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David Bowie / Divine Symmetry: The Journey to Hunky Dory

4CD+blu-ray deluxe set

By Paul Sinclair

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A Divine Symmetry: The Journey to Hunky Dory / David Bowie 4CD+blu-ray deluxe set

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The much rumoured and long-awaited box set focusing on David Bowie’s 1971 album Hunky Dory will be released in November. It’s called Divine Symmetry: The Journey to Hunky Dory and will be a 4CD+blu-ray deluxe set.

The collection is similar in presentation and content to 2019’s Conversation Piece. It celebrates the 12 months running up to the release of the Hunky Dory in December 1971, via home demos, BBC radio sessions and live and studio recordings.

CD 1 takes in early demos, CDs 2 & 3 explore David Bowie’s appearances on BBC Radio at this time with John Peel In Concert type content, while the fourth CD delivers alternate mixes, singles and ‘versions’.

The blu-ray is all hi-res stereo-only, with the exception of one track: ‘Life On Mars (2016 mix)’ which is in 5.1 and stereo. This disc has an alternate version of the Hunky Dory album made up of different versions of each track (‘An Alternative Journey Through Hunky Dory‘). This sits alongside the 2015 remaster (from the Five Years box) and a Bob Harris ‘Sounds of the 70s’.

A Divine Symmetry: The Journey to Hunky Dory is a 4CD+blu-ray deluxe set (click image to enlarge)

In total the new set offers 48 previously unreleased tracks/demos from the period. This set comes as a 100-page hardback book featuring exclusive memorabilia and photos. There’s also a 60-page replica composite of Bowie’s notebooks from the era featuring handwritten lyrics, costume drawings, recording notes and set lists. 

Sleeve notes have been written for the release by Bowie expert Tris Penna, along with contributions from Hunky Dory co-producer Ken Scott, lifelong Bowie friends Geoff MacCormack and George Underwood, singer Dana Gillespie, guitarist Mark Pritchett, Friars Aylesbury promoter David Stopps, publisher Bob Grace and photographer Louanne Richards.

A Divine Symmetry: The Journey to Hunky Dory will be released on 25 November 2022. A vinyl version of the alternative version of Hunky Dory (from the blu-ray) will be released on 24 February 2023 (was 10 February)

