David Bowie (October 19, 1973) – Pin Ups Album UK: LP, TC, 8-T.

---

Pin Ups was David Bowie's seventh studio album, released in the UK by RCA Victor on October 19, 1973.

Rather than presenting newly written Bowie material, the album was conceived as a collection of songs originally recorded by artists that had influenced Bowie during the 1960s. The selections included material associated with The Pretty Things, Them, The Yardbirds, Pink Floyd, The Mojos, The Who, The Easybeats, The Merseys and The Kinks.

The project followed Aladdin Sane and was created after the completion of the Ziggy Stardust Tour. Bowie developed the covers project as an interim album while plans for his subsequent work continued.

Pin Ups became a major commercial success in the UK, reaching No. 1 on the album chart and remaining there for five weeks.

---

RECORDING

Pin Ups was recorded during July and August 1973 at Château d'Hérouville in Hérouville, France.

The sessions took place following the end of the Ziggy Stardust Tour and featured Mick Ronson and Trevor Bolder from the Spiders From Mars alongside Aynsley Dunbar, Mike Garson, Ken Fordham and Geoff MacCormack.

Mick Woodmansey did not participate, with Aynsley Dunbar taking over the drum role.

David Bowie and Ken Scott co-produced the sessions, marking their final album collaboration.

A version of White Light/White Heat was recorded during the sessions but was not included on the album. God Only Knows was also attempted but abandoned.

STYLE & THEMES

Pin Ups was conceived as Bowie's personal tribute to the British groups and recordings that had influenced him during the 1960s.

Rather than attempting to recreate the original recordings exactly, Bowie and the musicians filtered the material through the harder glam rock sound of his early-1970s work.

The album therefore functions both as a covers collection and as an acknowledgement of the music that had informed Bowie's development before his own commercial breakthrough.

The selection particularly reflects the British club and pop scene of the mid-1960s, while the arrangements connect those influences with the sound Bowie had developed during the Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane periods.

TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES

• Rosalyn — Originally performed by The Pretty Things and written by Jimmy Duncan and Bill Farley.

• Here Comes The Night — Originally associated with Them and written by Bert Berns.

• I Wish You Would — Written by Billy Boy Arnold and associated with The Yardbirds.

• See Emily Play — Syd Barrett composition originally recorded by Pink Floyd.

• Everything's Alright — Originally performed by The Mojos.

• I Can't Explain — Pete Townshend composition originally recorded by The Who.

• Friday On My Mind — Written by Harry Vanda and George Young and originally recorded by The Easybeats.

• Sorrow — Written by Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer and associated with The Merseys. Bowie's recording was also selected as the album's lead single.

• Don't Bring Me Down — Johnnie Dee composition originally recorded by The Pretty Things.

• Shapes Of Things — Recording associated with The Yardbirds.

• Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere — Written by Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey and originally recorded by The Who.

• Where Have All The Good Times Gone — Ray Davies composition originally recorded by The Kinks.

BONUS TRACKS

None on the original 1973 UK LP.

RELEASE HISTORY

Pin Ups was released in the UK on October 19, 1973 by RCA Victor under catalogue number RS 1003.

The album arrived one week after the Sorrow single, which had been released on October 12, 1973.

The original UK LP was manufactured by RCA Limited from RCA Records master recordings and was associated with MainMan.

The album was subsequently reissued numerous times. A 1990 edition added Growin' Up and Amsterdam as bonus tracks, while a 1999 remaster restored the original album configuration without additional tracks.

Pin Ups was remastered again for the 2015 Five Years 1969–1973 collection and subsequently issued separately.

A limited-edition half-speed mastered LP followed for the album's 50th anniversary in October 2023.

PERSONNEL

David Bowie — vocals, guitar, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, harmonica, Moog synthesiser, backing vocals, arrangements

Mick Ronson — guitar, piano, backing vocals, arrangements

Trevor Bolder — bass guitar

Aynsley Dunbar — drums

Mike Garson — piano, organ, harpsichord, electric piano

Ken Fordham — baritone saxophone

Geoff MacCormack — backing vocals

PRODUCTION

Produced by David Bowie

Co-produced by Ken Scott

Engineered by Denis Blackeye

Photography by Justin de Villeneuve

and Mick Rock

Artwork / Masks by Pierre Laroche

Typography by Ray Campbell

Label: RCA Victor

Catalogue Number: RS 1003

Barcode:

Recorded At: Château d'Hérouville, Hérouville, France

NOTES

• UK release issued October 19, 1973.

• Catalogue number RS 1003.

• Recorded during July and August 1973 at Château d'Hérouville in France.

• A collection of cover versions celebrating artists and recordings that influenced Bowie during the 1960s.

• Final album co-produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott.

• Mick Ronson and Trevor Bolder participated from the Spiders From Mars line-up, while Aynsley Dunbar replaced Mick Woodmansey on drums.

• The sleeve, spine and insert identify the album as Pinups, while the orange record label uses Pin-Ups.

• This UK cover variant carries the corrected Davray/Carlin publishing credit for Where Have All The Good Times Gone.

• Manufactured by RCA Limited in England from RCA Records master recordings.

• Pressed by the RCA Records pressing plant in Washington, UK.

• Issued with a picture insert.

• The distinctive front cover features Bowie with Twiggy and originated from a photographic session by Justin de Villeneuve.

• Pierre Laroche created the make-up masks used for the cover image.

• Back-cover photography and sleeve work credited to Mick Rock.

• Sorrow preceded the album as a single on October 12, 1973.

• The album reached No. 1 in the UK and remained at the top for five weeks.

CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS

AMERICA

Country	Chart	Peak Position
USA	Billboard Top LPs & Tape	23

EUROPE

Country	Chart	Peak Position
UK	Albums Chart	1
Sweden	Albums Chart	1
Spain	Albums Chart	3
Finland	Albums Chart	4
Netherlands	Albums Chart	6
Italy	Albums Chart	7
Norway	Albums Chart	8
Yugoslavia	Albums Chart	8

PACIFIC

Country	Chart	Peak Position
Australia	Albums Chart	4

RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE

Artist	Title	Label	Country	Cat No.	Date	Format
David Bowie	Pin Ups	RCA Victor	UK	RS 1003	October 19, 1973	LP, Album, Stereo

TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)

Format	Catalogue	Tracklisting
LP	RS 1003	Side One: Rosalyn • Here Comes The Night • I Wish You Would • See Emily Play • Everything's Alright • I Can't Explain Side Two: Friday On My Mind • Sorrow • Don't Bring Me Down • Shapes Of Things • Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere • Where Have All The Good Times Gone

SINGLE RELEASED

Single	Release Date	B-Side
Sorrow	October 12, 1973	Amsterdam

---

SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders.

This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.

No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.

---