David Bowie (August 31, 1974) – “Bowie Live Album Due” – New Musical Express (NME)

Aug 31, 1974

2 min read

This New Musical Express article from August 31 1974, written by Fred Dellar, announces the forthcoming release of a David Bowie live album recorded during his Diamond Dogs tour. The piece highlights Bowie’s collaboration with producer Tony Visconti, marking a new creative phase following his earlier work with Ken Scott.

Publication: New Musical Express (NME) Date: 31 August 1974 Country: United Kingdom

Dellar reports that Tony Visconti, known for producing Bowie’s The Man Who Sold the World and Space Oddity, had mixed a forthcoming live album at Electric Lady Studios in New York.

The recordings were captured during Bowie’s Philadelphia concerts on the Diamond Dogs tour. The article notes that no release date had yet been set, but the project represented Bowie’s transition into a new sound influenced by Gamble and Huff’s Sigma Sound Studios, using members of MFSB (Mother Father Sister Brother).

This shift foreshadowed the soul‑infused style of Young Americans. Visconti’s renewed partnership with Bowie also signaled the end of his long‑standing association with Marc Bolan, closing one chapter of glam rock collaboration as Bowie moved toward a more sophisticated, American‑inspired direction.

CONTEXT AND NOTES

This article captures Bowie at a pivotal moment — evolving from the theatrical glam of Ziggy Stardust into the sleek, soulful experimentation that would define his mid‑1970s output.

The mention of Sigma Sound Studios situates Bowie within the Philadelphia Soul movement, a major influence on his next album.

Fred Dellar’s concise report reflects NME’s role as a key chronicler of Bowie’s artistic reinventions, documenting his constant pursuit of new sonic landscapes and collaborators.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Announcement of Bowie’s forthcoming live album from the Diamond Dogs tour

Era: 1974 – Soul Transition / Post‑Glam Era Tone: Informative, anticipatory, and industry‑focused Photography: Black‑and‑white stage photo of Bowie performing, microphone in hand

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

NME article announcing Bowie’s live album mixed by Tony Visconti
Details of recording sessions at Electric Lady and Sigma Sound Studios
Reference to Bowie’s stylistic shift and Visconti’s renewed collaboration

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