19 Mar Discover the World of Vinyl.

David Bowie – Space Oddity, ‘David Bowie (aka Space Oddity)’

‘David Bowie (aka Space Oddity)’ is the second studio album released by David Bowie on 14th November in 1969. Fusing psychedelic folk with progressive rock and elements of country, the record is a theatrical masterpiece and contains one of Bowie’s most celebrated tracks, ‘Space Oddity’. 

Bowie released his debut studio album two years prior without much commercial attention which prompted his new manager, Kenneth Pitt, to commission a promotional film with the hope of gaining the attention of a wider audience. Space travel dominated the news in the 1960s as well as presenting a central theme for many films, including Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 movie ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’. 

Bowie was quoted as saying that the movie was ‘a revelation’ to him and greatly inspired, he subsequently wrote ‘Space Oddity’ six months after watching the epic sci-fi classic. Transporting himself into the role of Major Tom, which was based on the character of David Bowman from the film, Bowie created an epic of his own. 

Dealing with themes of alienation and isolation, ‘Space Oddity’ is an atmospheric tale of an abandoned astronaut orbiting earth. And this is where ‘Planet Earth’ lands in the Valley of Vinyl. Bowie had a sublime knack for being able to transport his work to otherworldly dimensions and in doing so, provided a landscape for the listener to get lost in. In ‘Space Oddity’, the listener is carried into a world of quirkiness, space and freedom. At times, the track teeters on becoming chaotic before resuming its ballad like quality. 

‘Space Oddity’ was released at a time when curiosity in outer space was taking off and given the career that unfolded for Bowie after this piece of work, it now makes perfect sense that his foresight and awareness of the subject was of interest to him. Few manage to achieve the sensational creative output that Bowie did during his career which spanned six decades. He may have been from planet earth, but his work always sounded like it was always being sourced from somewhere else. 

Head over to The Record Hub to purchase ‘David Bowie (aka Space Oddity)’ here.