Name: Spying Through a Keyhole
Brand: David Bowie

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

0190295495084

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2020-06-08

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Warner Music Group

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

Total Cap

4 / 7" / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

David Bowie

Genre GB

Classic

Label GB

Parlophone

David Bowie, born on 8 January 1947 in Brixton, London, England, UK and died on 10 January 2016 in Manhattan, New York City, USA at the age of 69. He was a British pop/rock singer, musician, songwriter, and actor. Bowie is widely regarded as one of the most respected contemporary musicians of his time and is considered to be one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.Bowie's contributions to the music industry have made him a leading figure in popular culture. His innovative style and unique sound have left an indelible mark on generations of artists and fans alike. With his extensive discography spanning various genres and his iconic alter egos such as Ziggy Stardust and The Thin White Duke, Bowie's artistic vision continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.

Multinational label.
Label Code: [b]LC 0299 / LC 00299[/b]
[b]Please note, many Parlophone issues also carry an EMI logo. This is not a label and EMI should not be added as a label, it instead indicates that Parlophone was part of the EMI Group.[/b]

Parlophone is an anglicization of the German [l=Parlophon] label, registered as a trademark in 1902 by Max Straus and Heinrich Zuntz of [b]Salon Kinematograph Co. GmbH[/b], later merged into [l=Carl Lindström A.-G.]. The first Parlophon records are pressed in 1910. 

By 1923, Parlophone proper appears in London administered by English Lindström branch known as [l311921],  Parlophon records were pressed in London and sold locally. By 1926 extended operations extended to press for export in Australia (#cat A) until the australian factory [l=Parlophone Co. Ltd.] was created somewhere the next year. These companies were subsequently taken over by [l97841] in 1927, following its acquisition of [l275192] in 1926, thus becoming a constituent part of [l293204] (EMI) when that company merged with [l253617] in 1931.

The label largely operated as a Jazz and Novelty label until manager, [a=George Martin], signed the [a=The Beatles] in 1962. As a result of its subsequent success and profile, the label was earmarked for phasing out in 1973 in favour of [l=EMI] (the label), however the parlophone imprint continued to be used by registered trademark owner [l=EMI Records Ltd.] and affiliated companies.

In September 2012 following the acquisition of [l1330982]'s US and Asian interests by [l=Universal Music Group], Parlophone and the former EMI Records Ltd. were merged as the [l806790] (PLG Holdco Ltd.) and spun off to be sold. 

They were sold to [l=Warner Music Group] in March 2013.
The Parlophone label is now owned by [l=Parlophone Records Ltd.], the re-named EMI Records Ltd., itself a subsidiary of [l=Warner Music International].

The Beatles were not part of the Parlophone Label Group and their catalogue was acquired by [l=Universal].

[b]This label contains releases on multinational markets. Do NOT create imprints for different countries. Cover that information on new releases with the country field and with notes about the release (releasing company, ℗&© note, mechanical rights etc.).[/b]

With 2019 marking 50 years since David Bowie’s first hit, Space Oddity, Parlophone release a 7" vinyl singles box set of nine previously unreleased recordings from the era during which Space Oddity was first conceived. The title Spying Through A Keyhole is a lyric taken from the previously unknown song, Love All Around, and though most of the other titles are known, these versions have never been officially released until late last year. Most of the recordings are solo vocal and acoustic home demo performances, unless otherwise stated.

The design of each single label is presented to reflect the way David sent many of his demos to publishers and record companies, featuring his own handwritten song titles on EMIDISC acetate labels. The singles themselves are all mono and play at 45 r.p.m.

Due to the nature of some of the solo home demos where Bowie accompanied himself on acoustic guitar, the recording quality isn’t always of a usual studio fidelity. This is partly due to David’s enthusiastic strumming hitting the red on a couple of the tracks, along with the limitations of the original recording equipment and tape degradation. However, the historical importance of these songs and the fact that the selections are from an archive of tracks cleared for release by Bowie, overrides this shortcoming.

Single 1 Side 1 Mother Grey (demo) This mid-tempo tale of a fledgling son fleeing the nest features multi-tracked vocals, guitars and harmonica from David. Side 2 In The Heat Of The Morning (demo) A well-known early Bowie song but presented here in demo form with final lyrics. Single 2 Side 1 Goodbye 3d (Threepenny) Joe (demo) A charming demo from 1968 not to be confused with Threepenny Pierrot, a song performed by Bowie captured for posterity in the Scottish TV production of Pierrot In Turquoise early in 1970. Side 2 Love All Around (demo) A delightful love song from whence the title of this collection came: “I see a pop tune spying through a keyhole from the other room”. Single 3 Side 1 London Bye, Ta-Ta (demo) An early demo version of the song with completely different lyrics in a couple of the verses compared to those of the later full band versions. Side 2 Angel Angel Grubby Face (demo version 1) The first and only previously known demo of this song. Single 4 Side 1 1.Angel Angel Grubby Face (demo version 2) A later version of the same song with alternative lyrics. 2. Space Oddity (demo excerpt) The lyric and arrangement variations lend weight to the theory that this fragment is possibly the first ever recorded demo of one of Bowie’s most famous songs. Side 2 Space Oddity (demo) with John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson Originally conceived as a song for a duo to perform, this is the first known version to feature John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson again with lyric and arrangement variations.

Spying Through a Keyhole

Music GB