''Rare'' (often referred to as ''Bowie Rare'') is a

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

by English musician

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

, released by

RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also A ...

in December 1982. The artist's relations with the company were at a low – Bowie had recorded his last music for RCA Records with the '' Baal EP'', and had been annoyed by the release of a five-year-old duet with

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" is a Christmas song performed by English singer-songwriter David Bowie and American singer Bing Crosby. Recorded on 11 September 1977 at ATV Elstree Studios near London for Crosby's television special '' Bin ...

") as a single without his consultation. Bowie informed RCA he was unhappy with the ''Rare'' compilation, and would sign with

EMI Records EMI Records (formerly EMI Records Ltd.) is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British flagship label by the music company of the same name in 1972, and launched in January 1973 as the succ ...

for his next album. All tracks on ''Rare'' were being issued for the first time on LP and cassette. The compilation contained rarities recorded between 1969 and 1980. RCA did not issue ''Rare'' in the United States; nor was the album reissued on CD along with most of Bowie's other RCA albums in 1984. On the

UK Album Chart The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts ...

, where it remained for eleven weeks, the album peaked at number 34.

Track listing

All songs are written by

except where noted.

Side one

# " Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola" (Bowie, Mogol) – 5:02 #* An Italian-language song featuring all new lyrics set to the music of "

Space Oddity "Space Oddity" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was first released on 11 July 1969 by Philips Records as a 7-inch single, then as the opening track of his second studio album ''David Bowie''. After the commercial f ...

", released as single in Italy in late-1969/early-1970 # "'Round and 'Round" (

Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the " Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and developed rhythm and blues into th ...

) – 2:41 #* A cover of the Chuck Berry song "

Around and Around "Around and Around" is a 1958 rock song written and first recorded by Chuck Berry. It originally appeared under the name "Around & Around" as the B-side to the single " Johnny B. Goode". Cover versions The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones ...

", recorded for the '' Ziggy Stardust'' sessions, and released as the B-side to the single "

Drive-In Saturday "Drive-In Saturday" is a song by English musician David Bowie from his 1973 album '' Aladdin Sane''. It was released as a single a week before the album and, like its predecessor "The Jean Genie", became a Top 3 UK hit. Music and lyrics Heavil ...

" # "

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

" (

Jacques Brel Jacques Romain Georges Brel (, ; 8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, l ...

Mort Shuman Mortimer Shuman (12 November 1938 – 2 November 1991) was an American singer, pianist and songwriter, best known as co-writer of many 1960s rock and roll hits, including "Viva Las Vegas". He also wrote and sang many songs in French, such as ...

) – 3:25 #* A cover of a Jacques Brel song, recorded for the '' Ziggy Stardust'' sessions, and released as the B-side to the single " Sorrow" # " Holy Holy" – 2:15 #* A newer version of Bowie's 1970 single, recorded for the '' Ziggy Stardust'' sessions, and released as the B-side to the single "

Diamond Dogs ''Diamond Dogs'' is the eighth studio album by English musician David Bowie, released on 24 May 1974 through RCA Records. Bowie produced the album and recorded it in early 1974 at Olympic and Island Studios in London and Ludolph Studios i ...

" # "

Panic in Detroit "Panic in Detroit" is a song written by English singer-songwriter David Bowie for the album '' Aladdin Sane'' in 1973. Bowie based it on friend Iggy Pop's descriptions of revolutionaries he had known in Michigan Nicholas Pegg (2000). ''The Compl ...

" – 5:49 #* Live recording from the same concerts as ''

David Live ''David Live'' is the first official live album by English musician David Bowie, originally released through RCA Records in 1974. The album was recorded in July of that year, on the initial leg of Bowie's Diamond Dogs Tour, at the Tower Theater ...

'', and released as the B-side to the single " Knock on Wood" # "

Young Americans ''Young Americans'' is the ninth studio album by English musician David Bowie, released on 7March 1975 through RCA Records. The album marked a departure from the glam rock style of Bowie's previous albums, showcasing his interest in soul and ...

" – 3:11 #* US single edit

Side two

# "

Velvet Goldmine ''Velvet Goldmine'' is a 1998 musical drama film written and directed by Todd Haynes from a story by Haynes and James Lyons. It is set in Britain during the glam rock days of the early 1970s, and tells the story of fictional bisexual pop star B ...

" – 3:08 #* Recorded for the '' Ziggy Stardust'' sessions, and released as the B-side to the 1975 reissue of "

" # "Heroes"/"Helden" (Bowie,

Brian Eno Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno (; born Brian Peter George Eno, 15 May 1948) is a British musician, composer, record producer and visual artist best known for his contributions to ambient music and work in rock, pop an ...

, Antonia Maass) – 6:07 #* A version of "

Heroes Heroes or Héroes may refer to: * Hero, one who displays courage and self-sacrifice for the greater good Film * ''Heroes'' (1977 film), an American drama * ''Heroes'' (2008 film), an Indian Hindi film Gaming * ''Heroes of Might and Magic'' ...

" with English and German lyrics, released as single in

West Germany West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...

in 1977 # "

John, I'm Only Dancing (Again) "John, I'm Only Dancing" is a song by English musician David Bowie, originally released as a non-album single on 1 September 1972. A glam rock and R&B number, the lyrics describe a situation in which the narrator informs his lover not to ...

" – 3:26 #* Single edit # " Moon of Alabama" (

Bertolt Brecht Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht (10 February 1898 – 14 August 1956), known professionally as Bertolt Brecht, was a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. Coming of age during the Weimar Republic, he had his first successes as a pl ...

Kurt Weill Kurt Julian Weill (March 2, 1900April 3, 1950) was a German-born American composer active from the 1920s in his native country, and in his later years in the United States. He was a leading composer for the stage who was best known for his fru ...

) – 3:51 #* Recorded 1978, released as single A-side, 1980 # "

Crystal Japan "Crystal Japan" is an instrumental piece written by David Bowie and released as a single in Japan in spring 1980. It was recorded during the '' Scary Monsters'' sessions that year.Chris O'Leary (2019). ''Ashes to Ashes: The Songs of David Bowi ...

" – 3:07 #* Recorded 1979 for the soundtrack of a Japanese commercial, released as a Japanese single A-side, 1980, then internationally as the B-side to "

Up the Hill Backwards "Up the Hill Backwards" is a song by English musician David Bowie, released on his 1980 album '' Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)''. It was later issued by RCA Records as the fourth and final single from the album in March 1981. Originally wri ...

" single, 1981.

Charts

References

External links

* {{Authority control David Bowie compilation albums 1982 compilation albums RCA Records compilation albums