Holy Holy

"Holy Holy" is a song by David Bowie, originally released as a single in 1971. It was recorded shortly after the completion of The Man Who Sold the World, in the perceived absence of a clear single from that album. Like Bowie's two previous singles, it sold poorly and failed to chart.

At the time Marc Bolan's Tyrannosaurus Rex was a significant source of inspiration for Bowie. On this track, according to NME editors Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray, "Bolan's influence is so much in the ascendant that it virtually amounts to a case of demonic possession.^[1] The single's B-side was another Tyrannosaurus Rex flavoured song called "Black Country Rock". Bowie performed "Holy Holy" on Britain's Granada Television wearing a dress,^[2] which he would also wear on the cover of the soon-to-be-released UK edition of The Man Who Sold the World.

A more frantic version of the song was recorded in 1971 for The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.^[2] It was dropped from the album, but subsequently appeared as the B-side to "Diamond Dogs" in 1974. This version was also released as a bonus track on the Rykodisc reissue of The Man Who Sold the World in 1990 (despite the sleeve notes referring to it as the original cut), as well on as the Ziggy Stardust - 30th Anniversary Reissue bonus disc in 2002. Bowie himself vetoed the inclusion of the original at a late stage, and the single remains the 1970 version's only official release, though it has appeared on several bootlegs.

1 Track listing
2 Production credits
3 Cover versions
4 Notes
5 References

[edit] Track listing

"Holy Holy" (Bowie) – 3:13
"Black Country Rock" (Bowie) – 3:05

[edit] Production credits

Producers:
- Herbie Flowers on "Holy Holy"
- Tony Visconti on "Black Country Rock"

Musicians:
- David Bowie: vocals, guitar
- Mick Ronson: guitar
- Herbie Flowers: bass on "Holy Holy"
- Mick Woodmansey: drums
- Tony Visconti: bass on "Black Country Rock"

[edit] Cover versions

"Holy Holy" was covered by Rozz Williams' Deathrock band, Shadow Project, as the last song on their eponymous debut.

[edit] Notes

^ Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray (1981). Bowie: An Illustrated Record: pp.32,36
^ ^a ^b David Buckley (1999) Strange Fascination - David Bowie: The Definitive Story: pp.97-98,119

[edit] References

Pegg, Nicholas, The Complete David Bowie, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5

v • d • e 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 • Low • "Heroes" • 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 • LiveAndWell.com • Bowie at the Beeb • Live Santa Monica '72

Soundtracks	Christiane F. • Love You Till Tuesday • Labyrinth • The Buddha of Suburbia

Compilations	The World of David Bowie • Images 1966-1967 • ChangesOneBowie • ChangesTwoBowie • The Best of Bowie • Rare • Golden Years • Fame and Fashion • Sound + Vision • Changesbowie • Early On (1964-1966) • The Singles Collection • The Deram Anthology 1966–1968 • The Best of 1969/1974 • The Best of 1974/1979 • All Saints • Best of Bowie • The Collection • The Platinum Collection • The Best of 1980/1987 • Bowie Box Set (Outside, Earthling, Hours, Heathen, Reality- 10CD)

Concert videos	Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars • Serious Moonlight • Glass Spider • A Reality Tour

Promotional films and compilations	Love You Till Tuesday • Bowie – The Video Collection • Black Tie White Noise • Best of Bowie

Tours	Ziggy Stardust Tour • Diamond Dogs Tour • Isolar • Isolar II • Serious Moonlight Tour • Glass Spider Tour • Tin Machine Tour • Sound and Vision Tour • It's My Life Tour • Outside Tour • Outside Summer Festivals Tour • Earthling Tour • The 'hours...' Tour • Mini Tour • Heathen Tour • A Reality Tour

Related articles	Discography • Filmography • Tony Visconti • Brian Eno • Mick Ronson • Mick Woodmansey • Trevor Bolder • Iggy Pop • Mike Garson • Reeves Gabrels • Earl Slick • Major Tom • "Bowie"