David Bowie - Holy Holy

This is the rare, original single version from 1971, never reissued or included on any official compilation. Line up: David Bowie, Mick Ronson, Herbie Flowers, and Woody Woodmansey.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• rock
• pop
• glam
• rare

[Glassbanana]

I wonder why this has never been reissued. Always loved the full-on sonic assault of the remake, but it does lack the original version's eerie charm.

[zaynzaynzayn]

never heard this version...has more of the "Man Who Sold" comic gloom than the official Ziggy glam jam version. This one sticks in my heart more...

[aharon59]

In Wikipedias listing for this song they say it was heavily influenced by Marc Bolan and Tyrannosaurus Rex and it was produced by Toni Visconti who was heavily invested in Bolans work at the time, also Marc and David were very good friends, of course.

[SmokinVinyl1]

Recorded at the famous Trident studios in Soho, London, June 1970, this is the song recording that was played to Chrysalis bosses and got him his publishing deal.

[55kudu]

Find MrBernardkelly's posting of the 1972 "Holy Holy" also on YouTube. It's more revved up like the whole "Ziggy Stardust" project, less laid back like this version. The posting also goes right into the original B-side, "Black Country Rock" from the previous year's "The Man Who Sold The World" LP, same version, no edit or anything. In this one's video there is a rare German or Dutch blue picture sleeve, I believe. Really cool how many picture sleeves Bowie produced in so many countries.

[55kudu]

Find MrBernardkelly's posting of the 1972 "Holy Holy" also on YouTube. It's more revved up like the whole "Ziggy Stardust" project, less laid back like this version.

[55kudu]

Good job, Glassbanana. This is the version that appeared on a single released January 17, 1971 with "Black Country Rock" as the B-side, same version as on the album "The Man Who Sold The World" in 1970. In late 1971 or 1972 a new version was recorded for "Ziggy Stardust" but was dropped, later to turn up as the B-side to the single "Diamond Dogs" released June 14, 1974. This new version appeared on the 1982 LP, "Rare", and on the 1990 "The Man Who Sold The World", not the original single.