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 hence be from the 1st July.

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 03/2020)

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).
A second part was released two months later.

No Sense of Destination

(Roxborough ROXMB055; UK 05/2020)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, blue vinyl, limited edition of 245

Tracks: Debaser / If There Is Something / Shopping for Girls / Sacrifice Yourself / Baby Universal / Bus Stop // Crack City / Under the God / Sorry

Other notes: live, Warfield Theater, San Francisco, 17/12/1991

Collector's notes: One of the musically more interesting bootlegs from Roxborough. It's a soundboard broadcast recording, but the sound quality is nonetheless a bit dull.
According to the cover the album is a numbered edition, but I can't detect any individual number on the cover or labels of my copy (the copy shown at Discogs doesn't show a number, either). The number of 245 copies is from Discogs. There is also an issue in red vinyl, which lacks the reference to a numbered edition on the cover.

Area 2 Festival - Toronto Broadcast 2002

(Sonic Boom SON0376; UK 05/2020)

Format: CD

Release notes: bootleg, jewel case with fold-out insert and back inlay

Tracks: Ashes to Ashes / Breaking Glass / Cactus / Slip Away / China Girl / I've Been Waiting for You / 5:15 The Angels Have Gone / Heathen (The Rays) / Fashion / Let's Dance / Ziggy Stardust / Everyone Says 'Hi'* / Life on Mars?* / Slow Burn** / Fame** / I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship**

Other notes: live, Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, Canada, 05/08/2002; except: *Parkinson BBC1 TV show, 19/09/2002, **Top of the Pops and TOTP2 TV shows, Kaufman Studios, New York, 02/06/2002

Collector's notes: A brilliant bootleg consisting mainly of recordings of a good-humoured Bowie from the broadcast of the Toronto gig. The sound quality of the Toronto tracks is excellent, and so is that of the two tracks from the Parkinson show. The quality of final three tracks is not as brilliant, but still very good!

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, Radio Luxembourg Studios, London, c. 11-12/1970; **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 in this 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.
Concerning the sources of the tracks there is some wrong information on the cover.

The Many Faces of David Bowie - A Journey through the Inner World of David Bowie

(Music Brokers VYN048; France 06/2020)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: red and blue vinyl, FOC, sticker on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks (Bowie): Reeves Gabrels: You've Been Around* / Dana Gillespie: Andy Warhol** / Mick Ronson: Growing Up and I'm Fine*** / Iggy Pop: Funtime° // Mick Ronson: Pleasure Man/Hey Ma Get Papa*** / Ava Cherry & the Astronettes: I Am Divine°° // Reeves Gabrels: The King of Stamford Hill* / Iggy Pop: Sister Midnight° / Ava Cherry & the Astronettes: I Am a Laser°° / -

Other notes: *Bowie on lead vocals (among others), from The Sacred Squall of Now; **see Weren't Born a Man; ***see Slaughter on 10th Avenue; °live 1977, exact date and venue not specified, featuring Bowie on keyboards and backing vocals; °°see People from Bad Homes

Collector's notes: A weird compilation, which is an abridged re-issue of a 2016 3CD set. I don't normally collect tribute albums or albums of vaguely Bowie-related items unless they include something particularly interesting that I haven't heard before. However, I've made an exception in this case, because at the time of release this was the only vinyl source of the two Gabrels tracks from The Sacred Squall of Now that feature Bowie on lead vocals.
I have only listed the tracks with direct input by Bowie - the Ronson tracks are a borderline case (see the entry of the album for reasons). For the most part, the rest consists of music by people whom Bowie collaborated with, or by people who were somehow "related" to Bowie. They even include a track by Carmen (whose relation to Bowie is that they performed a song in the 1980 Floor Show) and one by Angela Bowie... Side 4 has songs that Bowie covered or that are said to have "inspired" him in some way.
The information on the cover is extremely vague. I have no idea where and when the Iggy tracks were recorded or where the Velvet Underground's live recording of Waiting for the Man comes from.
After all, it's a strange compilation with some great and some superfluous music - but we got You've Been Around and The King of Stamford Hill on vinyl!

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 release, 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, insert, sticker on protective sleeve, limited edition no. 9.539/10.000

Tracks: see original issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1991 album

Collector's notes: A major difference to the original issue is that the band name on the cover is embossed.
The record was also available in black vinyl, and re-issued in turquoise vinyl in 2022.

I'm Only Dancing (The Soul Tour 74)

(Parlophone DBRSDLP 2020/0190295314170; EU 08/2020)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: FOC, barcode and generic Record Store Day stickers on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks: Memory of a Free Festival*/introduction / Rebel Rebel / John, I'm Only Dancing (Again) / Sorrow / Changes / 1984 // Moonage Daydream / Rock'n'Roll with Me / Love Me Do/The Jean Genie / Young Americans // Can You Hear Me / It's Gonna Be Me / Somebody Up There Likes Me / Suffragette City // Rock'n'Roll Suicide / Panic in Detroit / Knock on Wood** / Foot Stompin/Wish I Could Shimmy like My Sister Kate** / Diamond Dogs/It's Only Rock'n'Roll (but I Like It)** / Diamond Dogs**

Other notes: live, Michigan Palace, Detroit, 20/10/1974, except: **live, Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, 30/10/1974; *performed by the Mike Garson Band

Collector's notes: A great Record Store Day release. This is the first complete show of the "Phillydogs"/"Soul" tour released in decent sound quality. The sound is not exactly as good as that of "normal" live albums, but much better than the bootleg material previously released - comparable to that of the legendary 1972 Santa Monica album.

Changes Now

(Parlophone/Iso CNBLP 2020/0190295332747; EU 08/2020)

Format: LP

Release notes: OIS, 2 generic Record Store Day stickers on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks: The Man Who Sold the World / Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) / White Light/White Heat / Shopping for Girls // Lady Stardust / The Supermen / Repetition / Andy Warhol / Quicksand

Other notes: recorded at Looking Glass Studios, New York, 11/1996

Collector's notes: A nice collection of mostly acoustic recordings. According to Pegg there was a radio session recording called ChangesNowBowie. I guess this is the session he refers to. Pegg claims that it was recorded in January 1997, but I've decided to go for the date listed on the cover. Note that the entire session had previously been released on the Falling Up through the Years bootleg.

In the Beginning

(Reel to Reel BOWIE19; UK 08/2020)

Format: LP

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

Tracks: That's a Promise* / Silly Boy Blue* / Love You till Tuesday** / Over the Wall We Go*** / Let Me Sleep beside You° / Karma Man°° // Love You till Tuesday°°° / When I Live My Dream°°° / Little Bombardier°°° / Silly Boy Blue°°° / In the Heat of the Morning°°°

Other notes: *demos, recorded with The Lower Third, R.G. Jones Oak Studios, 31/08/1965; **demo, 1966; ***demo, 12?/1966; °early mix with partly different vocals, 1967; °°official version with additional count-in; °°°Top Gear BBC programme, Piccadilly Studio 1, 18/12/1967

Collector's notes: From a musical point of view, this album wasn't necessary, especially because it was very similar to the recently released Davie Jones... and Other Stories Vol. 3, but it's really beautiful, which is why I bought it. The sound quality is astonishingly good for a picture disc - in fact, it's much better than that of the recently released official Space Oddity picture disc.
The record says that both Love You till Tuesday and Over the Wall We Go were recorded at Decca Studios in December 1966. Given the similar, slightly "cavernous" sound of the recordings it is not implausible that they are actually from the same source (and hence the same session).

Changes Live

(Roxborough ROXMB051; UK 08/2020)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, clear vinyl, limited edition no. 193/295

Tracks: Five Years* / Life on Mars?** / Time*** / Rebel Rebel° / Changes°° // Young Americans°°° / Sound and Vision+ / Shopping for Girls++ / Joe the Lion+++ / We Prick You#

Other notes: *live, NHK Hall, Tokyo, 12/12/1978; **live, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Canada, 13/07/1983; ***live, Entertainment Centre, Sydne, 03/11/1987; °Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, 16/05/1990; °°live, Sambodromo de Rio, Rio de Janeiro, 20/09/1990; °°°Santiago de Chile, Chile, Rock in Chile Festival, 27/09/1990, +live, River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 29/09/1990; ++performed by Tin Machine, live, Budokan, Tokyo, 17/02/1992; +++live, Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, Missouri, 11/10/1995; #Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, California, 21/10/1995

Collector's notes: A re-issue of a compilation bootleg of live broadcast recordings that had previously been released in 2018.
It's nice to listen to, but all of the material had been available elsewhere before. As so often in the case of Roxborough releases, the best thing is the cover, which is even more beautiful than the black and white design of the original issue.

Standing in the Wind - Montreal Forum 1983

(Roxborough ROXMB054; UK 08/2020)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, red vinyl, limited edition no. 191/295

Tracks: Cat People (Putting Out Fire) / TVC 15 / Fame / Star // Stay / The Jean Genie / I Can't Explain / Modern Love

Other notes: live, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Canada, 13/07/1983

Collector's notes: Another broadcast bootleg from Roxborough. Excellent sound quality, but not really interesting from a musical point of view. There is a re-issue (from the same year) on clear vinyl and in a different cover.
The cover claims that the tracks were recorded on the 12th, but the general consensus is that it was the show from the 13th that was recorded and broadcast.

Outside Tour - Live '95

(Protus/Obiter Dictum PRPD3003; UK 10/2020)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, picture disc, die-cut cover, insert

Tracks: The Hearts Filthy Lesson / I Have Not Been to Oxford Town / Outside / Andy Warhol / The Man Who Sold the World / Teenage Wildlife // Look Back in Anger* / The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (as Beauty)* / Breaking Glass* / We Prick You* / A Small Plot of Land* / Under Pressure*

Other notes: live, Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, USA, 11/10/1995; except: *live, Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, California, 21/10/1995

Collector's notes: A nice bootleg in decent sound and pressing quality, and with an astonishingly appropriate and tasteful design. The St. Louis recordings had previously been available on Live. Inside. The recordings from Mountain View were new to me, but tracks from that show had also been released on various bootlegs in recent years.
The country of release is based on the fact that Discogs lists the The Very Best - Live at the Montreal Forum 1983 (which is also made by Protus) as a UK release.
The record was later re-released on coloured vinyl (red with white dapples - more issues might exist).

Young Americans

(Parlophone DB 74 764; EU 10/2020)

Format: LP

Release notes: gold vinyl, insert, cover sticker and barcode sticker, limited edition

Tracks: see original issue

Other notes: re-mastered re-issue of 1975 album

Collector's notes: It's golden...

Sounds + Visions - The Legendary Broadcasts

(Coda/MCPS CPLBVNY001; Italy 10/2020)

Format: 2 x 10"LP

Release notes: bootleg, gold vinyl, FOC, limited edition of 1.000

Tracks: Space Oddity* / Changes / Starman / Life on Mars?* // Ziggy Stardust / The Jean Genie / Rebel Rebel / Young Americans // Fame / Sound and Vision / "Heroes" / Fashion // Ashes to Ashes / Let's Dance / Modern Love

Other notes: live, Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, 16/05/1990, except: *live, Santiago de Chile, Chile, Rock in Chile Festival, 27/09/1990

Collector's notes: Excellent sound and pressing, but apart from this it's a musically superfluous release. All the tracks had already been included in the 2017 6CD set of the same name by the same publisher. I only bought it because a double 10" by Bowie was quite unusual.
The record can be identified as an Italian pressing by the generic SIAE sticker on the shrinkwrap.

