The Man Who Sold the World
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| The Man Who Sold the World | ||
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| Studio album by David Bowie | ||
| Released | November 4, 1970 (US) April 1971 (UK) Rykodisc Reissue January 30, 1990 |
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| Recorded | Trident and Advision Studios, London 18 April - 22 May 1970 |
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| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 40:37 | |
| Label | Mercury Records | |
| Producer(s) | Tony Visconti | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| David Bowie chronology | ||
| Space Oddity (1969) |
The Man Who Sold the World (1970) |
Hunky Dory (1971) |
The Man Who Sold the World is an album by David Bowie. It was originally released on Mercury Records in November 1970 in the United States and in April 1971 in the UK. The album was Bowie's first with the nucleus of what would become the 'Spiders from Mars', the backing band made famous by The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in 1972. Though author David Buckley has described his previous record Space Oddity as "the first Bowie album proper",[1] NME critics Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray have said of The Man Who Sold the World, "this is where the story really starts".[2]
Much of the album had a distinct heavy metal edge that stands it apart from Bowie's previous releases, and has been compared to such contemporary acts as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.[3]. The album also provided some unusual musical detours, such as the title track's use of Latin sounds to hold the melody. As Bowie was preoccupied with his new wife Angie at the time of its recording, the music was largely arranged by guitarist Mick Ronson and bassist/producer Tony Visconti.[4]
The musical heaviness of the album was matched by the songs' subject matter, which included insanity ("All the Madmen"), children with powers beyond their parents' understanding ("After All"), gun-toting assassins ("Running Gun Blues"), omniscient computers ("Saviour Machine") and Lovecraftian Elder Gods ("The Supermen"). The album has also been seen as reflecting the influence of such figures as Aleister Crowley, Franz Kafka and Friedrich Nietzsche.[5]
The UK cover of the first release of this album, on which Bowie is seen reclining in what he called a "man's dress",[6] was an early indication of his interest in exploiting his androgynous appearance. The original US issue had a different, cartoon-like cover drawn by Bowie's friend Michael J. Weller (featuring the Cane Hill mental asylum)[7] while the 1972 reissue by RCA had a black-and-white picture of Ziggy Stardust used as the cover instead of either of the originals.
None of the songs were released to the public as singles at the time, though a promo version of "All the Madmen" was issued in the US in 1971 and the same song appeared in Eastern Europe in 1973, as did "The Width of a Circle". "Black Country Rock" was released as the B-side of "Holy Holy" in the UK in January 1971, shortly before the album. The title track later provided an unlikely hit for Scottish pop singer Lulu and would be covered by many bands over the years, including Nirvana. It recently featured on the reality show Rock Star: INXS, performed by Jordis Unga.
The Man Who Sold the World did not chart upon its original release in either the US or the UK, however it made #26 in the UK after its rerelease on 25 November 1972, in the wake of Bowie's commercial breakthrough The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The album has been cited as influencing the goth rock, darkwave and science fiction elements of work by artists such as Siouxsie & the Banshees, The Cure, Gary Numan, John Foxx and Nine Inch Nails.[8]
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by David Bowie.
- "The Width of a Circle" – 8:05
- "All the Madmen" – 5:38
- "Black Country Rock" – 3:32
- "After All" – 3:51
- "Running Gun Blues" – 3:11
- "Saviour Machine" – 4:25
- "She Shook Me Cold" – 4:13
- "The Man Who Sold the World" – 3:55
- "The Supermen" – 3:38
[edit] Rereleases
In 1990, The Man Who Sold the World was reissued on CD for the first time. It had an extended track listing including "Lightning Frightening", a 1972 rerecording of "Holy Holy" (Bowie vetoed inclusion of the original 1970 recording which, as a result of this decision, is available only on the bootleg album Changesthreeandahalf).
In 1999 the album was reissued again, without the bonus tracks but with digitally remastered sound.
[edit] Bonus tracks (1990 Rykodisc)
- "Lightning Frightening" (Previously unreleased) – 3:38
- "Holy Holy" (1972 rerecording of A-side from 1970 non-LP single) – 2:20
- "Moonage Daydream" (1971 Arnold Corns version) – 3:52
- "Hang on to Yourself" (1971 Arnold Corns version) – 2:51
[edit] Personnel
- David Bowie – vocals, guitar, Stylophone
- Mick Ronson – guitar, vocals
- Tony Visconti – bass, piano, guitar
- Mick Woodmansey – drums, percussion
- Ralph Mace – Moog synthesizer
[edit] Album cover variations
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[edit] Charts
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | UK Albums Chart | 26 |
| 1973 | Billboard Pop Albums | 105 |
[edit] See also
- The Man Who Sold the Moon, a 1949 science fiction short story and collection by Robert A. Heinlein, with similar themes to the song.
[edit] Notes
- ^ David Buckley (1999). Strange Fascination - David Bowie: The Definitive Story: p.78
- ^ Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray (1981). Bowie: An Illustrated Record: p.37
- ^ Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray (1981) Ibid: p.38
- ^ Nicholas Pegg (2000). The Complete David Bowie: p.260
- ^ David Buckley (1999). Ibid: pp.99-101
- ^ Nicholas Pegg (2000). Ibid: p.263
- ^ Cane Hill Project
- ^ David Buckley (1999). Ibid: p.102
| David Bowie |
|---|
| Studio Albums |
| David Bowie | Space Oddity | The Man Who Sold the World | Hunky Dory | The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars | Aladdin Sane | Pin Ups | Diamond Dogs | Young Americans | Station to Station | "Heroes" | Low | Lodger | Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) | Let's Dance | Tonight | Never Let Me Down | Black Tie White Noise | Outside | Earthling | 'hours...' | Heathen | Reality |
| With Tin Machine |
| Tin Machine | Tin Machine II |
| Live Albums |
| David Live | Stage | Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture | Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby | Santa Monica '72 | Bowie at the Beeb | LiveAndWell.com |
| Soundtracks |
| Christiane F. | Labyrinth | The Buddha of Suburbia | |
| Related Articles |
| Tony Visconti | Brian Eno | Mick Ronson | Iggy Pop |
