Following David Bowie's split from record label Deram, his manager Kenneth Pitt managed to negotiate a one-album deal with Mercury Records in 1969. Next he tried to find a producer. Tony Visconti liked the album demo-tracks, but considered the planned lead-off single, 'Space oddity', a gimmick track and delegated its production to Gus Dudgeon.Following recording of the track, the single was rush-released on July 11, 1969 to coincide with the Apollo 11 moon landings. In the UK, it was used in conjunction with the BBC's coverage of the landing. This exposure finally gave Bowie a hit, reaching number 5 in the chart. The single also reached number 8 in the Dutch Top 40. The song became so well-known that Bowie's second album, originally released as David Bowie in the UK (like his first album), was renamed after the track for its 1972 reissue by RCA, and has since become known by this name.
This particular single is a re-release from the mid-seventies, also containing the later hit single 'Changes'. While I am never too fond of re-releases (and especially those without a picture sleeve) I felt I had to buy it since getting an original copy from 1969 would - and will probably still - cost a fortune.
My collection: 7" single no. 550
Found: London, October 1987
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Space oddity' / 'Changes', 'Velvet goldmine'
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