Price: £79.99
Format: Boxset - vinyl
Artist: David Bowie
CatNo: 0190295519155
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David Bowie The Mercury Demos boxset
As part of the ongoing celebrations marking 50 years since David Bowie’s first hit, Space Oddity, The ‘Mercury' Demos features 10 early Bowie recordings captured live in one take to a Revox reel to reel tape machine in David’s flat in spring 1969 (with accompaniment from John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson on guitar and vocals). 
 
The version of Space Oddity, originally released with edits on the Sound & Vision boxset, is presented here in its original context for the first time. The other nine recordings on the album are all previously unreleased. In addition to Bowie originals, the session also includes the Roger Bunn composition Life Is A Circus and the Lesley Duncan composition Love Song. David’s own Conversation Piece is announced as ‘a new song’ and Janine features a short nineteen second section sung to the melody of The Beatles’ Hey Jude.
 
The ‘Mercury' Demos comes in a replica of the original tape box and features 1 LP, a print, two photo contact sheets, and sleeve notes by Mark Adams. 
 
The labels of the LP (which is is mono and plays at 33 1/3 r.p.m.) feature the same EMIDISC acetate styling as Spying Through A Keyhole and Clareville Grove Demos with the song titles in David’s own handwriting.
Side 1

Space Oddity 

Janine

An Occasional Dream 
Conversation Piece

Ching-a-Ling

I’m Not Quite (aka Letter to Hermione)
 
Side 2

Lover To The Dawn

Love Song 

When I’m Five

Life Is A Circus