Changesonebowie
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| Changesonebowie | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 21 May 1976[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1969–1976 | |||
| Genre | Rock, glam rock, art rock | |||
| Length | 44:14 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Producer | David Bowie, Gus Dudgeon, Ken Scott, Tony Visconti, Harry Maslin | |||
| David Bowie chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Changesonebowie | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| Pitchfork | 8.8/10[4] |
| Robert Christgau | A[5] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 9/10[7] |
Changesonebowie is a compilation album by English musician David Bowie, issued through RCA Records in 1976. It collected songs from the 1969–1976 period, including the first LP appearance of "John, I'm Only Dancing". A "sax version" of this song, cut during the Aladdin Sane sessions in 1973, appeared on the first 1000 copies of the UK pressing (identified by the lack of the RCA logo in the upper-right corner of the cover). Later pressings of Changesonebowie featured the original version of the single that had been recorded and released in 1972. All US pressings of the LP contain this original version as well.
Two of the tracks, "Ziggy Stardust" and "Suffragette City", had never been released as singles when Changesonebowie was issued, though the former had been the B-side of "The Jean Genie" in November 1972 and the latter would be released as an A-side in July 1976 to help promote the compilation.
The album was followed up by a companion compilation, Changestwobowie, in 1981.
Album history
[edit]RCA Records reissued Changesonebowie on CD in 1984, but it was withdrawn shortly afterwards, along with the rest of Bowie's RCA catalogue, due to a conflict between Bowie and RCA. The RCA CD contains the original single version of "John, I'm Only Dancing".
When the Bowie catalogue was reissued by Rykodisc beginning in 1990, Changesonebowie was replaced by a new compilation, Changesbowie, on which "Fame" was superseded by the "Gass Mix" of "Fame 90" (produced and remixed by Jon Gass) and "'Heroes'", "Ashes to Ashes", "Fashion", "Let's Dance", "China Girl", "Modern Love", and "Blue Jean" were added. In addition to the above, Rykodisc added the songs "Starman" (following "Space Oddity"), "Life on Mars?" (following "The Jean Genie"), and "Sound and Vision" (following "Golden Years") to the double-LP editions of the album.
A remastered edition of the original Changesonebowie compilation was released on 20 May 2016, on vinyl and CD, to mark its 40th anniversary.[1] On 13 April 2018, Changesonebowie was released in digital/streaming formats, along with a newly remastered edition of its follow-up, Changestwobowie, on vinyl, CD and digital/streaming.[8]
The cover provided the inspiration for the 2009 expanded edition of the Morrissey album Southpaw Grammar.
Acclaim
[edit]In 1987, as part of their 20th anniversary, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it number 96 on "The Top 100 Albums of the Last Twenty Years." In 2003, the album was ranked number 425 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[9]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by David Bowie, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Space Oddity" | Space Oddity (1969) | 5:14 |
| 2. | "John, I'm Only Dancing" (sax version) | Single A-side (1972) | 2:43 |
| 3. | "Changes" | Hunky Dory (1971) | 3:33 |
| 4. | "Ziggy Stardust" | The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) | 3:13 |
| 5. | "Suffragette City" | The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars | 3:25 |
| 6. | "The Jean Genie" | Aladdin Sane (1973) | 4:03 |
| Total length: | 22:11 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Diamond Dogs" | Diamond Dogs (1974) | 5:56 | |
| 2. | "Rebel Rebel" | Diamond Dogs | 4:30 | |
| 3. | "Young Americans" | Young Americans (1975) | 5:10 | |
| 4. | "Fame" | Bowie, Carlos Alomar, John Lennon | Young Americans | 4:12 |
| 5. | "Golden Years" | Station to Station (1976) | 3:59 | |
| Total length: | 22:03 (44:14) | |||
Personnel
[edit]- David Bowie – vocals, guitars, keyboards, saxophone, harmonica, stylophone, Moog, Mellotron, backing vocals
- Tim Renwick – guitar (side one-1)
- Mick Wayne – guitar (side one-1)
- Rick Wakeman – mellotron (side one-1)
- Herbie Flowers – bass (side one-1, side two 1,2)
- Terry Cox – drums (side one-1)
- Mick Ronson – guitars, piano, moog, backing vocals (side one 2–6)
- Trevor Bolder – bass (side one 2–6)
- Mick Woodmansey – drums (side one 2–6)
- Tony Newmark – drums (side two 1)
- Aynsley Dunbar – drums (side two 2)
- Carlos Alomar – guitars (side two 3,4,5)
- Earl Slick – guitars (side two 4,5)
- John Lennon – guitar, backing vocals (side two 4)
- Mike Garson – Piano, keyboards (side one 2–6, side two 1–4)
- Roy Bittan – piano (side two 5)
- Willy Weeks – bass (side two 9)
- Emir Ksasan – bass (side two 10)
- George Murray – bass (side two 5)
- Andy Newmark – drums (side two 3)
- Dennis Davis – drums (side two 4,5)
- David Sanborn – saxophone (side two 3)
- Pablo Rosario – percussion (side two 3)
- Larry Washington – percussion (side two 3)
- Ralph Mcdonald – percussion (side two 4)
- Ava Cherry, Robin Clark, Anthony Hinton, Diane Sumler, Luther Vandross – backing vocals (side two 3)
- Warren Peace – backing vocals (side two 3,5)
- Jean Millington, Jean Fineberg – backing vocals (side two 4)
- Harry Maslin, Editing, Assembling, and Mastering
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[21] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[22] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b "CHANGESONEBOWIE random vinyl out now". David Bowie Official Website. Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ^ Thompson, Dave. "Changesonebowie – David Bowie". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "Bowie, David". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (24 May 2016). "David Bowie: Changesonebowie Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "CG: bowie". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "David Bowie". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). New York City: Simon & Schuster. pp. 97–99. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Sheffield, Rob (1995). "David Bowie". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 55–57. ISBN 978-0-679-75574-6.
