David Bowie Welcome To The Blackout (Live London ’78)
The album was recorded live by the RCA mobile unit during the Isolar II tour at Earls Court, London on 30 June and 1 July 1978 by Tony Visconti, and was mixed by Bowie and David Richards at Mountain Studios, Montreux, from 17-22 January 1979.
The performance premiere of the song “Sound and Vision”, on 1 July 1978, was previously released on the 1995 compilation album, RarestOneBowie, as was the included version of “Be My Wife”.
Side 1
“Warszawa”
“‘Heroes'”
“What in the World”
Side 2
“Be My Wife”
“The Jean Genie”
“Blackout”
“Sense of Doubt”
Side 3
“Speed of Life”
“Sound and Vision”
“Breaking Glass”
“Fame”
“Beauty and the Beast”
Side 4
“Five Years”
“Soul Love”
“Star”
“Hang On to Yourself”
“Ziggy Stardust”
“Suffragette City”
Side 5
“Art Decade”
“Alabama Song”
“Station to Station”
Side 6
“TVC 15”
“Stay”
“Rebel Rebel”
Label: Parlophone – DBRSD7782, Parlophone – 0190295730277
Format: 3 × Vinyl, 180 Gram
Released: 21 Apr 2018
Record Store Day 2018 Exclusive (latter word embossed), as per the silver hype sticker that appears on the bottom right hand corner of the shrink wrap. Trifold sleeve, black inner sleeves with plastic lining.
Recorded live by Tony Visconti with The Manor Mobile.
Recording engineered by Jeremy Allom and Ken Capper
Mixed by David Bowie and David Richards at Mountain Studios, Montreux, 17th – 22nd January, 1979
‘Sound and Vision’ and ‘TVC 15’ mixed by John Prestage at Air Studios, London.
Recorded live at Earls Court, London, 30th June and 1st July, 1978.
Mastered by Ray Staff at Air Mastering, London with thanks to Cicely Balston and John Webber.
Personnel
David Bowie – vocals, chamberlin
Adrian Belew – lead guitar, backing vocals
Carlos Alomar – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, music director[3]
George Murray – bass guitar, backing vocals
Dennis Davis – drums, percussion
Roger Powell – keyboards, Moog Taurus bass pedals, synthesizer, backing vocals
Sean Mayes – piano, ARP String Ensemble, backing vocals
Simon House – electric violin
Producer: Tony Visconti
Post production mix: David Bowie, David Richards
Photography: Sukita and Chris Walter[4]
Warszawa – 1.7.78 (No spoken intro. Inflections match 1.7.78 although violins faded out of mix in opening sections)
“Heroes” – 30.6.78 (starts song “Now I…”)
What In The World – 30.6.78 (First “you never leave your room” rises. “For your lo-ove. Heh. To the real me. To the real sky.”)
Be My Wife – 30.6.78 (“Come and share”)
The Jean Genie – 30.6.78 (“Talking to Snow White”. “BALLS!” “Beautician… uh honey.”)
Blackout – 1.7.78 (“Welcome to the Blackout”)
Sense of Doubt – 1.7.78 (various inflections)
Speed of Life – 1.7.78 (sound effect at end)
Sound & Vision – 1.7.78
Breaking Glass – 30.6.78 (“Oh baby” “YOUR room again.” Whispers near end. Grunts at end. Whoop at very end.)
Fame – 1.7.78 (“Totally a-gah-gah” “It’s raining fame, it’s raining fame”)
Beauty and the Beast – 30.6.78 “… down the highway” “my my my my my – hey hey hey hey”” at end)
“Thank you. We’ll see you after a short intermission.” – 30.6.78
Band intro – 1.7.78 (“Hello London. Wotcha.” Etc)
Five Years – 1.7.78 (“Mothers crying.” “And I never thought”)
Soul Love – 1.7.78 (“So-o-o-o-ul heh heh”)
Star – 1.7.78 (“Sonia wants to” “hey hey heya” “Watch me no-ow”)
Hang Onto Yourself – 1.7.78 (“Talk or dance much” “Ti-gers-on-vas-e-line”)
Ziggy Stardust – 1.7.78 (“Oh where were the Spiders” “like some kind of leper messiah”)
Suffragette City – 30.6.78 (“Dra-ee-ain” “ooh yeah” “yeah yeah” before Wham Bam “Get off on/get high on”)
Art Decade – 1.7.78 (inflections match)
Alabama Song – 30.6.78 (“No ‘Auf Wiedersehen”)
Station To Station – 30.6.78 (“The European cannon is here… woo hoo”, feedback and sigh at very end)
TVC 15 – 1.7.78 (“Horn dogs… The man himself now, Mr Bowie” “Yeah yeah yeah wooh” at end and “Thank you very much.”)
Stay – 1.7.78 (“And you want to” x4 “Stay, won’t you stay”)
Rebel Rebel – 1.7.78 (“How could they know. I said, how could they know” at end. “Thank you very much. You’ve been lovely. Good night.”
