SEMI OFFICIAL
A “SEMI OFFICIAL” cassette is listed on “Bowieontape” as a LICENSED or AUTHORIZED release or a TEST PRESSING from a record company that holds the rights to the music but might not be recognized by the artists involved.
Chrysalis Demo tape circa 1971.
Bowie was famously turned down for a recording contract by Chris Wright at Chrysalis Music; the company did however take up an option on his publishing.
Bowie was at Trident Studios making the Man Who Sold The World and then Hunky Dory when these demos would probably have been made. It is known that ‘The Man’ and ‘Rupert The Riley’ were recorded on 23rd April 1971; ‘Miss Peculiar’ was also recorded around this time and there is a record of ‘Shadow Man’ being recorded November 1971. ‘Looking For A Friend’ was recorded during the ‘Arnold Corns’ sessions on June 17th. Chrysalis signed bands Genesis, Van Der Graaf Generator and others also recorded at Trident during that period which lends credence to this being a genuine demo tape but due to the inclusion of Tired Of My Life there’s also doubt as the only mention I can find of it is the home recording made in 1970.
If anyone can help with an audio file of this tape please contact us via the ‘Contacts’ section in the Home page
n.b. many bootlegs purporting to be the Chrysler demo’s have circulated over the years. Some list the track ‘Lightning Frightening’ but this is wrong as at the time it was recorded that track was known as ‘The Man’ – as it is shown here, which is not to be confused with ‘Shadow Man’.
Tracks: Tired Of My Life; I’m Just Looking For A Friend (aka Looking For A Friend); Miss Peculiar (aka How Lucky You Are); Shadow Man; The Man (aka Lightning Frightening); Rupert The Riley.
Photographs courtesy of Maarten Kwant.
Photographs courtesy of Pete Driver.
Live In Santa Monica 1972: Italy; Armando Curcio Editore, 58; 1992.
‘Il Dizionario Del Rock’ series – ‘miti di ieri e di oggi’.
Full photo cover with red spine and rear half-panel. Folded, treated, thick paper with track list on the inside panel. Compilation from the Golden Years/ Trident release.
Black and red ink printed onto white label onto white shell.
Side 1: Changes; Space Oddity; Andy Warhol; Moonage Daydream/ John I’m Only Dancing.
Side 2: Ziggy Stardust; Life On Mars/ Five Years; The Supermen; My Death
Los Grandes Del Rock: 10 – Ziggy Stardust; Italy; Fabbri Editori; 1993.
‘Los Grandes Del Rock’ series, volume 10.
Full photo cover with white spine and rear half-panel. Folded, treated, thick paper with track list on the inside panel. Compilation from ‘October de 1972’ these tracks have been taken from the Golden Years/ Trident release ‘Santa Monica ’72’. The inside panel is marked: ‘Material extraído de colecciones privadas, grabadas durante actuaciones en público’ (Material extracted from private collections, recorded during performances in public). Although made in Italy by Ecofina all the text is in Spanish.
Black and red ink printed onto yellow label onto black shell. There are two issues of this cassette; although both come in the same cover the top cassettes has ‘SGAE’ rights and the bottom ones ‘SIAE’.
Side 1: Ziggy Stardust; Width Of A Circle; I’m Waiting For The Man; Space Oddity; Andy Warhol.
Side 2: Moonage Daydream; John I’m Only Dancing; Changes; Supermen; Life On Mars; Five Years; Rock And Roll Suicide; Suffragette City.
Los Grandes Del Rock: 50 – Rebel Rebel; Italy; Fabbri Editori, 58; 1994.
‘Los Grandes Del Rock’ series, volume 50.
Full photo cover with white spine and rear half-panel. Folded, treated, thick paper with track list on the inside panel. Tracks taken from ‘Los Angeles 5-9-74’ on inner panel which is marked: ‘Material extraído de colecciones privadas, grabadas durante actuaciones en público’ (Material extracted from private collections, recorded during performances in public). Although made in Italy by Ecofina all the text is in Spanish.
Black and red ink printed onto yellow label onto black shell with SGAE rights.
Side 1: 1984; Rebel Rebel; Sweet Thing; All The Young Dudes; Cracked Actor; Rock ‘N’ Roll With Me; Knock on Wood.
Side 2: It’s Gonna Be Me; Diamond Dogs; Big Brother; Time.
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