15/11/2025
Netfm.net
Classic Rock - Itโs All About the Music
This week in 1969, David Bowie released his second self-titled studio album โDavid Bowieโ (November 14)
After the commercial failure of his previous 1967 self-titled debut album, (yes, it was also titled โDavid Bowieโ), Bowie signed up with a new manager, who commissioned a promotional film in hopes of widening his audience.
For the film, Bowie wrote a new song, titled "Space Oddity", a tale about a fictional astronaut called Major Tom.
The song earned Bowie a contract with Mercury Records, who agreed to finance production of a new album.
Unfortunately to a lack of promotion, this second โDavid Bowieโ album was also a commercial failure, despite earning some positive reviews from music critics.
Despite Bowie being named 1969's Best Newcomer in a readers' poll for Music Now! and "Space Oddity" being named record of the year by Penny Valentine of Disc and Music Echo, David Bowie barely sold over 5,000 copies by March 1970.
Following a 1972 reissue with RCA however, the album finally managed to chart, peaking at #21 in Australia, and #17 on the UK Albums Chart in November 1972, remaining on the chart for 42 weeks.
Early in 1973, the album peaked at #8 in Spain, #13 in Canada, and #16 on the US Billboard chart, remaining on the chart for 36 weeks.
โSpace Oddityโ of course went on to be an enduring classic, and was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll".
Click on the link below to watch โSpace Oddityโ live:
https://youtu.be/pXSGocWifAg
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