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 - Diamond Dogs + Lifetimes Insert - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £25.00, $27.00, €28.00 (New Item) (arrived 28-Sep-2022 14:50)
DAVID BOWIE Diamond Dogs (1981 UK green RCA International label issue of the 1974 11-track LP, 'Lifetimes' stickered glossy picture sleeve with 'David Bowie Lifetimes' insert. The sleeve has some light edgewear, whilst the vinyl shows a few light signs of play INTS5068)
- David Bowie - Time Will Crawl - Dance Crew Mix - UK - 12" vinyl - £30.00, $32.40, €33.60 (New Item) (arrived 26-Sep-2022 15:42)
DAVID BOWIE Time Will Crawl (Rare 1987 UK limited edition 3-track remix 12'' single, featuring the Dance Crew Mix, Dub & Girls - Japanese Version, picture sleeve. The sleeve is pristine near 'as new' & the vinyl looks barely played 12EAX237)
- David Bowie - Absolute Beginners - UK - 12" vinyl - £12.00, $12.96, €13.44 (New Item) (arrived 26-Sep-2022 14:49)
DAVID BOWIE Absolute Beginners (1986 UK 2-track 12" single including the Full Length Version and Dub Mix, glossy picture sleeve VS838-12)
- David Bowie - Underground - UK - 12" vinyl - £10.00, $10.80, €11.20 (New Item) (arrived 26-Sep-2022 14:50)
DAVID BOWIE Underground (1986 UK 3-track 12" vinyl single including Extended Dance Mix, Dub Mix & Instrumental Version. The glossy picture sleeve features David as the Goblin King and the vinyl remains in excellent condition 12EA216)
- David Bowie - Cat People - UK - 12" vinyl - £15.00, $16.20, €16.80 (New Item) (arrived 26-Sep-2022 14:54)
DAVID BOWIE Cat People (1982 UK 12" vinyl single taken from the original soundtrack, with music by Giorgio Moroder, featuring the 6:41 Extended Version plus Paul's Theme. The picture sleeve has some light edgewear and the vinyl remains in excellent condition with light signs of play MCAT770)
- David Bowie - Loving The Alien - Shaped - VG - UK - shaped picture disc - £20.00, $21.60, €22.40 (New Item) (arrived 26-Sep-2022 14:55)
DAVID BOWIE Loving The Alien (1985 UK limited edition 7" Shaped Picture Disc single, featuring colour stills from the video, including the Remix version of the title track & a cover of Iggy Pop's Don't Look Down. This copy grades Very Good with afew scuffs & hairlines & a little 'tea staining' which is common with picture discs of the era, naturally caused by over heating during the manufacturing stage. An ideal collection filler EAP195)
- David Bowie - Loving The Alien + Poster - VG - UK - 12" vinyl - £25.00, $27.00, €28.00 (New Item) (arrived 26-Sep-2022 15:02)
DAVID BOWIE Loving The Alien (1984 UK limited edition 3-track 12" single, featuring the Extended Dance & Extended Dub mixes, along with the Extended Dance Mix of Don't Look Down, complete with the rare fold-out collector's poster. Thegatefoldpicture sleeve is Very Good with some edge scuffing with age, the poster is unused & the vinyl remains in Excellent condition 12EA195)
- David Bowie - Aladdin Sane - Italian - vinyl LP - £15.00, $16.20, €16.80 (New Item) (arrived 26-Sep-2022 15:16)
DAVID BOWIE Aladdin Sane (1981 Italian issue of the 1973 10-track vinyl LP, featuring The Jean Genie and the classic Rolling Stone's cover Let's Spend The Night Together, single-pocket picture sleeve. The sleeve has light wear and the vinyl isExcellent with little sign of play AYL13890)
- David Bowie - When The Wind Blows - UK - 12" vinyl - £10.00, $10.80, €11.20 (New Item) (arrived 26-Sep-2022 15:33)
DAVID BOWIE When The Wind Blows (1986 UK 2-track 12" vinyl single featuring the Extended Mix & Instrumental Version. The glossy picture sleeve has just a little storage wear, whilst the vinyl remains in near as new condition VS906)
- David Bowie - Hunky Dory - 2nd + Insert - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £60.00, $64.80, €67.20 (New Item) (arrived 26-Sep-2022 15:54)
DAVID BOWIE Hunky Dory (1971 UK second issue 11-track vinyl LP with Mainman credit to the labels, including the singles Changes / Andy Warhol and Life On Mars. The matt picture sleeve has the 'A Gem Production' credit but without any mention of Mainman, complete with the lyric insert which is also printed with the Gem logo. The sleeve displays some light shelfwear and the vinyl remains Excellent with just a few signs of play SF8244)
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