“Oh, look out you rock ’n rollers”
David Bowie’s Hunky Dory LP (his first for RCA), was released on this day in the UK in 1971. The album had already been released in the USA at this point, as had the attendant single, Changes.
However, despite a decent press campaign and very appreciative reviews, the record didn’t enter the UK Top 50 for another ten months and it took several more weeks before it finally entered the Top 20 right at the height of Ziggymania.
Hunky Dory eventually peaked at #3, incredible when one considers how valuable a recording the majority of Bowie fans (and indeed, rock fans in general), consider the album today.
Some pressings are valuable in other ways too. In March of this year a preview copy sold for a remarkable £7,600 GBP (approx. $9,500 USD even at today’s poor exchange rate).
There can’t be many visiting this page that aren’t already very familiar with Hunky Dory. But, if you’re one of the few, prepare yourself for what will surely become one of your very favourite albums.
The description in that 45-year-old press release still holds good today:
“Disquieting, disturbing, sometimes freaky, sometimes fantastic, sometimes caustically penetrating, often beautiful, always interesting…this is the music of David Bowie.”
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