Ouvrez le Chien (Live Dallas 95) / Brilliant Live Adventures box

(Parlophone/Iso DBBLALP 95991/0190295232917, box: Parlophone/Iso DBBLALP9599/0190295189365; EU 10/2020)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: FOC, limited edition

Tracks: Look Back in Anger / The Hearts Filthy Lesson / The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (as Beauty) // I Have Not Been to Oxford Town / Outside / Andy Warhol / Breaking Glass // The Man Who Sold the World / We Prick You / I'm Deranged / Joe the Lion // Nite Flights / Under Pressure / Teenage Wildlife

Other notes: live, The Starplex Amphitheater, Dallas, 13/10/1995

Collector's notes: Let me begin with the music: this was a great release - it was the first officially released recording of a show from that tour. Full stop!
But let's get to the circumstances of the release: Parlophone's release policy was getting weirder and weirder. The album was announced as part of a six-album set called Brilliant Live Adventures. A box for the the six double or triple sets was sold separately, at the same time as this first double album. The box sold out before the actual album! Without being online constantly you hardly had a chance to get a copy. However, together with the last issue from the series, another run of boxes was released. My copy is from this issue - I don't know if there are any differences to the first issue. Be that as it may, the relatively low number of copies of albums released, makes the whole thing rather ridiculous: the only ones who profited from this were the sellers on Ebay...
By May 2021 Parlophone seemed to have realized that this policy caused a lot of anger among collectors: by e-mail they asked former customers who might be interested in further copies to subcribe for such a second run of pressings. This is why I replaced the original "limited edition of 4.000" by a simple "limited edition" in all entries of the albums from the series. We can only hope that Parlophone learned something from this...
Note that I count the six albums as separate releases because they were released at different times.

The Turning - Kate's Diary

(KRO/Music on Vinyl MOVATM279; EU 10/2020)

Format: LP

Release notes: marbled red vinyl, embossed cover, plastic wallet with 2 stickers and seal sticker, limited edition: 566/2.500

Tracks (Bowie): American Landfill // -

Other notes: performed by Kristeen Young feat. David Bowie; Bowie's vocal recorded mid-2002, Looking Glass, Studio B, New York

Collector's notes: The "Bowie track" on this album is not particularly interesting. It's a song based on samples of Bowie's vocals for Saviour from Young's 2003 album Breasticles.
Note that the colour of the vinyl is lighter than in the scan.

Metrobolist (Nine Songs by David Bowie)

(Parlophone METROBOLIST 6/0190295198787; EU 11/2020)

Format: LP

Release notes: FOC, OIS, cover sticker and barcode sticker

Tracks: see album The Man Who Sold the World

Other notes: re-issue of 1970 album The Man Who Sold the World; all tracks 50th Anniversary mix by Tony Visconti

Collector's notes: A re-mixed re-issue of the album, released under the title that was originally intended. The Visconti re-mix is most obvious on the original title track. If such a re-mix was actually necessary is a matter of taste...
There are also 1.970 copies in white vinyl and 50 copies in gold vinyl, all of which are hand-numbered on the label and distributed in the (by now) familiar "lottery" way: you don't know which version is inside the shrinkwrap. A strange distribution policy... I don't show the back of the inner sleeve, because it's plain white.
I've read that some parts of the cover had to be "re-constructed", for instance the "Metrobolist" title design, of which the original was lost. Obviously, they also had problems with re-constructing the back cover: the large space between the speech bubble and the lyrics indicates that they used a 1970s counterfeit as a pattern. Thanks to Gianni Marzola for pointing this out to me.

No Trendy Réchauffé (Live Birmingham 95)

(Parlophone/Iso DBBLALP 95992/0190295198701; Germany 11/2020)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: FOC, limited edition

Tracks: 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)

Other notes: live, The National Exhibition Centre Hall 5, Birmingham, UK, 13/12/1995

Collector's notes: Another great recording from the strange Brilliant Live Adventures series. What is really odd about this show is that Bowie played Hallo Spaceboy twice! Moonage Daydream and Under Pressure had previously been released on the Hallo Spaceboy CD single.
An interesting aspect about this record is that it says "Made in Germany". For many years there hadn't been an official record cover with that imprint.

Outside in Budapest

(Parachute PARA392LP; EU 11/2020)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, FOC

Tracks: Quicksand / Queen Bitch / Waiting for the Man / Driftin' Blues*/The Jean Genie // I'm Afraid of Americans / Battle for Britain (The Letter) / The Man Who Sold the World / Fashion // Seven Years in Tibet / Stay / Looking for Satellites / Under Pressure // Hallo Spaceboy / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / Little Wonder / White Light/White Heat

Other notes: vinyl re-issue of 2019 bootleg CD, live, Student Island Festival, Óbudai-Sziget, Budapest, Hungary, 14/08/1997; *not listed on cover

Collector's notes: A nice vinyl issue of the CD bootleg. Excellent sound and pressing.

Live in Japan 1990

(Reel to Reel BOWIE20; EU 12/2020)

Format: 3LP

Release notes: bootleg, blue vinyl, multi-FOC, limited edition: 476/500

Tracks: Space Oddity / Changes / TVC 15 / Rebel Rebel / Be My Wife // Ashes to Ashes / Starman / Fashion / Life on Mars? // Blue Jean / Let's Dance / Stay/band introduction* / China Girl // Sound and Vision / Ziggy Stardust / Station to Station / Young Americans // Suffragette City / Fame / "Heroes" / Panic in Detroit // Pretty Pink Rose / Modern Love / The Jean Genie/Gloria / Rock'n'Roll Suicide

Other notes: live, Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, 16/05/1990; *not listed on cover

Collector's notes: Material from this broadcast had been released as early as 1990 on the Sound + Vision Japan 90 bootleg. This recording of the broadcast seems to be the same version as that on the Sounds & Visions - The Legendary Broadcasts CD bootleg, which would explain that the audience noise fades out and in between Ziggy Stardust and Station to Station - on the CD set this is the point where CD 1 stops and CD 2 sets in.
The intro to Space Oddity is missing and the sound quality could be a bit better, but is still excellent - and so is the pressing. So despite its flaws this is a nice set for those who like to have the entire show on vinyl.
There is also a red vinyl issue of 1.000 copies.

Mother

(Parlophone/Iso DB 80147/0190295273293; Germany 01/2021)

Format: 7"

Release notes: PS, limited edition: 2.557/7.147

Tracks: Mother* / Tryin' to Get to Heaven (single edit)**

Other notes: *studio recording, New York 08/1998; **studio recording, 02/1998

Collector's notes: A nice release of two tracks that had been circulating on bootlegs before. There were 1.000 further copies (numbers up to 1.000) in cream vinyl. The total number of the 8.147 copies represented Bowie's birthday.
I originally wondered why Tryin' to Get to Heaven is called a "single edit". Previously released versions weren't longer, but, as Robert Steeden pointed out to me, a version that is over six minutes long is available via digital streaming.

The Shape of Things to Come Episode 3

(MCPS BOWIE24; EU 01/2021)

Format: 7"

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

Tracks: Let Me Sleep beside You* // Karma Man**

Other notes: *early mix with partly different vocals, 1967; **official version with additional count-in

Collector's notes: It's a beautiful picture disc, and that's the reason I bought it. From the musical point of view it's pointless, since this single series turns out to be something like "Collect-the-In the Beginning-album-on-singles".

The Shape of Things to Come Episode 4

(MCPS BOWIE26; EU 01/2021)

Format: 7"

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

Tracks: When I Live My Dream // In the Heat of the Morning

Other notes: Top Gear BBC programme, Piccadilly Studio 1, 18/12/1967

Collector's notes: Another beautiful picture disc, and apart from that all my remarks in the previous apply to this release, too.

Liveandwell.com

(Parlophone/Iso DBBLALP 95993/019029523196; Germany 01/2021)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: FOC, 2 OIS, limited edition

Tracks: I'm Afraid of Americans* / The Hearts Filthy Lesson** / I'm Deranged*** // Hallo Spaceboy° / Telling Lies*** / The Motel*** / The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (as Beauty)° // Battle for Britain (The Letter)* / Seven Years in Tibet* / Little Wonder* // Pallas Athena*** / V-2 Schneider***

Other notes: vinyl re-issue of 1st disc of 2000 CD album with bonus tracks; *live, GQ Awards, Radio City Music Hall, New York, 15/10/1997; **live, Phoenix Festival, UK, 18/07/1996; ***live, Paradiso, Amsterdam, 10/06/1997; °live, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 02/11/1997

Collector's notes: The third release from the Brilliant Live Adventures series. Pallas Athena and V-2 Schneider had previously been released on the Tao Jones 12". According to the cover, the recording details of The Hearts Filthy Lesson are unknown, but it is from the 1996 Phoenix Festival, according to Pegg.

Unplugged and Slightly Phased - Acoustic Broadcasts 1996

(Parachute PARA356LP; EU 01/2021)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, FOC

Tracks: Introduction/Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) / The Jean Genie / I'm a Hog for You, Baby / I Can't Read // The Man Who Sold the World / "Heroes" / Let's Dance // Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)* / The Jean Genie/You and I and George* / I Can't Read* // The Man Who Sold the World* / China Girl* / "Heroes"* / White Light/White Heat*

Other notes: live, Bridge School Benefit, Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, California, 19/10/1996; except: *live, Bridge School Benefit, Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, California, 20/10/1996

Collector's notes: Basically a re-issue of CD bootlegs like Fuck You All Night Long, but it omits Helpless.
Although it's nice to have a vinyl issue of these acoustic shows and some of the semi-legal Parachute releases were great, this one was a disappointment. The omission of Helpless isn't a great loss, since Bowie was practically inaudible in the chorus anyway, but the sound quality is quite inferior to that of the above-mentioned CD bootleg. Not to mention the inappropriate cover photo...
And please don't ask me about the strange numbering policy of Parachute Records: this album was almost certainly released after Outside in Budapest, but has a much lower catalogue number.

Station to Station

(Parlophone DB 74766/0190295140625; EU 01/2021)

Format: LP

Release notes: white vinyl, insert, replica of generic inner sleeve, sticker and bar code sticker on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks: see original issues

Other notes: re-issue of 1976 album

Collector's notes: Another one from the "colour lottery series": half of the records were white and half of them were red. The record is basically identical to the one from the Who Can I Be Now? box (except for the vinyl colour and the stickers, of course).
I haven't shown the bar code sticker and the replica of the inner sleeve, because I don't even show these in the case of original releases. Since the back of the insert is plain white, I haven't shown that, either.

Station to Station

(Parlophone DB 74766/0190295140625; EU 01/2021)

Format: LP

Release notes: red vinyl, insert, sticker and bar code sticker on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks: see original issues

Other notes: re-issue of 1976 album

Collector's notes: Red vinyl version of the above release. Same cover, cover stickers, insert and labels as in that entry.
Strangely, this copy lacks the (superfluous) replica of the original inner sleeve. Instead, it includes a second, but different, plain white plastic-padded inner sleeve.

David Bowie

(Deram/UMC 351 732-3; Czechia 01/2021)

Format: LP

Release notes: mono, picture disc, die-cut cover, download insert, limited edition

Tracks: see original German issue

Other notes: mono re-issue of the Deram album

Collector's notes: A beautiful re-issue of Bowie's first album. The pressing is okay, and thankfully they used the original mono mix from the UK version of the original LP.

Look at the Moon

(Parlophone/Iso DBBLALP 95994/0190295198671; Germany 01/2021)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: multi-FOC, "Made in Germany" sticker on cover, limited edition

Tracks: Quicksand / The Man Who Sold the World / Driftin' Blues/The Jean Genie / I'm Afraid of Americans // Battle for Britain (The Letter) / Fashion / Seven Years in Tibet // Fame / Looking for Satellites / Under Pressure // The Hearts Filthy Lesson / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / Hallo Spaceboy // Little Wonder / Dead Man Walking / White Light/White Heat // O Superman / Stay

Other notes: live, Phoenix Festival, Long Marston, 20/07/1997

Collector's notes: The fourth release from the Brilliant Live Adventures series. A great show and the first official release of any version of O Superman, which had previously been circulating only on bootlegs.

Cosmic Dancer

(Parlophone R 6483/0190295142254; Germany 02/2021)

Format: 7"

Release notes: bar code sticker on shrinkwrap

Tracks: David Bowie & Morrissey: Cosmic Dancer* // Morrissey: That's Entertainment

Other notes: *live, Inglewood Forum, Los Angeles, 06/06/1991

Collector's notes: An interesting release, although Bowie's impromptu performance is far below his standards. File under... er... "historical recordings".