- ^ "CHANGESTWO black or blue?". David Bowie Official Website. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ "News". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 9 April 2006. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ "Charts.nz – David Bowie – Changesonebowie". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Changesonebowie – full Official Chart History". officialcharts.com. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ "Changesonebowie Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – David Bowie – Changesonebowie" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – David Bowie – Changesonebowie" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – David Bowie – Changesonebowie". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2016. 20. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 21, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 428. ISBN 978-0-646-11917-5.
- ^ "Top 50 Albums of 1976" (PDF). Music Week. 25 December 1976. p. 14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021 – via worldradiohistory.com.
- ^ "Top US Billboard 200 Albums - Year End 1976". bestsellingalbums. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – David Bowie – Changesonebowie". Music Canada. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ^ "American album certifications – David Bowie – Changesonebowie". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
External links
[edit]- Changesonebowie at Discogs (list of releases)
Changesonebowie
View on GrokipediaBackground and release
Development and track selection
In the wake of David Bowie's commercial breakthrough with the 1975 album Young Americans and its hit single "Fame," RCA Records initiated the development of Changesonebowie as Bowie's first greatest hits compilation to consolidate his rising stardom, particularly in the United States market.[2][7] The project was conceived in late 1975, drawing from Bowie's RCA catalog spanning 1969 to 1976, and aimed to provide an accessible overview of his evolution from folk-influenced rock to glam and soul-infused styles.[8] Bowie personally selected the 11 tracks, prioritizing a mix of commercial singles and pivotal album cuts that highlighted his artistic milestones, such as "Space Oddity" from 1969, "Ziggy Stardust" and "Suffragette City" from 1972's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, and "Rebel Rebel" from 1974's Diamond Dogs.[2] This curation emphasized high-energy rockers and radio-friendly hits over some of his other UK successes, notably excluding "Starman," "Life on Mars?," and "Sorrow" to maintain a concise, stylish narrative of his transformation into a rock icon.[2] The selection process balanced artistic intent with practical constraints, fitting the material into a 46-minute runtime suitable for a single vinyl LP.[7] Early UK pressings of the album, limited to the first 1,000 copies, featured the rare saxophone version of "John, I'm Only Dancing" (recorded during the 1973 Aladdin Sane sessions) in place of the original 1972 single mix, serving as an unintended bonus for collectors before subsequent editions corrected to the standard version.[9] While Bowie oversaw track choices, the final sequencing was largely managed by RCA producers to ensure a dynamic flow across the LP sides.[2]Initial release
Changesonebowie was released on 20 May 1976 in the United Kingdom by RCA Records, with the United States edition following in June 1976.[10][11] The album was issued primarily as a vinyl LP featuring a gatefold sleeve design. Early UK pressings included a bonus 7" single containing the saxophone version of "John, I'm Only Dancing".[12] Promotion for the compilation was linked to David Bowie's ongoing Station to Station world tour, which ran from early 1976 into the summer. RCA's advertising campaigns positioned the album as a definitive collection of Bowie's hits spanning 1969 to 1976, though no major commercial single was extracted from it; instead, "Suffragette City" received a limited promotional single release in July 1976.[13] Issued amid Bowie's artistic evolution from glam rock toward soul and experimental sounds, Changesonebowie served as a timely retrospective of his most commercially successful RCA material, bridging his past achievements just prior to the collaborative Berlin Trilogy with Iggy Pop. The LP was distributed globally through RCA's established international network, with standard UK pricing around £2.99.[3]Reissues and remasters
