Lady Stardust Explained

Lady Stardust
Artist:	David Bowie
Album:	The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Released:	^[1]
Recorded:	12 November 1971
Studio:	Trident, London
Genre:	Glam rock
Label:	RCA
Producer:	David Bowie Ken Scott

"Lady Stardust" is a song written by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie that appeared on the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972). Co-produced by Ken Scott, Bowie recorded it with his backing band the Spiders from Mars – comprising Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey. The song is generally interpreted as alluding to fellow glam rock icon Marc Bolan.^[2] The original demo version was entitled "He Was Alright (A Song for Marc)". A 4-track demo version of the song was sold as a picture disc single during the "David Bowie Is" exhibition in Japan in 2017.

Composition and recording

Bowie recorded "Lady Stardust" on 12 November 1971 at Trident Studios in London for inclusion on The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Co-produced by Ken Scott, the lineup consisted of Bowie's backing band known as the Spiders from Mars—comprising guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder and drummer Mick Woodmansey.^[3] Also recorded on this day were "Soul Love", "Moonage Daydream" and a re-recording of The Man Who Sold the World track "The Supermen".

Live versions

• Bowie played the song at the BBC show Sounds of the 70s with Bob Harris on 23 May 1972. This was broadcast on 19 June 1972 and in 2000 was released on the album Bowie at the Beeb.^[4]

Personnel

Personnel per Kevin Cann.

• David Bowie – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
• Mick Ronson – piano, backing vocals
• Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
• Mick Woodmansey – drums

Other releases

• The original demo version of the song, recorded in March 1971, was released as a bonus track on the Rykodisc CD release of Ziggy Stardust in 1990. This also appeared on the Ziggy Stardust – 30th Anniversary Reissue bonus disc in 2002.
• The song appeared on the Russian compilation Starman in 1989.
• A November 1996 recording of the song, which originally aired on a BBC radio broadcast in 1997, was released in 2020 on the album ChangesNowBowie.^[5]

References

Sources

• Book: Cann, Kevin . 2010 . Any Day Now – David Bowie: The London Years: 1947–1974 . Adelita . 978-0-95520-177-6 .
• Book: David Bowie: An Illustrated Record. Carr. Roy. Roy Carr. Murray. Charles Shaar. Charles Shaar Murray. 1981. Avon Books. New York. 0-380-77966-8.
• Book: Pegg, Nicholas . The Complete David Bowie . Titan Books . 7th . London . 2016 . 978-1-78565-365-0 .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Happy 43rd Birthday to Ziggy Stardust. 16 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150617144318/http://www.davidbowie.com/news/happy-43rd-birthday-ziggy-stardust-54541. 17 June 2015. dead.
2. David Buckley (1999). Strange Fascination - David Bowie: The Definitive Story: pp.146–7
3. Web site: Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars – David Bowie . . 7 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200310010804/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-rise-and-all-of-ziggy-stardust-and-the-spiders-from-mars-mw0000626129 . 10 March 2020.
4. Web site: Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . Bowie at the Beeb: The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68–72 – David Bowie . . 10 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180702122107/https://www.allmusic.com/album/bowie-at-the-beeb-the-best-of-the-bbc-radio-sessions-bonus-disc-mw0000619751 . 2 July 2018 . live .
5. News: Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . 25 April 2020 . ChangesNowBowie – David Bowie . . 1 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200429154613/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/david-bowie-changesnowbowie/ . 29 April 2020 . live .