A new David Bowie box set is being released next month titled David Bowie Loving the Alien (1983-1988). The fourth in a career-spanning box set series, it contains all of his studio and live album from that period, plus a re-recorded version of 1987’s Never Let Me Down. Today we're treated to a new version of “Beat of Your Drums." It follows the recently shared and updated “Zeroes,” which are both being released as a double A-side picture disc vinyl.
Producer/engineer Mario McNulty oversaw the new version of Never Let Me Down, which features new instrumentation by Bowie collaborators Reeves Gabrels (guitar), David Torn (guitar), Sterling Campbell (drums), and Tim Lefebvre (bass), as well as a string quartet with arrangements by Nico Muhly. “David Torn’s ambient guitars start the song that now lead into a much darker world than its shiny predecessor,” Mario McNulty said of the new version of “Beat of Your Drums.” “David sang all the backing vocals on this which I have kept.” David Bowie Loving the Alien (1983-1988) is out October 12 via Parlophone.
This week's Review Revue revisits one of David Bowie's "lesser-liked albums." See what KCMU DJs thought back in the day.
Today would've been David Bowie's 71st birthday and Wednesday marks the second anniversary of his death, a loss that left a huge, star-shaped hole in the hearts of many.
It was a year ago this week that KEXP both celebrated the birth and then shockingly, mourned the death of David Bowie at the age of 69. With the help of both those who knew him best and the man himself, KEXP will dig deep into his influential catalog of music spanning nearly 50-years.
