The Width Of A Circle

This week sees the 50thanniversary of theoriginal U.K. release ofThe Man Who Sold The WorldDavidBowies landmark entry into the 1970s. The album not only began the collaboration with guitarist Mick Ronson that would continue with such Bowie classics asHunky Dory,Ziggy StardustandAladdin Sane, it kicked off a10-year run of indispensable albums stretchingthrough 1980sScary Monsters.

The 2020 re-release of TheMan Who Sold The Worldrestored the albums intended titleMetrobolist,while featuring a new mix by original producer TonyVisconti.Taking its namefrom the albums opening track, which was named after a painting by Bowiesfriend George Underwood, thenew two-CD setThe Width Of A Circleacts as a complementary piece to that album. Its 21 tracks feature non-albumsingles, a BBC In Concert l session, music for a TV play and further Viscontiremixeswrapping up Davids recordings from 1970 and revealing the first sonic steps towardHunky Dory.

Tracklist

CD 1:
THE SUNDAY SHOW INTRODUCED BY JOHN PEEL
Recorded on 5th February, 1970 and broadcast on 8th February, 1970

1. Amsterdam *
2. God Knows Im Good *
3. Buzz The Fuzz
4. Karma Man
5. London Bye, Ta-Ta
6. An Occasional Dream
7. The Width Of A Circle*
8. Janine
9. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud
10. Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed*
11. Fill Your Heart
12. The Prettiest Star
13. Cygnet Committee*
14. Memory Of A Free Festival*

Performed by David Bowie and The Tony Visconti Trio (a.k.a. The Hype)

CD 2:
THE LOOKING GLASS MURDERS AKA PIERROT IN TURQUOISE:
1. When I Live My Dream
2. Columbine
3. The Mirror
4. Threepenny Pierrot
5. When I Live My Dream (Reprise)

SINGLES
6. The Prettiest Star (Alternative Mix)
Single mix released on 6th March, 1970 on Mercury Records MF 1135. This is the unreleased alternative mix created for promotion in the US market.

7. London Bye, Ta-Ta*
Originally recorded and rejected as the follow up single to Space Oddity. This mono mix was finally released on the Sound & Vision box set in 1989.

8. London Bye, Ta-Ta (1970 Stereo Mix)*
This stereo mix of the above remained unreleased until the reformatted reissue of the Sound & Vision box set in 2003, replacing the mono mix.

9.Memory Of A Free Festival (Single Version Part 1)*

10. Memory Of A Free Festival (Single Version Part 2)*
The re-recorded electric version of the closing track from the David Bowie (aka Space Oddity) album released as a single on Mercury Records 6052 026 on 26th June, 1970.

11. Holy Holy*
This non-album single A side, backed by the album version of Black Country Rock from The Man Who Sold The World album, was released on Mercury Records 6052 049 on 15th January, 1971.

SOUNDS OF THE 70S: ANDY FERRIS SHOW
Recorded on 25th March, 1970 and broadcast on the 6th April, 1970.
12. Waiting For The Man
13. The Width Of A Circle
14. The Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud*
15. The Supermen (Bowie At The Beeb vinyl only)*
Performed by David Bowie and The Hype

2020 MIXES
16. The Prettiest Star (2020 Mix)
17. London Bye, Ta-Ta (2020 Mix)
18. Memory Of A Free Festival (Single Version – 2020 Mix)
19. All The Madmen (Single Edit 2020 Mix)
Holy Holy (2020 Mix)

(*denotes previously released)

Soundwave