If you look at the Bowie releases after the fantastic S+V Rykodisc series of the late 80's and early 90's the only half decent releases Bowie has had would be the BBC sessions and erm, not much else. :(

He keeps putting out these 30th editions with no real gems as he knows idiots (me included) will buy them as we want everything with his name on it. I have played the Ziggy and AS 30th bonus discs maybe 5 times all up if that.

What makes many of us frustrated is simply this. We know there are many unreleased and live gems in the Bowie vaults yet all we get a BS K-Tel mixes of songs that are passed off as rare gems.

I guess it is kind of like going to work and getting payed with Monopoly money instead of real money. We know the real stuff is there but do you think we know how to get Bowie to release this stuff?

All the Bowie sites have been talking of all the much needed bonus cuts, DVD's and live albums that are so desired. The really fucked up thing is that Bowie has been reading all this for years. He know what the fans want and what the fans hate. And the money hungry fellow gives us crap.

In the late 90's when EMI were planning the re-issues it was common knowledge that each record would contain a bonus disc or rare and unreleased gems. I forget the girl who was sorting it at the time but she left and then it all fell in a heap.

My fave Bowie re-issues of recent years were the mid 90's Trident pressings of Santa Monica and Rarestonebowie...how good were they considering Carlton Sandercock had limited sources?????

I spoke with Carlton at the time and they had plans to re-issue YA's as "The Ghouster" complete with original track listing and bonus cuts. What is needed is a devoted long time fan to be allowed to step in take charge of all the re-issue packages, not just the EMI geeks and Bowie himself. They only see it as a profit making exercise and nothing more.

Please check out my Bowie Bootleg Site...
... http://www.geocities.com/bowieboyz/bowieondisc.html