Welcome to the Blackout (Live London '78) is a live album by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie recorded on the Isolar II Tour. It had a limited vinyl release on 21 April 2018 for Record Store Day.[1][2] A more widely available CD edition followed on 29 June 2018, along with digital releases for download and streaming.[3]
Welcome to the Blackout (Live London '78) | ||||
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Live album by | ||||
Released | 21 April 2018 | |||
Recorded | 30 June – 1 July 1978 | |||
Venue | Earls Court, London | |||
Studio | RCA Mobile | |||
Genre | Art rock | |||
Length | 108:13 | |||
Label | Parlophone | |||
Producer | Tony Visconti | |||
David Bowie chronology | ||||
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David Bowie live albums chronology | ||||
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Recording
The album was recorded live during the Isolar II Tour at Earls Court, London on 30 June and 1 July 1978 by Tony Visconti with the RCA mobile unit. It was mixed by Bowie and David Richards at Mountain Studios, Montreux, from 17–22 January 1979.
The 1st July performances of "Be My Wife" and "Sound and Vision" were previously released on the semi-official 1995 Mainman compilation album, Rarestonebowie.
The shows were filmed by the director David Hemmings for cinematic release later in 1978. Bowie was dissatisfied with the film and it was never released, saying in 2000, “I simply didn’t like the way it had been shot."[4]
Track listing
Vinyl release
All tracks are written by David Bowie, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Warszawa" | David Bowie, Brian Eno | |
2. | "'Heroes'" | Bowie, Eno | |
3. | "What in the World" |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
4. | "Be My Wife" | |
5. | "The Jean Genie" | |
6. | "Blackout" | |
7. | "Sense of Doubt" |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
8. | "Speed of Life" | ||
9. | "Sound and Vision" | ||
10. | "Breaking Glass" | Bowie, Dennis Davis, George Murray | |
11. | "Fame" | Bowie, Carlos Alomar, John Lennon | |
12. | "Beauty and the Beast" |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "Five Years" | |
14. | "Soul Love" | |
15. | "Star" | |
16. | "Hang On to Yourself" | |
17. | "Ziggy Stardust" | |
18. | "Suffragette City" |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
19. | "Art Decade" | ||
20. | "Alabama Song" | Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill | |
21. | "Station to Station" |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
22. | "TVC 15" | |
23. | "Stay" | |
24. | "Rebel Rebel" |
CD Release
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Warszawa" | 6:27 |
2. | "'Heroes'" | 7:34 |
3. | "What in the World" | 4:07 |
4. | "Be My Wife" | 2:53 |
5. | "The Jean Genie" | 6:34 |
6. | "Blackout" | 3:43 |
7. | "Sense of Doubt" | 3:40 |
8. | "Speed of Life" | 2:37 |
9. | "Sound and Vision" | 3:12 |
10. | "Breaking Glass" | 3:31 |
11. | "Fame" | 3:52 |
12. | "Beauty and the Beast" | 4:58 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Five Years" | 6:09 |
2. | "Soul Love" | 2:52 |
3. | "Star" | 2:30 |
4. | "Hang On to Yourself" | 2:40 |
5. | "Ziggy Stardust" | 3:25 |
6. | "Suffragette City" | 4:02 |
7. | "Art Decade" | 3:08 |
8. | "Alabama Song" | 3:59 |
9. | "Station to Station" | 11:10 |
10. | "TVC 15" | 4:18 |
11. | "Stay" | 6:59 |
12. | "Rebel Rebel" | 3:53 |
Personnel
- David Bowie – vocals, chamberlin
- Adrian Belew – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Carlos Alomar – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, music director[5]
- George Murray – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Dennis Davis – drums, percussion
- Roger Powell – keyboards, Moog Taurus bass pedals, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Sean Mayes – piano, ARP String Ensemble, backing vocals
- Simon House – electric violin
- Producer: Tony Visconti
- Post production mix: David Bowie, David Richards
- Photography: Sukita and Chris Walter[1]
Live performance personnel
- Jan Michael Alejandro – band tech
- Vern "Moose" Constan – band tech
- Leroy Kerr – band tech
- Buford Jones – FOH mixer
- Townsend Wessinger – Showco sound crew
- Billy King – Showco sound crew
- Russell Davis – Showco sound crew
- Randy Marshall – Showco sound crew
- Glenn George – Showco sound crew
Charts
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[6] | 55 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[7] | 39 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[8] | 96 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[9] | 32 |
French Albums (SNEP)[10] | 127 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] | 58 |
Irish Albums (IRMA)[12] | 36 |
Italian Albums (FIMI)[13] | 83 |
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)[14] | 3 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[15] | 30 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[16] | 11 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[17] | 86 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] | 75 |
UK Albums (OCC)[19] | 16 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[20] | 23 |