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28 September 2022

New Multi-Disc David Bowie Box Set, ‘Divine Symmetry’ Due In November

David Bowie Divine Symmetry Box set
Photo: Brian Ward/David Bowie Archive
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Parlophone Records proudly announces David Bowie: Divine Symmetry, a four-CD, one blu-ray box set, a four-disc vinyl set and digital equivalent. The collection celebrates the twelve months running up to the release of the album Hunky Dory in December 1971 via home demos, BBC radio sessions and live and studio recordings.

Divine Symmetry contains 48 previously unreleased tracks/demos from the period, and new alternative mixes of Hunky Dory tracks by original co-producer Ken Scott.

Pre-order the 4-CD + Blu-Ray edition of Divine Symmetry at the Dig! Store

 

Two books accompany Divine Symmetry, a 100-page hardback book featuring exclusive memorabilia and photos alongside a 60-page replica composite of Bowie’s notebooks from the era featuring handwritten lyrics, costume drawings, recording notes and set lists.

The sleeve notes have been written for the release by David Bowie expert Tris Penna, along with contributions from Hunky Dory co-producer Ken Scott, lifelong Bowie friends Geoff MacCormack and George Underwood, singer Dana Gillespie, guitarist Mark Pritchett, Friars Aylesbury promoter David Stopps, publisher Bob Grace and photographer Louanne Richards.

1971 was a pivotal year for Bowie. He signed a record deal with RCA, he met Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, and Iggy Pop while in New York, became a father and penned the song Kooks as a show of paternal pride, played live for the first time that June with Mick Ronson, Woody Woodmansey and Trevor Bolder, the band that would later be christened the Spiders From Mars and recorded the classic album Hunky Dory.

Kooks, recorded by Bowie and guitarist Mick Ronson for the BBC’s Sounds Of The 70s presented by Bob Harris is available now for download and streaming single. It was recorded at Kensington House, Shepherds Bush, London, Studio T1 for BBC Radio on 21 September, 1971 and broadcast on 4 October, 1971.

David Bowie – Divine Symmetry Tracklisting
(* Denotes Previously Unreleased Track)

CD 1:
THE SONGWRITING DEMOS PLUS

Tired Of My Life (demo) *
How Lucky You Are (aka Miss Peculiar) (demo) *
Shadow Man (demo)
Looking For A Friend (demo) *
Waiting For The Man (San Francisco hotel recording) *
Quicksand (San Francisco hotel recording) *
King Of The City (demo) *
Song For Bob Dylan (demo) *
Right On Mother (demo) *
Quicksand (demo)
Queen Bitch (demo) *
Kooks (demo) *
Amsterdam (demo) *
Life On Mars? (demo) *
Bonus acetate dubs:
Changes (demo) *
Bombers (demo) *

CD 2:
BBC RADIO IN CONCERT: JOHN PEEL

David Bowie and Friends
(mono)
Queen Bitch *
Bombers
The Supermen *
Looking For A Friend
Almost Grown
Kooks
Song For Bob Dylan *
Andy Warhol *
It Ain’t Easy

David Bowie and Friends
(stereo)

Queen Bitch *
The Supermen *
Looking For A Friend *
Kooks *
Song For Bob Dylan *
Andy Warhol *
It Ain’t Easy *

Recorded 3rd June, 1971 and broadcast 20th June, 1971
Paris Cinema Studio, Regent Street, London

Musicians:
David Bowie – lead vocals (except as below)
George Underwood – lead vocals on ‘Song For Bob Dylan’ & ‘It Ain’t Easy’ (3rd verse) & backing vocals
Dana Gillespie – lead vocals on ‘Andy Warhol’, backing vocals
Geoff MacCormack (aka Alexander) – lead vocals ‘It Ain’t Easy’ (2nd verse), backing vocals
Mark Pritchett (aka Carr-Pritchard) – guitars, backing vocals
Mick Ronson – guitars, backing vocals
Trevor Bolder – bass
Woody Woodmansey – drums

CD 3:
BBC RADIO SESSION AND LIVE

The Supermen
Oh! You Pretty Things
Eight Line Poem
Kooks *
Fill Your Heart *
Amsterdam *
Andy Warhol *