LA Forum '78

((LA FORUM 78); USA 03/2021)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, marbled blue vinyl, poster, limited edition of 100

Tracks: Warszawa / "Heroes" / What in the World / Be My Wife // The Jean Genie / Blackout / Sense of Doubt / Speed of Life / Breaking Glass / Beauty and the Beast / Fame // Five Years / Soul Love / Star / Hang On to Yourself / Ziggy Stardust / Suffragette City / Rock'n'Roll Suicide // Art Decade / Station to Station / Stay / TVC 15 / Rebel Rebel

Other notes: live, Forum, Los Angeles, 04/04/1978

Collector's notes: This is the same show as on the Slaughter in the Air bootleg. However it is based on an alternative, clearly superior audience tape, probably the one made by legendary concert taper Mike Millard, which had surfaced some years earlier. Furthermore, the show is more complete than on the old bootleg, since it includes the opening track Warszawa.
There are also copies in red and green (100 copies each), and black (without the poster).
I'm not sure about the exact month of release, but the earliest reference to the album that I could find dated from April 2021. Then an avid collector of Bowie bootlegs presented his copy on the web, so that it was probably released one or two months earlier.

50th Birthday Broadcast - 1997 Acoustic Celebration

(Parachute PARA404LP; EU 03/2021)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, FOC

Tracks: interview* / The Man Who Sold the World / The Supermen / interview* // Andy Warhol / Repetition / interview* // Lady Stardust / White Light/White Heat / interview* / Shopping for Girls // interview* / Quicksand / Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) / interview*

Other notes: recorded at Looking Glass Studios, New York, 11/1996; except: *interview recorded 01/1997

Collector's notes: The music on this album is the same as on the recently released official Changes Now album (hence the recording date of the music). So I wouldn't call this an essential release. However, it's not superfluous, either. This album comprises the entire broadcast, so the tracks are embedded in the interview that accompanied them - including birthday greetings by numerous other musicians. Pressing and sound quality are excellent!
Note that the only reason why I classify this album as a bootleg is the presence of the interview. If this wasn't included, the record would be a pirate release.

Something in the Air (Live Paris 99)

(Parlophone/Iso DBBLALP 95995/0190295253158; Germany 03/2021)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: FOC, limited edition

Tracks: Life on Mars? / Thursday's Child / Something in the Air // Word on a Wing / Can't Help Thinking about Me / China Girl // Always Crashing in the Same Car / Survive / Drive-In Saturday / Changes / Seven // Repetition / I Can't Read / The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell / Rebel Rebel

Other notes: live, Elysée Montmartre, Paris, France, 14/10/1999

Collector's notes: Number five in the Brilliant Live Adventures series. This show had previously been available on bootlegs like Hours in Paris, but it's a nice release nonetheless.

At the Kit Kat Club (Live New York 99)

(Parlophone/Iso DBBLALP 95996/0190295178024; Germany 04/2021)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: FOC, "Made in Germany" sticker on cover, limited edition

Tracks: Life on Mars? / Thursday's Child / Something in the Air // China Girl / Can't Help Thinking about Me / Always Crashing in the Same Car // Survive / Stay / Seven // Changes / The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell / I'm Afraid of Americans

Other notes: live, Kit Kat Club, New York, 19/11/1999

Collector's notes: The sixth and last release of the Brilliant Live Adventures series. Another one that had previously been available on bootlegs (although I never had any of these).

The Width of a Circle

(Parlophone 10WOAC 50; Germany 05/2021)

Format: 10"EP

Release notes: textured cover, OIS

Tracks: The Prettiest Star (original version, 2020 mix) / London Bye Ta-Ta (re-recorded version, 2020 mix) // Memory of a Free Festival (single version, 2020 mix)* / Holy Holy (original version, 2020 mix)

Other notes: all tracks re-mixes; *part 1 and part 2 blended into one another

Collector's notes: Some of the re-mixes are quite nice, although they use a bit too much reverb.

The Width of a Circle

(Parlophone CDWOAC 50; Germany 05/2021)

Format: 2CD

Release notes: mostly mono, textured book-shaped digipak with book

Tracks: Amsterdam* / God Knows I'm Good* / Buzz the Fuzz* / Karma Man* / London Bye Ta-Ta* / An Occasional Dream* / The Width of a Circle* / Janine* / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud* / Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed* / Fill Your Heart* / The Prettiest Star* / The Cygnet Committee* / Memory of a Free Festival* // When I Live My Dream** / Columbine** / Harlequin (a.k.a. The Mirror)** / Threepenny Pierrot** / When I Live My Dream (reprise)** / The Prettiest Star (original version, alternative mix) / London Bye Ta-Ta (re-recorded version) / London Bye Ta-Ta (re-recorded version, stereo mix)+ / Memory of a Free Festival (single version, part 1)+ / Memory of a Free Festival (single version, part 2)+ / Holy Holy (original version) / Waiting for the Man*** / The Width of a Circle*** / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud*** / The Supermen*** / The Prettiest Star (2020 mix)+ / London Bye Ta-Ta (2020 mix)+ / Memory of a Free Festival (single version, 2020 mix)°+ / All the Madmen (single edit, 2020 mix)+ / Holy Holy (original version, 2020 mix)+

Other notes: mono, except: +stereo; *The Sunday Show BBC programme, Paris Cinema Studio, London, 05/02/1970; **from the movie The Looking Glass Murders, recorded 01/02/1970, Gateway Theatre, Edinburgh; ***Sounds of the 70s: Andy Ferris BBC programme, Playhouse Theatre, London, 25/03/1970; °part 1 and part 2 blended into one another

Collector's notes: A great compilation of recordings from 1970. The Sunday Show session, which had previously been released on bootlegs like Janine, was here officially released for the fist time. It's more complete than the bootleg versions, since it includes Wild Eyed Boy... (which had been available on Bowie at the Beep before). The only track still missing is Waiting for the Man, which was not broadcast. And, as explained in the book, the original master tape is lost, so that this release is based on Tony Visconti's off-air recording of the show. This also explains the sound quality, which is far from perfect, but still much better than that of the earlier bootlegs.
The second really interesting aspect is the inclusion of the tracks from The Looking Glass Murders, most of which had previously been released on The Forgotten Songs of David Robert Jones. Interestingly, the sound quality of these tracks was minimally better on that old bootleg!
If you like the rest of the stuff depends on how many old singles and bootlegs you've got and on your opinion on re-mixes and re-masters...

The Man Who Sold the World

(Parlophone DBMANPD 1972/0190295132934; Germany 05/2021)

Format: LP

Release notes: picture disc, die-cut cover, sticker on shrinkwrap, insert, poster

Tracks: see original issue

Other notes: picture disc re-issue of 1970 album with the design of the 1972 issue

Collector's notes: The first picture disc with this design. It's nice - and the sound is quite good for a picture disc.

The Very Best - Live at the Montreal Forum 1983 - Serious Moonlight Tour

(Protus/Obiter Dictum PRPD3010; UK 05/2021)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, picture disc, die-cut cover, insert

Tracks: Lavender Blue*/"Heroes" / Young Americans / Rebel Rebel / Let's Dance / Life on Mars? / Ashes to Ashes / Modern Love // Golden Years / Space Oddity/band introduction / Station to Station / Fame / The Jean Genie

Other notes: live, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Canada, 13/07/1983; *not listed on cover

Collector's notes: A semi-legal collection of songs that had been released on numerous (official and unofficial) records before. The sound quality is so-so, and the record has several pops on side 2. But it's beautiful. As in the case of Standing in the Wind, the cover gives the wrong recording date.

On My TVC 15

(Reel to Reel BOWIE28; EU 07/2021)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, picture discs, plastic FOC with sticker, limited edition of 500

Tracks: Young Americans medley*° / Fame* / Can You Hear Me*° // Stay** / Five Years** / Funtime*** / Sister Midnight*** // The Man Who Sold°° / Boys Keep Swinging°° / TVC 15°° / Life on Mars?°°° / Ashes to Ashes°°° // Nite Flights+ / Black Tie White Noise+ / Strangers When We Meet++ / The Hearts Filthy Lesson+++

Other notes: *Cher TV show, 23/11/1975, °duet with Cher; **Dinah Shore TV show, 03/01/1976; ***performed by Iggy Pop featuring Bowie, Dinah Shore TV show, 15/04/1977; °°Saturday Night Live TV show, 15/12/1979, featuring Klaus Nomi; °°°Tonight TV show, 03/09/1980; +Tonight TV show, 13/05/1993; ++Tonight TV show, 27/10/1995; +++The Late Show with David Letterman TV show, 26/09/1995

Collector's notes: A nice compilation of TV material that had previously been available on other bootlegs. The sound quality and the pressing are okay for a picture disc set. The cover is made quite cleverly: the plastic sleeve folds out into a kind of gatefold cover into which the records are inserted on the inside.
The exact release date of this record is difficult to determine. Discogs lists the picture disc set as a 2020 release, but most webshops say it was released in July 2021. There are occasional earlier references (including some sales on Discogs that even date back to February and March 2021), but I suppose these were pre-orders. There are also non-picture issues in blue vinyl and in green vinyl.

Run Piper Run - Rare Studio and Live Recordings 1963-2004

(Casino Records; Italy? 09/2021)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, marbled yellow vinyl, FOC, limited edition sticker on protective sleeve: 242/300

Tracks: I Never Dreamed*¹ / It's True My Love*² / How Can I Forget You*² / I Live in Dreams*² / Bunny Thing*³ / Funny Smile*³ / Pussy Cat*³ / Please Mr. Gravedigger°/Silly Boy Blue*⁴ / Run Piper Run*⁵ / The Laughing Gnome⁶ / Waiting for the Man⁷ / Space Oddity⁸ / Kooks⁹ / Amsterdam⁹ / Bombers*¹⁰ // Changes¹⁰ / Hang On to Yourself*¹¹ / Starman*¹¹ / Moonage Daydream*¹¹ / It's Only Rock'n'Roll (but I Like It)¹² / Can You Hear Me¹³ / Can You Hear Me¹⁴ / After Today¹⁴ // People on Streets¹⁵ / Let's Dance¹⁶ / Let's Dance¹⁷ / Bang Bang¹⁸ / Day-In Day-Out¹⁸ // Look Back in Anger¹⁹ / Repetition²⁰ / Little Wonder²¹ / Queen Bitch²² / "Heroes"²³

Other notes: *fragment; °not listed on cover; ¹performed by the Kon-Rads with Bowie on lead vocals, demo, early 1963; ²demos, 1965; ³studio recordings, Decca Studios, West Hampstead, 26/01-08/03/1967; ⁴studio recording, Decca Studios, West Hampstead, 14/11/1966-01/03/1967; ⁵demo, 1967-1968; ⁶alternative version with additional gnome voices from the "version 2" acetate, Decca Studios, West Hampstead, 26/01-08/03/1967; ⁷performed by The Riot Squad, studio recording, Decca Studios, 05/04/1967, false start; ⁸demo (version 2), home recording with John Hutchinson, Clareville Grove, London, late 1968; ⁹demos, Radio Luxembourg Studios, London, 06/1971; ¹⁰live, Glastonbury Fayre Festival, Glastonbury, 23/06/1971; ¹¹alternate takes recorded during the Ziggy Stardust sessions, Trident Studios, London, 09/07/1971-04/02/1972; ¹²performed by The Rolling Stones, featuring David Bowie on backing vocals, early version recorded at Ron Wood's house, Richmond, London, late 1973; ¹³live, USA, 08/10-30/11/1974, exact date and venue unknown; ¹⁴alternate versions, Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, 08/1974; ¹⁵performed by Queen & David Bowie, early version of Under Pressure, Mountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland, 07/1981, ¹⁶demo, Mountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland, 18/12/1982; ¹⁷Nile Rodgers' String version; ¹⁸live, press conference, Paradiso, Amsterdam, 30/03/1987; ¹⁹live, Intruders at the Palace benefit, Dominion Theatre, London, 01/07/1988; ²⁰dressing room recording, 09/01/1997; ²¹Danny Saber Unplugged mix, from an in-house CD; ²²live, Ruisrock Festival, Turku, Finland, 29/06/1997, truncated; ²³live, Hurricane Festival, Scheessel, Germany, 25/06/2004

Collector's notes: A really interesting compilation bootleg! The sound quality ranges from "okay" to excellent, and the pressing is almost flawless. And so is the cover, which claims that the record was made in the USA. However, I doubt that the comments on the inside were written by a native speaker of English... I suspect that this is an Italian release.
The first side consists mainly of fragments that have been made available to promote the sale of rare acetates and tapes at auctions. Even if these are only "snippets", it's nice to have them all compiled on one vinyl record. The one that's particularly interesting is I Never Dreamed, which is the first known recording by Bowie. Note that the Please Mr. Gravedigger bit in track 8 is only a few bell sounds familiar from the official release. The Laughing Gnome is a different take than the fragment on the C'est la Vie bootleg set, and it's in full length. Waiting for the Man is the version from the official The Toy Soldier EP, but has the additional false start, as on the C'est la Vie bootleg. Space Oddity isn't very interesting, since it is an edit of "version 2" from the Conversation Piece box set. Kooks and Amsterdam are the same versions as on the 1983 Used Up and Empty bootleg, although they are not easy to identify. The tracks run too slow on the older bootleg, and the sound quality is "different": it's not better or worse, but the tracks have definitely been taken from a different source. Decide for yourself which versions you prefer.
Bombers from Glastonbury is definitely incomplete, but Changes appears to be a complete, albeit very short version. The snippets from the Ziggy sessions aren't really exciting, and It's Only Rock'n'Roll isn't, either. I'm willing to believe that this is the version featuring Bowie, and the sound quality is quite good, but since Jagger's vocals overpower the backing vocals, Bowie can hardly be identified.
Contrary to what the cover claims, the studio version of Can You Hear Me is not unreleased, but identical to the version on the The Gouster album from the Who Can I Be Now? box set, with some additional studio talk. The complete alternative version of After Today, however, is interesting, since most unreleased versions of this track are just fragments.
Possibly the most exciting track from this album is People on Streets, a very early version of Under Pressure, which, as I must admit, was new to me. The demo of Let's Dance, however, is only an edit of the version officially released on the 2018 12", but it has the additonal spoken intro. There's little to say about the rest, except that "Heroes" had previously been available on Man, I'm in Danger, but is here presented in soundboard quality.
I suppose that the number of 300 copies refers only to records in yellow vinyl.

