From Bowie's web site:

We first mentioned the Sony double disc versions of 1.Outside, Earthling and 'hours...', way back in April of last year. (04.25.2003 NEWS: SONY REISSUES: THE FACTS) Well, I'm happy to report that the folx at Sony have stayed true to their word and intend to reissue the three albums on September 27th, complete with bonus discs. Here's how I described the reissues in that original news item over a year ago:

These bonus discs will contain a dozen or so songs each, and the tracks will be drawn from rare and hard-to-find releases and promos. They will not contain unreleased and unfinished versions of tracks...

And, sure enough that's exactly what you'll be getting. Many of these tracks have not had a CD release before now and have only been available on hard to find promos and the like.

The albums will be available to buy separately or all three together as a slipcase edition, as in the picture above. Each of the albums will be packaged in the DigiBook style that the recent EMI releases, such as Diamond Dogs, have favoured. The booklets have been expanded slightly to include the bonus track details and some additional photos.

The separately available albums will only be available for one pressing, when they're gone, they're gone. The slipcase edition will be a numbered limited edition, limited to just two thousand copies.

On a final note, I know this is the third version of these releases around the world over the last year, but I have said all along that there would be double disc versions available too... including when I announced the single disc US versions back in February. (02.15.2004 NEWS: SONY RE-ISSUES FOR AMERICA) So, for those of you, like me, that need to own every version (Hi Keiths) please keep your grumbles to yourself... we were warned!

If, however, you've never owned these albums on CD, these are the ones to get. You should save yourselves a couple of hundred quid not having to shell out for those rare and very pricey original vinyls and promos.

Check out www.davidbowie.com for the tracklistings of the droolworthy bonus discs.

Can't wait for this!

Thanks, Anxiety! I'm especially excited about the 'Outside' cd!

I gotta admit I'm excited about them all...sheesh, I'm gonna have my whole Bowie record collection replaced by the end of the year if he doesn't knock it off with the re-issues.

Anxiety said:

RIGHT?!?!?! I'm with ya! They're coming out faster than I can buy them!!

Anxiety said:

My biggest gripe: Where's 'Trying To Get To Heaven' from the 'hours...' promo? It's so good!

This is great news for folks who don't have this material. But I'll pass -- I already have lots of promo & rare shit....in addition, I couldn't tell the difference between the newly remastered Outside vs. the old version, and I generally have a good ear for remastering.

And I think hours... sucks an ass or two. But that's just me.

my general opinion on "hours..." is that it does indeed suck an ass and an extra cheek, but lately i'm starting to wonder if perhaps that album might be starting to age just a little bit more gracefully than i've been anticipating...i mean, at least in my opinion, it's a much better album than "reality"...but that might not be saying much...

i have a lot of the bonus stuff that's gonna be on these re-issues too, but they're scattered all through my CD collection, and YES, i'm enough of a sucker to spend my hard-earneds on the convenience of having all my "earthling" remixes and b-sides on one factory-burned disc.

Anxiety said:

Outside is a masterpiece, and Bowie's last great album to date.
Earthling is ok, but no great shakes.
Hours starts well and then falls off the edge of a cliff.

Shapeshifter said:

Outside is essential Bowie to me...it's got the whole Eno/Berlin Trilogy energy going on for it, and it has a cool New York hipster vibe all through it that comes from all the artfaggery he was so deeply into at the time. This is certainly up there as one of my top five Bowie albums, yum yum.

Earthling...eh...didn't like it at all at first, but I slooowwwwly learned to love it. "Five Years in Tibet" is SUCH a sexy song, and "Little Wonder" is a fun little camp song to dance to.

Hours? Yeah, that's when Bowie stopped "doing no wrong" in my book, though it wasn't exactly like I was disappointed. There's a lot I like on Hours, and I certainly find it salvageable enough. Just not butt-kickingly great.

Anxiety said:

Make that Seven!!

noepie said:

Indeed.

Cloudbuster said:

where the hell was my head.

five, seven - i suck with numbers.

Anxiety said:

You suck. Period.

oooh! This is exciting. I havle very few Bowie CDs ('cept for some copies a very good kitty gave me) so, for a late bloomer like me, this is a PERFECT way to start filling out the collection!

Cloudbuster said:

Anxiety said:

A list with all the bonus tracks for all 3 albums can be found here:
http://davidbowie.punt.nl...?gr=118271

Cloudbuster said: