Welcome to today's Release Round-Up! While the record biz at large isn't quite into the swing of things for 2022, today does bring two releases from the late David Bowie. Tomorrow, January 8, would have been the superstar artist's 75th birthday; while he passed away on January 10, 2016, his legacy continues to burn brightly.
David Bowie, Toy:Box (ISO/Parlophone)
3CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
6 x 10": Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Available on 3 CDs or 6 ten-inch LPs, David Bowie'sToy: Box features the same 12-track Toy album (originally slated for released in 2001 and consisting of the artist's reworkings of early-career songs) which premiered on 2021's Brilliant Adventure (1992-2001) box plus two bonus discs. The first includes the proposed B-sides (including the re-recordings of "Liza Jane" and "In the Heat of the Morning"), previously unreleased alternate mixes by Tony Visconti, and a "Tibet version" of "Silly Boy Blue" featuring Phillip Glass and Moby. The second bonus disc debuts the "Unplugged & Somewhat Slightly Electric" mix of the album plus "In the Heat of the Morning." A 16-page booklet features previously unseen photos by Frank Ockenfels III. Read more about Toy:Box here, and be back here Monday for our full review of Brilliant Adventure (1992-2001)! Also take a listen today to the streaming-only single of the Unplugged & Slightly Electric Mix of "Shadow Man." It's backed with a previously unreleased Early Version of the song which ISO/Parlophone notes was "recorded in the closing months of 1970 -- not recorded during the Ziggy Stardust album sessions as often stated."
David Bowie, Hunky Dory: 50th Anniversary Picture Disc (Parlophone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Bowie's 1972 classic Hunky Dory (featuring "Changes," "Life on Mars," "Oh, You Pretty Things," and "Andy Warhol") returns as a 50th anniversary picture disc. The 2015 vinyl remaster has been utilized for this edition. The package also includes a fold-out poster of the annotated back cover image of the album.
Greg T. says
New album from Spector dropped today - Now or Whenever. Great band out of London that hasn't had much play in the US.
Mark H. says
7 days into the new year, the Bowie "Toy" album cover has already won my ugliest cover of the year award.
David B says
just wondering why the 3 cd editions have been crossed out? i always thought there was a vinyl shortage not a cd one ???
Stephen Bruun says
Crossed out or not, I clicked on the U.S. Amazon link and it's working.
David B says
thanks .. good news then.
Larry Davis says
Got my 3CD ToyBox delivered today...nice compact square box with liftoff cover, 3 cardboard jackets inside with inner sleeves & booklet...ugly cover but artful...nice pic of Bowie on the booklet with suit on...guaranteed many will think that pic shoulda been the cover...but I think the overall package looks great...ugly art...
bowieno says
I love The Cover!!! David Trolls from the grave…BRILLIANT! He had a great sense of humor. How unsexy is it?!?! Ha ha ha!
bowieno says
Also thinking about the original Toy album, was Uncle Floyd (aka Slip Away from heathen) supposed to be included? And if so where’s that mix I believe it was leaked with the Rest of it in 201i. I think Afraid too