"Rockpalast" - June 22, 1996

(Radio Sound Broadcast RSP 1009; EU 10/2021)

Format: 2LP/12"

Release notes: bootleg, white, silver and gold vinyl, 1 side etched, box, 3 covers, limited edition of 300

Tracks: Look Back in Anger / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / Diamond Dogs / The Hearts Filthy Lesson // Outside / Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) (incl. On Broadway*/All Day and All of the Night*/Where Have All the Good Times Gone*) / Andy Warhol / The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (as Beauty) // The Man Who Sold the World / Telling Lies / Baby Universal / Hallo Spaceboy // Breaking Glass / We Prick You / Jump They Say / Lust for Life / Under Pressure // "Heroes" / band intro* / White Light/White Heat / Moonage Daydream / All the Young Dudes

Other notes: live, Loreley, Sankt Goarshausen, Germany, 22/06/1996; *not listed on covers

Collector's notes: Another bootleg of the famous Loreley show. It seems to be of the "semi-legal" type and was released soon after the 25th anniversary of the show. Maybe the copyright had run out? Not surprisingly, the sound quality is excellent, comparable to that of the earlier vinyl issue. However, it's still not as good as on the older Telling Lies CD bootleg. Be that as it may, it's a beautiful release.
As usual, I classify the one-sided third LP as a 12". The covers don't have a spine, so that they could alternatively be regarded as printed inner sleeves. The design of all three A-side labels is identical.

Brilliant Adventure [1992-2001]

(Iso/Parlophone 090295253462 (DBXL 5); Germany 11/2021)

Format: 16LP/2 x 12"

Release notes: 16 LPs and 2 one-sided LPs (back etched), structured cardboard box with paper sheet on back, cover sticker, 7 covers (2 x FOC), 18 OIS, 2 booklets, book, limited edition

Tracks:

Black Tie White Noise

(Iso/Parlophone DB 92011)

The Wedding / You've Been Around / I Feel Free // Black Tie White Noise / Jump They Say / Nite Flites // Pallas Athena / Miracle Goodnight / Don't Let Me Down & Down // Looking for Lester / I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday / The Wedding Song

The Buddha of Suburbia

(Iso/Parlophone DB 92012)

Buddha of Suburbia / Sex and the Church / South Horizon // The Mysteries / Bleed like a Craze, Dad // Strangers When We Meet / Dead against It / Untitled No. 1 // Ian Fish, U.K. Heir / Buddha of Suburbia (featuring Lenny Kravitz on guitar)

1. Outside

(Parlophone DB 92013)

Leon Takes Us Outside / Outside / The Hearts Filthy Lesson / A Small Plot of Land // Segue - Baby Grace (A Horrid Cassette) / Hallo Spaceboy / The Motel / I Have Not Been to Oxford Town // No Control / Segue - Algeria Touchshriek / The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (as Beauty) / Segue - Ramona A. Stone/I Am with Name / Wishful Beginnings // We Prick You / Segue - Nathan Adler¹ / I'm Deranged / Thru' these Architects Eyes / Segue - Nathan Adler² / Strangers When We Meet

Eart hl i ng

(Iso/Parlophone DB 92014)

Little Wonder / Looking for Satellites / Battle for Britain // Seven / Dead Man Walking / Telling Lies // The Last Thing You Should Do / I'm Afraid of Americans / Law (Earthlings on Fire)

Hours...

(Iso/Parlophone DB 92015)

see 2015 vinyl issues

BBC Radio Theatre, London, June 27 2000³

(Iso/Parlophone DB 92016)

Wild Is the Wind / Ashes to Ashes / Seven // This Is Not America / Absolute Beginners / Always Crashing in the Same Car // Survive / The London Boys / I Dig Everything / Little Wonder // The Man Who Sold the World / Fame / Stay // Hallo Spaceboy / Cracked Actor / I'm Afraid of Americans /All the Young Dudes // Starman / "Heroes" / Let's Dance

Toy⁴

(Iso DB 82017)

I Dig Everything* / You've Got a Habit of Leaving* / The London Boys* / Karma Man* // Conversation Piece* / Shadow Man* / Let Me Sleep beside You* / Hole in the Ground // Baby Loves that Way* / Can't Help Thinking about Me* / Silly Boy Blue* / Toy (Your Turn to Drive)

Re:Call 5

(Iso/Parlophone DB 92017)

Real Cool World⁵ / Jump They Say⁶ / Lucy Can't Dance / Black Tie White Noise⁷ // Don't Let Me Down & Down⁸ / Buddha of Suburbia⁶ / The Hearts Filthy Lesson⁷ / Nothing to Be Desired / Strangers When We Meet⁹* / Get Real // The Man Who Sold the World¹⁰ / I'm Afraid of Americans¹¹ / Hallo Spaceboy¹² / I Am with Name¹³ / A Small Plot of Land¹⁴ // Little Wonder¹⁵ / Seven Years in Tibet¹⁶ / Dead Man Walking⁹ / Seven Years in Tibet⁹ / Planet of Dreams¹⁷ // I'm Afraid of Americans¹⁸ / I Can't Read¹⁹ / A Foggy Day in London Town²⁰ / Fun²¹ / The Pretty Things are Going to Hell²² // Thursday's Child⁷ / We All Go Through²³ / No One Calls / We Shall Go to Town / 1917 // The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell⁹ / Thursday's Child²⁴ / New Angels of Promise²⁴ / The Dreamers²⁴ / Seven²⁵ // Survive²⁶ / Something in the Air²⁷ / Seven²⁶ / Pictures of Lily

Other notes: called ¹Segue - Nathan Adler Pt. 1 and ²Segue - Nathan Adler Pt. 2 on the cover; ³re-issue of bonus album to Bowie at the Beep CD set with bonus tracks, live, BBC Radio Theatre, London, 27/06/2000; ⁴recorded at Sear Sound Studios, New York, Looking Glass Studios, and Alice's Restaurant, New York, 5-10/2000; ⁵full length album version, slightly different mix; ⁶single version; ⁷radio edit; ⁸Indonesian vocal version; ⁹edit; ¹⁰re-recorded ("live") version from the 1. Outside sessions; ¹¹Showgirls soundtrack version; ¹²re-mix featuring Pet Shop Boys; ¹³longer re-mix; ¹⁴longer Basquiat soundtrack version from an in-house promo CD; ¹⁵new edit, claimed to be the single edit; ¹⁶Mandarin version; ¹⁷performed by David Bowie & Gail Ann Dorsey; ¹⁸V1 edit; ¹⁹The Ice Storm long version; ²⁰performed by David Bowie and Angelo Badalamenti; ²¹Bowienet mix; ²²Stigmata soundtrack version; ²³new mix; ²⁴Omikron - The Nomad Soul version; ²⁵demo; ²⁶Marius de Vries mix; ²⁷American Psycho remix; *re-recorded versions

Collector's notes: The fifth box set. The most interesting aspects are the inclusion of the extended BBC Radio Theatre album and Toy. As regards differences in mixes and edits, I would again like to thank the guys from the IdbD forum. I guess I wouldn't have noticed all the subtle differences.
Notes on the individual albums:

Black Tie White Noise: double album version that is neither musically identical to the original vinyl version, nor to the CD versions: it adds The Wedding, but omits Lucy Can't Dance, which has been shifted to the Re:Call 5 album.
The album comes with two printed inner sleeves, of which the back is plain black (which is why I don't show the backs). In addition, there are two plain inner sleeves. I wouldn't even mention these, if there wasn't the strange fact that one is black and one is white.

The Buddha of Suburbia: comes as a double album with two printed inner sleeves. Not surprisingly, the sound quality of this first official vinyl release is much better than that of the single LP bootleg versions.

1. Outside: as regards the distribution of the tracks over the sides, this release is identical to the first vinyl issue. The only reason that I listed the tracks (instead of just referring to that release) is that the two Nathan Adler segues are again titled in a different way.
Unlike the earlier vinyl issue, this one comes without a gatefold sleeve, but with two printed inner sleeves and a booklet.

Earthling: unlike earlier vinyl issues, this one comes with the tracks distributed over three sides. The second disc is a one-sided album (which I count as a 12" single) with an etched back. The album comes in a gatefold cover (where the records are inserted on the inside) and two printed inner sleeves.

BBC Radio Theatre, London, June 27 2000: an extended version of the original CD version, and hence one of the most interesting items from this box set. It comes with three printed inner sleeves. Alas, the pressing of disc 3 of my copy isn't very good (clicks and pops) - which is a disappointment in the case of such an expensive record.

Toy: finally, there was the overdue official release of this album. Not surprisingly, the sound quality is slightly better than on earlier bootleg releases, and it even includes the previously unavailable re-recordings of Karma Man and Can't Help Thinking about Me. However, the album included in this box set is definitely not the Toy album as it was originally intended to be released: it omits Liza Jane, In the Heat of the Morning (which were included in the 2022 standalone release, however) and the two tracks of which there were re-recordings on Heathen: Uncle Floyd (a.k.a. Slip Away) and Afraid. So the bootlegs weren't made superfluous by this album.
The mixes of the previously released tracks seem to be the Visconti mixes from the (CD) singles. The mixes of the previously unreleased but leaked tracks aren't much different from those of the bootlegs, although there are occasional subtle differences.
Like Earthling, the album is three-sided and has an etching on side 4. Comes with two printed inner sleeves.

Re:Call 5: the album has four printed inner sleeves. As regards the music, it's the usual mixture of previously released mixes, demos, alternative versions and non-album tracks. There are some surprises, though. An intended one is A Small Plot of Land, which is a version previously unreleased. But there are some accidental surprises, too: We All Go Through and Real Cool World are not the versions that the cover claims them to be, but previously unreleased mixes. And Little Wonder is an unreleased edit, too.
But, by and large, this Re:Call issue is a disappointment: it lacks the Tao Jones tracks and the live tracks from the Hours... singles. These had been released on recent live albums, but but the saddest omission is that of the several live songs from various artists compilations of the time!

Live Aid - Wembley Stadium, London, England, 13 July 1985

((no number); Italy? 11/2021)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, white marbled vinyl, number correction sticker on cover back, limited edition: 317/340

Tracks: introduction* / Queen enter the stage / Bohemian Rhapsody** / Radio Ga Ga** / Ay-Oh** / Hammer to Fall** / Crazy Little Thing Called Love** / We Will Rock You** / We Are the Champions** / introduction*** / Is This the World We Created?° // introduction / TVC 15°° / Rebel Rebel°° / Modern Love°° / "Heroes"°° / Do They Know It's Christmas?°°°

Other notes: live, Live Aid Concert, Wembley Arena, London, 13/07/1985; *by Mel Smith & Griff Rhys Jones; **performed by Queen; ***by John Hurt; °performed by Freddie Mercury & Brian May; °°performed by David Bowie; °°°performed by Band Aid

Collector's notes: To this point this was the best vinyl bootleg of Bowie's Live Aid performance. It's taken from the soundboard recording, but still not perfect: the sound could still be better and there are superfluous gaps between the tracks.
As so often this bootleg was available in different colours: 100 copies in red, 100 in purple, 120 in white (plus 20 "test pressings").

