Disc One 1. 1984 2. Rebel Rebel 3. Moonage Daydream 4. Sweet Thing 5. Changes 6. Suffragette City 7. Aladdin Sane 8. All The Young Dudes 9. Cracked Actor 10. Rock 'N Roll With Me 11. Watch That Man

Disc Two 1. Knock On Wood 2. Diamond Dogs 3. Big Brother 4. The Width Of A Circle 5. Jean Genie 6. Rock 'N Roll Suicide

Further indication of a golden era, David Live entered the Australian chart 3 weeks before it was even released in the UK and US.

The album also attracted better longevity than the US or UK.

'Knock on Wood'

Australia - like the UK - had 'Knock on Wood' as a single (AUS #49) backed by 'Panic in Detroit'.

Australian issue of 'Knock on Wood' (1974). Backed by 'Panic in Detroit'.

'1984'

New Zealand - like the USA - had '1984' as a single (NZ #17 and staying 2 weeks on chart).


Countdown

In November 1974, the Australian music television phenomenon Countdown was launched and it has been remembered (although not confirmed) that David Bowie's 'The Jean Genie' was the first clip ever aired.

1. Young Americans (5:10) 2. Win (4:44) 3. Fascination (5:43) 4. Right (4:13) 5. Somebody Up There Likes Me (6:30) 6. Across The Universe (4:30) 7. Can You Hear Me (5:04) 8. Fame (4:12)

Young Americans was a major turning point for Bowie's success in America aided by his first number 1 single in that country.

In Australia, the album peaked in the top 10 matching the US (but not in longevity) while in NZ the album peaked in the top 5 like the UK.

Singles

The title track was a number 1 single in New Zealand. This was considerably better than Australia (#27), the UK (#18) and the US (US #28).

As indicated belew, the Australian 7 inch was curiously labeled as 'The Young Americans'.

Australian issue of 'The Young Americans' (1975) backed by 'Suffragette City'.

'Fame' was the follow up. It's belated appearance (released in August - four months after the album) might partially explain why it appears to have missed the Australian chart. Regardless, 'Fame' was a US #1 and is a mainstay on our local radio today.

	Australian issue of Fame (1975) backed by 'Right'. Scans sent in by Anthony.

Jeannie Lewis Australian songstress Jeannie Lewis was among a small handful of artists that covered Bowie in the early 70s. Her version of 'All The Madmen' appeared on the double concept album Tears of Steel & The Clowning Calaveras. She later covered Bowie's 'Time' on her 1983 album.

1. Station To Station 2. Golden Years 3. Word On A Wing 4. TVC15 5. Stay 6. Wild Is The Wind

Introducing a more Euro sound and his first major European dates, Australasia was unfortunately still lacking from Bowie's tour agenda.

During 1976, Molly Meldrum conducted an interview with Bowie for Countdown.

Meanwhile, Station to Station became Bowie's 5th Australian top 10 album on the trot.

Singles

Released in March, 'Golden Years' sustained 22 weeks on Australian chart peaking at #34 and 10 weeks in NZ charting peaking at #18. On local Melbourne chart, it made #17.

Australian issue of 'Golden Years'. Backed by 'Can You Hear Me'. First issued on an orange label (as above) then followed with a khaki label.

1. Space Oddity 2. John, I'm Only Dancing 3. Changes 4. Ziggy Stardust 5. Suffragette City 6. Jean Genie 7. Diamond Dogs 8. Rebel Rebel 9. Young Americans 10. Fame 11. Golden Years

ChangesOne was Bowie's first major hits compilation.

The album was a huge success in down under as indicated by a 50 week chart run in Australia and 37 week run in New Zealand.

Australian issue of Suffragette City (1976) backed by 'Stay'. Scans sent in by Anthony.

1. Speed Of Life 2. Breaking Glass 3. What In The World 4. Sound and Vision 5. Always Crashing In The Same Car 6. Be My Wife 7. A New Career In A New Town 8. Warszawa 9. Art Decade 10. Weeping Wall 11. Subterraneans

Low was a further shift from mainstream music and is often regarded as a poor seller. But if charts are any indication (and they are), the album didn't fare all too badly in Australia (#10) and New Zealand (#12) but neither did it that matter in the UK (#2) and the US (#11).

Singles

Both singles from Low mirrored the actual album - maintaining a vocal track on the front side with an instrumental on the reverse.

'Sound And Vision' was released in February, hitting AUS #74 and staying a total of 10 weeks on chart. Across the ditch, the single did much better hitting NZ #7 and staying 19 weeks on chart.

Australian 7" issue of 'Sound And Vision' backed by 'A New Career in a New Town'.

'Be My Wife' was the second single. Released in June, this appears to have missed the charts completely.

Australian 7" issue of 'Be My Wife' backed by 'Speed of Life'. First issued on an orange label (as shown) then followed with a khaki label.

Iggy Pop Unlike overseas, Iggy Pop's commercial success in Australia seems to be less hinged on his works with Bowie and more to that of his own local touring and reputation. The point is highlighted by Iggy's highest charting album of the 70s actually being 1979's New Values (AUS #36 and sustaining 12 weeks on chart) which was supported by a local tour. In comparison, the earlier Bowie produced and co-written albums did not fair as well - The Idiot (1 week on chart at AUS #88), TV Eye (2 weeks on AUS chart with a hit position of #89) and Lust For Life (did not chart).

