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Contributors
David Bowie – ★ (Blackstar)
Label: | ISO Records – 88875173871, Columbia – 88875173871, Sony Music – 88875173871 |
---|---|
Format: | Vinyl, LP, Album, MPO Pressing, 180 Gram |
Country: | Europe |
Released: | |
Genre: | Electronic, Jazz, Rock |
Style: | Art Rock, Experimental, Jazz-Rock, Prog Rock, Glam |
Tracklist
A1 | ★ (Blackstar) | 9:57 | |
A2 | 'Tis A Pity She Was A Whore | 4:52 | |
A3 | Lazarus | 6:22 | |
B1 | Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime) | 4:40 | |
B2 | Girl Loves Me | 4:51 | |
B3 | Dollar Days | 4:44 | |
B4 | I Can't Give Everything Away | 5:47 |
Companies, etc.
- Record Company – Sony Music Entertainment
- Record Company – Sony Music Entertainment International Services GmbH
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – ISO Records
- Copyright © – ISO Records
- Licensed To – Columbia Records
- Published By – Nipple Music
- Published By – RZO Music, Inc.
- Published By – MSF Music
- Published By – ArtistShare Music Publishing LLC.
- Published By – Flex Publishing (2)
- Published By – Sherlock Holmes Music Ltd.
- Recorded At – The Magic Shop
- Recorded At – Human Worldwide Studios
- Mixed At – Electric Lady Studios
- Mastered At – Sterling Sound
- Pressed By – MPO
- Manufactured By – Columbia Records
- Distributed By – Columbia Records
Credits
- Artwork [Star Image] – NASA (10)
- Bass – Tim Lefebvre
- Design [Album Design By] – Barnbrook
- Drums, Percussion – Mark Guiliana
- Engineer [Assistant Engineer At Human Worldwide] – Erin Tonkon
- Engineer [Assistant Engineer At Magic Shop] – Kabir Hermon
- Engineer [Assistant To Tom Elmhirst] – Joe Visciano
- Engineer [Engineer At Human Worldwide] – Tony Visconti
- Engineer [Engineer At Magic Shop] – Kevin Killen
- Guitar – Ben Monder
- Lacquer Cut By – RJ*
- Mastered By – Joe LaPorta
- Mixed By – David Bowie, Tony Visconti
- Mixed By [Final Master Mix] – Tom Elmhirst
- Photography By – Jimmy King (6), Johan Renck
- Piano, Organ [Wurlitzer Organ], Keyboards – Jason Lindner
- Producer – David Bowie, Tony Visconti
- Saxophone, Flute, Woodwind – Donny McCaslin
- Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – David Bowie
- Words By, Music By – David Bowie
Notes
This is the first European release pressed at MPO. Recognisable by "© & ℗ 2015 ISO Records" on the back cover, "MPO" in the runout etching, and three concentric pressing rings on the labels.
Other European First Press version:
- The first European release pressed at Celebrate Records is David Bowie - ★ (Blackstar). Recognisable by "© & ℗ 2015 ISO Records" on the back cover, Celebrate Records GmbH matrix numbering, and no pressing rings.
Other European Repress versions:
- European repress pressed at MPO is David Bowie - ★ (Blackstar). Recognisable by "© 2016 ℗ 2015, 2016 ISO Records" on the back cover, "MPO" in the runout etching, and three concentric pressing rings on the labels. There is also a weight difference in the sealed package between the first MPO release, 517 gr and the second pressing from MPO, 472 gr.
- European repress pressed at Celebrate Records is David Bowie - ★ (Blackstar). Recognisable by "© 2016 ℗ 2015, 2016 ISO Records" on the back cover.
Album title and track 1 title generally referred to as "Blackstar" but printed as "★"
Released in a gatefold sleeve with clear plastic wallet housing the vinyl, and 16 page 12" x 12" square booklet insert.
Includes a coupon with a download code for a digital copy of the full album.
Paul Bateman and Bob Bharma appear as Plastic Soul.
All songs published by Nipple Music (BMI), administered by RZO Music, Inc.
Except for Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime) Nipple Music (BMI) administered by RZO Music, Inc.
MSF Music (ASCAP) administered by Artistshare Music Publishing LLC, Flex Publishing / Sherlock Holmes Music Ltd.
This composition contains elements of 'Brand New Heavy' (Bateman/ Bharma). Used by Permission.
© & ℗ 2015 ISO Records under exclusive license to Columbia Records,
a division of Sony Music Entertainment.
Made in the EU.
Catalogue number on front cover sticker:
88875173871 S1
Front cover has 2 stickers:
"David Bowie
The new album
includes
"Blackstar"
& "Lazarus"
180 gram vinyl
plus digital
download
88875173871 S1"
"Parental advisory explicit content"
Other European First Press version:
- The first European release pressed at Celebrate Records is David Bowie - ★ (Blackstar). Recognisable by "© & ℗ 2015 ISO Records" on the back cover, Celebrate Records GmbH matrix numbering, and no pressing rings.
Other European Repress versions:
- European repress pressed at MPO is David Bowie - ★ (Blackstar). Recognisable by "© 2016 ℗ 2015, 2016 ISO Records" on the back cover, "MPO" in the runout etching, and three concentric pressing rings on the labels. There is also a weight difference in the sealed package between the first MPO release, 517 gr and the second pressing from MPO, 472 gr.
- European repress pressed at Celebrate Records is David Bowie - ★ (Blackstar). Recognisable by "© 2016 ℗ 2015, 2016 ISO Records" on the back cover.
Album title and track 1 title generally referred to as "Blackstar" but printed as "★"
Released in a gatefold sleeve with clear plastic wallet housing the vinyl, and 16 page 12" x 12" square booklet insert.
Includes a coupon with a download code for a digital copy of the full album.
Paul Bateman and Bob Bharma appear as Plastic Soul.
All songs published by Nipple Music (BMI), administered by RZO Music, Inc.
Except for Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime) Nipple Music (BMI) administered by RZO Music, Inc.
MSF Music (ASCAP) administered by Artistshare Music Publishing LLC, Flex Publishing / Sherlock Holmes Music Ltd.
This composition contains elements of 'Brand New Heavy' (Bateman/ Bharma). Used by Permission.
© & ℗ 2015 ISO Records under exclusive license to Columbia Records,
a division of Sony Music Entertainment.
Made in the EU.
Catalogue number on front cover sticker:
88875173871 S1
Front cover has 2 stickers:
"David Bowie
The new album
includes
"Blackstar"
& "Lazarus"
180 gram vinyl
plus digital
download
88875173871 S1"
"Parental advisory explicit content"
Barcode and Other Identifiers
- Barcode (As printed): 8 88751 73871 3
- Barcode (Scanned): 888751738713
- Matrix / Runout (A side runout, etched): MPO 15-0736 A 88875-17387-1A RJ
- Matrix / Runout (B side runout, etched): MPO 15-0736 B 88875-17387-1B RJ
- Matrix / Runout (A & B sides runout, stamped): STERLING
- Matrix / Runout (Side 1 centre label, A side matrix #): C-139259/AL88875173871
- Matrix / Runout (Side 1 centre label, B side matrix #): C-139259/BL88875173871
- Rights Society: BIEM/GEMA
- Label Code: LC00162
- Other (Sticker #): 88875173871 S1
Other Versions (5 of 48)View All
Title (Format) | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recently Edited | ★ (Blackstar) (LP, Album, Limited Edition, Clear, 180g) | ISO Records, Columbia, Sony Music | 88875173871 | Europe | 2016 | ||
New Submission | ★ (Blackstar) (CD, Album, Limited Edition, Blu-spec CD2, Digipak) | ISO Records, Sony Records Int'l | SICP-30918 | Japan | 2016 | ||
★ (Blackstar) (CD, Album) | ISO Records, Columbia, Sony Music | 88875173862 | Europe | 2016 | |||
★ (Blackstar) (CD, Album) | Columbia, ISO Records | 88875173862 | US | 2016 | |||
Recently Edited | ★ (Blackstar) (7×File, MP3, Album, VBR 279 kbps) | Columbia | 88875173862 | US | 2016 |
Recommendations
Reviews
Show All 22 Reviews
I bought this twice. The first one was such a bad print, I sent it back.
The second one is (only aafter washing twice) acceptable, but still has occasional noise here and there.
I also dispise the cover. The plastic inner which than makes the record visible through the open star makes me shriek when pulling the record out. Additionally, I think the design itself is a fail: If not put into a protective sleece this cover won't last long.
I can only understand this as in this attrocity has been committed after the master's demise, I thorougly beliebe he'd not have sanctioned this.
Well, it's one of his profoundly impressive works, so what can be done, but if there ever was a reissue, I certainly will give it a try.
The second one is (only aafter washing twice) acceptable, but still has occasional noise here and there.
I also dispise the cover. The plastic inner which than makes the record visible through the open star makes me shriek when pulling the record out. Additionally, I think the design itself is a fail: If not put into a protective sleece this cover won't last long.
I can only understand this as in this attrocity has been committed after the master's demise, I thorougly beliebe he'd not have sanctioned this.
Well, it's one of his profoundly impressive works, so what can be done, but if there ever was a reissue, I certainly will give it a try.

