David Bowie: "Maggie's Farm (Live)" Single (1989)

David Bowie
Aug 31, 1989
3 min read

Updated: Sep 22

Tin Machine’s "Maggie's Farm (Live)" backed with "Tin Machine", was released as a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl shaped picture disc single in the UK by EMI USA (catalog number MTPD 68) on September 4, 1989.

Chart Performance: The single reached #48 on the UK Singles Chart, reflecting modest commercial success but strong appeal among Bowie fans.

Overview

Artist: Tin Machine (featuring David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels, Tony Sales, and Hunt Sales)

Title: Maggie's Farm (Live) / Tin Machine

Label: EMI USA

Catalogue Number: MTPD 73

Barcode: 5099920350901

Format: 7" Shaped Picture Disc, Limited Edition

Country: UK

Release Date: September 1989

Genre: Rock, Hard Rock

Background

Tin Machine was a rock band formed by David Bowie in 1988, alongside guitarist Reeves Gabrels and the rhythm section of Tony and Hunt Sales (sons of comedian Soupy Sales). The band was Bowie’s attempt to return to a raw, band-oriented sound after the commercial pop of his 1980s solo work. Their debut album, Tin Machine (1989), was a hard rock project that aimed to strip away the gloss of Bowie’s previous releases. The single "Maggie's Farm (Live) / Tin Machine" was released to promote the album and the band’s early live performances."Maggie's Farm" is a cover of Bob Dylan’s 1965 protest song, originally a folk-rock anthem about rejecting oppressive authority. Tin Machine’s version, recorded live, was a heavier, more aggressive take, infusing it with a T. Rex-like energy (specifically borrowing elements from “Jeepster”). The B-side, "Tin Machine," is the title track from their debut album, a studio recording showcasing the band’s raw, guitar-driven sound.

Release Details

Format: This is a 7" shaped picture disc, a collectible vinyl format where the record itself is cut into a non-standard shape (often a circle with a unique outline) and features printed artwork. Shaped picture discs are rare and highly valued by collectors due to their visual appeal and limited production.

Tracklisting:

A-Side: "Maggie’s Farm (Live)" – Recorded live at La Cigale, Paris, on 25 June 1989. Mobile recording services were provided by Westwood One. The live performance captures Tin Machine’s raw energy, with Bowie’s vocals described as intense, though he reportedly struggled with the first verse.

AA-Side:

"Tin Machine" – The studio version taken directly from the Tin Machine album.

Production:

Manufactured by: EMI Records Ltd.

Published by: EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (for "Tin Machine") and Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (for "Maggie’s Farm").

Barcode: 5099920350901

Packaging: Issued in a clear PVC sleeve with a backing picture insert.

Context and Significance

Musical Context: Tin Machine’s cover of "Maggie’s Farm" was performed during their initial 1989 tour, a series of 12 small-venue shows in the US, UK, and Europe (June–July 1989). The tour avoided Bowie’s solo hits, focusing on Tin Machine material and a few covers, like "Maggie’s Farm," as a nod to rock roots. The song was first performed at the Docks in Hamburg on 22 June 1989 and remained in the setlist for the tour but was not revisited for their 1991–1992 tour.

Additional Notes

Other Versions: The single was also released in other formats, including a standard 7" vinyl (catalogue MTG 73) with a gatefold sleeve, some of which were numbered limited editions (though some copies lacked the number stamp).

Other variants: