Karma Man (Bowie): from The World Of David Bowie. The version on the bootleg single El Hombre Del Karma (ESP-60 SGAE/VIC PB-1887-A; reissued on The Forgotten Songs Of David Robert Jones) is a fake with an added count down. See the Early Works section for re-releases and BBC Sessions for two versions recorded for BBC radio (of which the 1968 Top Gear recording is included on Bowie At The Beeb).
King Of Stamford Hill, The (Gabrels/Bowie): from Reeves Gabrels' The Sacred Squall Of Now.
Kingdom Come (Verlaine): from Scary Monsters. Two alternative versions of this song are released on the Scary Monsters-outtakes CD Vampires Of Human Flesh (Midnight Beat MBCD 021).
Knock On Wood (Floyd/Copper): released as a single from David Live (RCA 2456). Another 1974 live version appeared on Strange Fascination (The Original Masters TOM CD 001/002). A kind of video clip using stills from the Diamond Dogs tour has recently surfaced.
Kodak (Bowie): in 1996 Bowie provided the music for a Japanese advertisement for the Kodak Advantix camera [click to watch, note "music by David Bowie" somewhere halfway].
Kooks (Bowie): from Hunky Dory. A demo version appeared on the bootleg Caught In The Act (MIM-XXX/400) and was re-released on the Naked And Wired (GEMA BOW 005) CD. A slightly different mix of the album version appeared on the very rare BOWPROMO 1A-1/1B-1 promo LP. Played twice for the BBC in 1971 (see BBC Performances); the In Concert: John Peel performance is included on Bowie At The Beeb.
Lad In Vain, A (Bowie): this lengthy instrumental Aladdin Sane outtake (6'01") appeared to be a blueprint for both 'Aladdin Sane' and 'Sweet Thing'. It has been released on several bootlegs, e.g. on Lost In Our Vaults Until Now (Elephant Records ELP 012 5) or Naked And Wired (GEMA BOW 005). To Meet Bowie (Joy Records 1000 SS 10) features an edit.
Lady Grinning Soul (Bowie): from Aladdin Sane. B-side of 'Let's Spend The Night Together' (RCA APBO 0028), the Spanish 'Sorrow' single (RCA APBO-9056) and the special US release of 'Rebel Rebel' (RCA APBO 0287).
Lady Stardust (Bowie): from The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars. An edited demo (3'35") was released as a bonus track on the Rykodisc version. The full length version of this demo (3'56") had previously seen the light of day on Little Toy Soldier (Albino AL 7153 HC 3104) LP or The '69 Tapes (Quality Productions QCP 69006) CD. A live version from London, Rainbow Theatre, 19-08-72 has been released on Starman Over The Rainbow (Savage Hippo SH 118), and in the same year it was also performed twice for the BBC (see BBC Performances and Bowie At The Beeb). Bowie after 25 years resurrected the song in an accoustic version (recorded in New York), exclusively broadcast by the BBC on Bowie's 50th birthday (08-01-97), in the program "ChangesNowBowie". This is available on Divine Symmetry (DB1) or The Earthling Chronicles (Dancing Horse DH-005).
Last Thing You Should Do, The (Bowie/Gabrels/Plati): from Earthling. Performed together with Robert Smith of The Cure on Bowie's 50th birthday concert in New York and on the Earthling tour.
Laughing Gnome, The (Bowie): released as a single in 1967 (Deram DM 123) but omitted from the debut album. According to the liner notes of The Deram Anthology, many edits, veering between 2'30 and 3'30", were cut and pressed onto acetate. Indeed, acetates with versions labelled "version 3" and "1st version", both containing additional "gnome voices", were auctioned on eBay in 2001 and 2007 respectively. First released on CD on the 1989 compilation The London Sound (London 820489-2); for numerous other re-releases, see the Early Works section.
Law (Earthlings On Fire) (Bowie/Gabrels): closes Earthling.
Leon Takes Us Outside (Bowie/Eno/Gabrels/Garson/Kizilcay/Campbell): opening piece of the 1. Outside CD. On the LP (Excerpts From Outside), this track is edited from 1'24" to 0'24". A longer version can be heard on the 1. Outside outtakes CD.