Musicians:
David Bowie – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano
Mick Ronson – guitars, bass, vocals

Session recorded at Kensington House Studio T1 for BBC Radio on
21st September, 1971 and broadcast 4th October, 1971
Live Friars, Aylesbury, 25th September, 1971

Introduction*
Fill Your Heart*
Buzz The Fuzz*
Space Oddity*
Amsterdam*
The Supermen*
Oh! You Pretty Things*
Eight Line Poem*
Changes*
Song For Bob Dylan*
Andy Warhol*
Looking For A Friend*
Round And Round*
Waiting For The Man*

Recorded live to 2 track tape.

David Bowie – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano
Mick Ronson – guitars, backing vocals
Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
Woody Woodmansey – drums
Tom Parker – piano

CD 4:
ALTERNATIVE MIXES, SINGLES AND VERSIONS

BOWPROMO mixes
Oh! You Pretty Things
Eight Line Poem
Kooks
Queen Bitch
Quicksand
Bombers – Andy Warhol intro.

Produced by Ken Scott (assisted by The Actor)
Recorded by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

Lightning Frightening (aka The Man)*

Produced by David Bowie. Engineered by Ken Scott
Recorded on 23rd April, 1971, Trident Studios, London

Amsterdam (early mix)

Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott
Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

Changes (mono single)
Andy Warhol (full length mono single)

Produced by Ken Scott (assisted by The Actor)
Recorded by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

Amsterdam (single b-side mix)

Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott
Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

Life On Mars? (2016 mix)

Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott
Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London
Mixed by Ken Scott at Abbey Road Studios, London on 12th April, 2016

2021 mixes
Changes (2021 alternative mix)
Life On Mars? (original ending version)*
Quicksand (2021 mix – early version)*
Fill Your Heart (2021 alternative mix)*
Bombers (2021 alternative mix)*
Song For Bob Dylan (2021 alternative mix)*
The Bewlay Brothers (2021 alternative mix)*

Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott
Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London
Mixed by Ken Scott, October/November 2021

BLU-RAY AUDIO

All PCM Stereo 96kHz/24bit except ‘Life On Mars?’ (2016 mix):
DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and PCM Stereo 96kHz/24bit

HUNKY DORY 2015 REMASTER
Changes
Oh! You Pretty Things
Eight Line Poem
Life On Mars?
Kooks
Quicksand
Fill Your Heart
Andy Warhol
Song For Bob Dylan
Queen Bitch
The Bewlay Brothers

Produced by Ken Scott (assisted by The Actor)
Recorded by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

A DIVINE SYMMETRY (AN ALTERNATIVE JOURNEY THROUGH HUNKY DORY)

Changes (2021 alternative mix)
Oh! You Pretty Things (BOWPROMO mix)
Eight Line Poem (BOWPROMO mix)
Life On Mars? (original ending version)*
Kooks (BOWPROMO mix)
Quicksand (2021 mix – early version)
Fill Your Heart (2021 alternative mix)*
Bombers (2021 alternative mix)*
Andy Warhol (original mix)*
Song For Bob Dylan (2021 alternative mix)*
Queen Bitch (BOWPROMO mix)
The Bewlay Brothers (2021 alternative mix)*

2, 3, 5, 9 and 11
Produced by Ken Scott (assisted by The Actor)
Recorded, engineered and mixed by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London

1, 4, 6–8, 10 and 12
Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott
Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London
Mixed by Ken Scott, October/November, 2021

Bonus mix
13 Life On Mars? (2016 mix)

Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott
Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London
Mixed by Ken Scott at Abbey Road Studios, London on 12th April, 2016

SOUNDS OF THE 70S: BOB HARRIS
The Supermen
Oh! You Pretty Things
Eight Line Poem
Kooks*
Fill Your Heart*
Amsterdam*
Andy Warhol*

Session recorded at Kensington House, Shepherds Bush, London, Studio T1 for BBC Radio on 21st September 1971 and broadcast 4th October, 1971.

Pre-order the 4-CD + Blu-Ray edition of Divine Symmetry at the Dig! store.

 

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