There's more on the way from the late David Bowie and Parlophone Records, beginning with two releases slated for release on Record Store Day, April 16, 2016 and continuing with a new reissue of 1976's ChangesOneBowie set for May 20.
Record Store Day 2016 brings two picture disc releases: a 40th anniversary edition of the single "TVC15" and a reissue of The Man Who Sold the World with its original German artwork. Originally released in 1976, "TVC15" was the second single to be taken from Station To Station. "TVC15" will be issued as a double A-side single with the 2010 single edit of "Wild is the Wind," which makes its vinyl debut. The limited edition vinyl picture disc edition of 1970's The Man Who Sold the World features the striking, alternative original German LP artwork which features a winged creature with Bowie's head and hand for a body.
Then, for general retail release, ChangesOneBowie will return from Parlophone on May 20 in a 40th anniversary edition available on vinyl, CD and digital formats. Originally issued on RCA in May 20, 1976, ChangesOneBowie was the first key compilation album from the superstar artist. Collecting songs dating back to 1969, the 11-track album introduced the single "John, I'm Only Dancing" on LP alongside highlights from Bowie's remarkable string of releases: David Bowie ("Space Oddity"), Hunky Dory ("Changes"), The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars ("Ziggy Stardust," "Suffragette City"), Aladdin Sane ("The Jean Genie"), Diamond Dogs (the title track and "Rebel Rebel"), Young Americans (its title song and "Fame") and Station to Station ("Golden Years"). Note that the so-called "Sax Version" of "John, I'm Only Dancing" appeared on the earliest U.K. copies of the release, but it's likely that this reissue will feature the familiar single version that appeared on subsequent U.K. pressings and all U.S. copies.
The anthology was an immediate success upon its release, reaching No. 2 in Bowie's native United Kingdom and No. 10 in the United States. The LP was certified gold in August 1976 and platinum in September 1981. Despite its chart accomplishments, ChangesOneBowie has been relatively scarce in the CD era. RCA issued it on CD in 1985, alongside its 1981 successor ChangesTwoBowie, but it went out-of-print when Bowie's catalogue changed hands. In 1990, Rykodisc in the U.S. and EMI in the U.K. released an updated and revised compilation entitled ChangesBowie on CD, featuring 18 tracks (21 on the U.K. vinyl and cassette editions) bringing the artist's story up to 1990 with the remixed "Fame '90." Changesbowie peaked in the Top 40 of the Billboard 200 and topped the U.K. chart.
Parlophone's remastered reissue will be released on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl, CD and digital formats including Mastered for iTunes. Half of the limited edition vinyl pressing will be black, while the other half will be clear. However, the randomly-packaged vinyl color will not be mentioned on the jacket. ChangesOneBowie is due in stores on May 20. We will update with pre-order links as soon as they are active!
David Bowie, ChangesOneBowie (RCA APL1-1732, 1976 - reissued Parlophone, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada TBD)
Side 1
- Space Oddity
- John, I'm Only Dancing
- Changes
- Ziggy Stardust
- Suffragette City
- The Jean Genie
Side 2
- Diamond Dogs
- Rebel Rebel
- Young Americans
- Fame
- Golden Years
Mark Schlesinger says
And exactly who is this stuff aimed at, especially the "Changes 1" repress? There's so many more complete compilations out there.
Joe Marchese says
Reissues like CHANGESONEBOWIE are often aimed at completists (who want everything from an artist) and casual fans (who are just looking for a succinct comp of favorite songs) as well as those collectors who are nostalgic for the original LP sequences of a fondly-remembered "greatest hits" album; especially with the vinyl resurgence, I doubt we'll see any shortage of these types of classic collections on LP (even though many of those releases have, of course, been superseded on CD by more comprehensive releases).
Ben says
I guess the 'mystery clear or black vinyl' idea is a clever ruse to up the sales figures, as people who are after, say a clear copy might repeatedly buy the same thing if they keep on getting the black one.
Mind you, the odds are pretty good of getting what you want.