Rock'n'Roll with Me

((RNR-4 A); Netherlands? 11/2021)

Format: 12"

Release notes: bootleg, 33¹/₃ rpm, red vinyl, one-sided, etched back, OIS, fold-out insert, generic round colour sticker and limited edition sticker on protective sleeve: 261/300

Tracks: Rock'n'Roll with Me (take 1) / Rock'n'Roll with Me (take 2) / Rock'n'Roll with Me (take 3) / Rock'n'Roll with Me (take 4) / Rock'n'Roll with Me (take 5)

Other notes: studio outtakes/rehearsals, Olympic Studios, London, 09/01/1974

Collector's notes: A very nice release. These outtakes, which also include a lot of studio banter and are in brilliant sound quality, show the genesis of the track. They are from a tape auctioned in late 2019, and turned up on the internet as early as spring 2020. This is not the first vinyl bootleg with these tracks - there was also a 7" box set - but it's a really beautiful one. The etching of the B-side (fifth picture) is well done, and in addition to the generic inner sleeve it includes a printed one. The insert folds out into a kind of little poster. I don't show the colour sticker, since it is simply a little round red sticker. There were also 300 copies in blue vinyl.
Note that I classify this record as a 12" single because it only comprises five versions of the same song and has a running time of a bit more than twenty minutes.

Hunky Dory

(Parlophone DBHDPD 21; Germany 01/2022)

Format: LP

Release notes: picture disc, die-cut cover, insert, poster, sticker on shrinkwrap

Tracks: see original issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1971 LP

Collector's notes: Another picture disc. Not really exciting, but beautiful.

Toy

(Iso/Parlophone 0190296773259 (LPTOYBOX 1); Germany 01/2022)

Format: 3 x 10"LP

Release notes: box, 3 covers, 6 company inner sleeves, booklet, cover sticker, limited edition

Tracks:

Toy

(Iso/Parlophone 0190296773259-1)

I Dig Everything* / You've Got a Habit of Leaving* / The London Boys* // Karma Man* / Conversation Piece* / Shadow Man* // Let Me Sleep beside You* / Hole in the Ground // Baby Loves that Way* // Can't Help Thinking about Me* / Silly Boy Blue* / Toy (Your Turn to Drive)

Toy - Alternatives & Extras

(Iso/Parlophone 0190296773259-2)

Liza Jane* / You've Got a Habit of Leaving*° / Baby Loves that Way*° // Can't Help Thinking about Me*° / I Dig Everything*° / The London Boys (alternative version)* // Silly Boy Blue (Tibet version)*°° / In the Heat of the Morning* / Let Me Sleep beside You*° / Conversation Piece*° // Hole in the Ground° / Shadow Man*° / Toy (Your Turn to Drive)°

Toy - Unplugged & Somewhat Slightly Electric**

(Iso/Parlophone 0190296773259-3)

In the Heat of the Morning / I Dig Everything / You've Got a Habit of Leaving // The London Boys / Karma Man / Conversation Piece // Shadow Man / Let Me Sleep beside You / Hole in the Ground / Baby Loves that Way // Can't Help Thinking about Me / Silly Boy Blue / Toy (Your Turn to Drive)

Other notes: recorded at Sear Sound Studios, Looking Glass Studios, and Alice's Restaurant, New York, 5-10/2000, except: °°recorded at Looking Glass studios, New York, 2001; *re-recording; °alternative mix by Tony Visconti; **Unplugged & Somewhat Slightly Electric mix

Collector's notes: The standalone version of Toy contains some additional material like Liza Jane and In the Heat of the Morning. The alternative mixes had mostly been previously released as single B-sides etc. The Unplugged... mixes are quite interesting, in some cases they might be better than the actual album versions.
The inner sleeves of all three albums are identical, and so is the front and back of each inner sleeve. The actual Toy album has green labels, whereas the albums with additional material have black labels.

Low

(Parlophone DB 77821/0190296726798; EU 01/2022)

Format: LP

Release notes: orange vinyl, title sticker on cover back, insert, replica generic inner sleeve, 2 stickers (plus barcode sticker) on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks: see original issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1977 LP

Collector's notes: It's orange...
Apart from the vinyl colour, this is a re-issue of the album from the A New Career in a New Town box set. This means it has an additional replica of the original generic company inner sleeve, which I don't show here. I don't show the barcode sticker, either.

Kingston Polytechnic 6 May, 1972 - In Concert

((Poly A-D); EU 02/2022)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, limited edition of 300

Tracks: Intro/Hang On to Yourself / Ziggy Stardust / The Supermen / Queen Bitch / Song for Bob Dylan / Changes // Starman / Five Years / Space Oddity / Andy Warhol // Amsterdam / I Feel Free / Moonage Daydream / White Light/White Heat // You Got to Have a Job (If You Don't Work - You Can't Eat) / Suffragette City / Rock'n'Roll Suicide / Waiting for the Man

Other notes: live, Kingston Polytechnic, London, 06/05/1972

Collector's notes: Some copies come with a sticker on the cover back that says there are 300 copies in black vinyl. So I suppose there are also copies in other colours.
Basically, this double set is a re-issue of Live at the Kingston Polytechnic 7th May '72 - Volume One and Volume Two.
However, the distribution of tracks over the sides is different, and so is the sound quality: it sounds like a downgrade to me! I had hoped for an upgrade, but I don't see the point in this release (except, of course, that the old bootlegs had become rather rare).

The Gouster

(Sigma Sound Records SSR45-001/002/003; UK 03/2022)

Format: 3 x 7"

Release notes: bootleg, 33 1/3 rpm, red, blue and clear vinyl, die-cut envelope cover, 3 covers, 2 postcards, limited edition card: 16/200

Tracks: Shilling the Rubes / Young Americans (takes 1 & 2) // I Am a Laser / Young Americans (take 3) // After Today (alternative take) / Sweet Thing*

Other notes: studio recordings, Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, 13/08/1974; except: *lead vocals by Ava Cherry, studio recording, Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, 09/07/1974

Collector's notes: An expensive, but truly fantastic release! In 2009 a reel-to-reel tape of these recordings (minus the Ava Cherry track) had been sold, and snippets from the songs had since been released on bootlegs such as C'est la Vie and Ain't that Close to Love. However, here the songs were included in full length for the first time.
The most interesting tracks are, of course, the two previously unreleased ones, Shilling the Rubes and I Am a Laser. The latter is called Lazer a.k.a. The Gouster on the record, but I have decided to use the name from the official Ava Cherry album. "Take 1" of Young Americans is just a 20-second intro, after which the band immediately starts with take 2, which is interesting, not only because it is considerably slower than the final version, but also because the lyrics are still incomplete. The final track is not really necessary. It would make good bonus track on the above-mentioned Ava Cherry album, and belongs in the Contributions section, rather than in the main catalogue.
The sound quality of the set is excellent, and so is the pressing. The design of the cover adds to the positive impression. The right-hand margin of Bowie's hat functions as a flap to close the envelope cover, which has a printed inside. The records come in three beautifully designed individual covers, and even the limited edition card has a printed back.
There is also a limited edition of 13 (!) copies in a reel-to-reel tape box. If I get it right, that version also includes the same singles in silver vinyl. If you need such things...
Needless to say that soon after this release CD and LP bootlegs turned up that contained the same tracks. I guess that they were based on the copies of this bootleg that were available on Youtube - but that's only speculation.

Montreux Jazz Festival - The 2002 Broadcast

(X-Ray XRY2CD005; UK 04/2022)

Format: 2CD

Release notes: bootleg, jewel case with fold-out insert and back inlay

Tracks: Sunday / Life on Mars? / Ashes to Ashes / Cactus / Slip Away / China Girl / Starman / I Would Be Your Slave / I've Been Waiting for You / Stay / Changes / Fashion / Fame / I'm Afraid of Americans / 5:15 The Angels Have Gone // "Heroes" / Heathen (The Rays) / Everyone Says 'Hi' / Hallo Spaceboy / Let's Dance / Ziggy Stardust / Warszawa / Speed of Life / Breaking Glass / What in the World / Sound and Vision / Art Decade / Always Crashing in the Same Car / Be My Wife / A New Career in a New Town / Subterreneans

Other notes: live, Montreux Jazz Festival, Auditorium Stravinski, Montreux, Switzerland, 18/07/2002

Collector's notes: A nice bootleg in excellent sound quality. The entire show had previously been available on other bootlegs and the Low part of the show had been separately released on Low/Montreux. However, this semi-legal release was the first bootleg that was widely available at a decent price.

Utterly Pissed Off

(ROM 96; Italy 04/2022)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, orange vinyl, limited edition no. 82/100

Tracks: Look Back in Anger / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / The Hearts Filthy Lesson / Outside / Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) / The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (as Beauty) // The Man Who Sold the World / Hallo Spaceboy / Breaking Glass / Telling Lies / Jump They Say / Under Pressure / "Heroes"

Other notes: live, Live Link Festival, Olympic Stadium, Rome, 09/07/1996

Collector's notes: The sound quality of this broadcast recording is excellent. However, the tracks are edited at the beginning and/or end, and sometimes an Italian radio DJ is talking over the music. Maybe that's the reason why this material hadn't been released on a bootleg before.
According to the cover, only 4.000 tickets for this show had been sold, which was the reason that Bowie shortened the setlist, so that this show was probably the shortest of the tour.
There are also 50 copies on green vinyl. Oddly, the cover back of this issue says "Limited edition of 100 copies on turquoise vinyl".
Not surprisingly, in early 2024 (or late 2023) there was a semi-legal release of this show on the notorious Parachute label, stretched over four sides.

Tin Machine II

(Music on Vinyl MOVLP2715; EU 04/2022)

Format: LP

Release notes: transparent turquoise marbled vinyl, insert, sticker on protective sleeve, limited edition no. 598/5.000

Tracks: see original issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1991 album

Collector's notes: Except for the vinyl colour this release is identical to the 2020 issue.

Toy E.P. - You've Got It Made with All the Toys

(Iso/Parlophone 0190296704/DBTOYRSD 2022; Germany 04/2022)

Format: 10"LP

Release notes: OIS, sticker (and generic Record Store Day sticker) on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks: You've Got a Habit of Leaving (radio edit)* / Shadow Man (vocal and piano mix)* / Silly Boy Blue (alternative ending mix)* // Can't Help Thinking about Me** / I Dig Everything*** / The London Boys***

Other notes: *recorded at Sear Sound Studios, Looking Glass Studios, and Alice's Restaurant, New York, 5-10/2000; **live, Mark Radcliffe BBC radio show, Maida Vale Studio, London, 25/10/1999; ***live, Roseland Ballroom, New York, 19/06/2000

Collector's notes: A Record Store Day release. Toy, Toy and Toy without end... The live tracks are nice, but more re-mixes wouldn't have been necessary (in my humble opinion).

Brilliant Adventure EP

(Iso/Parlophone 0190296670510/DBBARSD 2022; Germany 04/2022)

Format: 12"

Release notes: OIS, sticker (and generic Record Store Day sticker) on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks: Johnny Downloader (a.k.a. I'm Afraid of Americans) (early version)* / I Have Not Been to Oxford Town (alternative single mix)** // A Small Plot of Land*** / My Death***

Other notes: *probably recorded during the 1. Outside sessions, Hit Factory, New York, 01/1995; **recorded during the 1. Outside sessions, Hit Factory, New York, 01/1995; ***live, Shakespeare Festival, The Grand Ballroom, The Manhattan Center, New York, 18/09/1995

Collector's notes: The most interesting track on this Record Store Day release is, of course, the early version of I'm Afraid of Americans, which has different lyrics (and a rather different sound, too). According to the inner sleeve, which doesn't give any recording date, the only musicians involved were Bowie, Brian Eno and David Richards. Although this isn't the the usual line-up of the Outside sessions, I suppose that this song was also recorded during those sessions, especially because the original version of the finished track (as on the Showgirls soundtrack) was also recorded then.
Since I Have Not Been to Oxford Town had never been released as a single, I suppose that the "alternative" in "alternative single mix" refers to the differences to the standard studio version.

