The Prettiest Star
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| "The Prettiest Star" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by David Bowie | ||
| B-side | "Conversation Piece” | |
| Released | 6 March 1970 | |
| Format | 7" single | |
| Recorded | Trident Studios, London, 8, 13, 15 January 1970 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 3:09 | |
| Label | Mercury MF 1135 |
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| Producer | Tony Visconti | |
| Chart positions | N/A | |
| David Bowie singles chronology | ||
| "Space Oddity" 1969 |
"The Prettiest Star" 1970 |
"Memory of a Free Festival" 1970 |
"The Prettiest Star" was a single by David Bowie. Bowie had recently re-recorded an old Deram track, "London Bye Ta Ta", as a follow-up single to "Space Oddity" in early 1970. However, the same sessions had also spawned a new composition named "The Prettiest Star".
Bowie wrote this for Angela Barnett, reputedly playing it down the telephone as part of his proposal to her, and chose it as a single to the displeasure of manager Kenneth Pitt. Pitt favoured "London Bye Ta Ta", The track also featured Marc Bolan on guitar, ironic as the pair would spend the next few years as rivals for the crown of the king of glam rock.
Despite receiving excellent notices, the single reportedly sold less than 800 copies, a huge disappointment on the back of the success of "Space Oddity".
In 1973, a more glam rock influenced version was recorded and included on the album Aladdin Sane.
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
- "The Prettiest Star" (Bowie) – 3:09
- "Conversation Piece" (Bowie) – 3:05
[edit] Production credits
- Musicians:
- David Bowie: vocals, guitar
- Marc Bolan: guitar on "The Prettiest Star"
- Tony Visconti: bass on "The Prettiest Star"
- John Cambridge: drums
- Tim Renwick: guitar on "Conversation Piece"
- John Lodge: bass guitar on "Conversation Piece"
[edit] Other releases
- The Aladdin Sane version was released as the B-side of the US single "Time" in April 1973.
- It also appeared on the Japanese compilation The Best of David Bowie in 1974.
- The single version from 1970 was released in the Sound + Vision box set in 1989.
- On The Best of 1969/1974 from 1997 the original recording was issued for the first time in stereo, named on the sleeve as "Bolan Stereo Mix".
[edit] Cover versions
- Jonathan Kay – Single
- Simon Turner - Simon Turner
- Ian McCulloch
[edit] References
Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5
