“You gotta act tall, think big”
Released on this day fifty years ago was David Bowie’s second stab at storming the hit parade (though he was still Jones at this point), I Pity The Fool, the follow up to the previous year’s debut, Liza Jane.
The single was notable for having the first ever released Bowie composition in Take My Tip on the B-side, good to see a spider reference in his first ever published lyric.
Both sides were recorded and issued under the name of The Manish Boys, with David again taking care of a very enthusiastic and convincing vocal.
The A-side has an urgency that still cuts through today, no doubt helped somewhat by a lead guitar played by the young Jimmy Page and a brass section that included David Jones himself.
As you might suspect, this record is far more sought after now than it was fifty years ago, with a stock copy fetching £1750 GBP on eBay last year.
And despite the record’s age, it’s travelled extremely well as you can hear for yourself here.