David Bowie: David Bowie (Space Oddity) Album (1969)

Vasarely's Depth of a Circle

David Bowie’s David Bowie (Space Oddity 1972) LP, released in the UK on November 14, 1969, on Philips Records (catalogue: SBL 7912 / SBL.7912 / 852 146 BY), was his second studio album. Produced by Tony Visconti (except “Space Oddity” by Gus Dudgeon) at Trident Studios, this 9-track folk-psych journey—featuring Rick Wakeman’s Mellotron, Paul Buckmaster’s cello, and hidden “Don't Sit Down”—followed David Bowie (1967). With Vernon Dewhurst’s Vasarely-inspired front cover and George Underwood’s back illustration (Depth of a Circle), it included lyrics inner and no musician credits. A commercial failure initially, the 1972 RCA reissue as Space Oddity charted. Issued in gatefold with variants (unassigned credits, hybrid labels), it’s a pre-glam Bowie milestone.

Album Overview

Release Details:

Label: Philips Records (UK).

Formats: Vinyl LP (gatefold).

℗ & ©: 1969. Recorded at Trident Studios. Pressed by Phonodisc Ltd.

Notes: Published by Essex Music International Ltd. Track A2.2 hidden.

UK Release Formats and Track Listings

David Bowie was released in the UK in 1969 as a vinyl LP, all with the same 9-track sequence (A2.2 hidden):

Vinyl LP, Stereo, Gatefold (Catalogue: SBL 7912):

Side A:

Space Oddity (5:13) – Arranged By – David Bowie, Paul Buckmaster – Producer – Gus Dudgeon

2.1. Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed (6:09)

2.2. Don't Sit Down (0:39) – Hidden

Letter To Hermione (2:30)

Cygnet Committee (9:22)

Side B:

Janine (3:22)

An Occasional Dream (2:54)

The Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud (4:46)

God Knows I'm Good (3:17)

Memory Of A Free Festival (7:06)

Packaging: Illustrated gatefold with lyrics. Black labels silver print.

Variants:

Vinyl LP, Gatefold (Unassigned Credits):

SBL 7912 sleeve, SBL.7912 labels. All to Essex Music.

Same tracklist.

Vinyl LP, Stereo, Gatefold (Hybrid Label Variant):

Side 1 bold “PHILIPS” Essex, Side 2 thin “PHILIPS” Copyright Control (B1,B2,B4,B5), Essex (B3).

Same tracklist.

UK (Philips SBL 7912): Released November 14, 1969. Gatefold variants.

Tape Cassette:

Not available until 1972 RCA Ziggy reissue

Country Variations:

Netherlands - Philips - 1969

Production and Context:

Produced by Tony Visconti (A2.1–B5), Gus Dudgeon (A1). Arranged by Bowie/Visconti (A2.1–B5), Bowie/Buckmaster (A1). Musicians: David Bowie (vocals, 12-string, stylophone, kalimba, Rosedal organ), Tim Renwick (guitar, flute, recorder), Keith Christmas (acoustic guitar), Mick Wayne (guitar), Rick Wakeman (Mellotron, electric harpsichord), Tony Visconti (bass, flute, recorder), Herbie Flowers (bass), Honk (bass), John Cambridge (drums), Terry Cox (drums), Benny Marshall & friends (harmonica, backing on Memory). Engineered by Ken Scott, Malcolm Toft, Barry Sheffield. David Bowie was financed by Mercury post-“Space Oddity.” Commercial flop initially; 1972 RCA reissue as Space Oddity charted.

Singles Released and Chart Performance

"Space Oddity"

Released: July 11 1969

Peak position 5

Album Chart Performance

David Bowie (1969) had no chart data until 1972 reissue as Space Oddity.

Legacy and Collectibility

David Bowie is Bowie’s folk-psych gem, with Space Oddity and Cygnet Committee enduring. Verify catalogue SBL 7912.

Streams on Spotify via reissues preserve the analog dream.

This LP is a must-have for Bowie fans and ‘60s psych collectors.

Do you have David Bowie in your vinyl stack? Which oddity orbits you? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, includingDiscogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube