Tony, I bet you a tenner that Ashes To Ashes fairs better than Up The Hill Backwards in the UK chart.
OK David, you’re on. I still think London Bye Ta Ta should have been released as a single though.
Alright Tony, don’t keep going on about it. That was ten bleedin’ years ago for goodness sake.
Staying back in your memory…
As promised, here’s the contest wherein ten BowieNetters get the chance to win a copy of EMI’s 17-track compilation CD,
It’s a simple one-question contest, even if arriving at the answer isn’t quite so easy…and here it is…
How many original UK David Bowie single release A-sides bear the name Tony Visconti as producer or co-producer?
For the sake of the contest, when there are several different formats of the same single release, you should only count them as one. It should also be noted that reissues, download-only and promo-only releases are not to be included.
Obviously CD singles don’t have A and B-sides, in these instances, or in the instance of EPs, we’re talking the lead-off track.
For example, the Baal EP, which entered the UK top 30 singles chart in March 1982, had as its lead-off track Baal’s Hymn…a track that was produced by Tony Visconti and David Bowie (as was the rest of the EP, in fact) so this counts as one towards your total.
Please remember we are talking UK releases only.
When you think you have the right number, e-mail your answer to me here. If you really can’t be bothered to research this one, have a guess anyway.
Usual BowieNet rules apply: Only one entry per BowieNet account, and please remember you must enter using your BowieNet e-mail or at least supply your BowieNet user name.
The contest ends at midnight NY time on Saturday August 11th, with the winners being notified shortly thereafter.
Here’s the cover and tracklisting of
The Producers – Tony Visconti
01 Héros – David Bowie
02 China Girl – Iggy Pop
03 Metal Guru – T. Rex
04 You Have Killed Me – Morrissey
05 Looks Looks Looks – Sparks
06 Will You – Hazel O?Connor
07 Chains – Mercury Rev
08 Oh Baby – Dib Cochran & The Earwigs
09 The Prettiest Star – David Bowie (original single version)
10 Flowers In The Rain ? The Move
11 Sarah – Thin Lizzy
12 Love Is The Law – Seahorses
13 Band On The Run – Wings
14 This Town Ain?t Big Enough For Both Of Us – Sparks (Plagiarism Album Version)
15 Got To Get You Into My Life – Surprise Sisters
16 Black Country Rock – David Bowie
17 Telegram Sam – T. Rex
Finally, I asked Tony what he remembered about the picture of him and David I’ve used at the top of this piece. This was his response…
“Hi Blammo – That photo was taken during the recording of “Scary Monsters”. The studio was the old Power Station in NYC. Bruce Springsteen was recording in the same studio on the same floor. We often had lunch with him and the E Street Band. That’s how Roy Bittan, his piano player, came to play on “Scary Monsters”. David and I cracked up when drummer Dennis Davis asked Springsteen what band he was in during one of our lunch breaks. Cheers, Tony.”