"Space Oddity" is among the most iconic and enduring of David Bowie's many timeless tracks. Major Tom's trek in a tin can has captured imaginations for fifty years and has become part of popular culture since it became Bowie's breakthrough single. On the heels of Parolophone's ongoing vinyl series, the label is set to release another new box set, one that celebrates the golden anniversary of "Space Oddity."
The new Space Oddity 50th Anniversary Edition single box set arrive July 12 and contains two 7" singles in new and rare illustrated picture sleeves. The first single is housed in a recreation of the original U.K. picture sleeve and Philips label, and includes the original mono single edits of "Space Oddity" and "Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud" cut from the original analog single master tape. The second single is packaged in a newly designed sleeve boasting a Ray Stevenson photograph of Bowie performing at the Save Rave '69 concert in November 1969 in front of a backdrop featuring a NASA astronaut. The disc features two new mixes of the "Space Oddity" and "Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud" prepared by Tony Visconti in March of this year.
In addition to the singles, the box set features a double-sided poster with a recreation of the original "Space Oddity" press ad on one side, and the Ray Stevenson concert photograph on the other. The set also boasts a print of an alternate shot from the Space Oddity single cover session taken by Jojanneke Classen along with an information card.
Parlophone will also release a one-track digital single of a single edit of Tony Visconti's "Space Oddity" remix on July 12, and the label promises further announcements about the anniversary of the track to follow. Watch this space for pre-order links!
David Bowie, Space Oddity: 50th Anniversary Single (Parlophone, 2019)
2x7" Single Box Set Track Listing:
Single 1:
Side A: SPACE ODDITY (Original Mono Single Edit)
Side B: WILD EYED BOY FROM FREECLOUD (Original Mono Single Version)
Single 2:
Side A: SPACE ODDITY (2019 Mix - Single Edit) 2019 mix by Tony Visconti, March 2019.
Side B: WILD EYED BOY FROM FREECLOUD (2019 Mix - Single Version) 2019 mix by Tony Visconti, March 2019.
1-Track Digital Single:
- Space Oddity (2019 Mix - Single Edit) - Tony Visconti mix, March 2019.
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Release Round-Up: Week of September 6
Where is the version of "Space Oddity" that was first issued on 1984's Love You Till Tuesday LP? It made it onto the first CD reissue of Bowie's Deram period output in 1997 but has been MIA since.
Um... Why?
Sick of being ripped off by the record companies now, this is still heaps of money which is just 2 singles and some pretty pictures. now giving this and all future releases, Parlophone are going to have to be very clever if they want to increase their sales, these mean nothing to new casual fans and hardcore Bowie fans know the worth