David Bowie BBC Sessions

David Bowie recorded twelve radio sessions for the BBC between 1967 and 1972. Many of the tracks – but not all – were released on the Bowie at the Beeb 2-CD Set (2000). Some of the tracks missing from the first few sessions not included on Bowie at the Beeb 2-CD Set appear on later editions of David Bowie (1967) and David Bowie (1969).^[1] A few more tracks appear on BBC Sessions 1969–1972 (Sampler) [1996]; Bowie at the Beeb 4-LP Edition [2016]). However, many of the missing tracks from the Bowie at the Beeb 2-CD Set are only available on bootlegs and online. 'Hang Onto Yourself' from 11 Jan 1972 has, to date, not appeared in either master tape or bootleg form. This is because many of the original mastertapes are long gone, with sometimes only the broadcast tapes existing, meaning songs that were recorded but not originally broadcast, or only broadcast in edited form, are lost; or in at least one case, only a partial recording of a broadcast exists, with the broadcast tape no longer available. This article gives an overview of all the sessions, along with where they have received their official release.

Unreleased | Missing

Four session tracks from John Peel (11 Jan 1972) exist in poor quality off-air recordings and 1 (at-the-time) broadcast track from the same session is still missing ('Hang onto Yourself').

BBC 'Radio 1 Club' Show Appearances

David Bowie appeared on this 'live' lunchtime radio one show during the Ken Pitt management period. Referenced briefly in the Ken Pitt book, 'The Pitt Report.' Oddly, these are not mentioned in the excellent, Ken Garner 'In Session Tonight' book. However, Kevin Cann references these in his, equally excellent 'Any Day Now' book. Bands would usually play several songs 'live' on the show, however, sometimes they would pre-record a BBC studio session ahead of the 'live' broadcast to be broadcast on 'R1 Club'.Another variation was to sing 'live' or with additional vocals to a backing track or even latest release.

Radio One Club: 28 August 1969, Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent

Interviewed by Dave Cash about 'Space Oddity.'

Radio One Club: 25 September 1969

Interview with Keith Skues

Radio One Club: 14 November 1969, BBC Glasgow, Scotland

Interview with Dave Lee Travis

Bowie's first session for BBC Radio was recorded on the 18 December 1967, soon after the release of his first album, David Bowie (1967). The session was recorded at Piccadilly Studios and arranged and performed by Arthur Greenslade and his 16 piece orchestra with Bowie on vocals and playing guitar. The session was produced by Bernie Andrews.^[2]

"The date of this session has been widely misquoted as 5 June", writes Pegg "but BBC records and Bowie at the Beeb confirm 3 June is correct".^[8]