In the White Room - The Classic 1995 Transmission

(Parachute PARA484LPLTD; EU 06/2022)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, clear vinyl, FOC, sticker on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks: introduction / Look Back in Anger / The Hearts Filthy Lesson // The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (as Beauty) / Under Pressure (take 1) / Under Pressure (take 2) // Hallo Spaceboy / Boys Keep Swinging / Jump They Say // We Prick You / The Man Who Sold the World / Teenage Wildlife

Other notes: live, Westway Studios, London, 14/12/1995, recorded for radio broadcast

Collector's notes: Another typical semi-official broadcast release; excellent pressing and sound quality. According to the cover sticker the vinyl cover may vary, so that pressings in other colours might exist. The introduction isn't music, but just a bit of spoken introductory text. Under Pressure is listed as two takes, since Gail All Dorsey has problems with her bass, so that they have to interrupt the song and start again.
This bootleg had previously been available on both CD and vinyl under different titles. At least one of these, called The Lady's Bass Went Off (for the reasons mentioned above), had more tracks. This is particularly interesting, because according to Pegg much fewer songs than even those included here were recorded that day.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

(Parlophone DBZSPD 2022/0190296459573; Germany 06/2022)

Format: LP

Release notes: picture disc, insert, poster, sticker on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks: see original issues

Other notes: re-issue of 1972 LP

Collector's notes: 50th anniversary re-issue.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

(Parlophone DBZS 50/019029631453; Germany 06/2022)

Format: LP

Release notes: half-speed master, OBI, OIS, sticker on shrinkwrap

Tracks: see original issues

Other notes: re-issue of 1972 LP

Collector's notes: Another 50th anniversary re-issue. If fact, I can't say that the half-speed master sounds any better than a good, well-preserved original issue.
The cover comes with an insert folded around the spine, similar to a Japanese OBI.

Area 2 Festival - Toronto Broadcast 2002

(Parachute PARA490LPLTD; EU 06/2022)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, white vinyl, FOC, sticker on shrinkwrap, limited edition

Tracks: Ashes to Ashes / Breaking Glass / Cactus / Slip Away // China Girl / I've Been Waiting for You / 5:15 The Angels Have Gone / Heathen (The Rays) // Fashion / Let's Dance / Ziggy Stardust / Everyone Says 'Hi'* // Life on Mars?* / Slow Burn** / Fame** / I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship**

Other notes: live, Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, Canada, 05/08/2002; except: *Parkinson BBC1 TV show, 19/09/2002, **Top of the Pops and TOTP2 TV shows, Kaufman Studios, New York, 02/06/2002

Collector's notes: A nice vinly re-issue of the Area 2 CD bootleg. Same excellent sound quality as on that release.
As in the case of the In the White Room bootleg, the sticker claims that the vinyl colour can vary, so that other colours might exist.

Changes Eno

(Pearl Asylum PEARLALP009; UK 06/2022)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, orange vinyl, limited edition no. 122/200

Tracks: Warszawa* / Boys Keep Swinging** / Look Back in Anger*** / We Prick You° / The Hearts Filthy Lesson°° // "Heroes"* / Red Sails°°° / Hallo Spaceboy+ / I Have Not Been to Oxford Town°

Other notes: *live, NHK Hall, Tokyo, 12/12/1978; **Saturday Night Live TV Show, 15/12/1979; ***rehearsal, Sound Stage, Las Colinas, Dallas, 27/04/1983; °live, Shoreline Ampitheater, Mountain View, California, 21/10/1995; °°The Late Show with David Letterman TV show, 26/09/1995; °°°live, Forum, Montreal, Canada, 13/07/1983; +live, Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, 11/10/1995

Collector's notes: A semi-legal release of live and TV tracks whose original versions were related to Brian Eno in some way. What sounded like an interesting concept turned out to be a rather uninspired mixture of songs in good to very good, but rarely excellent sound quality. According to the cover, the Letterman track was recorded on the 25th, but according to Pegg it was on the 26th.
After all, the best thing about this album is the cover. I should stop buying such stuff...
Note that the album is also available in blue vinyl. That edition has a different, but also beautiful cover.

The Arsenio Hall Show E.P.

(Rocks Lane CLIFF 12EP009; UK 07/2022)

Format: 12"

Release notes: bootleg

Tracks: Jump They Say / interview // Black Tie White Noise / Pallas Athena

Other notes: live, The Arsenio Hall Show US TV show, 06/05/1993

Collector's notes: An interesting bootleg. Since Bowie didn't do a tour for the Black Tie White Noise album, this is one of the rare contemporary live performances of material from that album. Excellent sound and pressing.

Transition - On Air 1967-'71

(Rockwell RWLP069; UK 08/2022)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, blue vinyl, mostly mono, limited edition no. 060

Tracks: Love You till Tuesday* / In the Heat of the Morning* / Little Bombardier* / Silly Boy Blue* / When I Live My Dream* / Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed** // Waiting for the Man*** / The Width of a Circle*** / Queen Bitch° / The Supermen° / Kooks°°

Other notes: *Top Gear BBC programme, Piccadilly Studio 1, 18/12/1967; **Dave Lee Travis Show BBC programme, Aeolian Hall Studio 2, London, 20/10/1969; ***Sounds of the 70s: Andy Ferris BBC programme, Playhouse Theatre Studios, London, 25/03/1970; °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

Collector's notes: Another compilation of BBC sessions in excellent sound quality; all tracks except Kooks are mono. Note that contrary to what the cover says, Kooks is not from the June session, but from the one recorded in September. In fact, anything else would have been strange: why should two of three songs from a session be in mono, and the third in stereo?
This record doesn't offer anything new, so it would be absolutely superfluous if there wasn't the beautiful cover, which is a mock-up of the The World of David Bowie album cover. They even printed a (fake) stereo/mono hole on the back. The copies are hand-numbered on the B-side label, but I don't know how many copies there are altogether.
There is another issue on white vinyl in an equally beautiful, but slightly different cover.

"Heroes"

(Parlophone DB 77822; EU 10/2022)

Format: LP

Release notes: grey vinyl, insert, sticker on shrinkwrap

Tracks: see original UK issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1977 album

Collector's notes: It's a 45th anniversary issue. And it's grey.

Never Get Old

(POUGH A/B/C/D; Italy 10/2022)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, yellow vinyl, FOC, limited edition of 125 (in yellow)

Tracks: Reality / Modern Love / New Killer Star / Cactus / Battle for Britain (The Letter) // Pablo Picasso / Afraid / Fall Dog Bombs the Moon / Sister Midnight / I'm Afraid of Americans // She'll Drive the Big Car / Suffragette City / Fantastic Voyage / band introduction* / Never Get Old // The Man Who Sold the World / Rebel Rebel / Hang On to Yourself / Heathen (The Rays)

Other notes: live, The Chance Theater, Poughkeepsie, New York, 19/08/2003; incorrect distribution of tracks on cover; *not listed on cover

Collector's notes: A very good audience recording of a "warm-up show" for the A Reality tour. While the recording is nice - albeit a bit dull - the pressing is unusually bad for a bootleg from this source. I can live with the occasional click, but there are countless minor pops, which are audible in quieter parts.
There were 125 copies on yellow vinyl, 125 on orange vinyl, 100 picture discs, and 15 white label "test pressings".

Live Radio Recording Sessions - Live Rock - Live in Chile 1990

(Philpot Lane Records PH 8182; Italy 10/2022)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg

Tracks: Space Oddity / Life on Mars? / Rebel Rebel / Ashes to Ashes / Stay // Pretty Pink Rose / Blue Jean / Let's Dance / Sound and Vision / Ziggy Stardust // China Girl / Panic in Detroit / Young Americans / Suffragette City / Fame // "Heroes" / Changes / White Light/White Heat / The Jean Genie/Baby What You Want Me to Do*/Gloria / Fashion / Modern Love

Other notes: Santiago de Chile, Chile, Rock in Chile Festival, 27/09/1990; *not listed on cover

Collector's notes: Another semi-legal radio broadcast bootleg, but a nice one. The show had previously been released on CD bootlegs, the cheapest one had been the Sounds & Visions box set from 2017. Parts of the show had been released on various vinyl bootlegs, but for all I know this album was the first vinyl issue of the entire show. I wouldn't wonder if it had been copied straight from the above-mentioned Sounds & Visions set. The sound quality and the pressing are very good.
It is a bit difficult to say what the exact title of the album is, but I've decided to call it Live in Chile 1990 in the index.

Full American Bowie

(FAB-01 A/B/C/D; Italy 11/2022)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, clear vinyl, FOC, limited edition of 125 (in clear)

Tracks: Intro 1 (Wilhelm Tell Overture) / Intro 2 (Ode to Joy) / Hang On to Yourself / Ziggy Stardust / Changes / Moonage Daydream // Panic in Detroit / Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) / Watch that Man / Five Years // The Width of a Circle / My Death / Space Oddity // Time / Suffragette City / The Jean Genie / Rock'n'Roll Suicide

Other notes: live, Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, 10/03/1973

Collector's notes: This album is an extended re-release of the classic The All American Bowie bootleg, which was one of the first Bowie bootlegs ever. The original single LP issue, which had been based on the same reel-to-reel tape, had already had quite a good sound quality for an audience recording from that time, but as regards the nine tracks from that issue, the sound quality is even slightly better here. The acoustic My Death almost sounds like a soundboard recording. Hang On to Yourself, Moonage Daydream, Watch that Man and Space Oddity have a comparable sound quality, although the latter is incomplete - the intro is missing, so that it starts with the "lift-off". But, alas, the last two tracks are absolutely unlistenable: there are lots of abrupt volume changes, static noise and drop-outs. According to the cover, this is due to microphone problems, but I don't believe this, since it doesn't affect only the vocals, but the entire music. It sounds like heavy tape damage. So, after all, you get the show in slightly better sound quality and, leaving aside the intros, four listenable additional songs, of which one isn't complete. Decide for yourself if you need this album.
There were 150 copies on red vinyl, 125 on clear vinyl, 30 on splatter vinyl, and 10 numbered white label "test pressings".

The Next Day Extra EP

(Iso/Columbia/Legacy 19439978101; EU 11/2022)

Format: LP

Release notes: OIS, cover sticker

Tracks: Atomica / Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich mix by James Murphy for the DFA) / The Informer // I'd Rather Be High (Venetian mix) / Like a Rocket Man / Born in a UFO / God Bless the Girl

Collector's notes: A pleasant release for Record Store Day Black Friday. All of these tracks had previously been released on the deluxe version of The Next Day, but they were here available on vinyl for the first time.
Note that due to the number of tracks and the playing time of over 30 minutes I classify this "EP" as an album.

Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy

(Universal PWM8545/00792755854532; Germany 11/2022)

Format: 12"

Release notes: A-side mono, marbled pink vinyl, cover sticker (plus generic "Made in Germany" sticker), limited edition

Tracks: David Bowie & Bing Crosby: Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy // Bing Crosby: White World of Winter

Collector's notes: Another Records Store Day Black Friday release in "candy cane" coloured vinyl. The version of the A-side track is the short one familiar from the original 7" singles. In any case, this is not a re-issue, strictly speaking: it has a different B-side than all previous 7" and 12" versions.

