David Bowie: "Heroes" Single (2017)

David Bowie’s "Heroes" backed with "'Heroes' (‘Marc’ Show Version)", was released as a 40th Anniversary 7-inch vinyl picture disc single in the UK by Parlophone Records (catalog number DBHERO40) on September 22, 2017, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of David Bowie’s iconic single “Heroes,” originally released on September 23, 1977, by RCA Victor (PB 1121).

Cataloged as DBHERO 40 (UK) and 5601-7-R (US), this limited-edition picture disc was part of Record Store Day 2017 and Bowie’s posthumous reissue campaign following his passing in January 2016. The A-side features the 2017 remastered single edit of “Heroes” (3:35), while the AA-side (a double A-side designation) contains a previously unreleased live version of “Heroes” from Marc Bolan’s ITV show Marc, recorded on September 7, 1977, and broadcast on September 28, 1977, after

Bolan’s tragic passing in a car accident on September 16, 1977.

Historical Context

David Bowie’s “Heroes,” from the 1977 album of the same name, is the second installment of his Berlin Trilogy (Low, Heroes, Lodger), a period marked by collaboration with Brian Eno and producer Tony Visconti. Recorded at Hansa Studios near the Berlin Wall, “Heroes” was inspired by the Cold War and a clandestine romance between Visconti and singer Antonia Maass, symbolizing defiance and hope. The original single reached No. 24 in the UK and became a global anthem, covered by artists like Prince, Blondie, and The Wallflowers. The 2017 reissue coincided with the A New Career in a New Town (1977–1982) box set, which included the Berlin Trilogy albums. The AA-side’s Marc show performance is historically significant as the first public performance of “Heroes” in the UK, recorded just weeks before Bolan’s death. Bowie’s appearance on Marc, a six-episode ITV series hosted by T. Rex’s Marc Bolan, also featured a duet on T. Rex’s “Standing Next to You,” cut short by Bolan tripping off the stage, adding poignancy to the release given the timing of Bolan’s passing.Track AnalysisA-Side: Heroes (Single Edit, 2017 Remaster, 3:35)Lyrics and Theme: Co-written by Bowie and Eno, “Heroes” captures the fleeting heroism of lovers meeting near the Berlin Wall, with the iconic line “We can be heroes, just for one day.” The quotation marks in the title, as Bowie noted, denote irony, reflecting the song’s bittersweet tone.

AA-Side: Heroes (‘Marc’ Show Version, 3:35, Previously Unreleased)

Composition and Theme:

This live version, recorded on September 7, 1977, for Marc Bolan’s Marc TV show, marks the first televised performance of “Heroes” in the UK. Performed in a studio setting for ITV, it captures Bowie’s raw energy and emotional delivery, though in mono audio, as noted in reviews.

Significance:

The Marc show version is a collector’s gem, previously unreleased until this picture disc. Its historical context—Bowie performing on Bolan’s show just days before Bolan’s fatal accident—makes it a poignant snapshot of their friendship and the glam rock era’s twilight. The performance’s mono audio is a noted drawback but doesn’t diminish its archival value.

[ASIDE]

"HEROES" (SINGLE VERSION)

(Lyrics by David Bowie, music by David Bowie and Brian Enol-DBRERO 40A Published by North America-Tintoretto Music (BMI) administered by R20 Music, Inc..

Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc. (BMI) ofblo EMI Music Publishing Ltd.. Universal Music Careers (BMI). Rest of World-Tintoretto Music/RZO Music. Ltd., EMI Music Publishing Ltd. Universal Music MGB Ltd.

Produced by David Bowie and Tony Visconti Recorded at Hansa by the Wall, Berlin

Engineers - Tony Visconti and Colin Thurston, and Mountain Studios, Montreux Assistant engineers-David Richards and Eugene Chaplin Mixed at Mountain Studios. Montreux

Originally 1977, Remaster 2017 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment Company LLC under exclusive license to Parlophone Records Ltd.

[AA SIDE] "HEROES"*

('MARC' SHOW VERSION)

(Lyrics by David Bowie, music by David Bowie and Brian Eno) -DBHERO 40AA Published by North America - Tintoretto Music (BMI) administered by RZO Music, Inc.,

Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc. (BMI) o/blo EMI Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Careers (BMI). Rest of World - Tintoretto Music/RZO Music Ltd., EMI Music Publishing Ltd.. Universal Music MGB Ltd.

Recorded for the television show "Marc' on 7th September, 1977 and broadcast on 20th September, 1977. 2017 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by ITV Studios Limited.

2017 The copyright in this compilation is owned by Parlophone Records Ltd.

©2017 Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment Company LLC. This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.

©2017 Parlophone Records Ltd. A Warner Music Group Company. All rights of the producer and of the owner of the recorded work reserved. Unauthorised copying.

hiring, renting, public performance and broadcasting of this record prohibited. Mastered by Ray Staff at AIR Mastering/Design by Gas Associates.

0190295772611/DBHERO 40/Made in the EU.

*mono

Parlophone 45RPM

Critical Reception:

The 2017 picture disc was warmly received by fans and collectors, particularly for the previously unreleased Marc show version. Discogs users praised the sound quality, with one noting “excellent clarity and dynamics” for a picture disc, though minor surface noise was reported, typical of the format. Amazon reviews highlight its collectible appeal, with comments like “another fantastic 7" Vinyl Picture Disc” and “sure to be a Collector’s Item,” emphasizing its value for Bowie completists. The Marc version was celebrated for its historical significance, though some fans noted the mono audio as a limitation compared to the stereo A-side. The disc debuted at No. 1 on the UK Official Physical Singles Chart (September 29–October 5, 2017), reflecting strong fan demand, and reached No. 25 overall, impressive for a vinyl-only release. Critics, like those at NME and SuperDeluxeEdition, lauded its role in Parlophone’s 40th anniversary series, though some preferred the original 1977 B-side “V-2 Schneider” for its Krautrock edge.