David Bowie: Pinups Album (1973)

David Bowie
Oct 18, 1973
4 min read

Ziggy's Nostalgic Jukebox

David Bowie’s Pinups LP, was released in the UK on October 19, 1973, on RCA Records (catalogue: RS 1003). This 12-track album of 1960s rock and pop cover versions showcased Bowie’s glam rock reinterpretations during the height of his Ziggy Stardust era. Produced by Bowie and Ken Scott, Pinups featured energetic performances backed by the Spiders from Mars, peaking at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart for five weeks. Issued in a vibrant sleeve with a Twiggy-and-Bowie photo by Justin de Villeneuve, it’s a nostalgic tribute to the Swinging Sixties.

Album Overview

Release Details:

Label: RCA Records (UK).

Formats: Vinyl LP, cassette; later CD reissues (detailed below).

℗ & ©: 1973 RCA Records. Recorded at Château d’Hérouville, France, July 1973. Matrix numbers (e.g., RS 1003 A-1) confirm authenticity.

UK Release Formats and Track Listings

Pinups was released in the UK in 1973 as a vinyl LP and cassette, with CD reissues later.

The vinyl LP and cassette maintain the 12-track sequence, with the cassette reordered, and the 1990 CD reissue includes two bonus tracks:

Vinyl LP (Catalogue: RS 1003):

Side A:

Rosalyn (2:21, Jimmy Duncan, Bill Farley)

Here Comes The Night (3:09, Bert Berns)

I Wish You Would (2:48, Billy Boy Arnold)

See Emily Play (4:12, Syd Barrett)

Everything’s Alright (2:28, Nicky Crouch, John Konrad, Simon Stavely, Stuart James, Keith Karlson)

I Can’t Explain (2:15, Pete Townshend)

Side B:

Friday On My Mind (2:56, George Young, Harry Vanda)

Sorrow (2:53, Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, Richard Gottehrer)

Don’t Bring Me Down (2:05, Johnnie Dee)

Shapes Of Things (2:53, Paul Samwell-Smith, Jim McCarty, Keith Relf)

Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (3:12, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey)

Where Have All The Good Times Gone (2:41, Ray Davies)

Packaging: 33⅓ RPM, stereo, in a single sleeve with Twiggy-and-Bowie photo by Justin de Villeneuve, including inner sleeve with liner notes.

Cassette (Catalogue: PK 1003):

Side A:

Rosalyn (2:21, Jimmy Duncan, Bill Farley)

I Wish You Would (2:48, Billy Boy Arnold)

See Emily Play (4:12, Syd Barrett)

Everything’s Alright (2:28, Nicky Crouch, John Konrad, Simon Stavely, Stuart James, Keith Karlson)

I Can’t Explain (2:15, Pete Townshend)

Friday On My Mind (2:56, George Young, Harry Vanda)

Side B:

Here Comes The Night (3:09, Bert Berns)

Sorrow (2:53, Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, Richard Gottehrer)

Don’t Bring Me Down (2:05, Johnnie Dee)

Shapes Of Things (2:53, Paul Samwell-Smith, Jim McCarty, Keith Relf)

Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (3:12, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey)

Where Have All The Good Times Gone (2:41, Ray Davies)

Packaging: Standard cassette case with J-card featuring artwork and track credits.

Compact Disc (CD) (Reissue, 1990 Rykodisc):

Single Disc:

Rosalyn (2:27, Jimmy Duncan, Bill Farley)

Here Comes The Night (3:09, Bert Berns)

I Wish You Would (2:48, Billy Boy Arnold)

See Emily Play (4:12, Syd Barrett)

Everything’s Alright (2:26, Nicky Crouch, John Konrad, Simon Stavely, Stuart James, Keith Karlson)

I Can’t Explain (2:14, Pete Townshend)

Friday On My Mind (2:57, George Young, Harry Vanda)

Sorrow (2:48, Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, Richard Gottehrer)

Don’t Bring Me Down (2:01, Johnnie Dee)

Shapes Of Things (2:53, Paul Samwell-Smith, Jim McCarty, Keith Relf)

Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (3:04, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey)

Where Have All The Good Times Gone (2:46, Ray Davies)

BONUS TRACKS

Growin’ Up (3:26, Bruce Springsteen)

Port Of Amsterdam (3:19, Jacques Brel, Mort Shuman, Eric Blau)

Packaging: Jewel case with booklet featuring liner notes, photos, and credits.

Production and Context

Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott, recorded at Château d’Hérouville, France, in July 1973. The lineup featured Bowie (vocals, guitar), Mick Ronson (guitar), Trevor Bolder (bass), Mike Garson (piano), and Aynsley Dunbar (drums). Pinups was a tribute to ‘60s bands like The Who and The Kinks, recorded during the Ziggy Stardust tour’s final leg. Released amid glam’s peak, it followed Aladdin Sane (1973) and competed with Slade and T. Rex, serving as a bridge to Diamond Dogs (1974).

Singles Released and Chart Performance

Pinups spawned one single:

“Sorrow” (1973, RCA 2424):

UK Chart Data: Entry October 27, 1973; Peak No. 3; 15 weeks.

Chart Run: No. 39 (Oct 27), No. 15 (Nov 3), No. 7 (Nov 10), No. 3 (Nov 17), No. 4 (Nov 24), No. 5 (Dec 1), No. 7 (Dec 8), No. 9 (Dec 15), No. 11 (Dec 22), No. 13 (Dec 29), No. 15 (Jan 5, 1974), No. 18 (Jan 12), No. 22 (Jan 19), No. 28 (Jan 26), No. 35 (Feb 2).

International: Australia No. 1, New Zealand No. 1, Ireland No. 2, Germany No. 39, France No. 25, Netherlands No. 30.

Artist: David Bowie Label: RCA Victor Country: Netherland Catalogue: RCA 2424

Album Chart Performance

Pinups was a major success:

UK:

Entry Date: October 27, 1973 (Official Albums Chart).

Peak: No. 1 (November 3, 1973, 5 weeks).

Weeks on Chart: 21 (Oct 27, 1973–March 16, 1974).

Chart Run: No. 7 (Oct 27), No. 1 (Nov 3), No. 1 (Nov 10), No. 1 (Nov 17), No. 1 (Nov 24), No. 1 (Dec 1), No. 2 (Dec 8), No. 3 (Dec 15), No. 4 (Dec 22), No. 5 (Dec 29), No. 6 (Jan 5, 1974), No. 7 (Jan 12), No. 8 (Jan 19), No. 10 (Jan 26), No. 12 (Feb 2), No. 15 (Feb 9), No. 18 (Feb 16), No. 22 (Feb 23), No. 28 (Mar 2), No. 32 (Mar 9), No. 35 (Mar 16).

Certification: Gold (100,000 copies sold, BPI).