David Bowie: "The Prettiest Star" Single (1970)

David Bowie’s "The Prettiest Star" backed with "Conversation Piece", was released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK by Mercury Records (catalog number MF 1135) on March 6, 1970, as the follow-up single to "Space Oddity".

A love song for his soon-to-be wife Angie, it was recorded in January 1970 at Trident Studios in London and featured Marc Bolan on guitar, who was brought on by the producer Tony Visconti. Despite praise from music journalists, the single flopped and failed to chart. Years later, Bowie rerecorded the track for his 1973 album Aladdin Sane. On this more glam rock influenced take with lyrics matching themes on the album, Mick Ronson recreated Bolan's guitar part almost note-for-note.