David Bowie – Blackstar LP

David Bowie – ★ (Blackstar) LP

180g Black Vinyl • Gatefold Sleeve • 16-Page Booklet • 7 Tracks • ISO / Columbia • Art Rock / Experimental / Jazz Rock

Available at Bennies Fifties and the online Fifties Store

★ (Blackstar) is the 25th and final studio album by David Bowie, released on January 8, 2016, his 69th birthday. Bowie died just two days later, giving the album an extraordinary place within a career defined by constant artistic reinvention. Bowie produced the record together with his longtime collaborator Tony Visconti.

For Blackstar, Bowie surrounded himself with musicians from New York's contemporary jazz scene, including saxophonist Donny McCaslin, keyboard player Jason Lindner, bassist Tim Lefebvre, drummer Mark Guiliana and guitarist Ben Monder. Their contributions helped create an adventurous combination of art rock, experimental rock, jazz and electronic music.

The record opens with the nearly ten-minute title track Blackstar, followed by 'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore and the remarkable Lazarus. Side B features Sue (Or in a Season of Crime), Girl Loves Me, Dollar Days and the album's powerful closing track, I Can't Give Everything Away.

The album's distinctive visual identity was designed by Jonathan Barnbrook, with its striking black star replacing Bowie's name on the front cover. The star image itself is credited to NASA.

The European vinyl edition is pressed on 180-gram vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve and accompanied by a 16-page 12" × 12" booklet. The regular catalogue number is 88875173871, with barcode 888751738713. Several different Blackstar pressings and coloured variants exist, so this listing refers to the regular LP edition rather than one of the limited coloured-vinyl versions.

Blackstar became a worldwide number-one album, including in both the UK and US, and went on to receive three Grammy Awards.

An essential record for fans of David Bowie, art rock, experimental rock and jazz rock, and an unforgettable final chapter in one of popular music's most influential careers.

Tracklist

Side A

★ (Blackstar)
'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore
Lazarus

Side B

Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)
Girl Loves Me
Dollar Days
I Can't Give Everything Away

Specifications
Artist: David Bowie
Title: ★ (Blackstar)
Format: LP
Number of records: 1
Vinyl: Black Vinyl
Weight: 180 gram
Packaging: Gatefold Sleeve
Includes: 16-page 12" × 12" booklet
Number of tracks: 7
Release date: January 8, 2016
Label: ISO Records / Columbia / Sony Music
Catalogue number: 88875173871
EAN / UPC: 888751738713
Producers: David Bowie & Tony Visconti
Mastering: Joe LaPorta
Artwork / design: Jonathan Barnbrook
Genre: Art Rock / Experimental Rock / Jazz Rock / Electronic

Highlights
David Bowie's final studio album
Released on his 69th birthday
Produced by David Bowie & Tony Visconti
180g vinyl
Gatefold sleeve
Includes a 16-page booklet
Features the epic title track Blackstar
Includes Lazarus
Features I Can't Give Everything Away
Recorded with leading musicians from New York's jazz scene
Winner of three Grammy Awards
Catalogue number 88875173871