Memory of a Free Festival
| "Memory of a Free Festival" | |
|---|---|
| SongbyDavid Bowie | |
| from the albumDavid Bowie (Space Oddity) | |
| Released | 14 November 1969 |
| Recorded | Late August – 16 September 1969[1] |
| Studio | Trident,London |
| Length | 6:13 |
| Label | Philips |
| Songwriter(s) | David Bowie |
| Producer(s) | Tony Visconti |
| David Bowie (Space Oddity)track listing | |
10 tracks
| |
| "Memory of a Free Festival" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| SinglebyDavid Bowie | ||||
| A-side | "Memory of a Free Festival Part 1" | |||
| B-side | "Memory of a Free Festival Part 2" | |||
| Released | 12 June 1970 | |||
| Recorded | ||||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
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| Label | Mercury | |||
| Songwriter(s) | David Bowie | |||
| Producer(s) | Tony Visconti | |||
| David Bowiesingles chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
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"Memory of a Free Festival"is a song by the English singer-songwriterDavid Bowie.Originally recorded in September 1969[2]as a seven-minute opus for Bowie'ssecond self-titled album,it was reworked in March–April 1970[3]at the behest ofMercury Records,the label believing that the track had a better chance of success as a single than "The Prettiest Star",released earlier in the year. Bowie andTony Viscontiroughly split the track in half, re-recording it so both halves could function as individual songs. A more rock-oriented version than the earlier album cut,[4]this rendition featured guitaristMick Ronson.
Biographer David Buckley described "Memory of a Free Festival" as "a sort of trippy retake ofthe Stones' 'Sympathy for the Devil' but with a smiley lyric ".[5]The track was written as a homage to the Free Festival, organised by theBeckenham Arts Lab,which was held atCroydon Road Recreation GroundinBeckenhamon 16 August 1969.[6]
Released in America in June 1970, the single was commercially unsuccessful; only a few hundred copies sold. It was also issued in the UK, but was similarly unsuccessful there.
The two-part single version was subsequently released on CD on the EMI/Rykodisc reissue of Bowie's 1969 self-titled album (in 1990), on a 2-CD special edition of that album (in 2009), and onRe:Call 1,part of theFive Years (1969–1973)compilation (in 2015).
Recording[edit]
David Bowie used a child's Rosedale Electric Chord Organ, obtained fromWoolworths,on both LP and single versions of the song to give a "classicIvor Cutler/harmonium feel ".[7]ProducerTony Viscontirecalled Bowie "always had a hard time playing the organ and singing part one of the song".[8]
The late reworking of the song also featured aMoog synthesizerplayed by classical music producer Ralph Mace and programmed byChris Thomas.Mace would play the instrument again on the recording ofThe Man Who Sold the World(1970).
Track listing[edit]
- "Memory of a Free Festival Part 1" (Bowie) – 3:59
- "Memory of a Free Festival Part 2" (Bowie) – 3:31
Personnel[edit]
According to Chris O'Leary:[1]
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Album version
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Single version
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Other versions[edit]
- Bowie performed the song during a session for radio'sThe Sunday Showon 5 February 1970; it was broadcast on 8 February. An edited take of this performance was included on the 2000 compilation,Bowie at the Beeb.
- Bowie also performed the song during the 1973Ziggy Stardusttour, as the third part of a medley which began with "Quicksand"and"Life on Mars?"(one such performance, from theGlasgow Apolloon 15 May 1973, has appeared on several bootleg albums).
- TheMike GarsonBand, the name given to Bowie's backing group on hisPhilly Dogstour, closed their supporting set with asoul-influenced version of the song on Bowie's 1974 US tour. The performance from theRadio City Music Hall,New York City on 28 October 1974 was included on the bootleg albumInfected with Soul Love.
Cover versions[edit]
- E-Zee Posseereleased a dance song in 1990, called "The Sun Machine" which mentions Bowie in their credits. It was a minor house-rave success, released in many formats onBoy George's dance label, More Protein.
- Dario Gsampled Bowie in 1998 for their UK No. 17 hit single "Sunmachine".
- Belgian duoTom BarmanandGuy Van Nuetenhad an acoustic version in their 2002 theatre tour, released in 2003 on their albumLive.
- Mercury Revperformed a cover of the song for their 2006 compilationStillness Breathes.
- The Gene Ween Bandhas been known to include "Memory of a Free Festival" as part of their live performances.
- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroscovered it as part ofManimal Vinyl's 2 CDtributeto Bowie in September 2010 titledWe Were So Turned On: A Tribute to David Bowie.
- Danish bandKashmircovered it live during their 2006 tour, including concerts in the Netherlands.
- The Polyphonic Spreecovered the "Sun Machine" section throughout their career in various live performances.
- Polish bandMyslovitzcovered the song on their second albumSun Machine.
References[edit]
- ^abO'Leary 2015,chap. 3.
- ^abCann 2010,p. 159.
- ^abCann 2010,pp. 188–190.
- ^Carr & Murray 1981,p. 33.
- ^Buckley 1999,p. 98.
- ^The Free Festivalwhich inspired the song:BowieWonderworldwebsite. Retrieved on 22 September 2007.
- ^Kevin Cann (2009).Space Oddity2009 reissue liner notes.
- ^Tony Visconti (2009).Tony Visconti: The Autobiography: Bowie, Bolan and the Brooklyn Boy.HarperCollins UK.ISBN978-0007229451
Sources[edit]
- Buckley, David (1999).Strange Fascination – David Bowie: The Definitive Story.London:Virgin Books.ISBN978-1-85227-784-0.
- Cann, Kevin (2010).Any Day Now – David Bowie: The London Years: 1947–1974.Croydon, Surrey: Adelita.ISBN978-0-95520-177-6.
- Carr, Roy;Murray, Charles Shaar(1981).Bowie: An Illustrated Record.London:Eel Pie Publishing.ISBN978-0-38077-966-6.
- O'Leary, Chris (2015).Rebel Rebel: All the Songs of David Bowie from '64 to '76.Winchester:Zero Books.ISBN978-1-78099-244-0.
