David Bowie - Aladdin Sane Half-Speed Master

50th Anniversary half-speed mastered LP

Two singles "The Jean Genie" and "Drive-in Saturday" topped the U.K. album charts!

April 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of David Bowie's iconic album Aladdin Sane. The album was preceded by two singles "The Jean Genie" and "Drive-In Saturday," peaking in the U.K. singles chart at No. 2 and 3 respectively, and was the first time he topped the U.K. album charts. It also marked his debut on the U.S. charts reaching the Top 20 album chart there, where an edited version of "Time" was released as a single.

The cover artwork has become one of the most famous covers of all time and was rumored to be the most expensive produced up to that point. The cover photograph was taken by Brian Duffy, who would also shoot the sleeves for 1979's Lodger and 1980's Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) and features Bowie with the iconic red and blue lightning bolt make-up, an image which has now entered the planet's cultural lexicon.

This new pressing of Aladdin Sane was cut on a customised late Neumann VMS80 lathe with fully recapped electronics from 192kHz restored masters of the original master tapes, with no additional processing on transfer. The half-speed was cut by John Webber at AIR Studios.

Bowie described Aladdin Sane as "Ziggy Goes To Washington: Ziggy under the influence of America." The album was to be Ziggy Stardust's last stand, and the persona was laid to rest three months after the album's release in July 1973 at the infamous final show with the Spiders From Mars at London's Hammersmith Odeon.

Side A

Watch That Man

Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)

Drive-In Saturday

Panic In Detroit

Cracked Actor

Side B

Time

The Prettiest Star

Let's Spend The Night Together

The Jean Genie

Lady Grinning Soul

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