Last month, Parlophone Records announced Brilliant Live Adventures, a new series of releases from the late David Bowie collecting six rare and previously unreleased live albums from the 1990s to be released in limited-edition, one-time pressings on both CD and vinyl. The first three albums have all been promised for release before Christmas, with the remaining trio due early in 2021. Ouvrez Le Chien (Live Dallas '95) was the first volume; today, the second has been announced.
No Trendy Réchauffé (Live Birmingham '95) was recorded at Birmingham's NEC (National Exhibition Centre) on December 13, 1995 - almost two months to the day after the Dallas show on Ouvrez Le Chien. The title phrase translates to No Trendy Rehash, and indeed, Bowie was in spirited, original form that evening in Birmingham. It was the final night in 1995 of the Outside Tour, and the opening night of the Big Twix Mix Show festival. Bowie marked the occasions with rare performances of Black Tie White Noise's "Jump They Say" and Outside's "Strangers When We Meet," and took the audience on an electrifying trip from past ("Moonage Daydream," "Under Pressure," "The Man Who Sold the World," "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)") to present ("I Have Not Been to Oxford Town," "The Motel," "We Prick You," "Hallo Spaceboy").
Portions of the show were aired on the BBC, and the performances of "Moonage Daydream" and "Under Pressure" would appear on the Hallo Spaceboy single as mixed by David Richards. Both versions as heard here are previously unreleased, presented as exactly as they were performed in Birmingham. The disc also features a second version of "Hallo Spaceboy," filmed as "Spaceboy" for a potential music video. While the video was never completed, The Pet Shop Boys remixed the track for single release and an alternate video was eventually made.
The concert features Bowie accompanied by Carlos Alomar on rhythm guitar, Reeves Gabrels on lead guitar and vocals, Gail Ann Dorsey on bass and vocals, Zachary Alford on drums, musical director Peter Schwartz on keyboards and synthesizers, George Simms on vocals, and Mike Garson on piano and keyboards.
No Trendy Réchauffé (Live Birmingham '95) is exclusively available for pre-order now from David Bowie's official webstore on both CD and vinyl. The expected ship date is November 18. You'll find the pre-order link and track listing below!
David Bowie, No Trendy Réchauffé (Live Birmingham '95) (Parlophone, 2020)
- Look Back in Anger
- Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
- The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (As Beauty)
- The Man Who Sold the World
- Hallo Spaceboy
- I Have Not Been to Oxford Town
- Strangers When We Meet
- Breaking Glass
- The Motel
- Jump They Say
- Teenage Wildlife
- Under Pressure
- Moonage Daydream
- We Prick You
- Hallo Spaceboy (Version 2)
David Parker says
Not impressed with the artwork. it looks more like one of those cheap public domain releases.
Brian from Canada says
Wasn't Paris 1999 released digitally first with the intention of physical release? That would be the third before Christmas, I would think.