1. Beauty And The Beast 2. Joe The Lion 3. "Heroes" 4. Sons Of The Silent Age 5. Blackout 6. V-2 Schneider 7. Sense Of Doubt 8. Moss Garden 9. Neuköln 10. The Secret Life Of Arabia

"Heroes" was Bowie's 8th consecutive Australian top 10 album.

The album actually charted both higher and longer than Low - an unusual phenomena compared to other territories.

Singles

Like Low, the "Heroes" singles were backed by instrumental flip sides.

The title track was released in Australia in November and it endured 17 weeks on chart. In early 1978, "Heroes" reached number 11 - considerably better than it's UK position where it stalled at number 24.

According to Oz Net, the song is still the 35th most frequently played number on Australian radio! (It just beats 'Space Oddity' at 40. 'Starman' is 217 and 'Ashes to Ashes' is 670).

In New Zealand in 1977, the "Heroes" single only made it to a peak position of #35 - staying 2 weeks on chart - and not exactly indicative of it's classic status today.

Australian issue of "Heroes". Backed by 'V2 Schneider'. First issued on an orange label (as shown) then followed with a khaki label.

	Australian issue of 'Beauty and the Beast' (1978). Backed by 'Sense of Doubt'. Scans sent in by Anthony.

Exclusive EP

In November 1978 - at the time of Bowie's first tour down under - "Heroes" was released as a unique picture sleeve EP. The 4 track record contained the relatively rare German and French versions of the song. Eil.com (a British web site) identifies this as "a superb little seen overseas rarity".

Disc One 1. Hang Onto Yourself 2. Ziggy Stardust 3. Five Years 4. Soul Love 5. Star 6. Station To Station 7. Fame 8. TVC-15

Disc Two 1. Warszawa 2. Speed Of Life 3. Art Decade 4. Sense Of Doubt 5. Breaking Glass 6. Heroes 7. What In The World 8. Blackout 9. Beauty And The Beast

Stage synchronized fairly well with the "Oz" portion of the Low/Heroes tour.

The tour kicked off in Adelaide just one month after the album's release and not surprisingly, the Australian longevity of the album was better than the US and UK put together.

The New Zealand success of the album was even more spectacular - hitting the nations top spot in November and achieving Gold status.

While on tour, Bowie completed interviews for Australian music TV show Countdown and current affairs program Willesee.

Unique Version of 'Breaking Glass'

To promote the album, 'Breaking Glass' was released as a single in November.

Australia and New Zealand were unique in gaining an extended studio version (2'47" vs. 1'51" on Low) of the characteristically short song.

	Australian issue of 'Breaking Glass' (1978). Backed by 'Art Decade'. Scans sent in by Anthony.

1. Fantastic Voyage 2. African Night Flight 3. Move On 4. Yassassin (Turkish for: Long Live) 5. Red Sails 6. D.J. 7. Look Back In Anger 8. Boys Keep Swinging 9. Repetition

The Lodger album was not supported by a tour.

Instead, the album was prompted by media appearances and music videos. The later was shown on Countdown - including a snippet of 'DJ' during Iggy Pop's famous and notorious appearance.

At the end of the year, Bowie was interviewed in London for Countdown's End of the Decade special.

Molly Meldrum recalled:

"He insisted that the interview be conducted in London's Kew Gardens, and getting in there is like trying to get an exclusive with the Queen on the lawns of Buckingham Palace.

We managed it though, after telling the attendants that we were filming a special on beautiful English gardens! David posed as an expert on plants as we paid our penny to get in the gate."

Singles

Released well ahead of the album in April, 'Boys Keep Swinging' hit AUS #85. This differed from the lead single in the US where RCA was uncertain about the androgyny for a US audience (they were issued 'Look Back in Anger' instead).

Australian 7" issue of 'Boys Keep Swinging' backed by 'Fantastic Voyage'. Released on khaki label.

Australian 7" issue of 'DJ' backed by Repetition. Released on khaki label.

Now three albums into Bowie's more experimental period (known as the 'Berlin' or 'Eno' trilogy), the local and international hit quotient was evidently decreasing.

More than likely deterred, RCA made a turn around and looked toward Bowie's most successful album for the next single release.

Lifted straight from the Ziggy Stardust sessions (and evidently labeled as such), 'John I'm Only Dancing 1972' failed to chart altogether.

As time would tell, much bigger things were just around the corner.

Australian issue of 'John I'm Only Dancing 1972' backed by 'Joe The Lion'. Released in December 1979 on khaki label.

TO BE CONTINUED

Special Thanks To:

• Anthony from Bowie Downunder
  
  
• Chas Pearson from Bowie UK RCA Singles
  
  
• John Larkin
  
  
• Thomas J Guest's Melbourne Top 40 Research - Thirty Years of Hits 1960-1990
  
  
• Ruud Alternburg's The Illustrated David Bowie Discography
  
  
• Mike Harvey's The Ziggy Stardust Companion
  
  
• Stefan Westman's Bassman's Bowie Page
  
  
• Ebay.com
  
  
• Ebay.com.au
  
  
• Eil.com

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