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Tracklisting

Divine Symmetry: The Journey to Hunky Dory David Bowie /

    • CD 1: THE SONGWRITING DEMOS PLUS
      1. Tired Of My Life (demo) *
      2. How Lucky You Are (aka Miss Peculiar) (demo) *
      3. Shadow Man (demo)
      4. Looking For A Friend (demo) *
      5. Waiting For The Man (San Francisco hotel recording) *
      6. Quicksand (San Francisco hotel recording) *
      7. King Of The City (demo) *
      8. Song For Bob Dylan (demo) *
      9. Right On Mother (demo) *
      10. Quicksand (demo)
      11. Queen Bitch (demo) *
      12. Kooks (demo) *
      13. Amsterdam (demo) *
      14. Life On Mars? (demo) *
      Bonus acetate dubs:
      1. Changes (demo) *
      2. Bombers (demo) *
    • CD 2: BBC RADIO IN CONCERT: JOHN PEEL
      David Bowie and Friends (mono)
      1. Queen Bitch *
      2. Bombers
      3. The Supermen *
      4. Looking For A Friend
      5. Almost Grown
      6. Kooks
      7. Song For Bob Dylan *
      8. Andy Warhol *
      9. It Ain’t Easy
      David Bowie and Friends (stereo)
      1. Queen Bitch *
      2. The Supermen *
      3. Looking For A Friend *
      4. Kooks *
      5. Song For Bob Dylan *
      6. Andy Warhol *
      7. It Ain’t Easy *
      Recorded 3rd June, 1971 and broadcast 20th June, 1971
      Paris Cinema Studio, Regent Street, London
      Musicians:
      David Bowie – lead vocals (except as below)
      George Underwood – lead vocals on ‘Song For Bob Dylan’ & ‘It Ain’t Easy’ (3rd verse) & backing vocals
      Dana Gillespie – lead vocals on ‘Andy Warhol’, backing vocals
      Geoff MacCormack (aka Alexander) – lead vocals ‘It Ain’t Easy’ (2nd verse), backing vocals
      Mark Pritchett (aka Carr-Pritchard) – guitars, backing vocals
      Mick Ronson – guitars, backing vocals
      Trevor Bolder – bass
      Woody Woodmansey – drums
    • CD 3: BBC RADIO SESSION AND LIVE
      1. The Supermen
      2. Oh! You Pretty Things
      3. Eight Line Poem
      4. Kooks *
      5. Fill Your Heart *
      6. Amsterdam *
      7. Andy Warhol *
      Musicians:
      David Bowie – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano
      Mick Ronson – guitars, bass, vocals
      Session recorded at Kensington House Studio T1 for BBC Radio on 21st September, 1971 and broadcast 4th October, 1971
      Live Friars, Aylesbury, 25th September, 1971
      1. Introduction*
      2. Fill Your Heart*
      3. Buzz The Fuzz*
      4. Space Oddity*
      5. Amsterdam*
      6. The Supermen*
      7. Oh! You Pretty Things*
      8. Eight Line Poem*
      9. Changes*
      10. Song For Bob Dylan*
      11. Andy Warhol*
      12. Looking For A Friend*
      13. Round And Round*
      14.  For The Man*
      Recorded live to 2 track tape.
      David Bowie – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano
      Mick Ronson – guitars, backing vocals
      Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
      Woody Woodmansey – drums
      Tom Parker – piano
    • CD 4: ALTERNATIVE MIXES, SINGLES AND VERSIONS
      BOWPROMO mixes
      1. Oh! You Pretty Things
      2. Eight Line Poem
      3. Kooks
      4. Queen Bitch
      5. Quicksand
      6. Bombers – Andy Warhol intro.
      Produced by Ken Scott (assisted by The Actor)
      Recorded by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London
      1. Lightning Frightening (aka The Man)*
      Produced by David Bowie. Engineered by Ken Scott
      Recorded on 23rd April, 1971, Trident Studios, London
      1. Amsterdam (early mix)
      Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott
      Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London
      1. Changes (mono single)
      2. Andy Warhol (full length mono single)
      Produced by Ken Scott (assisted by The Actor)
      Recorded by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London
      1. Amsterdam (single b-side mix)
      Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott
      Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London
      1. Life On Mars? (2016 mix)
      Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott
      Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London
      Mixed by Ken Scott at Abbey Road Studios, London on 12th April, 2016
      2021 mixes
      1. Changes (2021 alternative mix)
      2. Life On Mars? (original ending version)*
      3. Quicksand (2021 mix – early version)*
      4. Fill Your Heart (2021 alternative mix)*
      5. Bombers (2021 alternative mix)*
      6. Song For Bob Dylan (2021 alternative mix)*
      7. The Bewlay Brothers (2021 alternative mix)*
      Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott
      Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London
      Mixed by Ken Scott, October/November 2021
    • Blu-ray

      All PCM Stereo 96kHz/24bit except ‘Life On Mars?’ (2016 mix):

      DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and PCM Stereo 96kHz/24bit

      HUNKY DORY 2015 REMASTER

      1. Changes
      2. Oh! You Pretty Things
      3. Eight Line Poem
      4. Life On Mars?
      5. Kooks
      6. Quicksand
      7. Fill Your Heart
      8. Andy Warhol
      9. Song For Bob Dylan
      10. Queen Bitch
      11. The Bewlay Brothers
      Produced by Ken Scott (assisted by The Actor)
      Recorded by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London
      A DIVINE SYMMETRY (AN ALTERNATIVE JOURNEY THROUGH HUNKY DORY)
      1. Changes (2021 alternative mix)
      2. Oh! You Pretty Things (BOWPROMO mix)
      3. Eight Line Poem (BOWPROMO mix)
      4. Life On Mars? (original ending version)*
      5. Kooks (BOWPROMO mix)
      6. Quicksand (2021 mix – early version)
      7. Fill Your Heart (2021 alternative mix)*
      8. Bombers (2021 alternative mix)*
      9. Andy Warhol (original mix)*
      10. Song For Bob Dylan (2021 alternative mix)*
      11. 1Queen Bitch (BOWPROMO mix)
      12. The Bewlay Brothers (2021 alternative mix)*
      2, 3, 5, 9 and 11 Produced by Ken Scott (assisted by The Actor)
      Recorded, engineered, and mixed by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London
      1, 4, 6–8, 10 and 12
      Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott
      Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London
      Mixed by Ken Scott, October/November, 2021
      Bonus mix
      1. Life On Mars? (2016 mix)
      Produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott
      Recorded and engineered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London
      Mixed by Ken Scott at Abbey Road Studios, London on 12th April, 2016
      SOUNDS OF THE 70S: BOB HARRIS
      1. The Supermen
      2. Oh! You Pretty Things
      3. Eight Line Poem
      4. Kooks*
      5. Fill Your Heart*
      6. Amsterdam*
      7. Andy Warhol*
      Session recorded at Kensington House, Shepherds Bush, London, Studio T1 for BBC Radio on 21st September 1971 and broadcast 4th October, 1971

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