David Bowie ‎– The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars

Rock

Classic Rock, Glam

1972

First released in mid 1972 on RCA, throughout the RCA years there were two separate variants available (i.e. until about 1986) - the US version and the UK version. Two tracks differ.

Originally compiled and prepared in late 1971 RCA New York allocated matrix numbers for the two sides - APRS-6814 & APRS 6815, and used these 1971 numbers on release even though three new tracks were recorded in 1972 and eventually four different tracks from the 1971 master tape were included.

(The removed tracks - Round and Round, Amsterdam, Holy Holy, and Velvet Goldmine - were all released as B-sides to singles between 1973 and 1975).

The last number to be recorded, Starman, was remixed for single release. This single mix was also included on the UK album (rather than the album mix that appeared on the US version), and the UK album was given 1972 matrix numbers. These numbers also identified the matrices as originating in the UK. (BGBS 0864 & BGBS 0865).

The other track that differed was Suffragette City - the US version contains a noticeable momentary sound drop-out on one channel, the UK version does not.

Most RCA editions worldwide contain the US version (including all RCA CDs), a few contain the UK version.

Later reissues on other labels (RYKO, EMI, Parlophone) also use the original US version (and hence the album mix of Starman), though the dropout in Suffragette City has been 'attended to' on the most recent Parlophone issues.

The UK RCA version has never been available on CD.

A fuller discussion and explanation on these variations can be found on the website "Illustrated db Discography" under the forum topic "Ziggy Stardust, Starman and the missing master tape" - website address on David Bowie artist page. This topic also identifies which of the US & UK versions were used in other countries.