Let Me Sleep Beside You (Bowie): first released on the The World Of David Bowie. A rough mix of the song, featuring a diferrent vocal and more prominent backing vocals, was released on the El Hombre Del Karma (ESP-60 SGAE/VIC PB-1887-A) single and reissued on The Forgotten Songs Of David Robert Jones. A 'video clip' of the song is featured on the Love You Till Tuesday film. A 1969 Dave Lee Travis Show BBC recording has been released on Bowie At The Beeb. In 2000, 'Let Me Sleep Beside You' was re-recorded for Toy. Unfortunately, this excellent new version remains unreleased.
Let's Dance (Bowie): understandably, an edited version (4'10" vs 7'38") was released as the first single (EMI EA 152) from the album with the same name. A slightly different edit later appeared on ChangesBowie and Singles Collection, but the original single version was used for Best Of Bowie. The Brazilian single (EMI 31C 006 86660) exceptionally contained a different 4'00" edit. The album version was used on the maxi-single (EMI 12 EA 152). Promo-only remixes are an Extended Edit (8'57") on the Disconet MWDN 513 DJ 12", a Remix by Rusty Garner & Paul Sabu on the Dance Mix (EMI America ST-17170 85) album and a Music Factory Mastermix on the Music Factory Mastermixes album (MFMM31); the latter re-appeared on From A Phoenix... The Ashes Shall Rise (Major Tom MT001/2). A Minky Remix appeared on a bootleg white-label DJ 12" (Let's Dance 1) in 2000. Three years later, 'Let's Dance' was given an authorized Bollywood treatment by Schtung Music. A 2-track white-label 12" (Dance 1), as well as two in-house promo CDRs appeared with several variations of the Club Bolly Mix. Also for Club Bowie a number of remixes were prepared, some of which have appeared only on an in-house promo 3CDR (see below for a complete list of unreleased Bollywood and Club Bowie remixes). The Club Bolly Extended Mix and a previously unreleased Trifactor vs Deeper Substance Remix appeared in 2003 on Club Bowie, which also featured the Club Bolly video. The 2003 US reissue of Best Of Bowie includes the Club Bolly Extended Mix, Bollyclub Mix and Club Bolly video. Summarizing, the following officially released versions and remixes exist:
The following remixes have appeared on in-house promo CDRs only:
The original 4'01" video clip of the song is featured on the Video EP, The Video Collection and the Best Of Bowie DVD. 'Let's Dance' has been played live on the 1983, 1987, 1990, 2000, 2002 and 2003/04 tours, and is featured on BBC Radio Theatre, London, June 27, 2000 and on the Serious Moonlight and Glass Spider DVDs. Performed in a special semi-accoustic live version on the Bridge Benefit Concert in Mountain View, Shoreline Amphitheater, 19-10-96; available in best quality on Bridge 1996 (Savage Hippo SH 119).
Let's Dance (Lee): performed live with Tina Turner (Birmingham, NEC, 23-03-85), alongside Bowie's own version of the song. Both are included on Tina Turner's Live In Europe 2CD.
Let's Spend The Night Together (Jagger/Richards): released in the US, Japan and on the European continent as a single from Aladdin Sane (RCA APBO 0028). Played live on the short December 1972/January 1973 UK tour and the rest of the 1973 tours. An official live version appeared on Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture.
Let's Twist Again: supposedly a studio recording with John Lennon, but most probably faked. Released on the rare MW 1 Bowie/Lennon single and the Lennon CD Completed Rarities Vol. 1 (Polyphone PH 1313).
Letter To Hermione (Bowie): from the Philips David Bowie. A demo version, titled 'I'm Not Quite' was released on The Beckenham Oddity (Leisure Records 005 (LP) or MDCD 010 (CD)) and its many successors.
Lieb' Dich Bis Dienstag (Bowie/Busch): a version of 'Love You Till Tuesday' partly in German, released on TV Rebell (NICO SDRM 671288).
Life Is A Circus (Djin): from the Space Oddity bed room demo recordings, released on The Beckenham Oddity (Leisure Records 005).
