The Sun Machine is coming down, And we’re gonna have a party…
Speaking of festivals, (see yesterday’s news) David Bowie’s re-recorded version of Memory Of A Free Festival was released as a single forty years ago today.
Issued on June 26th in the UK and the following month elsewhere, the 45 was released around the globe on the Mercury label as a follow up to The Prettiest Star. (03.06.2010 NEWS: THE PRETTIEST STAR AND THE WORLD OF ARE FORTY)
Memory Of A Free Festival (Part 1 & 2) was notable for being the debut on a Bowie disc of a certain Michael Ronson, who certainly helped electrify the track, particularly when compared to the album version.
The Beckenham Free Festival at Beckenham Recreation Ground, Croydon Road on August 16, 1969, (08.16.2009 NEWS: BECKENHAM FREE FESTIVAL FORTY YEARS AGO TODAY) was the inspiration for the original song.
Like it’s predecessor, Memory Of A Free Festival didn’t bother the UK singles chart…indeed, it would be two long years, almost to the day, before another Bowie 45 entered the charts…but that’s another story.