Bowie at the Beeb
Bowie at the Beeb is a compilation album by David Bowie, first released in 2000. Originally, it came in a three-CD set, the third, bonus CD being a live recording made on 27 June 2000 at the Portland BBC Radio Theatre. Later editions contain only the first two CDs.
Bowie at the Beeb | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | 26 September 2000 (original release) 2 April 2002 | |||
Recorded | 13 May 1968 – 23 May 1972 , various BBC Radio studios, London 27 June 2000 , London (3 CD version) | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 141:18 (2 CD version) 215:31 (3 CD version) | |||
Label | EMI/Virgin | |||
Producer | Bernie Andrews, Paul Williams, Jeff Griffin, Pete Ritzema, John F. Muir, Roger Pusey | |||
David Bowie chronology | ||||
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David Bowie compilation chronology | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 86/100[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 8.0/10[4] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Record Collector | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | 8/10[10] |
Wall of Sound | 90/100[11][1] |
The first pressing mistakenly included the second (disc 2, track 12) version of the song "Ziggy Stardust" twice on disc two, missing the first (disc 2, track 4) version. EMI declined to issue corrected replacement discs to customers, instead mailing out one-song CDs of the first version.
This compilation also features a previously unreleased song, "Looking for a Friend" (disc 1, track 15), which John Peel said would be released as a single by Arnold Corns. The single was later cancelled.
Track listing
All tracks written by David Bowie except as noted.
- Disc one
- "In the Heat of the Morning" – 3:02
- "London Bye Ta Ta" – 2:36
- "Karma Man" – 3:00
- "Silly Boy Blue" – 6:08
- "Let Me Sleep Beside You" – 3:17
- "Janine" – 3:24
- "Amsterdam" (Jacques Brel) – 3:18
- "God Knows I'm Good" – 3:36
- "The Width of a Circle" – 5:21
- "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" – 5:07
- "Cygnet Committee" – 9:07
- "Memory of a Free Festival" – 3:18
- "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" – 5:55
- "Bombers" – 3:19
- "Looking for a Friend" – 3:34
- "Almost Grown" (Chuck Berry) – 2:44
- "Kooks" – 3:32
- "It Ain't Easy" (Ron Davies) – 2:51
- Disc two
- "The Supermen" – 2:51
- "Oh! You Pretty Things" [Japan-only exclusive track][12] – 3:15
- "Eight Line Poem" – 2:56
- "Hang On to Yourself" – 2:50
- "Ziggy Stardust" – 3:26
- "Queen Bitch" – 2:59
- "I'm Waiting for the Man" (Lou Reed) – 5:24
- "Five Years" – 4:24
- "White Light/White Heat" (Reed) – 3:48
- "Moonage Daydream" – 4:58
- "Hang On to Yourself" – 2:50
- "Suffragette City" – 3:28
- "Ziggy Stardust" – 3:24
- "Starman" – 4:05
- "Space Oddity" – 4:16
- "Changes" – 3:29
- "Oh! You Pretty Things" – 2:57
- "Andy Warhol" – 3:14
- "Lady Stardust" – 3:21
- "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" – 3:08
- Disc three (supplied as a bonus disc with 2000-release limited editions)
- Tracks recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre, 27 June 2000 .
- "Wild Is the Wind" (Ned Washington, Dimitri Tiomkin) – 6:23
- "Ashes to Ashes" – 5:04
- "Seven" (Bowie, Reeves Gabrels) – 4:13
- "This Is Not America" (Bowie, Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays) – 3:44
- "Absolute Beginners" – 6:32
- "Always Crashing in the Same Car" – 4:07
- "Survive" (Bowie, Gabrels) – 4:55
- "Little Wonder" (Bowie, Gabrels, Mark Plati) – 3:49
- "The Man Who Sold the World" – 3:58
- "Fame" (Bowie, Carlos Alomar, John Lennon) – 4:12
- "Stay" – 5:45
- "Hallo Spaceboy" (Bowie, Brian Eno) – 5:22
- "Cracked Actor" – 4:10
- "I'm Afraid of Americans" (Bowie, Eno) – 5:30
- "Let's Dance" – 6:20
Notes
- Disc One
- Tracks 1 to 4 recorded for John Peel in Top Gear as "David Bowie and the Tony Visconti Orchestra", 13 May 1968 , tracks 1–3 broadcast 26 May 1968 .
- Tracks 5 and 6 recorded for D.L.T. (Dave Lee Travis Show) as "David Bowie and Junior's Eyes", 20 October 1969 , but neither track appeared in program broadcast 26 October 1969 .
- Tracks 7 to 12 recorded for The Sunday Show introduced by John Peel as "David Bowie and the Tony Visconti Trio (aka The Hype)", 5 February 1970 , broadcast date 8 February 1970 .
- Track 13 recorded for Sounds of the 70s: Andy Ferris as "David Bowie and the Tony Visconti Trio", 25 March 1970 , broadcast date 6 April 1970 .
- Tracks 14 to 18 recorded for In Concert: John Peel as "David Bowie and friends", 3 June 1971 , broadcast date 20 June 1971 .
- Disc Two
- Tracks 1, 2 and 3 recorded for Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris by David Bowie with Mick Ronson, 21 September 1971 , broadcast date 4 October 1971 .
- Tracks 4 to 8 recorded for Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris as "David Bowie and The Spiders from Mars", 18 January 1972 , broadcast date 7 February 1972 .
- Tracks 9 to 13 recorded for Sounds of the 70s: John Peel as "David Bowie and The Spiders from Mars", 16 May 1972 , broadcast date 23 May 1972 .
- Tracks 14 to 17 recorded for Johnnie Walker Lunchtime Show as "David Bowie and The Spiders from Mars", 22 May 1972 , broadcast date 5 June 1972 –9 June 1972 .
