The laughing gnome - David Bowie

A full ten years before Dutch singer Father Abraham made his claim to fame with the Smurf song, David Bowie recorded and released 'The laughing gnome', a novelty song which failed to give him the chart recognition he so desperately desired.

The song still became a hit in the UK when it was re-released after Bowie's commercial breakthrough with 'The rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars' in 1973. Despite the song being totally different from Bowie's material at that time, the single still made number 6 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3170

Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, January 18, 2000

Cost: 3 pounds

Tracks: 'The laughing gnome' / 'The gospel according to Tony Day'