Fans of David Bowie are in for a treat as ten previously unreleased tracks from the legendary artist’s early career are set to be unveiled. Discovered by music historian Alec Palao, five of these songs can be traced back to a moment of serendipity a decade ago when Palao stumbled upon Davie Jones’s pencilled name on an old record. In addition to these initial finds, another five unheard tracks have since come to light.
The newly uncovered songs, along with additional demos and remastered tracks, are part of a posthumous album titled The Shel Talmy Recordings. Scheduled for release on Friday, the collection offers a unique glimpse into the formative years of Bowie, then known as Davie Jones, when he was carving his musical path at London clubs during the early 1960s.
While Bowie’s 1969 hit “Space Oddity” catapulted him into stardom, these early recordings reflect a raw and experimental side of the artist, according to Palao. “They are probably the most visceral, raw you’ll ever hear the man,” he observed. With six tracks set to be released on vinyl, the project taps into Bowie’s vinyl popularity, which saw him crowned the best-selling vinyl artist of the 21st century in 2022, surpassing acts such as The Beatles.
From the archives of a renowned producer
The journey to releasing these recordings traces back to Shel Talmy, Bowie’s first professional producer. Talmy, known for his work with The Kinks, The Who, and Manfred Mann, among others, had safeguarded a 1965 recording of Bowie in his archival collection. This gem led to Palao’s initial discovery, resulting in a collaboration between Talmy Enterprises Incorporated and Warner Music Group, which licensed the album to be distributed through Parlophone. Warner will also handle the royalties, directed to Bowie’s estate.
A limited edition of the album will be available at Record Store Day events and HMV stores, offering collectors a tangible piece of Bowie’s history.
Echoes of a young star
Among those excited about the album is Dana Gillespie, an early collaborator and long-time friend of Bowie. Recalling an encounter with Bowie when he was just 17 years old, Gillespie noted that the early tracks reveal Bowie “trying to find his voice,” as he experimented musically. The pair shared a close bond, with Bowie even sharing ambitions to “get out of here” during a personal moment in his Bromley home.
Gillespie is particularly fond of “I Pity The Fool,” a remastered track that harks back to their shared memories at the bustling Gioconda café, a vibrant hub for musicians in 1960s London. For Gillespie and fans alike, this album offers a resonant connection to Bowie’s enduring legacy, a reminder of the icon who “always wanted to be a big star.”
Reporting based on coverage first published by bbc.co.uk.