Rare (David Bowie album)


Rare was a David Bowie compilation released by RCA Records in December 1982. The artist's relations with the company were at a low – Bowie had recorded his last music for RCA Records with the Baal EP, and had been annoyed by the release of a five-year-old duet with Bing Crosby as a single without his consultation. Bowie informed RCA he was unhappy with the Rare compilation, and would sign with EMI Records for his next album. All tracks on Rare were being issued for the first time on LP and cassette.
The compilation contained rarities recorded between 1969 and 1980. RCA did not issue Rare in the United States; nor was the album reissued on CD along with most of Bowie's other RCA albums in 1984.
On the UK Album Chart, where it remained for eleven weeks, the album peaked at number 34.

Track listing

All songs are written by David Bowie except where noted.

Side one

  1. "Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola" – 5:02
  2. * An Italian-language song featuring all new lyrics set to the music of "Space Oddity", released as single in Italy in late-1969/early-1970
  3. "Round and Round" – 2:41
  4. * A cover of the Chuck Berry song "Around and Around", recorded for the Ziggy Stardust sessions, and released as the B-side to the single "Drive-In Saturday"
  5. "Amsterdam" – 3:25
  6. * A cover of a Jacques Brel song, recorded for the Ziggy Stardust sessions, and released as the B-side to the single "Sorrow"
  7. "Holy Holy" – 2:15
  8. * A newer version of Bowie's 1970 single, recorded for the Ziggy Stardust sessions, and released as the B-side to the single "Diamond Dogs"
  9. "Panic in Detroit" – 5:49
  10. * Live recording from the same concerts as David Live, and released as the B-side to the single "Knock on Wood"
  11. "Young Americans" – 3:11
  12. * US single edit

    Side two

  13. "Velvet Goldmine" – 3:08
  14. * Recorded for the Ziggy Stardust sessions, and released as the B-side to the 1975 reissue of "Space Oddity"
  15. "Heroes"/"Helden" – 6:07
  16. * A version of "Heroes" with English and German lyrics, released as single in West Germany in 1977
  17. "John, I'm Only Dancing " – 3:26
  18. * Single edit
  19. "Moon of Alabama" – 3:51
  20. * Recorded 1978, released as single A-side, 1980
  21. "Crystal Japan" – 3:07
  22. * Recorded 1979 for the soundtrack of a Japanese commercial, released as a Japanese single A-side, 1980, then internationally as the B-side to "Up the Hill Backwards" single, 1981.

    Charts