David Bowie – Hunky Dory

Another person here with what seems to be another unlisted Matrix/Runout. Side A is APRS5947 3T A2 Bobil, side B is APRS5947 3T A1AR Rasputin. Matt sleeve, clearly a fairly early press but no idea exactly which one. Plays nice though and that's the main thing :)

...there were LP's, and LP's had a Side 1 and a Side 2, and sometimes the division meant something artistically. (I am aware that tape cassettes have 2 sides also, but sometimes the song lineup is altered, thereby compromising the artistic continuity.) Anyway, the 2 sides of "Hunky Dory" are easy to distinguish. The first 6 tracks comprised Side 1. They are more mainstream in form and more musically bright in execution, even though the subject matter of some of them is quite serious. What I am saying is, they are "pretty" in a pleasant, appealing way. "Changes" is, of course, one of Bowie's most well-known and well-loved songs. "Oh You Pretty Things" has great piano and an irresistable chorus, and "Kooks" is almost unbearably sweet (that's a compliment), especially the line "...and if the homework brings you down, then we'll throw it on the fire and take the car downtown." What a dad! "Life On Mars" and "Quicksand" are symphonic, lyrical masterpieces, works of pop genius by any standards. "Mars" makes you laugh and cry at the same time, but there's not much to laugh about in "Quicksand".

Then there's Side 2. Track 7 I dislike. I don't even want to discuss it. "Andy Warhol" has some good guitar action, and the lyrics are a fun and clever tribute to Andy. "Song For Bob Dylan" is a plea for the artist to return to his early protest roots. I theorized this, but I had to confirm it on Wikipedia. "Queen Bitch" sounds like Lou Reed music, which is a good thing. The final cut, "The Bewlay Brothers", is a strange, somber song with lyrics that make no sense to me - again, Wikipedia backs me up.

Rating this album, I give "Side 1" 5 stars, and "Side 2" 3 stars, so the combined score is a 4. If all tracks were as good as the first 6, it would be an unquestioned 5-star work. Bowie learned a lot before he moved on to "Ziggy".

It's an excellent pressing. This is the only version I own and it might be VG- but it still sounds pretty good. Want to find a better copy for sure.

It's an excellent pressing. This is the only version I own and it might be VG- but it still sounds pretty good. Want to find a better copy for sure.

This version of Hunky Dory is monstrously rare. Very first UK pressings didnt have the "GEM" logo on the back right corner and it was corrected quickly. Judging by how often they come up on here and on ebay I doubt many more than 500 were pressed. Even some of the ones listed for sale on this page aren't correct and, while laminated, do have the GEM logo. Watch out and make sure you're buying the correct version. Also, over 3,000 people claim to have this but I imagine it's people mixing up other orange label UK versions.

an overpriced atrocity of a pressing. Parlophone should be ashamed of themselves [again] for another milk of the Bowie teat, and done so disgustingly shoddily. The only ones interested in buying this are the genuine fans and Bowie collection completists [I think it is fair to say that most Bowie fans, even casual ones, will already have Hunky Dory in their collection]. To sell a picture sandwiched between two pieces of clear vinyl for upwards of 45 euro is a disgrace. I bought one [of course] and it is now returned as the quality was so very poor it was inexcusable. I do notice that online prices for this are dropping rapidly. I just hope that Parlophone get wise to their moneygrabbing and especially if they continue to reissue his back catalogue ad nauseum, with this wearisome ' xx anniversary' edition nonsense, then I will just consider my Bowie collection done, and I'll not be purchasing anymore of their overpriced tat.

My mam often talks about the time she went to see David Bowie live in concert when he was touring the Hunky Dory album and about how she waited around the back of the venue with her friend Collette and they got to meet David when he came out after the show finished. She said he was ever such a nice man but he had really stinky breath, like he had been eating too much cheese!!

Question: I have a version which has APRS 5947 - 2E (stamped) A1AR (etched) side 1 runout and APRS 5948 - 3E (etched) A1P* (etched) side 2
*final character not clear.
The RCA limited stamp on bottom rear left of cover has the ghosting behind it, as does RCA logo bottom right. No idea which varient this is though as I cannot find a varient with this combo of runout text. Any ideas? Label side a mentions Mainman/Chrysalis

Is there any way to tell the numerous 1971 UK RCA Victor releases apart?

A slight hiss in this version but a strong Bowie album regardless. Shame the sleeve is quite badly damaged.