Rubber Band Single: 1966

A Deram Debut Mod-Pop Gem

Released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK on December 2, 1966, on Deram Records (catalogue: DM 107), David Bowie’s “Rubber Band” — backed with “The London Boys” (misspelled “The London Boy's” on label) — was his debut solo single. Produced by Mike Vernon, this brass-laden mod-pop curiosity — with “Rubber Band” published by Cooper Music and “The London Boys” by Sparta Music — did not chart. Issued in standard brown/white labels, promo light blue/white labels, and rare unreleased Decca demo with blank labels. A collector’s holy grail from Bowie’s pre-fame era.

Single Overview

Release Details

Label: Deram Records.

Formats: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single (standard / promo / unreleased Decca demo).

Full Track Listing

Side A

Rubber Band – Written-By: Bowie – Producer: Mike Vernon

Side B

The London Boys – Written-By: Bowie – Producer: Mike Vernon

UK Variants

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – Deram DM 107 – UK – 1966 (brown/white labels)

- 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo – Deram DM 107 – UK – 1966 (light blue/white labels)

- 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo – Decca none – UK – 1966 (blank labels, unreleased)

Production and Context

Produced by Mike Vernon. Recorded 1966 at Decca Studios. Bowie’s first solo single after leaving The Lower Third — still in mod/R&B mode.

Chart Performance

No chart entry.

Legacy and Collectibility

“Rubber Band” / “The London Boys” is David Bowie’s ultra-rare debut solo single. Original UK Deram pressings fetch £1150–£1939 on eBay/Discogs, promos/unreleased Decca demo £2000+. Verify catalogue DM 107. Streams limited (often on compilations). This single is a must-have for Bowie completists.

Do you have Rubber Band in your vinyl stack? Are you a London Boy? Share in the comments!

Sources

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

Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, mistakes do happen. Simply leave a comment and the post will be updated. Thank you.