring the 12" x 12" front cover image and a 12" x 24" double-sided poster featuring live performance shots from the concert tour. Each LP will be pressed by R.T.I. on translucent blue vinyl with a custom David Bowie label image. The 33-track vinyl issue of A Reality Tour will feature the CD bonus tracks (not available on the original DVD) "China Girl", "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon" and "Breaking Glass." (Presumably for reasons of space, the digital bonuses of "Days" and "5:15 The Angels Have Gone" are not included.)
A Reality Tour captured David Bowie at his thrilling best as he looked back on four decades of timeless music with confidence and vivacity. Friday Music's vinyl edition arrives in stores on June 3 and can be pre-ordered at the links below!
David Bowie, A Reality Tour (Columbia/ISO 88697588272, 2010 - reissued Friday Music, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Side 1
- REBEL, REBEL
- NEW KILLER STAR
- REALITY
- FAME
- CACTUS
- SISTER MIDNIGHT
Side 2
- AFRAID
- ALL THE YOUNG DUDES
- BE MY WIFE
- THE LONELIEST GUY
- THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD
- SUNDAY
Side 3
- FANTASTIC VOYAGE
- HALLO SPACEBOY
- UNDER PRESSURE
- LIFE ON MARS?
- BATTLE FOR BRITAIN (THE LETTER)
- NEVER GET OLD
Side 4
- ASHES TO ASHES
- THE MOTEL
- LOVING THE ALIEN
- CHANGES
- I'M AFRAID OF AMERICANS
Side 5
- HEROES
- BRING ME THE DISCO KING
- SLIP AWAY
- HEATHEN (THE RAYS)
Side 6
- FIVE YEARS
- HANG ON TO YOURSELF
- ZIGGY STARDUST
- FALL DOGS BOMB THE MOON (Bonus Track)
- BREAKING GLASS (Bonus Track)
- CHINA GIRL (Bonus Track)
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Sounds like a nice package but there's nothing like listening to the whole thrilling thing in one, uninterrupted stream!
That was a fantastic, if unfortunately abbreviated, tour. David went out on top both on stage and in studio. Quite the impressive (and appropriate) feat!
They must be having a laugh surely, charging so much (presumably mainly because its coloured vinyl.)