The first compact disc edition of Changesonebowie was released by RCA Records in 1984, marking the album's initial foray into digital format.[14] This reissue was short-lived, as it was withdrawn shortly thereafter amid legal disputes between David Bowie and RCA over royalties and artistic control of his catalog.[15] In 1990, the album was effectively replaced in the market by Rykodisc's expanded compilation Changesbowie, which featured an extended tracklist spanning 1969 to 1985 and became part of Rykodisc's remastered Bowie reissue series.[9] As a result, Changesonebowie went out of print and was unavailable in new editions until the 2016 reissue.[16] A remastered 40th anniversary edition was issued on May 20, 2016, by Parlophone (in association with Warner Music Group), as part of a broader reissue campaign managed by Bowie's estate following his death.[17] This version utilized original master tapes for improved audio quality and was released in both 180-gram vinyl and CD formats, with half of the initial vinyl pressing on clear vinyl.[18][19] On April 13, 2018, a digital remaster of Changesonebowie became available on streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music, offering high-resolution audio options as part of Bowie's official digital catalog rollout by Parlophone.[20] As of November 2025, no additional vinyl variants have been produced beyond the 2016 edition.Music and artwork
Musical style and themes
Changesonebowie encapsulates a rich blend of genres that reflect David Bowie's stylistic versatility from 1969 to 1976, incorporating folk-rock elements in "Space Oddity," glam rock in "Ziggy Stardust" and "Suffragette City," art rock in "Changes," and soul/funk in "Young Americans" and "Fame."[2] This diversity underscores Bowie's refusal to be confined to a single musical category, drawing from psychedelic folk to hard-edged rock and R&B-infused grooves.[2] Thematically, the album's tracks delve into explorations of identity, fame, alienation, and androgyny, central to Bowie's oeuvre during this period. For instance, "Space Oddity" portrays sci-fi isolation through the story of astronaut Major Tom, symbolizing existential detachment.[21] Similarly, "Rebel Rebel" confronts gender fluidity with its provocative imagery of a rebellious figure challenging societal norms.[22] Production approaches across the compilation vary significantly by era, highlighting Bowie's evolving soundscapes; the Ziggy Stardust-era songs feature guitar-heavy arrangements driven by Mick Ronson's dynamic riffs and solos, while later tracks like those from Young Americans incorporate Philly soul influences through lush, rhythm-driven sessions at Sigma Sound Studios.[23][24] With a total runtime of 44:14, the selection emphasizes punchy, radio-friendly hits that capture these shifts efficiently.[3] Collectively, the tracks form a cohesive narrative arc tracing Bowie's transformation from a psychedelic outsider to a mainstream pop icon, curated to spotlight his breakthrough singles and stylistic reinventions without venturing into album deep cuts.[2]Cover art and packaging
The cover art for Changesonebowie features a close-up black-and-white photograph of David Bowie taken by photographer Tom Kelley during a May 1975 session in West Hollywood, capturing the musician in profile with dramatic low lighting that accentuates his sharp features and evokes a sense of mystery and cinematic stardom.[3][25] This image, which aligns with Bowie's Thin White Duke persona from his Station to Station era, was selected to represent the compilation's focus on his transformative 1969–1976 output.[26] The artwork was designed by the London-based studio Mainartery, known for their work on several Bowie releases during the period.[3] The original 1976 vinyl packaging utilized a standard single-pocket sleeve, with the front cover showcasing the Kelley photograph in a minimalist layout and the back cover listing tracks and credits; a plain paper inner sleeve was included, reflecting the album's nature as a straightforward compilation without an extensive booklet.[27] Subsequent reissues have largely preserved the core cover image while introducing minor updates for modern formats. The 2016 vinyl reissue, produced for Record Store Day and featuring 180-gram pressing, retained the original artwork but added digital enhancements for clarity and included a white die-cut poly-lined inner sleeve; half of the limited edition came on clear vinyl without altering the visual design.[19] Later 2020s vinyl editions, such as those from ongoing catalog repressions, have maintained the front art intact but occasionally featured colored inner sleeves or updated back cover layouts to accommodate remastered track listings, ensuring consistency with the iconic 1976 aesthetic.[1]Reception and legacy
Critical reception
Upon its release in 1976, Changesonebowie garnered positive critical attention for providing a concise overview of David Bowie's early hits. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice deemed it Bowie's most satisfying album to date, assigning it an A grade and noting its appeal amid the artist's evolving output.[28] In the UK, the compilation was similarly praised in the music press, with Mick Farren's review in New Musical Express acknowledging its function as a key retrospective of Bowie's singles from 1969 to 1976.[29] However, some American reviewers viewed it as a conventional hits collection lacking deeper exploration of Bowie's catalog, while others criticized RCA Records for repurposing older tracks—such as issuing the 1971 song "Suffragette City" as a new single—to capitalize on the artist's popularity amid contractual tensions.