🔘 Sorrow – Single: Oct. 2013

Released: October 14, 2013 (UK)

Label: Parlophone Records

Catalogue Number: DBSOZ 4039

Barcode: 825646406845

Format: 7" Picture Disc, Limited Edition

Issued as a limited-edition picture disc, David Bowie’s Sorrow was released in 2013 to celebrate the glam‑rock era of his 1973 Pin Ups album. The A-side features the studio recording, backed with a live version on the AA-side.

🔘 Overview

Part of Parlophone’s ongoing Bowie picture disc campaign, this 2013 edition highlights Bowie’s mid‑’70s glam reinterpretation of The McCoys’ 1965 track Sorrow, originally featured on Pin Ups. The AA-side presents a live performance, offering a contrasting snapshot of Bowie’s stage presence during the era.

Pressed as a collector’s picture disc, the release continues the archival series that revisits key singles from Bowie’s catalogue with period‑appropriate artwork and exclusive pairings.

🔘 Track List

Side A

Sorrow (Studio Version)

Written by: Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, Richard Gottehrer

Produced by: David Bowie, Ken Scott

Side AA

Sorrow (Live Version)

Written by: Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, Richard Gottehrer

Produced by: David Bowie, Ken Scott

🔘 Release Details

Label: Parlophone Records

Format: 7-inch Picture Disc, Limited Edition

Country: UK

Year: 2013

Notes:

- Part of Parlophone’s Bowie picture disc series

- Studio A-side from Pin Ups (1973)

- AA-side live version

- Glam-era celebration release

- Limited edition collector’s disc

🔘 Variants (Discogs‑Verified)

Variant 1

UK – Parlophone – DBSOZ 4039 (2013)

Format: 7" Picture Disc, Limited Edition

Notes:

- Only confirmed edition

- Standard Parlophone picture disc packaging

🔘 Context & Notes

Recording Notes

The studio version of Sorrow was recorded for Bowie’s 1973 covers album Pin Ups, produced with Ken Scott. The live version captures Bowie’s glam-era performance style, offering a rawer, more immediate interpretation.

Collector Notes

DBSOZ 4039 is prized for its striking picture disc artwork and its role in the early 2010s Bowie reissue programme. The pairing of studio and live versions makes it a distinctive entry in the series.

Legacy

Sorrow became one of Bowie’s most recognisable glam-era singles, reaching No. 3 in the UK in 1973. This 2013 edition celebrates its enduring appeal.

🔘 Related Material

Previous Picture Disc

Life on Mars? (2013)

Next Picture Disc

Rebel Rebel (2014)

🔘 Discography (Selected, Chronological)

Sorrow — 1973

Sorrow (Live) — 1970s

Sorrow (Picture Disc Reissue) — 2013

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

1973 — Pin Ups released

1973 — Sorrow becomes a UK Top 3 hit

2013 — Picture disc reissue issued

🔘 Glam Flashback

A glam-era jewel — Bowie’s shimmering Pin Ups classic paired with a live spark from the same period.

🔘 Sources

Parlophone Records

Discogs

Bowie archival documentation