Moonage Daydream - A Film by Brett Morgen

(Iso/Parlophone DBMDCD 2022/5054197283970; Germany 11/2022)

Format: 2CD

Release notes: tri-fold cardboard sleeve, booklet

Tracks: "Time... one of the most complex expressions..."¹ / Ian Fish U.K. Heir² / Hallo Spaceboy³ / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud/All the Young Dudes/Oh! You Pretty Things⁴ / Life on Mars?⁵ / Moonage Daydream⁴ / The Jean Genie/Love Me Do⁶ / The Light (excerpt)⁷ / Warszawa⁸ / Quicksand⁹ / Future Legend/Diamond Dogs intro/Cracked Actor¹⁰ / Rock'n'Roll with Me¹¹ / Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)¹² / Subterreneans¹⁰ / Space Oddity¹³ / V-2 Schneider¹⁰ // Sound and Vision¹⁴ / A New Career in a New Town¹⁴ / Word on a Wing (excerpt)¹⁴ / "Heroes"⁸ / D.J.¹⁴ / Ashes to Ashes¹⁴ / Move On¹⁵ / Moss Garden¹² / Cygnet Committee/Lazarus¹⁴ / Memory of a Free Festival¹⁶ / Modern Love¹⁴ / Let's Dance¹⁷ / The Mysteries (feat. excerpts from Warszawa and Absolute Beginners)¹⁴ / Rock'n'Roll Suicide¹⁸ / Ian Fish U.K. Heir¹⁹ / Word on a Wing¹⁴ / Hallo Spaceboy²⁰ / I Have Not Been to Oxford Town¹⁵ / "Heroes": IV Sons of the Silent Age (excerpt)⁷ / Blackstar²¹ / Ian Fish U.K. Heir (excerpt)¹⁴ / Memory of a Free Festival²¹ / Starman¹⁰ / "You're aware of a deeper existence..."²² / Changes¹⁰ / "Let me tell you one thing..."²³ / "Well you know what, this has been an incredible pleasure..."²⁴

Other notes: ¹narration taken from the 1998 BBC 2 TV programme Conversation Piece (with overdub); ²Moonage Daydream mix 1; ³Pet Shop Boys remix, Moonage Daydream edit; ⁴live, Odeon Hammersmith, London, 03/07/1973, taken from Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture; ⁵2016 mix from Legacy, Moonage Daydream edit with additional end section; ⁶featuring Jeff Beck, live, Odeon Hammersmith, London, 03/07/1973; ⁷performed by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop; ⁸live, Earls Court, London, 30/06/1978, taken from Welcome to the Blackout, Moonage Daydream edit; ⁹alternative early version, 2021 mix; ¹⁰original album version(s); ¹¹live, War Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, 08/11/1974; ¹²Moonage Daydream edit; ¹³Moonage Daydream mix: original studio intro segued into live version, Madison Square Garden, New York, 09/01/1997; ¹⁴Moonage Daydream mix; ¹⁵Moonage Daydream a cappella mix edit; ¹⁶harmonium edit (based on the album version); ¹⁷live, PNE Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada, 12/09/1983, taken from Serious Moonlight [Live '83], edit; ¹⁸live, Odeon Hammersmith, London, 03/07/1973, taken from Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture, edit; ¹⁹Moonage Daydream mix 2; ²⁰live, Phoenix Festival, UK, 18/07/1996, Moonage Daydream mix, original recording on Phoenix - The Album; ²¹Moonage Daydream mix edit; ²² narration taken from the 1998 BBC 2 TV programme Conversation Piece; ²³dialogue from the 1999 movie Mr. Rice's Secret; ²⁴narration, unknown origin

Collector's notes: I'm not sure what to make of this. It is, of course, the soundtrack to the film of the same name. There are a few unreleased recordings on it. Here, the 1973 Hammersmith recording of The Jean Genie/Love Me Do saw its first official release. The 1974 Buffalo live recording of Rock'n'Roll with Me was also new, and so was the early version of Quicksand. However, the rest are official versions (sometimes edited) and the usual re-mixes. Some of them are quite interesting (like the mix of Sound and Vision, which seems to make use of previously unreleased vocal tracks), but do we really need a mash-up of studio and live versions of Space Oddity?
Both discs have the same design.

Divine Symmetry - The Journey to Hunky Dory

(Parlophone DBDS 71/0190296268250; Italy 11/2022)

Format: 4CD/Blu-Ray audio disc

Release notes: partly mono, box with paper sheet on back, hardcover book, notebook replica, 5 cardboard CD sleeves, sticker on shrinkwrap

Tracks:

The Songwriting Demos Plus

Tired of My Life¹* / How Lucky You Are¹* / Shadow Man¹* / Looking for a Friend¹* / Waiting for the Man²* / Quicksand²* / King of the City³* / Song for Bob Dylan⁴* / Right On Mother⁵ / Quicksand⁴* / Queen Bitch⁴* / Kooks⁶* / Amsterdam⁶* / Life on Mars?⁶* / Changes⁷* / Bombers⁷*

BBC Radio in Concert: John Peel⁸

Queen Bitch⁹* / Bombers⁹* / The Supermen⁹* / Looking for a Friend⁹* / Almost Grown⁹* / Kooks⁹* / Song for Bob Dylan⁹* / Andy Warhol⁹* / It Ain't Easy⁹* / Queen Bitch¹⁰ / The Supermen¹⁰ / Looking for a Friend¹⁰ / Kooks¹⁰ / Song for Bob Dylan¹⁰/ Andy Warhol¹⁰ / It Ain't Easy¹⁰

BBC Radio Session and Live

The Supermen¹¹ / Oh! You Pretty Things¹¹ / Eight Line Poem¹¹ / Kooks¹¹ / Fill Your Heart¹¹ / Amsterdam¹¹ / Andy Warhol¹¹ / introduction¹²* / Fill Your Heart¹²* / Buzz the Fuzz¹²* / Space Oddity¹²* / Amsterdam¹²* / The Supermen¹²* / Oh! You Pretty Things¹²* / Eight Line Poem¹²* / Changes¹²* / Song for Bob Dylan¹²* / Andy Warhol¹²* / Looking for a Friend¹²* / Round and Round¹²* / Waiting for the Man¹²*

Alternative Mixes, Singles and Versions

Oh! You Pretty Things¹³ / Eight Line Poem¹⁴ / Kooks¹³ / Queen Bitch¹³ / Quicksand¹³ / Bombers¹⁵/Andy Warhol intro¹⁴ / Lightning Frightening¹⁶ / Amsterdam¹⁷ / Changes¹⁸* / Andy Warhol¹⁹* / Amsterdam²⁰ / Life on Mars?²¹ / Changes²² / Life on Mars?²³ / Quicksand²⁴ / Fill Your Heart²² / Bombers²² / Song for Bob Dylan²² / The Bewlay Brothers²²

Blu-Ray audio

Changes²⁵ / Oh! You Pretty Things²⁵ / Eight Line Poem²⁵ / Life on Mars?²⁵ / Kooks²⁵ / Quicksand²⁵ / Fill Your Heart²⁵ / Andy Warhol²⁵ / Song for Bob Dylan²⁵ / Queen Bitch²⁵ / The Bewlay Brothers²⁵ / Changes22 / Oh! You Pretty Things¹³ / Eight Line Poem¹⁴ / Life on Mars?²³ / Kooks¹³ / Quicksand²⁴ / Fill Your Heart22 / Bombers²² / Andy Warhol²⁶ / Song for Bob Dylan²² / Queen Bitch¹³ / The Bewlay Brothers²² / Life on Mars?²¹** / The Supermen¹¹ / Oh! You Pretty Things¹¹ / Eight Line Poem¹¹ / Kooks¹¹ / Fill Your Heart¹¹ / Amsterdam¹¹ / Andy Warhol¹¹

Other notes: stereo, except *mono and **DTS-HD master audio 5.1; ¹demos, Radio Luxembourg Studios, London, c. 11-12/1970; ²hotel room recordings, The Holiday Inn, San Francisco, 11 or 12/02/1971; ³demo, Haddon Hall, London, early 1971; ⁴demos, Haddon Hall, London, spring 1971; ⁵demo, Radio Luxembourg Studios, London, 09/03/1971; ⁶demos, Radio Luxembourg Studios, London, 06/1971; ⁷acetate demos, Radio Luxembourg Studios, London, 06/1971; ⁸In Concert: John Peel BBC programme, Paris Cinema Studio, London, 03/06/1971; ⁹mono mix; ¹⁰stereo mix; ¹¹Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris BBC programme, Kensington House Studio T1, London, 21/09/1971; ¹²live, Friars, Aylesbury, 25/09/1971; ¹³recorded at Trident Studios, London, 06/1971-06/08/1971, BOWPROMO mix; ¹⁴recorded at Trident Studios, London, 06/1971-06/08/1971, alternative BOWPROMO version; ¹⁵different mix than on the 1990 Hunky Dory re-issue album; ¹⁶recorded at Trident Studios, London, 23/04/1971, unedited stereo mix; ¹⁷recorded at Trident Studios, London, 02/07/1971, early mix; ¹⁸recorded at Trident Studios, London, 30/07/1971, mono "downmix" from stereo; ¹⁹recorded at Trident Studios, London, c. 16-17/07/1971, mono "downmix" from stereo; ²⁰recorded at Trident Studios, London, 02/07/1971, final mix from the 1973 Sorrow single; ²¹2016 mix from Legacy; ²²2021 mixes; ²³2021 mix, original ending version; ²⁴2021 mix, alternative early version; ²⁵Hunky Dory 2015 re-master; ²⁶original album mix

Collector's notes: Another fascinating box set. As with similar previous sets, the box and books are impeccable. As regards the music, there is a lot of stuff on it that didn't come as a surprise to long-time collectors. However, some of the demos etc. are in better quality than on earlier bootlegs. Lightning Frightning, for instance, is the full-length stereo mix, and some others seem to be different mixes, too. On Shadow Man, for example, the drums sound more prominent to me than on versions that had been circulating before. And with King of the City we even got a song that had been unavailable so far.
The two radio shows are, of course, in perfect sound quality. It's a pity that stereo mixes don't seem to exist of all songs from the John Peel show. The most pleasant surprise to me, however, was the inclusion of the 1971 Ayslesbury gig, which is here in much better quality than on bootleg releases. It was definitely taped from the sound desk. However, the sound is still slightly distorted and the recording must have been composed of two different sources: the clearer recording had dropouts which have been filled by bits from a less good tape that sounds similar to the old bootleg recordings. But they did a did a good job on blending the two sources! Unfortunately, Queen Bitch isn't included for "technical reasons", as the book claims. They probably didn't have a high quality recording of that song and deemed the bootleg-quality version too rough for release.
As so often, it's up to you if you need all the alternative mixes and so on. I can't say very much on the contents of the audio Blu-Ray disc because I can't even play it. However, it doesn't seem to contain anything of particular interest.

A Divine Symmetry (An Alternative Journey through Hunky Dory)

(Parlophone DBADS 1971/5054197183362; Germany 02/2023)

Format: LP

Release notes: tri-fold insert

Tracks: Changes* / Oh! You Pretty Things**/Eight Line Poem*** / Life on Mars?° / Kooks** / Quicksand°° // Fill Your Heart* / Bombers/Andy Warhol intro* / Andy Warhol°°° / Song for Bob Dylan* / Queen Bitch** / The Bewlay Brothers*

Other notes: recorded at Trident Studios, London, 06/1971-06/08/1971; *2021 mix; **BOWPROMO mix; ***alternative BOWPROMO version; °2021 mix, original ending version; °°2021 mix, alternative early version; °°°original mix from Hunky Dory

Collector's notes: Another album that somehow seems interesting, but what is it? The presence of Bombers and the BOWPROMO versions makes it sound like an attempt to re-create an early version of the album, but in this case the 2021 mixes wouldn't make sense. There's nothing really new on this album. Even the early version of Quicksand had previously been released on the Moonage Daydream soundtrack.

