Oh! You Pretty Things Cover Article: 1972

Bowie's Swishiest Outrage Return

Published in the UK on January 22, 1972, Melody Maker’s cover and article “Oh! You Pretty Things” heralded David Bowie’s return to live performance after three years since “Space Oddity.” The cover described him as “rock's swishiest outrage,” a self-confessed lover of effeminate clothes, noting that critics in the US had hailed him as the new Bob Dylan.

The feature highlighted the imminent chart success of his album Hunky Dory and the single “Changes” (recently Tony Blackburn's Record Of The Week). It announced his upcoming appearance at the Lanchester Festival on February 3 with his three-piece band, promising a “super-style” comeback.

Article Text ( front page)

DAVID BOWIE, rock's swishiest outrage: a self-confessed lover of effeminate clothes, Bowie, who has hardly performed in public since his "Space Oddity" hit of three years ago, is coming back in super-style. In the States critics have hailed him as the new Bob Dylan, and his tour de force album, Hunky Dory," looks set to enter the British charts. Changes," the single taken from it, was Tony Blackburn's Record Of The Week recently. David will be appearing, suitably spiffy and with his three-piece band, at the Lanchester Festival on February 3. Breathless for more? Turn to page 19.

Legacy

This cover article marks a pivotal early 1972 moment — Bowie’s full return to the spotlight just before Ziggy Stardust exploded.

Do you have this Melody Maker cover/feature in your archive? Breathless for Bowie? Share in the comments!