Bowie's 1965 'Davie Jones' Demos Surface in New 'Shel Talmy Recordings' Release
Ten unreleased tracks from David Bowie's early career, recorded under the name Davie Jones in the mid-1960s, are being released for the first time. Discovered by archivist Alec Palao a decade ago within producer Shel Talmy's archives, the collection includes raw demos and remastered songs. While BBC highlights the historical significance of finding these 'visceral' recordings, The Guardian criticizes the music as flimsy and derivative of 1960s peers. The release, titled 'The Shel Talmy Recordings,' is distributed by Parlophone with royalties going to Bowie's estate.
Key points
- Archivist Alec Palao discovered five unreleased tracks by David Bowie, recorded under his birth name Davie Jones, in 2016 within producer Shel Talmy's collection.
- The new release, 'The Shel Talmy Recordings,' includes these five tracks plus five other previously unheard songs, demos, and remastered material, totaling ten unheard tracks.
- The album is being released by Parlophone, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, which holds the publishing rights to Bowie's work.
- A limited edition vinyl release is available through Record Store Day and HMV outlets, capitalizing on Bowie's status as the best-selling vinyl artist of the 21st century.
- Early collaborator Dana Gillespie described the tracks as evidence of Bowie experimenting to find his voice, noting he was driven to escape his local environment in Bromley.
Background
David Bowie achieved mainstream success with his 1969 single 'Space Oddity' and went on to have 11 number one albums. He died in 2016 but remains a major cultural icon. In 2022, his estate sold publishing rights to Warner Music Group. This release follows a decade-long effort by archivist Alec Palao to locate and license the material from Talmy Enterprises Incorporated.
How outlets are covering it
BBC emphasizes the historical value of the discovery, describing the tracks as 'visceral' and 'raw' windows into 1965 London. In contrast, The Guardian offers a critical review, arguing the songs are 'flimsy' and merely imitate contemporaries like Georgie Fame and the Who. The Guardian suggests the release is driven by the commercialization of Bowie's legacy rather than artistic merit, noting the inclusion of extensive merchandise. Tinnitist lists the album in its weekly reviews but provides no substantive critique in the provided text. BBC notes that while the tracks may not show Bowie's future genius, they are important historical documents, a view supported by Dana Gillespie's comments on his experimentation.
Why it matters
The release offers a rare glimpse into the formative years of one of Britain's most influential artists, challenging the narrative of his immediate genius by showing his early struggles and influences. It also highlights the ongoing commercial viability of legacy acts in the vinyl market and the role of archival discovery in music history.
What to watch
The album is available for purchase and streaming. Limited edition vinyls are being sold at Record Store Day and HMV outlets. Royalties from the sales will be paid to David Bowie's estate by Warner Music Group.
- Lost Bowie tracks from 1960s released for first time bbc.com
- David Bowie: The Shel Talmy Recordings review – these unheard 60s tunes are actually pretty flimsy The Guardian
- The night David Bowie was born in a room above a pub and shunned real name The Mirror
- Albums Of The Week: David Bowie | The Shel Talmy Recordings Tinnitist
- How a Bay Area music sleuth unearthed unheard teenage David Bowie recordings San Francisco Chronicle
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