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Ten unheard tracks from David Bowie’s early career to be released
An archive of early recordings by David Bowie, made when he performed under his birth name Davie Jones, will become publicly available following decades of obscurity. Captured during sessions with producer Shel Talmy in the mid-1960s, the collection documents collaborations with musicians who would gain recognition in major rock groups—guitarist Jimmy Page and pianist Nicky Hopkins among them. A preview single titled 'I Want Your Love' has already begun circulating, with the full catalogue set for release in September.
These recordings represent a formative chapter in Bowie's career, preceding both his commercial breakthrough and his decision to adopt a new stage name to avoid association with another famous musician. Talmy, whose production credits included hits for The Kinks and The Who, had encountered Bowie in London's music publishing district during the mid-1960s. Critics and historians regard the recovered material as vital evidence of Bowie's earliest artistic direction, illuminating a period that bridged his unknown beginnings and his transformation into one of rock music's most revolutionary figures.
In short
- Archive of ten unreleased tracks from young David Bowie (then performing as Davie Jones) produced by legendary Shel Talmy will be released September 18
- Sessions feature guitarist Jimmy Page and pianist Nicky Hopkins, both later central to major rock acts; preview single 'I Want Your Love' already streaming
- Collection described as most complete documentation of Bowie's earliest artistic period before his commercial breakthrough
Explained simply
David Bowie was one of the most influential rock musicians of the twentieth century, known for constantly reinventing his artistic style and image. Before he became famous, he performed under his birth name, Davie Jones, and recorded music in London during the mid-1960s. A collection of ten previously unreleased tracks from those early sessions is now being made available to the public.
The recordings were made with producer Shel Talmy, who had already worked on hit records for major British rock bands including The Kinks and The Who. They featured some musicians who would themselves become well-known, including guitarist Jimmy Page and pianist Nicky Hopkins, capturing collaborations from a period largely absent from Bowie's official discography.
These tracks represent a formative moment in Bowie's career, before he achieved commercial success and before he adopted the stage name that would define his public identity. Understanding his early work provides insight into his artistic development and shows how he arrived at the innovative sound and vision that would make him a transformative figure in rock music.