The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974
Compilation album by
David Bowie
Released7 October 1997 (1997-10-07)
Recorded1969–1974
GenreRock, glam rock
Length77:34
LabelEMI
ProducerVarious
David Bowie chronology
The Deram Anthology 1966–1968
(1997) 		The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974
(1997) 		Earthling in the City
(1997)
David Bowie compilation chronology
The Deram Anthology 1966–1968
(1997) 		The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974
(1997) 		The Best of David Bowie 1974/1979
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Pitchfork8.9/10[2]
Robert Christgau(choice cut) [3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[5]

The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974 is a compilation album by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released by EMI in 1997. The US release of the album was pulled from the stores because of multiple inaccuracies in the credits and liner notes. It was re-released by EMI-CAPITOL Entertainment Properties the following year (1998) in the US as part of the essential collection, with a new cover and corrected information as a limited edition.[6][7] This album was also included as the first disc of the compilation The Platinum Collection (2005/2006).

There are three uncredited rarities included on the album. They are: "John, I'm Only Dancing" (Sax version) – recorded during the sessions for the Aladdin Sane album; "The Prettiest Star" (Marc Bolan stereo version) – the original 1970 single release that features Marc Bolan on lead guitar; and "All the Young Dudes (Studio version)" – the original Bowie studio version from 1973.

Track listing

All songs written by David Bowie, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Place of OriginLength
1."The Jean Genie" Aladdin Sane, 19734:08
2."Space Oddity" David Bowie, 19695:15
3."Starman" The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, 19724:18
4."Ziggy Stardust" The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, 19723:16
5."John, I'm Only Dancing" (Sax version) Non-album single, released in 1973; the original version released the previous year2:42
6."Rebel Rebel" Diamond Dogs, 19744:30
7."Let's Spend the Night Together"Mick Jagger, Keith RichardsAladdin Sane; originally by The Rolling Stones released as a non-album double A-side single in the UK and Between the Buttons in the U.S. in 19673:07
8."Suffragette City" The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, 19723:27
9."Oh! You Pretty Things" Hunky Dory, 19713:14
10."Velvet Goldmine" B-side of the 1975 single reissue of "Space Oddity"; recorded in 1971 for Ziggy Stardust3:11
11."Drive-In Saturday" Aladdin Sane, 19734:29
12."Diamond Dogs" Diamond Dogs, 19746:05
13."Changes" Hunky Dory, 19713:34
14."Sorrow"Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, Richard GottehrerPin Ups, 1973; originally by The McCoys in 1965 and made famous by The Merseys the following year2:55
15."The Prettiest Star" (Marc Bolan stereo version) Recorded in 1970 as a follow-up to "Space Oddity"; re-recorded for Aladdin Sane in 19723:14
16."Life on Mars?" Hunky Dory, 19713:52
17."Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)" Aladdin Sane, 19735:10
18."The Man Who Sold the World" The Man Who Sold the World, 19703:56
19."Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, 19723:00
20."All the Young Dudes" (Studio version) Originally by Mott the Hoople from All the Young Dudes, 1972; was recorded in that same year for Aladdin Sane and was released in mono sound for this compilation4:11
Japanese bonus track
No.TitlePlace of OriginLength
20."Lady Stardust" (Put in as "Suffragette City"'s replacement)Ziggy Stardust3:21

Charts

Chart (1997-2016) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[8] 14
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[9] 54
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[10] 36
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[11] 81
French Albums (SNEP)[12] 87
Italian Albums (FIMI)[13] 40
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[14] 14
Scottish Albums (OCC)[15] 22
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 58
UK Albums (OCC)[17] 11

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[18] Gold 7,500^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "David Bowie – The Best of David Bowie 1969–1974". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  2. ^ link Archived 16 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ link
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press.
  5. ^ The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. pp. 97–98.
  6. ^ "David Bowie – Best of 1969-1974 (1998, CD)". Discogs.
  7. ^ "Essential (5)". Discogs.
  8. ^ "Australiancharts.com – David Bowie – The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  9. ^ "David Bowie Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – David Bowie – The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – David Bowie – The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Lescharts.com – David Bowie – The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Italiancharts.com – David Bowie – The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Charts.nz – David Bowie – The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Swisscharts.com – David Bowie – The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  17. ^ "David Bowie | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  18. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – David Bowie – The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
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