I still don't get it, I just bought this record, has not opened the shrink wrap yet, 'cause back says C 2016, P 2015, 2016 - So it's a second press, right? (The one I bought was listed as this first pressing). But the weight - shrinked with record and artwork and everything - is 517 g. Here it says the second pressing is 472 g? And, how can I tell the MPO pressing from the Celebrate pressing without opening the shrink-wrap, thank you.

This is a pretty decent pressing of Bowie's wonderful swan song album. The provided booklet is made of very nice material, and while hard to read has some excellent printing quality. The pressing quality itself sounds pretty average unfortunately. It gets the job done, but it definitely could've been made more dynamic.

Today of all days! Just decided to have a look and marvel at the Blackstar vinyl edition which has been carefully stored in my record collection since almost the day of its release. To my horror the inside sleeve ( plastic inner) appears to have stuck to the vinyl making a visible mark, marks, on the record . It now has more than a slightly used , second hand look about it Aaarrgghh. Any one else suffered the same fate?
Edited 6 years ago
Anyone tried the sunlight trick yet? Leave the cover (sans vinyl and booklet)t out in the sun and you might be in for a delightful suprise!

Edited 6 years ago
Can anyone verify please. I've picked up a copy of the black vinyl 2016 (c) 2015 pressing and I've found a number of minute tiny white specs and marks in the booklet. Has anyone else come across these blemishes?
Apart from these physical issues the album itself is truly deserving of being the final piece of the complex puzzle that was Bowie. While some may break down and experience denial facing death, Bowie stared it right in the face and made an album about it.
Apart from these physical issues the album itself is truly deserving of being the final piece of the complex puzzle that was Bowie. While some may break down and experience denial facing death, Bowie stared it right in the face and made an album about it.
Anyone have an approx number of sales for the 1st press in Europe? Or how many of the standard black vinyl editions were initially pressed?