- Tracks 18 to 20 recorded for Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris as "David Bowie and The Spiders from Mars", 23 May 1972 , broadcast date 19 June 1972 .
Personnel
- David Bowie – vocals, guitar, keyboard
- The Tony Visconti Orchestra:
- Herbie Flowers – bass
- Barry Morgan – drums
- John McLaughlin – guitar
- Alan Hawkshaw – keyboards
- Tony Visconti – backing vocals
- Steve Peregrin Took – backing vocals
- Junior's Eyes:
- Mick Wayne – guitar
- Tim Renwick – rhythm guitar
- John "Honk" Lodge – bass
- John Cambridge – drums
- The Tony Visconti Trio aka The Hype:
- Tony Visconti – bass
- Mick Ronson – guitar
- John Cambridge – drums
- David Bowie and friends:
- David Bowie – vocals, guitar, keyboards
- Mick Ronson – guitar, vocal
- Trevor Bolder – bass
- Mick Woodmansey – drums
- Mark Carr-Pritchard – guitar
- George Underwood – vocal
- Dana Gillespie – vocal
- Geoffrey Alexander – vocal
- David Bowie and The Spiders from Mars (disc 2, tracks 3–19):
- David Bowie – vocals, guitar
- Mick Ronson – guitar, vocal
- Trevor Bolder – bass
- Woody Woodmansey – drums
- Disc 3, 27 June 2000:
- David Bowie – Vocals
- Earl Slick – guitar
- Mark Plati - Guitar & Bass
- Gail Ann Dorsey - Bass, Guitar & Vocals
- Sterling Campbell - Drums
- Mike Garson - Piano & Keyboards
- Holly Palmer - Backing vocals & Percussion
- Emm Gryner - Backing vocals & Keyboard
Additional personnel
- Nicky Graham – piano on disc 2, tracks 8–19
Production personnel
- Bernie Andrews – producer, disc 1 tracks 1–4, 13
- Pete Ritzema – engineer, disc 1 tracks 1–6, producer disc 2 tracks 8–12
- Alan Harris – engineer, disc 1 tracks 1–4
- Paul Williams – recording producer, disc 1 tracks 5–6
- Jeff Griffin – recording producer, disc 1 tracks 7–12, 14–18, disc 2 tracks 3–7, 17–19
- Tony Wilson – sound balance, disc 1 tracks 7–12
- Chris Lycett – assistant, disc 1 tracks 7–12, sound balance disc 1 tracks 14–18, disc 2 tracks 3–7, 17–19
- Nick Gomm – engineer, disc 1 track 13, disc 2 tracks 8–12
- John Etchells – assistant, disc 1 tracks 14–18, disc 2 tracks 3–7, 17–19
- John F. Muir – recording producer, disc 2 tracks 1–2
- John White – engineer, disc 2 tracks 1–2
- Bill Aitken – engineer, disc 2 tracks 1–2
- Roger Pusey – producer disc 2 tracks 13–16
Charts and certifications
Album
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
2000 | Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13] | 15 |
2000 | Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[14] | 14 |
2000 | Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[15] | 56 |
2000 | French Albums (SNEP)[16] | 27 |
2000 | Italian Albums (FIMI)[17] | 45 |
2000 | Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[18] | 37 |
2000 | Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] | 88 |
2000 | Billboard 200 | 181[2] |
2000 | UK Album Charts | 7[20] |
2002 | Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[21] | 22 |
2016 | German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[22] | 69 |
2016 | Portuguese Albums (AFP)[23] | 42 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] | Gold | 100,000[25] |
^shipments figures based on certification alone |
Notes
- "Bowie at the Beeb by David Bowie". Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "David Bowie — Bowie at the Beeb: The Best of the BBC Sessions 68-72". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- Snapes, Laura (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press.
- Dombal, Ryan (2 March 2016). "David Bowie: Bowie at the Beep". Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- "David Bowie: Bowie at the Beep". Q. p. 123.
- Atkins, Jamie. "David Bowie: Bowie at the Beep". Record Collector. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- "David Bowie Bowie at the Beeb: The Best of the BBC Sessions '68-'72". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 30 June 2001. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. pp. 97–98.
- Dolan, Jon (July 2006). "Bowie at the Beeb: The Best of The BBC Radio Sessions 68-72". Spin. p. 84. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- Pinnock, Tom (23 March 2016). "David Bowie - Bowie At The Beeb". Uncut. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- "David Bowie — Bowie At The Beeb". Wall of Sound. Archived from the original on 8 December 2000.
- "David Bowie - Bowie At The Beeb". Discogs.
- "Ultratop.be – David Bowie – Bowie at the Beeb - The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68-72" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- "Ultratop.be – David Bowie – Bowie at the Beeb - The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68-72" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – David Bowie – Bowie at the Beeb - The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68-72" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- "Lescharts.com – David Bowie – Bowie at the Beeb - The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68-72". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- "Italiancharts.com – David Bowie – Bowie at the Beeb - The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68-72". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- "Swedishcharts.com – David Bowie – Bowie at the Beeb - The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68-72". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- "Swisscharts.com – David Bowie – Bowie at the Beeb - The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68-72". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- "UK Top 40 Hit Database". Retrieved 18 June 2008.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – David Bowie – Bowie at the Beeb - The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68-72". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – David Bowie – Bowie at the Beeb - The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68-72" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- "Portuguesecharts.com – David Bowie – Bowie at the Beeb - The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68-72". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- "British album certifications – David Bowie". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 January 2016. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type David Bowie in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- Copsey, Rob (15 January 2016). "How the loss of David Bowie impacted the UK charts this week". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 January 2016.