Life On Mars? (Bowie): released in 1973 as a second single (RCA 2316) from Hunky Dory. Slightly edited versions appeared on the The Best Of Bowie LP (fading at 3'36" rather than at 3'48") and The Life Aquatic soundtrack (3'43"). Slightly longer versions, running 4'06" and 4'18" ('Life On Mars Symphony'), are found only on a French Pyral acetate. A tape with a demo version was auctioned at Philips in 1988. In 2003, Ken Scott prepared several alternate mixes off the original master for the Swedish TV program 'Musikmagasinet', which was dedicated entirely to 'Life On Mars'. Although the program, which was aired on 23-04-03, didn't use any of them, these very interesting mixes—Abbey Road Mix (3'50"), Voice Mix (1'35"), Piano Mix (2'22"), Recorder Mix (1'03") and Instrumental Mix (3'50")—circulate among collectors. Played in medleys in 1973 (with 'Quicksand' and 'Memory Of A Free Festival'; on Heaven Or Maybe Hell (Artie Fartie CD 001)) and 1976 (with 'Five Years') and in full glory in 1972, 1983, 1990, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003/04. Officially released live versions appear on the 30th Anniversary Edition of Aladdin Sane, Santa Monica '72, Serious Moonlight and A Reality Tour. A 4'02" video clip of the song is featured on The Video Collection and the Best Of Bowie DVD. Alternate takes of the video have recently made their way into the collectors circuit.
Lightning Frightening (Bowie): a well-known outtake that could be found on a/o the Shadow Man (Past Masters PM 8901) CD. Rykodisc released an incomplete mono version of this song as a bonus track on The Man Who Sold The World. At the end of the 1990s, a complete stereo version surfaced (4'04" vs 3'38"), possibly remastered by EMI as a bonus track for their 1999 reissue series.
Like A Rolling Stone (Dylan): released on Mick Ronson's Heaven And Hull album.
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You (Diamond): together with 'Penny Lane', this song appeared on the Chameleon Chronicles Vol. 2 (Living Legends LLR-CD 049) CD, suggesting it was recorded by Bowie. Actually, these two tracks started a rumour that Bowie might have recorded "more" songs in the 60s, that would have ended up on obscure compilation LPs. However, Bowie personally has denied that this is the case.
Little Bombardier (Bowie): from the 1967 David Bowie. See BBC Performances for a 18-12-67 radio execution and Early Works for re-releases.
The Little Fat Man (With The Pug-Nosed Face) (Bowie/Gervais/Merchant): David appeared as himself in the BBC series Extras and dedicated this 'paean' to the main character played by Ricky Gervais. Bowie also used the song to introduce Gervais at the High Line Festival (New York, Madison Square Garden, 19-05-07).
Little Toy Soldier (Bowie): this 1967 outtake, featuring the chorus of the Velvet Underground's 'Venus In Furs', was released on AUDIODISC acetate and appeared in 1983 on the bootleg LP of the same name. This LP has been reissued on CD as The '69 Tapes (Quality Productions QCP 69006).
Little Wonder (Bowie/Gabrels/Plati): from the Earthling album. 'Little Wonder' was premiered on the Bowie Birthday Bash event in the form of a Danny Saber Dance Mix aka Internet Mix (5'33"), followed two weeks later by a bewildering number of different CD-singles. In the UK, a 2CD set was released (BMG/RCA 74321452072 and 74321452082). In the EC, even 3 different singles were released (BMG/Arista 74321 456502, 74321 447772 and 74321 44778-2), each featuring different variations of the 'Little Wonder'. A US promo CD (Virgin DPRO-11595) contained the censored Single and Video Edits; in both the tits in "Tits and explosions" had been edited out! The Video Edit later also became available on the B-side of the Virgin S7-19517 jukebox-only 7" of 'Dead Man Walking'. The internet-only Danny Saber Dance Mix eventually was re-released a/o on the UK vinyl 12" (BMG/RCA 74321452071, which also has the Junior's Club Mix not available on the UK 2CD set), the US CD-single (Virgin 7243 8 38585 2 1) and the 2004 US and Limited 2CD Edition of Earthling. The Best Of Bowie compilation features the Edit. Summarizing, the following versions are available (promo 12"es and CD-singles are mentioned only when remixes are exclusive or have different names):
Two videos were shot, a 4'02" regular version and a 4'18" remix; the first has appeared on the Best Of Bowie DVD. Performed live for the first time on the short Ballroom tour in the US, and maintained during the Earthling tour; also played on one-off 2000 concerts in the UK. Two 1997 live versions, both recorded in New York, have officially been released on promo CDs. The first, from the 50th Birthday Concert (Madison Square Garden, 09-01-97), appeared on a free CD given away with the "GQ" magazine (Earthling In The City); the other, recorded on the GQ Awards (Radio City Music Hall, 15-10-97) is featured on liveandwell.com. The version Bowie performed for the BBC on 27-06-00 is included on BBC Radio Theatre, London, June 27, 2000, the bonus disc given away with the first pressing of Bowie At The Beeb.
