🔘 Maggie’s Farm (Live) – Single: Sep. 1989

Released: September 4, 1989 (UK)

Label: EMI USA

Catalogue Number: MTPD 68

Format: 7" Shaped Picture Disc, Limited Edition

A striking shaped‑disc release pairing a fierce live Dylan cover with Tin Machine’s raw studio title track.

A bold early statement from Tin Machine, this limited‑edition picture disc captured the band’s aggressive live sound and Bowie’s pivot back to hard‑edged rock. Released alongside multiple formats, it served as a key promotional single for the band’s debut album.

🔘 Overview

Recorded live at La Cigale, Paris, on 25 June 1989, Maggie’s Farm showcases Tin Machine’s heavy, guitar‑driven reinterpretation of Dylan’s protest anthem, borrowing rhythmic swagger reminiscent of T. Rex’s Jeepster. The AA‑side features Tin Machine, the studio title track from the band’s debut album, highlighting the group’s stripped‑down, no‑frills aesthetic. Despite strong fan interest, the single achieved only modest chart performance.

🔘 Track List (Common Configurations)

7" Shaped Picture Disc — MTPD 68

A. Maggie’s Farm (Live)

AA. Tin Machine

7" Vinyl (Gatefold Sleeve, Limited Edition, Numbered) — MTG 73

A. Tin Machine

AA. Maggie’s Farm (Live)

12" Vinyl — 12MT 73

A. Tin Machine

AA1. Maggie’s Farm (Live)

AA2. I Can’t Read (Live)

CD Single — CDMT 73

1. Tin Machine

2. Maggie’s Farm (Live)

3. I Can’t Read (Live)

4. Bus Stop (Live – Country Version)

Written by: Bob Dylan (A‑side) / David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels, Tony Sales, Hunt Sales (AA‑side)

Produced by: Tin Machine & Tim Palmer

🔘 Release Details

Label: EMI USA

Formats: 7" Shaped Picture Disc / 7" Vinyl / 12" Vinyl / CD Single

Country: UK

Year: 1989

Notes:

- Shaped picture disc issued in clear PVC sleeve with backing insert

- Live tracks recorded at La Cigale, Paris, 25 June 1989

- Gatefold 7" includes 24×36" fold‑out live photo

- Part of the promotional campaign for Tin Machine’s debut album

🔘 Variants (Discogs‑Verified)

Variant 1

UK – EMI USA – MTPD 68 (1989)

Format: 7" Shaped Picture Disc

Variant 2

UK – EMI USA – MTG 73 (1989)

Format: 7" Vinyl, Gatefold, Limited Edition

Variant 3

UK – EMI USA – 12MT 73 (1989)

Format: 12" Vinyl

Variant 4

UK – EMI USA – CDMT 73 (1989)

Format: CD Single

🔘 Chart Data (BBC / Official Charts Company)

Peak Position: UK — No. 48

Weeks on Chart: 3

Chart Run (Official Charts):

10 Sep 1989 — No. 48

17 Sep 1989 — No. 63

24 Sep 1989 — No. 74

🔘 Context & Notes

Recording Notes

Maggie’s Farm was recorded live during Tin Machine’s 1989 small‑venue tour, with mobile recording by Westwood One. Bowie’s vocal delivery is intense and unpolished, reflecting the band’s ethos.

Music Video

No dedicated promo video was produced; live footage from the tour circulated in broadcast features.

Collector Notes

The shaped picture disc (MTPD 68) is the most collectible format, with the gatefold 7" also prized for its large fold‑out photo. CD and 12" formats include additional live tracks.

Legacy

The single helped define Tin Machine’s identity as a democratic, hard‑rock ensemble, distancing Bowie from his polished ’80s output and signalling a creative reset.

🔘 Related Material

Previous Single

Under the God (1989)

Next Single

Tin Machine (Reissue Formats, 1989)

🔘 Discography (Selected, Chronological)

Tin Machine — 1989

Maggie’s Farm (Live) — 1989

I Can’t Read (Live) — 1989

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

22 Jun 1989 — Maggie’s Farm first performed live

25 Jun 1989 — Live recording at La Cigale

Sep. 4, 1989 — UK single released

Sep. 1989 — Peaks at UK No. 48

🔘 Glam Flashback

A snarling detour into hard rock — Bowie tearing through Dylan with a band built for impact.

🔘 Sources

EMI USA

Discogs

Official Charts Company

Tin Machine archival documentation