[30] Critics also pointed to notable omissions, including major singles like "Life on Mars?" from Hunky Dory (1971), "Starman" and "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" from The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972), and the entire covers album Pin Ups (1973), which limited its representation of Bowie's glam rock phase.[7] Retrospectively, Changesonebowie has been acclaimed for encapsulating Bowie's stylistic versatility across folk, glam, and soul influences. It ranked number 96 on Rolling Stone's 1987 list of the Top 100 Albums of the Last 20 Years and number 425 on the magazine's 2003 edition of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In a 2016 review tied to its remastered reissue, Pitchfork lauded the album's near-chronological sequencing as an elegant narrative of Bowie's transformation "from quizzical folkie to a conquering colossus," highlighting its enduring archival value within his discography.[2]Commercial performance
Upon its release in 1976, Changesonebowie achieved strong commercial performance, peaking at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and remaining on the chart for a total of 119 weeks.[31] In the United States, the compilation reached number 10 on the Billboard 200.[32] Internationally, it peaked at number 19 in Australia according to the Kent Music Report and entered the Dutch Album Top 100 at number 150. It placed at number 17 on the UK year-end albums chart for 1976.[33] The album earned multiple certifications reflecting its sales success. In the US, it was certified Gold on August 2, 1976, and Platinum on September 15, 1981, by the RIAA for 500,000 and 1,000,000 units shipped, respectively. In Canada, Music Canada awarded it 2× Platinum status on October 1, 1982, for 200,000 units. Over the longer term, Changesonebowie sold more than 2 million copies worldwide by the 1980s, establishing it as one of Bowie's strongest-selling compilations during that decade.[33] Subsequent reissues and remasters sustained its market presence, contributing to over 10 million streams on Spotify as of 2020. This enduring performance was bolstered by promotion tied to Bowie's 1976 Station to Station tour and the building anticipation for his experimental Berlin Trilogy recordings.[31]Cultural impact and legacy
Changesonebowie played a pivotal role in David Bowie's discography as an accessible entry point for new fans during his commercial peak in the 1970s, encapsulating his evolution from folk-tinged introspection to glam rock extravagance and soul-infused grooves. By compiling key tracks from 1969 to 1976, the album shaped perceptions of Bowie's "hits era," bridging his glam rock zenith on albums like The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars with the soul explorations of Young Americans, before his later experimental Berlin Trilogy phase. This selective curation highlighted his artistic metamorphosis, influencing how subsequent generations viewed his early career as a foundational narrative of reinvention.[2][7] The album's cultural footprint extended into film and television, where tracks like "Space Oddity" and "Changes" became synonymous with themes of isolation and transformation. "Space Oddity" featured in soundtracks such as C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005) and Wonderstruck (2017), evoking existential drift, while "Changes" appeared in The Breakfast Club (1985), with its lyrics underscoring the film's message of youthful individuality. Following Bowie's death in 2016, these songs inspired widespread covers and tributes, amplifying the album's resonance as a touchstone for artistic legacy.[34][35][36] As a template for artist retrospectives, Changesonebowie set a precedent for compilations that blended singles with influential album cuts, diverging from strict hits collections to offer a narrative arc of an artist's development—a model echoed in later Bowie releases like Changesbowie (1990) for broader completeness. Its posthumous 2016 remastered reissue, marking the 40th anniversary, coincided with renewed interest after Bowie's passing, boosting archival explorations and inclusion in box sets such as the 2022 Divine Symmetry. The album's bridging of glam and soul phases notably impacted later artists; Duran Duran cited Bowie's rhythmic innovations from this era as formative to their new wave sound, while Arcade Fire acknowledged his early support and collaborative spirit as pivotal to their indie rock emergence.[7][2][37][38]Track information
Track listing
All tracks on Changesonebowie were written by David Bowie, except "Fame", which is credited to Bowie, John Lennon, and Carlos Alomar.[39][3]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Space Oddity" | Bowie | 5:18 |
| 2. | "John, I'm Only Dancing" (original single version) | Bowie | 2:46 |
| 3. | "Changes" | Bowie | 3:37 |
| 4. | "Ziggy Stardust" | Bowie | 3:13 |
| 5. | "Suffragette City" | Bowie | 3:28 |
| 6. | "The Jean Genie" | Bowie | 4:06 |
| 7. | "Diamond Dogs" | Bowie | 6:06 |
| 8. | "Rebel Rebel" | Bowie | 4:32 |
| 9. | "Young Americans" | Bowie | 5:12 |
| 10. | "Fame" | Bowie, Lennon, Alomar | 4:17 |
| 11. | "Golden Years" | Bowie | 4:00 |