This week (6-16) marks the 50th anniversary of the release of David Bowie’s The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars. To commemorate the legendary album, a special streaming single of “Starman” has been released.
Bowie’s performance of the song on Top Of The Pops is now available online. His performance has been well documented via bootleg copies as well as YouTube clips.
The Top Of The Pops broadcast recording, taken from the BBC’s master, was released on the Starman 7 picture disc in 2012.
This is a very unique recording. The Musicians Union rules stated at the time, that to appear on Top Of The Pops, the artist had to re-record their track, and in this case, sing live over the top.
This new version of “Starman” takes the backing track and backing vocals, and adds the lead vocals from the album version.
Also as part of the 50th celebration, The album has been issued as a limited edition half speed mastered LP with a picture disc.
SIDE NOTES
DAVID BOWIE – THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS
SIDE ONE
- 1. Five Years – 4:42
- 2. Soul Love – 3:34
- 3. Moonage Daydream – 4:40
- 4. Starman – 4:10
- 5. It Ain’t Easy – 2:58
SIDE TWO
- 1. Lady Stardust – 3:22
- 2. Star – 2:47
- 3. Hang On To Yourself – 2:40
- 4. Ziggy Stardust – 3:13
- 5. Suffragette City – 3:25
- 6. Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide – 2.58
FAST FACTS
- The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars has in the past been mooted as both a stage play and a film.
- The album was co-produced by Ken Scott, who had previously co-produced Hunky Dory, engineered “Space Oddity and mixed The Man Who Sold The World.
- The famous cover photos were taken outside 21 Heddon Street just off Regent St in London in January 1972, where a pop-up shop was created this year to celebrate Bowie’s 75th birthday. The location was chosen as the photographer Brian Ward had his studio at 29 Heddon St.
- Only 17 shots were taken in Heddon St itself. All of these were taken in black and white and then colorized by Terry Pastor, who also colorized the photo on the cover of Hunky Dory.
- The fashion icon Kate Moss has worn four original outfits from the Ziggy Stardust period; the Kansai Yamamoto one legged jumpsuit, the red platform boots and two kimonos for Vogue magazine in 2003 and the Yamamoto ‘woodland creatures’ suit to accept a Brit Award on Bowie’s behalf in 2014.
- The signature Ziggy red hair color was applied by Suzi Fussey, who was guitarist Mick Ronson’s girlfriend. The color was Schwarzkopf Red Hot Red, and the haircut cost Bowie £2. The hair was inspired by a model dressed by Kansai Yamamoto in a 1971 issue of Honey Magazine.