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A new Bowie box set focused on the Ziggy Stardust years is coming this June

Bowie cans can never get enough Bowie, so many of them will be pre-ordering David Bowie: Rock’n’Roll Star, a new five-CD/Blu-ray, digital box set and half-speed mastered LP. Delivery is expected for June 14.

Ziggy wasn’t around for long. Bowie birthday him in February 1971 and killed him off in June 1972 with a final concert. In that time, though, Ziggy changed the world of rock and set Bowie on the track to superstardom. Bowie was also awfully prolific during that period.

The new collection will feature

  • The original album
  • Live tracks
  • Radio sessions
  • TV performances
  • Demos
  • Rehearsals
  • Outtakes
  • Alternative versions
  • Covers
  • Two books (one 112-pager with detailed liner notes, reviews, photos, etc) and a 36-page reproduction of Bowie’s notes written during the era.

There’s more, too. I quote:

“The audio-only Blu-Ray disc features the definitive 2012 remaster of the original Ziggy Stardust album in 96kHz/24bit PCM stereo, plus the album and additional mixes from 2003 in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 as well as the singles, outtakes and alternative versions in 96kHz/24 bit PCM stereo.

“The Blu-Ray also includes a version of the ZIGGY STARDUST album called WAITING IN THE SKY (BEFORE THE STARMAN CAME TO EARTH) taken from Trident Studio tapes dated 15th December 1971, which features an alternative running order and four songs that didn’t make the final album. This will also be available as a limited vinyl LP on 20th April, 2024 for Record Store Day. In addition, there is a 1-LP version of ROCK ‘N’ ROLL STAR! compiling the alternative takes and mixes.”

Here’s everything that will be included.

Disc 1

  1. So Long 60s (San Francisco Hotel recording) *
  2. Hang On To Yourself (early demo) *
  3. Lady Stardust (demo)
  4. Ziggy Stardust (demo)
  5. Star (Aka Stars) (demo) *
  6. Soul Love (demo and DB spoken notes) *
  7. Starman (demo 1 excerpt) *
  8. Starman (demo 2) *
  9. Moonage Daydream (The Arnold Corns version)
  10. Hang On To Yourself (The Arnold Corns version)
  11. Looking For A Friend (The Arnold Corns version – rough mix) *
  12. Haddon Hall Rehearsals Segue: Ziggy Stardust / Holy Holy / Soul Love *
  13. Star (Aka Stars) (Haddon Hall rehearsal) *
  14. Sweet Head (Haddon Hall rehearsal) *
    Disc 2
    Sounds Of The 70s: John Peel

Session recorded on 11th January, 1972 and broadcast on 28th January, 1972

  1. Ziggy Stardust *
  2. Queen Bitch *
  3. Waiting For The Man *
  4. Lady Stardust *
    Sounds Of The 70s: Bob Harris
    Session recorded on 18th January, 1972 and broadcast on 7th February, 1972
  5. Hang On To Yourself
  6. Ziggy Stardust
  7. Queen Bitch
  8. Waiting For The Man
  9. Five Years
    Old Grey Whistle Test Performance
    Filmed on 7th February, 1972 and broadcast on 8th February, 1972

except ‘Oh! You Pretty Things’ which was not broadcast until 1982.

  1. Oh! You Pretty Things (take 1)
  2. Queen Bitch
  3. Five Years
    Disc 3
    Sounds Of The 70s: John Peel

Session recorded on 16th May, 1972 and broadcast on 23rd May, 1972

  1. White Light/White Heat
  2. Moonage Daydream
  3. Hang On To Yourself
  4. Suffragette City
  5. Ziggy Stardust
    Johnnie Walker Lunchtime Show
    Session recorded on 22nd May, 1972 and broadcast from 5th – 9th June, 1972
  6. Starman
  7. Space Oddity
  8. Changes
  9. Oh! You Pretty Things
    Sounds Of The 70s: Bob Harris
    Session recorded on 23rd May, 1972 and broadcast On 19th June, 1972
  10. Andy Warhol
  11. Lady Stardust
  12. White Light/White Heat
  13. Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide
    Top Of The Pops Performance
    Filmed on 5th July, 1972 and broadcast on 6th July, 1972
  14. Starman
    Disc 4
  15. Round And Round
  16. The Supermen (Ziggy session version)
  17. Holy Holy (Ziggy session version)
  18. Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy session outtake)
  19. Starman (original single mix)
  20. John, I’m Only Dancing (original single version)
    Recorded Live At The Music Hall, Boston.
    Recorded on 1st October, 1972
  21. The Supermen
  22. Changes
  23. Life On Mars?
  24. My Death *
  25. John, I’m Only Dancing
    Disc 5
  26. Looking For A Friend (The Arnold Corns version 2022 mix) *
  27. Hang On To Yourself (early Ziggy session take) *
  28. Star (take 5 alternative version) *
  29. Lady Stardust (take 1 alternative version) *
  30. Shadow Man (Ziggy session version) *
  31. The Supermen (Ziggy session version 2023 Mix) *
  32. Holy Holy (Ziggy session version alternative mix) *
  33. Round And Round (alternative mix)
  34. It’s Gonna Rain Again (Ziggy session outtake) *
  35. Looking For A Friend (Ziggy session version) *
  36. Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy sessions outtake 2022 mix) *
  37. Sweet Head (Ziggy sessions outtake 2022 mix) *
  38. Starman (Top Of The Pops version 2022 mix)
  39. John, I’m Only Dancing (alternative Trident Studios version) *
  40. I Can’t Explain (Trident Studios version) *
    Bonus Mix
  41. Moonage Daydream (2003 instrumental mix)
    Blu Ray Audio
    THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS

Original album mix (96khz/24bit Stereo)
THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS AND EXTRAS
2003 5.1 Mixes (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – 96khz/24bit)

WAITING IN THE SKY (BEFORE THE STARMAN CAME TO EARTH)
Early Ziggy Stardust album tracklisting – December 1971 (96khz/24bit PCM stereo)

THE SINGLES
(96khz/24bit PCM stereo)

OUTTAKES AND ALTERNATIVE VERSIONS
(96khz/24bit PCM stereo)

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL STAR! HALF-SPEED MASTERED LP
Vinyl tracklisting

Side 1

1 Hang On To Yourself (early Ziggy session take)

2 Star (Take 5 alternative version)
3 Lady Stardust (Take 1 alternative version)
4 Shadow Man (Ziggy session version)
5 The Supermen (Ziggy session version 2023 mix)
6 Holy Holy (Ziggy session version alternative mix)
7 Round And Round (alternative mix) +
Side 2
1 Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy sessions outtake 2022 mix)

2 Looking For A Friend (Ziggy session version)
3 It’s Gonna Rain Again (Ziggy sessions outtake)
4 Sweet Head (Ziggy sessions outtake 2022 mix)
5 Starman (Top Of The Pops version 2022 mix)
6 John, I’m Only Dancing (alternative Trident Studios version) *
7 I Can’t Explain (Trident Studios version) +*
Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott except + Produced by David Bowie

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 38909 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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