EMI/Capitol Vaults delays Bowie reissues… again
January 23, 2010
My representative at EMI has informed me that for the second time, the David Bowie LP reissues of Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs, and Young Americans for its “From the Capitol Vaults” series, have had their release dates pushed back once again to an as yet unknown date.
The 180-gram vinyl reissues, which were supposed to replicate the original packaging of the early to mid-70s releases, were first announced to come out as part of the Nov. 3 series of Vinyl Vaults reissues. Then I was told they would be out on Jan. 26. The reason for this first postponement was never made officially clear, except for the explanation that logistics had delayed their release.
Now, as Jan. 26 approaches, this second delay is even more vague, as I was told I will be informed of any new information when it is available. So, for now, the reissues have been postponed to an unknown date. Let me note: I was not told they were cancelled, just postponed once again.
So, we are left to hope that maybe, just possibly, the label will go out of its way to find something other than the digital sources that were first supposed to provide the music on the wax. This series is not known for going back to the master tapes for its reissues, but we can hope. You can read about the planned original sources for these Bowie reissues here.
I leave you with the stark image of the Aladdin Sane album cover: Bowie looking spent and sad, with the iconic “Ziggy bolt” splitting his face in half and a single tear laying in the nook of his clavicle, a metaphor for the difficulties he suffered while maintaining his alter ego of Ziggy Stardust to wide acclaim during the early 70s. Don’t be misled by the likes of Lady Gaga and Ke$ha, glam rock is never all glitter and good times, kiddies, especially when you are as sincere an artist as David Bowie putting on an act.
Independent Ethos 
January 23, 2010 at 10:25 am
Ziggy blot? Ziggy never put a blot on anything. Perhaps you meant bolt? 😉
January 23, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Yikes! Major typo! Repairing now….
February 12, 2010 at 7:12 pm
meh… never really cared much for this guy
March 2, 2010 at 5:25 pm
I just emailed the EMI rep I’d been in contact with for an update and got the following:
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Hi Mick,
I checked on these, and they’ve been removed from the production schedule. They won’t be released.
Sorry,
—
Bummer!
Mick
March 2, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Yep, it’s the same vibe I got from my EMI rep. Still, she had told me the sources were going to be digital remasters from earlier CD releases, so it’s not a terrible loss … seek out some clean, old RCA copies for the original masters. Happy hunting!
April 24, 2010 at 8:03 am
This whole Capitol series stinks and this — announce and cancel — tops it off. I bought two of the Frank Sinatra releases and they sound like crap. Half-ass job. What is wrong with Capitol?
Was really looking forward to Bowies done right. Oh, well, it will take a greater, and perhaps smaller company to do it. Actually, Capitol has probably shriveled to next to nothing in recent years. Really sad.
November 30, 2010 at 3:23 am
Now these are listed at Acoustic Sounds for release from Virgin. They don’t have any dates or anything, but Diamond dogs was supposed to be ‘in November’ so I’m guessing that will be out in the next 24 hours… ?
November 30, 2010 at 9:51 am
The original releases were supposed to be last November, maybe that’s what the reference is to in Acoustic Sounds. I doubt these will see the light of day, unfortunately.