When I’m Five…
As we reported in our last instalment of The Continuing Story Of Major Tom, (10.25.2009 NEWS: DB’s 40-YEAR-OLD CONTINUED ASCENT OF UK AND DUTCH TOP 10) forty years ago last week the Philips Space Oddity 45 had reached #6 in the UK singles chart and #8 in Holland.
Then for the week ending November 1st 1969, the single rose to #5 in the UK, (as recorded in the Record Mirror Charts Page, above) giving David Bowie his biggest hit to date. I’m not sure if it fared any better in Holland, but if you have a reliable source for this information please let us know.
The song also gave David Bowie his first American Top 20 hit when a January 1973 issue of Space Oddity on RCA peaked at #15 in The Billboard Hot 100, even making The Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Year Chart in 1973 too.
As we pointed out last week, the 1975 RCA reissue of Space Oddity in the UK (see press advert above) was climbing to the top of the UK charts in the very same weeks as the 1969 single. By November 1st, 1975, this reissue had reached #2 in the UK and the following week it gave Bowie his first UK #1, staying at the top spot for two weeks.
The previous month, Fame became David Bowie’s first ever #1 when it topped The Billboard Hot 100.