"ASHES TO ASHES" David Bowie 1980 RCA DJL1-3795 DJ 12" PROMO Space Oddity Sequel
$
33
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Description
"Ashes to Ashes" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie from his 14th studio album, Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980). An art rock, art pop and new wave song led by a flanged piano riff, the lyrics act as a sequel to Bowie's 1969 hit "Space Oddity": the astronaut Major Tom has succumbed to drug addiction and floats isolated in space. Bowie partially based the lyrics on his own experiences with drug addiction throughout the 1970s. Released as the album's lead single on 1 August 1980, "Ashes to Ashes" became Bowie's second No. 1 UK single and his fastest-selling single, following the 1975 reissue of "Space Oddity". The song's music video, co-directed by Bowie and David Mallet, was at the time the most expensive music video ever made. Influential on the rising New Romantic movement, commentators have considered it one of Bowie's best videos and of all time. RCA emphasized the relationship of "Space Oddity" and "Ashes to Ashes" by releasing a nine-minute promo on 12" vinyl in the US titled "The Continuing Story of Major Tom", which segued the former into the latter. After years of dwindling commercial fortunes, "Ashes to Ashes" was a return to commercial form for Bowie. Debuting at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. In later decades, reviewers and biographers consider "Ashes to Ashes" one of Bowie's best songs. Praise is given to its musicality and unique structure.
THIS COPY is one of the "white label" 1980 U.S. PROMO pressings of the nine-minute version that segues "Space Oddity" into the edited version of "Ashes to Ashes", loosely titled "The Continuing Story of Major Tom" (see Notes, below). On the label, the songs are listed and timed separately on side one. Side two has the LP version of "Ashes to Ashes".
The vinyl: Side one is Near Mint [NM], but since there are some marks on side two (which do not affect playback) I am grading the overall disc as Very Good Plus [VG+]. The original cover is beautiful and shiny, in Near Mint [NM] condition. The original inner sleeve, paper with a center label hole, has one odd looking crease (see separate photo), but with that sole flaw, it is in Very Good Plus [VG+] condition.
Notes
Promotional only single that contains a segue of 'Space Oddity' into an edited version of 'Ashes to Ashes' as a sort of continuing story of the fictional character "Major Tom".
"Ashes to Ashes" appears prominently on the bottom of the picture sleeve as the title for this release.
On the cover are these additional descriptions of this 12" single.
"The continuing story of MAJOR TOM. Space Oddity segued into Ashes To Ashes.
NOT FOR SALE
PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY
Taken from the Scary Monsters LP
AQL1-3647"
On labels:
"DJ ALBUM, SAMPLER
DAVID BOWIE
NOT FOR SALE"
Cover photographs are monochrome versions of color shots by Brian Duffy commonly known as Duffy.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (A side runout): DJL1-3795-A-12 [etched]
Matrix / Runout (B side runout): DJL1-3795-B-1 [etched]
Rights Society: ASCAP
Rights Society: BMI
ENJOY!
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