David Bowie 40th Anniversary Remaster of Aladdin Sane
DAVID BOWIE 40TH ANNIVERSARY REMASTER OF ALADDIN SANE
05 FEBRUARY 2013 (Toronto, ON)—Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company, has announced the April 16 release of a 40th anniversary edition of David Bowie’s groundbreaking Aladdin Sane - the follow up to 1972’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars. Originally released through RCA Victor on 13 April 1973, Aladdin Sane was David Bowie’s sixth album, co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott. This was an incredibly busy time for Bowie – Ziggy Stardust had made him a massive star in the UK and he was touring extensively in the US, where most of the album’s songs were written whilst on the road. Recorded at Trident Studios, London, and RCA Studios, New York and Nashville, between October '72 and January 1973, it was be to be the last album that the Spiders’ line-up of Mick Ronson (guitar, piano, backing vocals), Trevor Bolder (bass) and Mick ‘Woody’ Woodmansey (drums) would appear on. It was to feature the debut of one of Bowie’s new collaborators, avant-jazz pianist Mike Garson. In addition to vocals, Bowie himself played guitar, harmonica, keyboards and saxophone on the album. Described by Bowie as “Ziggy goes to America,” Aladdin Sane saw him create a rockier, more frenetic album than its predecessor, with The Rolling Stones a possible influence on album opener ‘Watch That Man’ and a transgressive cover of their song, ‘Let’s Spend The Night Together’. Elsewhere, Muddy Waters’ influence could be heard in the riff of ‘The Jean Genie’ and the “futuristic nostalgia” of ‘Drive-In Saturday’ was inspired by 1950s doo-wop. ‘Cracked Actor’, possibly David’s most decadent moment, was written after he had toured Hollywood Boulevard, translating the images and environment into raw rock ‘n’ roll. The addition of Mike Garson and his remarkable talents, infused some of the album’s key tracks, in particular the title track with its dissonant improvisation, the Brechtian cabaret of ‘Time’ and album closer ‘Lady Grinning Soul’ with an edgy, schizophrenic quality. This 40th anniversary edition has been remastered by Ray Staff at London’s AIR Studios. Ray cut the original LP during his time at Trident Studios and has received plaudits for his remastering of the Ziggy Stardust 40th anniversary edition last year.davidbowie.com
Aladdin Sane 40th Anniversary Edition tracklisting: 1. Watch That Man 2. Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) 3. Drive-In Saturday 4. Panic In Detroit 5. Cracked Actor 6. Time 7. The Prettiest Star 8. Let's Spend the Night Together 9. The Jean Genie 10. Lady Grinning Soul