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
- So Long 60s (San Francisco Hotel recording) *
- Hang On To Yourself (early demo) *
- Lady Stardust (demo)
- Ziggy Stardust (demo)
- Star (Aka Stars) (demo) *
- Soul Love (demo and DB spoken notes) *
- Starman (demo 1 excerpt) *
- Starman (demo 2) *
- Moonage Daydream (The Arnold Corns version)
- Hang On To Yourself (The Arnold Corns version)
- Looking For A Friend (The Arnold Corns version – rough mix) *
- Haddon Hall Rehearsals Segue: Ziggy Stardust / Holy Holy / Soul Love *
- Star (Aka Stars) (Haddon Hall rehearsal) *
- 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
- Ziggy Stardust *
- Queen Bitch *
- Waiting For The Man *
- Lady Stardust *
Sounds Of The 70s: Bob Harris
Session recorded on 18th January, 1972 and broadcast on 7th February, 1972 - Hang On To Yourself
- Ziggy Stardust
- Queen Bitch
- Waiting For The Man
- 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.
- Oh! You Pretty Things (take 1)
- Queen Bitch
- Five Years
Disc 3
Sounds Of The 70s: John Peel
Session recorded on 16th May, 1972 and broadcast on 23rd May, 1972
- White Light/White Heat
- Moonage Daydream
- Hang On To Yourself
- Suffragette City
- Ziggy Stardust
Johnnie Walker Lunchtime Show
Session recorded on 22nd May, 1972 and broadcast from 5th – 9th June, 1972 - Starman
- Space Oddity
- Changes
- Oh! You Pretty Things
Sounds Of The 70s: Bob Harris
Session recorded on 23rd May, 1972 and broadcast On 19th June, 1972 - Andy Warhol
- Lady Stardust
- White Light/White Heat
- Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide
Top Of The Pops Performance
Filmed on 5th July, 1972 and broadcast on 6th July, 1972 - Starman
Disc 4 - Round And Round
- The Supermen (Ziggy session version)
- Holy Holy (Ziggy session version)
- Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy session outtake)
- Starman (original single mix)
- John, I’m Only Dancing (original single version)
Recorded Live At The Music Hall, Boston.
Recorded on 1st October, 1972 - The Supermen
- Changes
- Life On Mars?
- My Death *
- John, I’m Only Dancing
Disc 5 - Looking For A Friend (The Arnold Corns version 2022 mix) *
- Hang On To Yourself (early Ziggy session take) *
- Star (take 5 alternative version) *
- Lady Stardust (take 1 alternative version) *
- Shadow Man (Ziggy session version) *
- The Supermen (Ziggy session version 2023 Mix) *
- Holy Holy (Ziggy session version alternative mix) *
- Round And Round (alternative mix)
- It’s Gonna Rain Again (Ziggy session outtake) *
- Looking For A Friend (Ziggy session version) *
- Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy sessions outtake 2022 mix) *
- Sweet Head (Ziggy sessions outtake 2022 mix) *
- Starman (Top Of The Pops version 2022 mix)
- John, I’m Only Dancing (alternative Trident Studios version) *
- I Can’t Explain (Trident Studios version) *
Bonus Mix - 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