The Shape of Things to Come Episode 2

(MCPS BOWIE16; EU 01/2020)

Format: 7"

Release notes: bootleg, blue vinyl, limited edition no. 0824/1.000

Tracks: Silly Boy Blue* // Love You till Tuesday**

Other notes: *demo, recorded with The Lower Third, R.G. Jones Oak Studios, 31/08/1965; **demo, 1966

Collector's notes: Another semi-legal release. Silly Boy Blue is the recording previously released on the C'est la Vie bootleg. Love You till Tuesday is the acoustic demo that had been available on bootlegs since To Meet Bowie from 1982. According to the cover, this latter recording was made at Decca Studios, 12/1966, but since this bootleg is the only source for this claim, I'll file it under "unconfirmed information" for the time being.
At first sight this looks like another superfluous exploitation release, but it is, in fact, a pleasant one: the quality of the pressing is brilliant and the sound quality of both tracks is better than on all previous recordings I've heard!
Also available as a picture disc.

The Shape of Things to Come Episode 2

(MCPS BOWIE17; EU 01/2020)

Format: 7"

Release notes: bootleg, picture disc, plastic NC with sticker, limited edition

Tracks: Silly Boy Blue* // Love You till Tuesday**

Other notes: *demo, recorded with The Lower Third, R.G. Jones Oak Studios, 31/08/1965; **demo, 1966

Collector's notes: This is the picture disc issue of the record from the previous entry. Of course the sound is not as good as on the standard release, but still very good. In fact, the sound of this picture disc is much better than that of many of the official 40th Anniversary releases.

Alabama Song

(Parlophone DBALAS 40; EU 02/2020)

Format: 7"EP

Release notes: side 1: 45 rpm, side 2: 33 1/3 rpm, picture disc, plastic NC with sticker, limited edition

Tracks: Alabama Song // Joe the Lion* / Alabama Song**

Other notes: *sound check, Earls Court, London, 30/06-01/07/1978; **live, Earls Court, London, 01/07/1978

Collector's notes: Nothing exciting about this one. The exact recording date of Joe the Lion (an interesting version, by the way!) is unknown, but Alabama Song is different from the version on Welcome to the Blackout and must be from 01/07.

Is It Any Wonder?

(Parlophone/Iso DB 80120/0190295332358; EU 03/2020)

Format: LP

Release notes: OIS, limited edition of 6.000

Tracks: Baby Universal '97* / Fun (Clownboy mix)** / Stay '97*** // I Can't Read '97° / Nuts* / The Man Who Sold the World (re-recording)°°

Other notes: *studio recording, Looking Glass Studios, 08-10/1996; **studio recording, 1998; ***studio recording, The Factory, Dublin, early 1997; °dressing room recording, Madison Square Garden, New York, 09/01/1997; °°called Live Eno Mix here, recorded during the 1. Outside sessions, 1994-1995

Collector's notes: A nice release, classified as a 12" EP by some. The re-recording of Baby Universal is called Baby Universal '97, but Pegg claims that the track was re-recorded during the Earthling sessions. I Can't Read is the dubious "rehearsal" version, previously released on the Birthday Celebration bootleg. The Man Who Sold the World is again classified as a live recording on the inner sleeve.

The Lost Sessions Vol. 1

(Parachute PARA284LP; EU 05/2020)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, FOC

Tracks: Interview* / Love You till Tuesday** / When I Live My Dream** / Little Bombardier** / Silly Boy Blue** // In the Heat of the Morning** / When I'm Five** / Interview*** / Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed*** / Buzz the Fuzz° // Karma Man° / London Bye Ta-Ta° / An Occasional Dream° / The Width of a Circle° / Janine° // Fill You Heart° / The Prettiest Star° / Waiting for the Man°° / The Width of a Circle°°

Other notes: *recorded live at the Marquee, 1966; **Top Gear BBC programme, Piccadilly Studio 1, London, 18/12/1967; ***Dave Lee Travis Show BBC programme, Aeolian Hall Studio 2, London, 20/10/1969; °The Sunday Show BBC programme, Paris Cinema Studio, London, 05/02/1970; °°Sounds of the 70s: Andy Ferris BBC programme, Playhouse Theatre, London, 25/03/1970

Collector's notes: A semi-legal compilation of four radio shows (plus the familiar Marquee interview). The pressing is very good and the sound quality is up to date - that is, not better or worse than on previous releases. Not of much interest to long-time collectors, but maybe a nice additon for someone who has only got the Bowie at the Beep album. Also available in transparent and red vinyl.
Note that the first recording of The Width of a Circle is listed as The Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud on the cover (and after Janine).

The Lost Sessions Vol. 2

(Parachute PARA381LP; EU 05/2020)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, FOC

Tracks: Tired of My Life* / All the Madmen** / Queen Bitch*** // The Supermen*** / Song for Bob Dylan***# / Andy Warhol***## // Kooks° / Fill Your Heart° / Amsterdam° / Andy Warhol° // Lady Stardust°° / White Light/White Heat°°° / Starman+

Other notes: *demo, Haddon Hall, c. 05/1970; **unknown origin, possibly a fake mix; ***In Concert: John Peel BBC programme, Paris Cinema Studio, London, 03/06/1971; °Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris BBC programme, Kensington House Studio T1, London, 21/09/1971; °°Sounds of the 70s: John Peel BBC programme, Kensington House Studio T1, London, 11/01/1972; °°°Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris BBC programme, Maida Vale Studio 5, London, 23/05/1972; +recording for Lift Off with Ayshea TV show, 15/06/1972; #George Underwood on lead vocals; ##Dana Gillespie on lead vocals

Collector's notes: Part 2 of the set from the previous entry. It's a mixture of radio sessions, demos, the familiar fake mix of All the Madmen and a true gem: the recording of Stardust from the Ayshea TV show was thought to be destroyed, but a fan recording had been discovered in 2019. The sound quality is so-so, but it's nice to have this historical first TV recording of the track. Again, the album was also available in transparent and red vinyl.
Regarding the sources of the tracks there is some wrong information on the cover.

Space Oddity

(Parlophone DBSOPD 1972; EU 06/2020)

Format: LP

Release notes: picture disc, die-cut cover, insert, poster, sticker, limited edition

Tracks: see original UK issue

Other notes: re-issue of original UK issue of David Bowie (Philips album) with design based on 1972 re-issues

Collector's notes: A beautiful re-issue. Alas, the sound quality is rather poor - there's a lot of background noise.

Let's Dance

(EMI 7805; USA 07/2020)

Format: 12"

Release notes: pirate issue, 33 1/3 rpm, orange vinyl, plastic NC

Tracks: Let's Dance (album version) // Fame (Jazzy Jay remix)*

Other notes: re-issue of 2007 12"; *not listed as remix on the label

Collector's notes: I have no idea why somebody got the idea to re-issue this pirate release. It was available from regular record dealers - obviously, some distributors didn't realise its dubious nature.
The month of release is a guess; it might have been released a month earlier or later.

Tin Machine II

(Music on Vinyl MOVLP2715; EU 07/2020)

Format: LP

Release notes: silver vinyl, OIS, sticker on protective sleeve, limited edition no. MOV 009539

Tracks: see original issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1991 album

Collector's notes: Also available in black vinyl.