David Bowie ‎– Who Can I Be Now? [1974-1976]

So I've got a Test Pressing of "The Gouster", unplayed, anyone interested?

Continuing Parlophone's remastering/reissue series that began with Five Years - this covers the period 1974-1976, usually referred to as Bowie's "soul" period in which he embraced soul and R&B styles - something he'd return to periodically for the rest of his career. I have no issue with the remastering on any of the original albums, or the bonus remixed version of David Live - not his best live album to start with - but I'm more than a little shocked at the paucity of bonus tracks from the era in question. Where, oh where, are "Dodo" and the original glam stomp version of "Candidate?" Both Ryko and Virgin included them on their re-issues (the Sound+Vision series and the 30th Anniversary edition respectively). I also noticed that unlike the other 3 box sets in this series, Re:Call 2 is a "single" disc. Unless there was some licensing issues, I'm sure there was enough bonus material (plus some leftover Aladdin Sane and Pin-Ups outtakes and/or B-sides that didn't make the cut for Re:Call 1) for a second disc. Put me down, and say I'm wrong (wink-wink, nudge-nudge), but the impression I got was these box sets were not only for "new" fans but to appeal to Bowie completists. Of course, there is the strong possibility Bowie nixed their inclusion as this re-issue project began before his death (if the liner notes concerning his vision of the 2018 remix of Never Let Me Down are truthful and accurate), but without those tracks the set seems ultimately incomplete.

And, is it just me, or is this the first I've ever heard of "The Gouster" or its backstory? I've been a Bowie fan since REALLY discovering his music in middle school/high school in the early 80's - Scary Monsters and Let's Dance) - I had known who he was when I was a kid but was too young to appreciate (and he was too weird for my parents to give me permission to buy any of his records then - LOL!). I have read several biographies and critical history/discographies of Bowie and I'd never heard of "The Gouster" until this set was released. I'd had seen the photographs adorning the cover but thought they were some odd photo shoot he had done and not some for some album that was "rejected" by the label (or shelved by him). It's not bad, but it's really just an alternate take on the "Young Americans" LP - minus "Fame" and the title track.