David Bowie: "Baal" Single (1982)

David Bowie’s "Baal" backed with "All the Madmen", was released as a 7-inch vinyl EP single in the UK by RCA Records (catalog number PB 110) on February 26, 1982.

Featuring recordings of songs composed for Bertolt Brecht's play "Baal." It is occasionally called David Bowie in Bertolt Brecht's Baal, as noted on the cover. This EP marked Bowie's last release of new material with RCA Records before he transitioned to EMI Records for his subsequent album.

Bowie's performance as Baal aired on 2 March 1982, and RCA released the EP to coincide with this event. Both the play and the EP received positive reviews, with the EP reaching No. 29 on the UK chart, which was impressive given the unconventional tracks. Besides the 7" edition, which came in a double gatefold sleeve with extensive notes on the musical content and a short biography of Bertolt Brecht, the EP was also released as a 12", gaining some play in clubs and radio airplay.

"The Drowned Girl" appeared on the 2005 triple CD set The Platinum Collection and was later included in the 2007 re-release of its third CD titled The Best of David Bowie 1980/1987, which also featured a music video for the song on DVD. Both "The Drowned Girl" and "Baal's Hymn" were part of the 2003 and 2014 expanded re-issues of Sound + Vision. The EP was made available as a digital download in 2007. All five tracks were also featured on the Re:Call 3 compilation disc, which was part of the A New Career in a New Town (1977–1982) box set, released in September 2017.

All lyrics are written by Bertolt Brecht and translated by John Willett, except "Remembering Marie A." which is traditional, adapted by Brecht and translated by Willett

Side A

1. "Baal's Hymn" 4:02

2. "Remembering Marie A." 2:07

Total length: 6:09

Side B

1. "Ballad of the Adventurers" 2:01

2. "The Drowned Girl" 2:26

3. "The Dirty Song" 0:38

Total length: 5:05