Liza Jane (Conn): the first Bowie single, released in 1964 as Davie Jones with The King Bees (Vocalion Pop V 9221). On acetate (TEM 1687/8), a version with a slightly longer fade-out has been released. Compiled on a/o Early On; see Early Works for other sources. Re-recorded in 2000 for Toy, but never officially released. One day after the 40th anniversary of its release, Bowie played the first verse and chorus of 'Liza Jane' live at Holmdel, PNC Bank Arts Center, 06-06-04.
Lodger I, II: the Laecherling (Poptones LP-1010) LP features three songs ('Low', 'Lodger I' and 'Lodger II') which are supposed to be composed and performed by David Bowie and Brian Eno. These false titles later also appeared on the very dubious Japanese Eno/Bowie/Cale Outtakes CD. 'Low' is a collage of Eno's music to Robert Sheckley's In A Land Of Clear Colours, while the latter two tracks have been taken from David Byrne's The Catherine Wheel.
London Boys, The (Bowie): originally the B-side of the 'Rubber Band' single (Deram DM 135). Re-released on single in 1975 (Decca F 13579) and also on several compilation albums (see Early Works). Surpringly, it was played live in New York, Roseland Ballroom, 19-06-00, and on a concert at the BBC's Broadcasting House in London, 27-06-00; subsequently, it was re-recorded for Toy. In 2002, 1'26" and 1'30" excerpts of this re-recording were issued as "secret B-sides" on BowieNet.
London Bye Ta-Ta (Bowie): the demo of this song has been issued on an EMIDISC acetate. The original version was recorded in 1968 but the master tape soon afterwards got lost and hence it was re-recorded in 1970. The original version has survived on a one-sided 1969 metal acetate (Capitol Audiodisc); probably this recording has appeared on bootleg single (MOON 1) and later on the Naked And Wired (GEMA BOW 005) CD and several other bootlegs. The 1970 remake was officially released nineteen years later on Sound + Vision I, the 2003 reissue containing a previously unreleased stereo mix. A third version is available only on a German acetate (Z-68/4880). Bowie recorded two versions for the BBC; the 1968 Top Gear performance is available on Bowie At The Beeb, whereas the 1970 The Sunday Show recording is featured on several bootlegs (see BBC Performances).
Loneliest Guy, The (Bowie): from Reality. Performed regularly on the Reality tour. Live version appear on the bonus DVD of the tour edition of Reality and the A Reality Tour DVD.
Look Back In Anger (Bowie/Eno): released as a single from Lodger in the US and Canada (both RCA PB 11724). Issued in mono on the US promo single RCA JH 11661. A lengthy 1988 version was released as a bonus track on the Rykodisc version. A 2'58" video clip of the song can be found on The Video Collection and the Best Of Bowie DVD. Played live in 1983 (Serious Moonlight and Ricochet [incomplete version]), twice in 1988 for the La La La Human Steps performances, and on the 1995/96, 1997/1998 and 2002 tours.
Looking For A Friend (Bowie): originally released on the 1985 Arnold Corns 12" (Krazy Kat Past 2); re-released on the MissingLinksOneZiggy (Icon One) CD. A (far more often bootlegged) demo version can be found on the Shadow Man (Past Masters PM 8901) CD. A studio quality version of this demo surfaced around 1998. No less than six versions of this song appeared on the Freddi & The Dreamer (Switch On! 99-04) CD: rough mono mix, mono mix, single version, alternate version, alternate take, and a version recorded live for the BBC in 1971. Disappointingly, only the "rough mono mix" is genuine; the "alternate version" is completely identical to the "alternate take" and in fact is the demo version mentioned earlier. The BBC recording eventually turned up on Bowie At The Beeb; the only other live performance available is from Aylesbury, Friars, 25-09-71.
Looking For Lester (Bowie/Rodgers): an instrumental from Black Tie White Noise. This track was also used as B-side of the 'Miracle Goodnight' single (Arista/BMG 74321 16226 7).
