The story of Diamond Dogs Down Under is one in which we find Bowie reaching his highest commercial success for the decade. The album was Bowie's highest charting Australian album of the 1970s and for the overall year, it was the 20th highest selling album in Australia. According to Go-Set, the album topped the Australian chart for two weeks (on the 17th and 24th of August) although The Kent Report (for which our chart positions are based) seems to indicate a peak position of AUS #3.  We are still lacking New Zealand chart information.

Country Released Chart Entry Chart HP (WI) UK May 24, 1974   1 (17) US   5 (25) AUS   June 3, 1974 3 (31)

The Album on Vinyl The following album scans have been sourced from discogs.

The Album on Cassette The Diamond Dogs album was also issued on audio cassette in both Australia and New Zealand in 1974. One interesting aspect is how the track sequence was adjusted between vinyl and cassette - 'Rebel Rebel' essentially swapping positions with '1984'. The Bowie On Tape website has both an Australian Diamond Dogs on cassette page and a New Zealand Diamond Dogs on cassette page.

In April, 'Rebel Rebel' was released well in advance of the album backed by 'Queen Bitch'. It reached AUS #29 and stayed 22 weeks on chart. It also climbed to NZ #16 and stayed 6 weeks on chart. Although it did not match the success of 'Sorrow' (a number one single down under), the song remains a staple on radio to this day.

Australian issued sheet music. Scan sent in by Anthony.

Australian issue of 'REBEL REBEL'. (RCA Victor 102417) Backed by 'Queen Bitch'.
NZ issue of 'REBEL REBEL' (RCA Victor LBPO-5009). Scans sent in by Chas. Also check out the AUS/NZ Rebel Rebel single page created by Chas

Released in June (AUS / NZ) was the follow up single - Diamond Dogs which hit AUS #66.

It featured an exclusive edit (2'58") as against the full album length (6'03") which was released overseas.

Diamond Dogs (Australian Single Edit) was later remastered and included on the Who Can I Be Now? box set in 2016. Listen to it here.

Australian issue of 'Diamond Dogs' (1974). (RCA Victor 102462) Backed by 'Holy Holy'. Scans sent in by Anthony. Also check out the AUS/NZ Diamond Dogs single page created by Chas.

In November, 'Rebel Rebel' was issued again in Australia but this time as an exclusive four track EP with picture sleeve. This included a card picture sleeve, a wrap around and a total of 3 different label configurations. Further detailed information on this  EP and all its variations can be found here.
Australian issue of 'Rebel Rebel' EP (1974). Backed by 'Queen Bitch', 'Sorrow' and 'Amsterdam'

Lulu

In 1974, David Bowie planned to write and produce an entire album for English recording artist Lulu. No album was released, however, Lulu's version of 'The Man Who Sold The World' backed by 'Watch That Man' was released as a single. Written, produced and musically backed by David Bowie and his band, the single entered the Australian chart in May but stalled at AUS #81 during a 9 week chart run. It did not match the success of the UK where it went to number 3. Lulu's biggest local success remains to be 'To Sir With Love' which topped the AUS charts in 1968.

Rumours of David Bowie touring down under persisted but never materialised. With the exception of 3 Canadian dates, the accompanying tour was exclusively American.