Moonage Daydream - A Film by Brett Morgen

(Iso/Parlophone DBMDLP 2022/5054197284007; Germany 03/2023)

Format: 3LP

Release notes: triple FOC, booklet, 3 OIS

Tracks: "Time... one of the most complex expressions..."¹ / Ian Fish U.K. Heir² / Hallo Spaceboy³ / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud/All the Young Dudes/Oh! You Pretty Things⁴ / Life on Mars?⁵ / Moonage Daydream⁴ // The Jean Genie/Love Me Do⁶ / The Light (excerpt)⁷ / Warszawa⁸ / Quicksand⁹ / Future Legend/Diamond Dogs intro/Cracked Actor¹⁰ // Rock'n'Roll with Me¹¹ / Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)¹² / Subterreneans¹⁰ / Space Oddity¹³ / V-2 Schneider¹⁰ // Sound and Vision¹⁴ / A New Career in a New Town¹⁴ / Word on a Wing (excerpt)¹⁴ / "Heroes"⁸ / D.J.¹⁴ / Ashes to Ashes¹⁴ / Move On¹⁵ / Moss Garden¹² // Cygnet Committee/Lazarus¹⁴ / Memory of a Free Festival¹⁶ / Modern Love¹⁴ / Let's Dance¹⁷ / The Mysteries (feat. excerpts from Warszawa and Absolute Beginners)¹⁴ / Rock'n'Roll Suicide¹⁸ / Ian Fish U.K. Heir¹⁹ // Word on a Wing¹⁴ / Hallo Spaceboy²⁰ / I Have Not Been to Oxford Town¹⁵ / "Heroes": IV Sons of the Silent Age (excerpt)⁷ / Blackstar²¹ / Ian Fish U.K. Heir (excerpt)¹⁴ / Memory of a Free Festival²¹ / Starman¹⁰ / "You're aware of a deeper existence..."²² / Changes¹⁰ / "Let me tell you one thing..."²³ / "Well you know what, this has been an incredible pleasure..."²⁴

Other notes: ¹narration taken from the 1998 BBC 2 TV programme Conversation Piece (with overdub); ²Moonage Daydream mix 1; ³Pet Shop Boys remix, Moonage Daydream edit; ⁴live, Odeon Hammersmith, London, 03/07/1973, taken from Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture; ⁵2016 mix from Legacy, Moonage Daydream edit with additional end section; ⁶featuring Jeff Beck, live, Odeon Hammersmith, London, 03/07/1973; ⁷performed by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop; ⁸live, Earls Court, London, 30/06/1978, taken from Welcome to the Blackout, Moonage Daydream edit; ⁹alternative early version, 2021 mix; ¹⁰original album version(s); ¹¹live, War Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, 08/11/1974; ¹²Moonage Daydream edit; ¹³Moonage Daydream mix: original studio intro segued into live version, Madison Square Garden, New York, 09/01/1997; ¹⁴Moonage Daydream mix; ¹⁵Moonage Daydream a cappella mix edit; ¹⁶harmonium edit (based on the album version); ¹⁷live, PNE Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada, 12/09/1983, taken from Serious Moonlight [Live '83], edit; ¹⁸live, Odeon Hammersmith, London, 03/07/1973, taken from Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture, edit; ¹⁹Moonage Daydream mix 2; ²⁰live, Phoenix Festival, UK, 18/07/1996, Moonage Daydream mix, original recording on Phoenix - The Album; ²¹Moonage Daydream mix edit; ²² narration taken from the 1998 BBC 2 TV programme Conversation Piece; ²³dialogue from the 1999 movie Mr. Rice's Secret; ²⁴narration, unknown origin

Collector's notes: Vinyl issue of the soundtrack released the previous year.

Aladdin Sane

(Parlophone DBASPD 2023/5054197183133; Germany 04/2023)

Format: LP

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

Tracks: see original issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1973 album

Collector's notes: A beautiful 50th anniversary picture disc, but not really made to be played. Unlike earlier picture disc re-issues by Parlophone, this is a rather mediocre pressing.

Aladdin Sane

(Parlophone DBAS 50/5054197183140; Germany 04/2023)

Format: LP

Release notes: half-speed master, FOC, OBI, OIS

Tracks: see original issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1973 album, 2013 re-master

Collector's notes: And another 50th anniversary re-issue, this time as a half-speed master, for those who need it.
As in the case of the Ziggy Stardust re-issue from the previous year, the cover has an insert similar to a Japanese OBI.

Laughing with Liza - The Vocalion and Deram Singles 1964-1967 Plus

(Decca 0602448700155; France 04/2023)

Format: 5x7"

Release notes: mono, box, booklet, postcard, 5 covers, cover sticker (plus "Made in France" sticker), limited edition

Tracks: Liza Jane* / Louie, Louie Go Home* // Rubber Band (single version) / The London Boys // The Laughing Gnome / The Gospel According to Tony Day // Love You till Tuesday (single version) / Did You Ever Have a Dream // Space Oddity (movie version)** / The Lauging Gnome (vocal take 1, mix 1)***

Other notes: discs 1 to 4 re-issues of original UK singles; *performed by Davie Jones with the King Bees; **performed by David Bowie with John 'Hutch' Hutchinson; ***studio recording, Decca Studio 2, Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, 26/01/1967

Collector's notes: A Record Store Day release over which a lot of scorn had been poured. It was certainly overpriced, but it is beautiful, and the alternative version of The Laughing Gnome, with its different vocals and lyrics, is very interesting. I just wonder why they didn't use the full-length version of Space Oddity, which would have made this release more desirable.
Note that the push-out centres aren't real, but printed onto the labels.
Also note that despite the "limited edition" claim this record set was re-issued in November 2023. However, these copies can be distinguished from the original by their catalogue number (Decca 0602455874375).

Atlantic City - The Classic New Jersey Broadcast

(Zip City ZC2CD130; EU 05/2023)

Format: 2CD

Release notes: bootleg, jewel case with fold-out insert and back inlay

Tracks: Intro/Rebel Rebel / Cactus / Sister Midnight / New Killer Star / Looking for Water / All the Young Dudes / China Girl / The Loneliest Guy / The Man Who Sold the World / Battle for Britain (The Letter) / Pablo Picasso / Sunday / Hallo Spaceboy / band introduction / Under Pressure / Reality // Station to Station / The Bewlay Brothers / Ashes to Ashes / Hang On to Yourself / Quicksand / Modern Love / I'm Afraid of Americans / "Heroes" / Diamond Dogs / Queen Bitch / Suffragette City / Ziggy Stardust

Other notes: Live, Borgata Events Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 29/05/2004

Collector's notes: To begin with, this release, which was available via official record shops and is a re-issue of a Japanese bootleg from 2018, is not a broadcast, but an audience recording. I suppose they claimed that it was an FM broadcast to allow a "semi-legal" release. It is an excellent recording, and especially the inclusion of The Bewlay Brothers makes it interesting.

An English Heathen in New York

(dm db-01-20/22; Italy 06/2023)

Format: 4LP

Release notes: bootleg, marbled purple, white, pink, blue vinyl, box, fold-out insert, limited edition sticker: 207/300

Tracks: Sunday / Cactus / Breaking Glass / Fame // Ashes to Ashes / Slip Away / China Girl // 5:15 The Angels Have Gone / Survive / I've Been Waiting for You / Rebel Rebel // I'm Afraid of Americans / Life on Mars? / Look Back in Anger / "Heroes" // Heathen (The Rays) / Moonage Daydream / Afraid // Stay / The Bewlay Brothers / Everyone Says 'Hi' / Hallo Spaceboy // Let's Dance / Ziggy Stardust / Intro* / Everyone Says 'Hi'* / Changes* // Rebel Rebel** / Cactus** / Afraid*** / I've Been Waiting for You*** / Cactus° / Rebel Rebel°

Other notes: live, St. Ann's Warehouse, New York City, 12/10/2002; except: *Live with Regis and Kelly ABC TV show, 10/10/2002, **VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 15/10/2002, ***Late Night Show with Conan O'Brien NBC TV show, 19/10/2002, °CBS The Early Show, TV show, 25?/10/2002, aired 30/10/2002

Collector's notes: To begin with, the cover says that this box was made in Andorra, but it is almost certainly another Italian bootleg. The title is spelled backwards on the front of the box and the insert, and also on the labels, but correctly on the spine. So I have decided to use the correct title here.
Let's get to aspects of quality. This beautiful box is a re-issue of material released on previous bootlegs, with the TV shows a bonus material. The sound quality is excellent for the most part, but if they promote the release as "heavy vinyl" (as they do on the sticker), why aren't they able to produce a record set without pressing problems. Side 1 has a stick, unless you play around with the weight/antiskating settings of your turntable!
The St. Ann's Warehouse show is in near-perfect sound quality, since it was taken from a soundboard recording, except for two tracks (Stay and The Bewlay Brothers), which were taken from an audience recording. However, the sound quality of these tracks is excellent, too, and the elusive live performance of The Bewlay Brothers might be the most interesting track of the entire set. The sound quality of the TV broadcasts is not as convincing as that of the Brooklyn show, but still very good. Note that Pegg lists only 30th October for The Early Show broadcast, but according to the box of this set it was recorded on the 25th.

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - The Motion Picture Soundtrack - 50th Anniversary Edition

(Parlophone DBLP 377350/5054197561153; Germany 08/2023)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: gold vinyl, multi-FOC, 2 OIS, limited edition

Tracks: Introduction (incl. Ode to Joy) / Hang On to Yourself / Ziggy Stardust / Watch that Man / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud/All the Young Dudes/Oh! You Pretty Things / Moonage Daydream // Changes / Space Oddity / My Death / Cracked Actor / Time // The Width of a Circle / band introduction* / Let's Spend the Night Together / Suffragette City // White Light/White Heat / The Jean Genie/Love Me Do** / Round and Round** / farewell speech / Rock'n'Roll Suicide / finale (incl. Wilhelm Tell Overture)

Other notes: live, Odeon Hammersmith, London, 03/07/1973; *not listed on cover; **featuring Jeff Beck

Collector's notes: Finally, 50 years after the first cinematic release of the show, and 40 years after the first release of the soundtrack, we finally got a release of the full show - although a few announcements are missing. The sound quality of Round and Round is generally better than on the My Death bootleg album, but it would have improved the sound quality if they had opted for a triple LP.

Pin Ups

(Parlophone DBPU 50/5054197409950; Germany 10/2023)

Format: LP

Release notes: half-speed master, OBI, insert

Tracks: see original issue

Other notes: re-issue of 1973 album

Collector's notes: Half-speed master re-issue with an additional OBI-type insert.

Come and Say Hello

(Pigs on the Groove POTG73; EU 11/2023)

Format: LP

Release notes: bootleg, FOC, fold-out insert, limited edition sticker no. 270/350

Tracks: Look Back in Anger / Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) / The Hearts Filthy Lesson / Outside // Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) (incl. On Broadway*/Where Have All the Good Times Gone*/All Day and All of the Night*) / The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (as Beauty) / The Man Who Sold the World / Hallo Spaceboy / Breaking Glass // Telling Lies / Jump They Say / Under Pressure / "Heroes" / Strangers When We Meet // Lust for Life / All the Young Dudes / White Light/White Heat / Moonage Daydream

Other notes: live, Phoenix Festival, Stratford-upon-Avon, 18/07/1996; *not listed on cover

Collector's notes: A beautiful and great release of a great show! It's a soundboard recording in excellent quality - and a very good pressing, too. Of course, this recording had been available of CD bootlegs for a long time, but this was the first vinyl release. Two of the tracks had previously been released on official records: The Hearts Filthy Lesson on Liveandwell.com and a re-mix of Hallo Spaceboy on the various artists compilation Phoenix - The Album
This is the black vinyl issue. There were 125 copies in red vinyl, 125 in blue and 100 in black.
To save space, I've changed the usual order of pictures: cover front, inside, back, insert front and back, label design.

Montreux Jazz Festival - 2002 Broadcast Volume One

(Parachute PARA584LPLTD; EU 01/2024)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, clear vinyl, FOC

Tracks: Sunday / Life on Mars? / Ashes to Ashes // Cactus / Slip Away / China Girl / Starman // I Would Be Your Slave / I've Been Waiting for You / Stay / Changes // Fashion / Fame / I'm Afraid of Americans / 5:15 The Angels Have Gone

Other notes: live, Montreux Jazz Festival, Auditorium Stravinski, Montreux, Switzerland, 18/07/2002

Collector's notes: About two years after the semi-legal CD issue, there was a vinyl issue by the notorious Parachute Records. They did a really good job this time! Together with Volume Two (see next entry) this is the complete show. The pressing and the sound quality are excellent, so this is actually a near-perfect vinyl issue of this show.
Also available in black vinyl.

Montreux Jazz Festival - 2002 Broadcast Volume Two

(Parachute PARA620LPLTD; EU 01/2024)

Format: 2LP

Release notes: bootleg, clear vinyl, FOC

Tracks: "Heroes" / Heathen (The Rays) / Everyone Says 'Hi' // Hallo Spaceboy / Let's Dance / Ziggy Stardust // Warszawa / Speed of Life / Breaking Glass / What in the World / Sound and Vision // Art Decade / Always Crashing in the Same Car / Be My Wife / A New Career in a New Town / Subterreneans

Other notes: live, Montreux Jazz Festival, Auditorium Stravinski, Montreux, Switzerland, 18/07/2002

Collector's notes: This is part 2 of the bootleg from the previous entry. Like that set, this one is available in black vinyl, too.