The 'Mercury' Demos (with John 'Hutch' Hutchinson) [1LP Box]

This elaborate strictly limited edition deluxe box features the original 10 demos recorded for Mercury Records. These recordings were captured live in one take to a Revox reel to reel tape machine in David’s flat in spring 1969, with accompaniment from John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson on guitar and vocals.

The version of ‘Space Oddity’ from the demos, originally released with edits on the Sound & Vision boxset, is presented here in its true context for the first time. The other nine recordings on the album were all previously unreleased until 2019.

In addition to Bowie originals, the session also includes the Roger Bunn composition ‘Life Is A Circus’ (which features in an earlier demo version on the ‘Clareville Grove Demos’ set) and the Lesley Duncan composition ‘Love Song’ later recorded by Elton John for his Tumbleweed Connection album. David’s own ‘Conversation Piece’ is announced as ‘a new song’ and ‘Janine’ features a short nineteen second section sung to the melody of The Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’.

The set features a box replicating the original tape box of the demos, a vinyl sleeve featuring the original tape image itself, A4 sized prints including a contact sheet for a Bowie and Hutch promotional shoot and extensive track by track notes by Davidbowie.com’s Mark Adams.