David Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust' Gets 40th Anniversary Reissue

David Bowie performs during his Ziggy Stardust tour.

David Bowie's landmark 1972 album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, will be reissued in a special 40th anniversary edition on June 5th. The record, which was Bowie's fifth and features such enduring classics as "Five Years," "Moonage Daydream," "Starman" and "Ziggy Stardust," will be presented in several formats, including CD, 180-gram vinyl and 5.1 mix DVD.

Produced by Bowie and Ken Scott, the album was originally issued on June 6th, 1972. Written during sessions for Bowie's 1971 album Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust was tracked at Trident Studios in London between November 1971 and February 1972.

The seminal album included Mick Ronson (guitar, piano, backing vocals, string arrangements), Trevor Bolder (bass), Mick Woodmansey (drums), Rick Wakeman (keyboards) and backing vocals on "It Ain't Easy" by Dana Gillespie. In addition to his vocals, Bowie was involved in the arrangements and played acoustic guitar, saxophone and harpsichord on the sessions. While Ziggy Stardust would live in infamy as Bowie's best-known onstage persona, the singer put the character to rest following his London performance on July 3rd, 1973.

The 40th anniversary edition was remastered by original Trident Studios engineer Ray Staff at London's Air Studios. Tracklistings for the respective packages are as follows:

CD

"Five Years (2012 - Remaster)"
"Soul Love (2012 - Remaster)"
"Moonage Daydream (2012 - Remaster)"
"Starman (2012 - Remaster)"
"It Ain't Easy (2012 - Remaster)"
"Lady Stardust (2012 - Remaster)"
"Star (2012 - Remaster)"
"Hang On to Yourself (2012 - Remaster)"
"Ziggy Stardust (2012 - Remaster)"
"Suffragette City (2012 - Remaster)"
"Rock 'N' Roll Suicide (2012 - Remaster)"
180-gram vinyl with DVD featuring a new 2012 stereo remaster and 2003 5.1 and stereo mixes (audio only)
LP 180G heavyweight vinyl

Side 1
"Five Years (2012 - Remaster)"
"Soul Love (2012 - Remaster)"
"Moonage Daydream (2012 - Remaster)"
"Starman (2012 - Remaster)"
"It Ain't Easy (2012 - Remaster)"
Side 2
"Lady Stardust (2012 - Remaster)"
"Star (2012 - Remaster)"
"Hang On to Yourself (2012 - Remaster)"
"Ziggy Stardust (2012 - Remaster)"
"Suffragette City (2012 - Remaster)"
"Rock 'N' Roll Suicide (2012 - Remaster)"

DVD Audio only

"Five Years (2012 - Remaster)"
"Soul Love (2012 - Remaster)"
"Moonage Daydream (2012 - Remaster)"
"Starman (2012 - Remaster)"
"It Ain't Easy (2012 - Remaster)"
"Lady Stardust (2012 - Remaster)"
"Star (2012 - Remaster)"
"Hang On to Yourself (2012 - Remaster)"
"Ziggy Stardust (2012 - Remaster)"
"Suffragette City (2012 - Remaster)"
"Rock 'N' Roll Suicide (2012 - Remaster)"
"Five Years (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Soul Love (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Moonage Daydream (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Starman (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"It Ain't Easy (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Lady Stardust (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Star (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Hang On To Yourself (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Ziggy Stardust (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Suffragette City (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Rock 'N' Roll Suicide (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Moonage Daydream (Instrumental) PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED MIXES (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"The Supermen PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED MIXES (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Velvet Goldmine PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED MIXES (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Sweet Head PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED MIXES (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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David Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust' Gets 40th Anniversary Reissue

David Bowie performs during his Ziggy Stardust tour.

David Bowie's landmark 1972 album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, will be reissued in a special 40th anniversary edition on June 5th. The record, which was Bowie's fifth and features such enduring classics as "Five Years," "Moonage Daydream," "Starman" and "Ziggy Stardust," will be presented in several formats, including CD, 180-gram vinyl and 5.1 mix DVD.

Produced by Bowie and Ken Scott, the album was originally issued on June 6th, 1972. Written during sessions for Bowie's 1971 album Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust was tracked at Trident Studios in London between November 1971 and February 1972.

The seminal album included Mick Ronson (guitar, piano, backing vocals, string arrangements), Trevor Bolder (bass), Mick Woodmansey (drums), Rick Wakeman (keyboards) and backing vocals on "It Ain't Easy" by Dana Gillespie. In addition to his vocals, Bowie was involved in the arrangements and played acoustic guitar, saxophone and harpsichord on the sessions. While Ziggy Stardust would live in infamy as Bowie's best-known onstage persona, the singer put the character to rest following his London performance on July 3rd, 1973.

