Parlophone Records have announced David Bowie Loving The Alien (1983 – 1988) the fourth in a series of box sets spanning his career from 1969.
The follow-up to David Bowie Five Years (1969 – 1973), David Bowie Who Can I Be Now?(1974 – 1976) and David Bowie A New Career In A New Town (1977 – 1982) will be released on 12th October.
David Bowie Loving The Alien (1983 – 1988) will contain a brand new production of the 1987 album Never Let Me Down by Bowie producer/engineer Mario McNulty with new instrumentation by Bowie collaborators Reeves Gabrels (guitar), David Torn (guitar), Sterling Campbell (drums), Tim Lefebvre (bass) as well as a string quartet with arrangements by Nico Muhly and a guest cameo by Laurie Anderson on Shining Star (Makin’ My Love).
The eleven CD box, fifteen-piece vinyl set and standard digital download box set is named after the opening track from the Tonight album and includes newly remastered versions of David’s most commercially successful period Let’s dance, Tonight, Never Let Me Down (original and 2018 versions), the live album Glass Spider (Live Montreal ’87), the previously unreleased Serious Moonlight live album, a collection of original remixes entitled Dance and the non-album/alternate version/b-sides and soundtrack music compilation RE:CALL 4.
Exclusive to each of the box sets is Never Let Me Down (2018), a new production of the 1987 album. This 2018 version of the album will also feature newly ‘remixed’ artwork reflecting the album’s subject matter and features unseen images from the original cover photographic session from the archive of Greg Gorman.
Also in each box is the never before released Serious Moonlight live album recorded in Vancouver, in 1983. Originally mixed at the time by Bob Clearmountain, the double album captures Bowie on what at that time was his most successful tour. The artwork features shots taken by photographer Denis O’Regan.
Also included is the 2CD / 3LP Glass Spider (Live Montreal ’87) album, making its debut on vinyl (which is exclusive to the LP box). The tour’s innovative set and marriage of music and theatre has been cited as a big inspiration to acts in the 2000’s.
Exclusive to each box is RE:CALL 4 and Dance. The former a new compilation featuring remastered contemporary single versions, non-album singles, album edits, b-sides and songs featured on soundtracks such as Labyrinth, Absolute Beginners and When The Wind Blows. Dance features 12 contemporaneous remixes some of which are appearing on CD and vinyl for the first time and is named after an unreleased Bowie remix album that was originally slated for release in November 1985.
The physical box set’s accompanying book, 128 pages in the CD box and 84 in the vinyl set, will feature rarely seen and previously unpublished photos by photographers including Denis O’Regan, Greg Gorman, Herb Ritts and many others as well as historical press reviews and technical notes about the albums from producers/engineers Nile Rodgers, Hugh Padgham, Mario McNulty and Justin Shirley-Smith.
The vinyl box set is pressed on audiophile quality 180g vinyl.
DAVID BOWIE ‘LOVING THE ALIEN (1983-1988)’ LP Box Set:
88 Page hardback book
-Let’s Dance (remastered) (1LP)
-Serious Moonlight (Live ’83) (previously unreleased) (2LP)*
-Tonight (remastered) (1LP)
-Never Let Me Down (remastered) (1LP)
-Never Let Me Down (2018) (previously unreleased) (2LP – side 4 is etched)*
-Glass Spider (Live Montreal ’87) (previously unreleased on vinyl) (3LP)*
-Dance (2LP)*
-Re:Call 4 (non-album singles, edits, single versions, b-sides and soundtrack music) (remastered) (3LP)
* Exclusive to Loving The Alien (1983-1988) LP box
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