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David Bowie's third album The Man Who Sold The World will be remixed and reissued for its 50th anniversary this fall.
The album will be re-released November 6 - two days after its exact anniversary - with a new mix of nearly the entire album by original producer Tony Visconti, available on CD, LP and high-resolution digital formats. (The sole exception: Side 1 closer "After All," which Visconti felt he could not improve on.)
This release will feature a new version of the album's original American sleeve, featuring not only the original Pop Art-inspired sleeve by Mike Weller (issued after Mercury's U.S. branch declined to use a photo featuring Bowie reclining in a Michael Fish-designed dress) but the album's intended title: Metrobolist. Bowie conceived the name as a play on Metropolis, and the original master tape box still bears that name. (The packaging will also feature outtakes from the "dress" shoot as well.)
The LP pressing, on 180-gram vinyl, will feature a random distribution of color; the first 1,970 numbered copies will be pressed on white, while #1,971-2,020 will be gold.
The Man Who Sold The World found Bowie further refining his sound, with the aid of some key new collaborators in his backing band known as Hype. With Visconti on bass, Bowie picked guitarist Mick Ronson and drummer Woody Woodmansey to deliver the darker, more progressive-leaning sound heard on the album. (Within a few years, Visconti would be switched out for Trevor Bolder to create the feted "Ziggy Stardust" lineup.)
Amazon links have yet to go live, so follow this post to be informed when they do.
Metrobolist (aka The Man Who Sold The World: 50th Anniversary Edition) (originally released as Mercury SR-61325 (U.S.), 1970/6338 041 (U.K.), 1971 - reissued Parlophone, 2020)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
- The Width Of a Circle
- All The Madmen
- Black Country Rock
- After All
- Running Gun Blues
- Saviour Machine
- She Shook Me Cold
- The Man Who Sold The World
- The Supermen
All tracks except 4 remixed by Tony Visconti
The Weekend Stream: November 1, 2025
Review: David Bowie, "I Can't Give Everything Away (2002-2016)"
Did you knew the following thing about David Bowie- Metrobolist!!!
This is Totally Mis-leading by Rhino to use the Gold Vinyl as the Main Advertising photo- the likelihood of receiving a Gold copy is So remote
49 Gold Copies
1970 White copies
1 Million or More Black Copies!!!!!!!!!!!
So Basically You are 0.05% Likely to get a Gold Copy
1% Likely to get a White copy
98.95% Likely to get a Black Copy!
I took a chance and ordered from Amazon. Before the release date I was emailed that it was on backorder for 1-2 months. Not sure why as others claim to have it in stock.
I believe they are perhaps not telling the truth about the un- remixed track "After All" .
It is quite possible that the original mix was seen as being the best and " could not be improved" as the master tape for that track were missing and could not be found. There was a November 2020 deadline for release. 50th anniversary of the original US release.