The 40th anniversary edition was remastered by original Trident Studios engineer Ray Staff at London's Air Studios. Tracklistings for the respective packages are as follows:

CD

"Five Years (2012 - Remaster)"
"Soul Love (2012 - Remaster)"
"Moonage Daydream (2012 - Remaster)"
"Starman (2012 - Remaster)"
"It Ain't Easy (2012 - Remaster)"
"Lady Stardust (2012 - Remaster)"
"Star (2012 - Remaster)"
"Hang On to Yourself (2012 - Remaster)"
"Ziggy Stardust (2012 - Remaster)"
"Suffragette City (2012 - Remaster)"
"Rock 'N' Roll Suicide (2012 - Remaster)"
180-gram vinyl with DVD featuring a new 2012 stereo remaster and 2003 5.1 and stereo mixes (audio only)
LP 180G heavyweight vinyl

Side 1
"Five Years (2012 - Remaster)"
"Soul Love (2012 - Remaster)"
"Moonage Daydream (2012 - Remaster)"
"Starman (2012 - Remaster)"
"It Ain't Easy (2012 - Remaster)"
Side 2
"Lady Stardust (2012 - Remaster)"
"Star (2012 - Remaster)"
"Hang On to Yourself (2012 - Remaster)"
"Ziggy Stardust (2012 - Remaster)"
"Suffragette City (2012 - Remaster)"
"Rock 'N' Roll Suicide (2012 - Remaster)"

DVD Audio only

"Five Years (2012 - Remaster)"
"Soul Love (2012 - Remaster)"
"Moonage Daydream (2012 - Remaster)"
"Starman (2012 - Remaster)"
"It Ain't Easy (2012 - Remaster)"
"Lady Stardust (2012 - Remaster)"
"Star (2012 - Remaster)"
"Hang On to Yourself (2012 - Remaster)"
"Ziggy Stardust (2012 - Remaster)"
"Suffragette City (2012 - Remaster)"
"Rock 'N' Roll Suicide (2012 - Remaster)"
"Five Years (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Soul Love (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Moonage Daydream (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Starman (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"It Ain't Easy (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Lady Stardust (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Star (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Hang On To Yourself (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Ziggy Stardust (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Suffragette City (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Rock 'N' Roll Suicide (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Moonage Daydream (Instrumental) PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED MIXES (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"The Supermen PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED MIXES (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Velvet Goldmine PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED MIXES (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"
"Sweet Head PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED MIXES (5.1 mixes: DTS 48/24 and Dolby Digital / Stereo mixes: 48/24 LPCM stereo)"

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon MP3 Download Center

Read more »

Week in Review: Revisiting David Bowie's Ascent to Stardom as Ziggy Stardust

David Bowie performs during his Ziggy Stardust/Aladdin Sane tour in London.

In the latest issue of Rolling Stone, Mikal Gilmore looks back on David Bowie's incredible rise to superstardom as Ziggy Stardust and his subsequent career as rock's greatest changeling. In an excerpt from the story, Gilmore details how a conflict with Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page had the singer heading off to Los Angeles to study occult texts while subsisting on a diet of peppers, milk and cocaine.

Photos: David Bowie Through the Years

We also went behind the scenes of forthcoming albums by Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, the Mountain Goats, the National and Best Coast, and talked to Common about his ongoing beef with Drake. Plus, we looked at how 10 top songwriters make their money, listed Jack White's greatest collaborations, reviewed live gigs by Springsteen and Rick Ross, analyzed this week's charts and looked back on this week in rock history.

Photos: Remembering Etta James

In pop culture, Peter Travers praised Gina Carano's performance in the new action flick Haywire, we panned Ricky Gervais' performance as host of the Golden Globes, Aziz Ansari told us about his introspective new standup show and we recapped the season premiere of American Idol along with fresh episodes of Glee and Jersey Shore.

Photos: Random Notes

Our Weekend Rock Question for you this week is: Who is the most unique singer of all time? You can answer on our website, at facebook.com/rollingstone or on Twitter using the #weekendrock hashtag.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon MP3 Download Center

Read more »

Week in Review: Revisiting David Bowie's Ascent to Stardom as Ziggy Stardust

David Bowie performs during his Ziggy Stardust/Aladdin Sane tour in London.

In the latest issue of Rolling Stone, Mikal Gilmore looks back on David Bowie's incredible rise to superstardom as Ziggy Stardust and his subsequent career as rock's greatest changeling. In an excerpt from the story, Gilmore details how a conflict with Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page had the singer heading off to Los Angeles to study occult texts while subsisting on a diet of peppers, milk and cocaine.

Photos: David Bowie Through the Years

We also went behind the scenes of forthcoming albums by Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, the Mountain Goats, the National and Best Coast, and talked to Common about his ongoing beef with Drake. Plus, we looked at how 10 top songwriters make their money, listed Jack White's greatest collaborations, reviewed live gigs by Springsteen and Rick Ross, analyzed this week's charts and looked back on this week in rock history.

Photos: Remembering Etta James

In pop culture, Peter Travers praised Gina Carano's performance in the new action flick Haywire, we panned Ricky Gervais' performance as host of the Golden Globes, Aziz Ansari told us about his introspective new standup show and we recapped the season premiere of American Idol along with fresh episodes of Glee and Jersey Shore.

Photos: Random Notes

Our Weekend Rock Question for you this week is: Who is the most unique singer of all time? You can answer on our website, at facebook.com/rollingstone or on Twitter using the #weekendrock hashtag.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

Read more »