From the BBC.
A demo believed to be the first recording of David Bowie’s hit song Starman is being put up for auction.
The 1971 tape had been packed away in a box and “totally forgotten about” for almost 50 years.
Bowie can be heard on the demo telling guitarist Mick Ronson he had not finished the song when he tried to end the recording.
Ronson gave the demo to his friend Kevin Hutchinson, an aspiring musician, to help him learn the song in 1971.
But Mr Hutchinson listened to the song, labelled it “David Bowie rehearsal tape” and packed it away in his loft.
The demo also contains recordings of Bowie songs Moonage Daydream and Hang Onto Yourself.
Mr Hutchinson, who is now selling the tape, said: “I remember listening to it and thinking, ‘This is OK.’ I didn’t think, ‘This is fantastic.’
“At 16, you’re not totally impressed. Nothing impresses you.”
He kept the tape despite moving house several times and now Mr Hutchinson thinks it’s “phenomenal… obviously”.
The song featured in the 1972 Ziggy Stardust concept album, which propelled Bowie to fame.
The demo will be auctioned on Tuesday at Omega Auctions in Newton-le-Willows, between Liverpool and Manchester, where it is expected to sell for £10,000.
Mr Hutchinson retrieved the tape from his loft after watching a documentary about Bowie, who died aged 69 in 2016.
He told BBC Radio Humberside in 2017 that he had forgotten about the tape and was “staggered” when he heard the quality of it.
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DAVID BOWIE Tonight (1984 UK first press 9-track LP, including the singles Blue Jean, Tonight [with Tina Turner] & Loving The Alien. Complete with the lyric inner, the glossy picture sleeve & vinyl are in Excellent condition with just a few minor signs of wear & play DB1)
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DAVID BOWIE Lodger (1979 UK first issue 10-track LP on the orange RCA label with 'No Sense Is Better... Than None At All' etchings in the run-outs, including the singles Boys Keep Swinging, DJ, Yassassin & Look Back In Anger. Housed in a frontlaminated gatefold picture sleeve complete with illustrated lyric insert. The sleeve is Excellent with some minor ageing, the vinyl appears barely played BOWLP1)
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DAVID BOWIE Stage (1978 UK orange label 17-track double LP, featuring Adrian Belew on lead guitar & produced with Tony Visconti, fully laminated gatefold picture sleeve. The sleeve shows light shelfwear & the vinyl remains in Excellent condition PL02913(2))
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DAVID BOWIE Diamond Dogs (1974 UK fourth press 11-track vinyl LP on a plain orange label with hand scratched 'A-1oly' & 'B-6E' etched in the run-outs, including the singles Rebel Rebel and the title track, gatefold picture sleeve which has theillustrated city-scape inner spread with a printed story excerpt by Bowie. The sleeve shows some minor ringwear and the vinyl remains in Excellent condition APL1-0576)
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DAVID BOWIE The World Of David Bowie (1973 UK blue boxed Decca label 14-track LP compilation, housed in a front laminated 'Ziggy' picture sleeve. The sleeve & the vinyl remain in excellent condition SPA58)
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DAVID BOWIE Low (1977 UK first press 11-track LP on the orange RCA label, part of a series of collaborative albums with Brian Eno including the influential tracks Warszawa & Sound & Vision. Comes housed in the iconic matte picture sleeve with the original orange tracklist sticker on the back & album credits insert. The sleeve shows general shelf wear and a little discoloration whilst the vinyl is clean & in Excellent condition with only a few light signs of play. Classic Bowie! PL12030) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
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DAVID BOWIE Aladdin Sane (Classic 1973 UK orange label 10-track LP, complete with the original card lyric inner & heavy duty first edition gatefold picture sleeve. The iconic sleeve remains in Excellent condition with just a little faint age discolouring and the inner shows some light edgewear, whilst the vinyl is clean & in Excellent condition with only the lightest signs of play RS1001)
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