David Bowie/The 1969 Foxgrove Road Tape Huge Upgrade

This is the third installment of the early Bowie archive series “DBAS”, and a shocking super-excellent album has appeared. This is a little too amazing. What is contained in such a shocking disc is actually a very classic famous sound source. Commonly known as “THE 1969 FOXGROVE ROAD TAPE” and “THE BECKENHAM DEMO,” this demo recording is said to be the “treasure of the phantom band THE FEATHERS” and the “origin of SPACE ODDITY.” It is the highest peak board in history. [A great classic that has undergone an unusual upgrade] A great classic among the classics that has been loved in numerous releases and is the first to be mentioned when it comes to early Bowie. However, this work is completely different from the previous releases. The quality of simply updating the highest peak in the past is revolutionary, but it goes beyond that. In fact, this master was brought to us through a special unique route. Actually, this route is a problem, and if you say it in Bowie’s past work, it is the same as that ultra-superb sound board “DEFINITIVE EARLS COURT 1978”. This press title was shocking due to its unusually high quality, but subsequent verification revealed that it was actually leaked from the production process of the officially released “WELCOME TO THE BLACKOUT (LIVE LONDON ’78)”. It became. It is clear that it is not an official copy as the editing and recording contents are different, but it was the “material”. I haven’t heard anything about the official release of “THE BECKENHAM TAPE” this time, but perhaps some kind of release plan is in progress along the same route… It is a new excavation that even has such a premonition. Moreover, the quality of this work supports that premonition. Until now, sound sources that have been repeatedly upgraded with different generations and are said to be acetate discs or master ripped have become a hot topic, but the improvement of this work is not comparable. Far surpassing the previous “A+” class sound. The expression “a veil has been peeled off” is often used, but the sound of this work has no veil in the first place. And I can’t find any dubbing marks. Although the previous episodes were noiseless, there was slight cloudiness and some shaking. There is nothing like that in this work. This is a sound that cannot be achieved no matter how advanced digital mastering is. It’s so clear that I think it’s the cassette itself that was used for recording, and it’s so clear that it’s as if Bowie was singing right in front of me. [The acoustic session that was the origin of SPACE ODDITY] The sound was so shocking that I ended up putting off important things. The content depicted with that sound is too wonderful. As mentioned earlier, this work is a valuable record of the THE FEATHERS era, which Bowie formed with his friend John Hutchinson before his breakout. This is a home recording made in April 1969 in an apartment at the time (although it does have the echoes of a studio), and one theory is that it was made to sell to MERCURY RECORDS. . Ten songs are performed with simple acoustic guitar and singing, just like Simon & Garfunkel, and before that, there are lively conversations and explanations of the songs. And what will be played is the prototype of the breakthrough masterpiece “SPACE ODDITY” (production of SPACE ODDITY will start in June, so it will be two months before that). Let’s introduce all 10 songs individually. ●”Space Oddity” A masterpiece of “SPACE ODDITY” that begins with a 30-second explanation by Bowie. This is the take that opened the official box “SOUND + VISION” in 1989, but this work is an unedited version that is longer. ●“Janine” This is also an early version of the song included in “SPACE ODDITY”. Unlike the official version, which was performed by a band, the simple taste is exquisite. It’s longer than the official version, and the Beatles’ “Hey Jude” is included, making it a great demo-like take. ●“An Occasional Dream” This song is also an exquisite take that is more rustic and primitive than the official “SPACE ODDITY” version. There are no decorations such as strings, horns, or percussion, and some of the lyrics are different. The beauty of the intertwining of Hutchinson and Bowie’s singing voices stands out. ●”Conversation Piece” This song was released as the B-side of the 1970 single “The Prettiest Star” and was re-recorded during the “HEATHEN” era. This is completely different from the regular take that was the later band style, and the youthful singing voice of Bowie, who was 22 years old, shines in the simple performance of only the acoustic guitar. ●“Ching-a-Ling” Up until this point, it was the initial version, but this song is a re-recorded version. It was already recorded in the debut era, and was also included in 1984’s “LOVE YOU TILL TUESDAY” and 1997’s “THE DERAM ANTHOLOGY 1966-1968.” Of course, this work has a different take and features Hutchinson’s vocals instead of Hermione Farthingale. ●“I’m Not Quite” This song is the original song of “Letter to Hermione” from “SPACE ODDITY”. Of course, this work is much simpler, but the melody and song style are directly connected to the official version. Rather than the original song, it feels like an early version before the retitle. ●“Lover To The Dawn” The best take that can be called the biggest shock of this work. In the previous releases, the sound of this song often deteriorated, and it was treated as a bonus track, but this work is superb. It is a completely official transcendental take that is as good as any other song. The contents are the original song of “Cygnet Committee”. “Letter to Hermione” was similar to the official version, but this one is completely different. The melody is the same as the official version, but the lyrics, tempo, and songwriting are completely different if the ensemble is different. This is a standout take that stands out in both its fun and upgrades. ●”Love Song” Female singer/songwriter: Leslie Duncan’s cover. The original was a 1969 single, and she covered it earlier than she recorded it on her album “SING CHILDREN SING” (1971). It’s rare for Bowie to cover a song by a female singer, but Hutchinson seems to be featured instead. ●A remake of a song that was recorded at the time of the debut album, like “When I’m Five” and “Ching-a-Ling.” The original was included in the 2010 Deluxe Edition of the debut album. ●The last song of “Life Is A Circus” is an unreleased song. It’s a slow number filled with gloom and melancholy, but with a beautiful melody that will slowly leave a deep impression on your heart. Even though only the demo is an unreleased song, it is completed as a song, and you can finally listen to such a treasured song with a completely official, ultra-excellent sound. In any case, it’s a super-superb sound that will shock you. It’s completely unknown whether an official release is actually planned, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it were…I really hope it happens. Even though I know it’s a bit off-topic, it’s a hidden treasure that I can’t help but hope for. This is an amazing album that can only be called a cultural heritage. (Remastered memo) ★The pitch was about 40% higher than a semitone, so it has been corrected. ★Without a doubt, this is the best Bowie title of the year. Unprecedented upgrade board! …This is an incident! ! Flat 1, 24 Foxgrove Road, Beckenham, London Borough of Bromley Late April 1969 SBD(HUGE UPGRADE) 2018 Restoration / Alternate acetate source (41:54) 1. Introduction 2. Space Oddity 3. Janine 4. An Occasional Dream 5. Conversation Piece 6. Ching-a-Ling 7. I’m Not Quite 8. Lover To The Dawn 9. Love Song 10. When I’m Five 11. Life Is A Circus