Looking For Satellites (Bowie/Gabrels/Plati): from Earthling. A 3'51" Edit (vs. 5'22" on the album) was released on The Radio Edits (Virgin DPRO-12257). Performed live on Bowie's birthday concert at the New York Madison Square Garden, 09-01-97 and consecutive Earthling tour.
Looking For Water (Bowie): on Reality. The entire album has been played live, so also 'Looking For Water' appeared on the setlist of the Reality tour; a live version recorded in London (Riverside Studios, 08-09-03) is included on the Reality tour edition.
Louie, Louie Go Home (Revere/Lindsay): the B-side of 'Liza Jane' (Vocalion Pop V 9221). See Early Works section.
Love Me Do (Lennon/McCartney): Bowie sometimes incorporated a few bars and lines from this song into 'The Jean Genie' during the 1973 and 1974 tours. Apparently the 'Jean Genie/Love Me Do' performance from Bowie's Ziggy Stardust farewell concert (London, Hammersmith Odeon, 03-07-73) was scheduled to appear as a bonus on the Rykodisc reissue of Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture, as Lennon/McCartney are credited on the CD!
Love Missile F1-11 (Degville/Whitmore): this Sigue Sigue Sputnik cover was released on the 'New Killer Star' CD-single (ISO/Columbia COL 674275 9).
Love Song (Duncan): a bed room demo from the same session as the 'Space Oddity' demo from Sound + Vision I. It was released on The Beckenham Oddity (Leisure Records 005) and its re-releases.
Love You Till Tuesday (Bowie): both a single (Deram DM 135) and an LP version exist (both compiled on The Deram Anthology); Bowie also has sung the song in German. In 1984, the single version appeared on the Love You Till Tuesday soundtrack without the 'Hearts And Flowers' coda. A demo was released on bootleg single (DREAM DM 135) and several bootleg CDs. A 1967 BBC recording was featured on the "Bowie At The Beeb" program (see Early Works and BBC Performances). The 1969 film Love You Till Tuesday was shot as a promotional film and features a what one could call 'video clip' of the song.
Lover To The Dawn (Bowie): this demo, from the same tape as the songs found on The Beckenham Oddity (Leisure Records 005), was released on Naked And Wired (GEMA BOW 005) and can be considered as a blueprint for 'Cygnet Committee'.
Loving The Alien (Bowie): from Tonight. A shorter Remix (4'45" vs 7'11") was released as a single (EMI EA 195), while an Extended Dance Mix and Extended Dub Mix could be found on 12" (EMI 12 EA 195). The single version reappeared on Best Of Bowie, while a 4'43" edit of the album version is featured on The Singles 1969 To 1993. The Loving The Alien EP on iTunes neatly wraps up the original single and 12" versions. In 2002, The Scumfrog released a 8'23" remix on The Scumfrog vs Bowie 12" (Positiva 12TIV-172), which was reissued on Club Bowie and the 2003 US reissue of Best Of Bowie; a Radio Edit (3'20") appeared on CD-single (Positiva CDTIV-172). The Scumfrog 12" Club Mix, Scumfrog New Club Mix and Scumfrog 7" Dance Mix have appeared only on an in-house promo 3CDR for Club Bowie. The video clip of 'Loving The Alien' can be found on the Day-In Day-Out video, The Video Collection and the Best Of Bowie DVD; the promo of the Scumfrog remix (featuring scenes of the original) was included on its CD-single (Positiva CDTIV-172). Played on the Glass Spider tour (featured on the Glass Spider video and in two live versions on the Special Edition DVD) and in a stripped-down, newly arranged version at the 2003 Tibet House Benefit Concert (New York, Carnegie Hall, 28-02-03). An acoustic version was played on most of the 2003 European dates of the Reality tour and has appeared on the A Reality Tour DVD.
Low (Anonymous): in January 1977, a sample demo single (RCA BOW-1E) was released to promote the Low album. This single (lasting 4'45") features excerpts from Speed Of Life/Breaking Glass/What In The World/Sound And Vision/Be My Wife/A New Career In A New Town. Also see 'Lodger I and II'.
Lucy Can't Dance (Bowie): released as a bonus track on the Black Tie White Noise CD and cassette. Oddly enough it appeared on a promo 7" in The Philippines (Arista PROARISTA 064). Reissued on the bonus CD of the Black Tie White Noise Limited Edition 2CD+DVD.
Lust For Life (Bowie/Pop): written for Iggy Pop's Lust For Life album. Performed on the Outside Festival tour.
