Rare (David Bowie album)

Rare
Compilation album by David Bowie
Released	December 1982
Recorded	1969–1980
Genre	Rock
Length	42:02
Label	RCA
David Bowie chronology
Baal (1982) Rare (1982) Let's Dance (1983)
David Bowie compilation chronology
Changestwobowie (1981) Rare (1982) Golden Years (1983)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[2]
Smash Hits	6½/10[3]

Rare (often referred to as Bowie Rare) is a compilation album by the English musician David Bowie, released by RCA Records in December 1982. The artist's relations with the company were at a low^{[citation needed]} – Bowie had recorded his last music for RCA Records with the Baal EP, and had been annoyed by the release of a five-year-old duet with Bing Crosby ("Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy") as a single without his consultation.^{[citation needed]} Bowie informed RCA he was unhappy with the Rare compilation, and would sign with EMI Records for his next album.^{[citation needed]} All tracks on Rare were being issued for the first time on LP and cassette.

The compilation contained rarities recorded between 1969 and 1980. RCA did not issue Rare in the United States; nor was the album reissued on CD along with most of Bowie's other RCA albums in 1984.

On the UK Albums Chart, where it remained for eleven weeks, the album peaked at number 34.^[4]

Track listing

All songs are written by David Bowie except where noted.

Side one

1. "Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola" (Bowie, Mogol) – 5:02
   • An Italian-language song featuring all new lyrics set to the music of "Space Oddity", released as single in Italy in late-1969/early-1970
2. "'Round and 'Round" (Chuck Berry) – 2:41
   • A cover of the Chuck Berry song "Around and Around", recorded for the Ziggy Stardust sessions, and released as the B-side to the single "Drive-In Saturday"
3. "Amsterdam" (Jacques Brel, Mort Shuman) – 3:25
   • A cover of a Jacques Brel song, recorded for the Ziggy Stardust sessions, and released as the B-side to the single "Sorrow"
4. "Holy Holy" – 2:15
   • A newer version of Bowie's 1970 single, recorded for the Ziggy Stardust sessions, and released as the B-side to the single "Diamond Dogs"
5. "Panic in Detroit" – 5:49
   • Live recording from the same concerts as David Live, and released as the B-side to the single "Knock on Wood"
6. "Young Americans" – 3:11
   • US single edit

Side two

1. "Velvet Goldmine" – 3:08
   • Recorded for the Ziggy Stardust sessions, and released as the B-side to the 1975 reissue of "Space Oddity"
2. "Heroes"/„Helden“ (Bowie, Brian Eno, Antonia Maass) – 6:07
   • A version of "Heroes" with English and German lyrics, released as single in West Germany in 1977
3. "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)" – 3:26
   • Single edit
4. "Moon of Alabama" (Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill) – 3:51
   • Recorded 1978, released as single A-side, 1980
5. "Crystal Japan" – 3:07
   • Recorded 1979 for the soundtrack of a Japanese commercial, released as a Japanese single A-side, 1980, then internationally as the B-side to "Up the Hill Backwards" single, 1981.

Charts

Chart (1983)	Peak position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[5]	27
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[6]	23
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[7]	13
Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)[8]	22
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[9]	10
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[10]	11
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[11]	5
UK Albums Chart[4]	34

References

1. Unterberger, Richie. "Rare – David Bowie". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
2. Larkin, Colin (2011). "David Bowie". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
3. Tennant, Neil (20 January – 2 February 1983). "Albums". Smash Hits. 5 (2): 17.
4. "David Bowie – full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
5. "Dutchcharts.nl – David Bowie – Rare" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
6. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "David Bowie". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. pp. 36–37.
7. "Offiziellecharts.de – David Bowie – Rare" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
8. Racca, Guido (2019). M&D Borsa Album 1964–2019 (in Italian). ISBN 9781094705002.
9. "Charts.nz – David Bowie – Rare". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
10. "Norwegiancharts.com – David Bowie – Rare". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
11. "Swedishcharts.com – David Bowie – Rare". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 October 2020.

External links

• Rare at Discogs (list of releases)