🔘 The Man Who Sold The World – Album JP: 1971

The Japanese edition of The Man Who Sold The World is one of the rarest and most valuable Mercury‑era Bowie releases. Issued in 1971 by Nippon Phonogram, this pressing uses the US “cartoon cover” artwork and forms part of the Japanese Do It Rock series. Known for its exceptional sound quality, scarce stock copies, and highly collectible white‑label promo edition, SFX‑7345 has become one of the most sought‑after early Bowie LPs. Produced by Tony Visconti, the album marks Bowie’s shift into a heavier, more experimental hard‑rock sound, laying the foundation for his classic 1970s period.

Released in 1971 by Mercury (SFX‑7345), this edition includes a Japanese liner‑notes insert and was distributed in limited numbers. The album’s original US artwork was retained, making Japan one of only two countries to use the “cartoon cover” during the Mercury era.

Label: Mercury

Catalogue Number: SFX‑7345

Format: LP (12")

Released: 1971 (Japan)

🔘 Track List

Japan LP — Mercury – SFX‑7345 — 1971

Side A

• The Width Of A Circle — 8:07

• All The Madmen — 5:38

• Black Country Rock — 3:33

• After All — 3:52

Side B

• Running Gun Blues — 3:12

• Saviour Machine — 4:27

• She Shook Me Cold — 4:13

• The Man Who Sold The World — 3:58

• The Supermen — 3:39

Writing Credits

• David Bowie — all tracks

Production Credits

• Produced by: Tony Visconti

• Arranged by: David Bowie, Tony Visconti

• Recorded: April–May 1970 — Trident Studios & Advision Studios

🔘 Key Highlights

• Released 1971 (Japan)

• Part of the Do It Rock series

• Uses the US “cartoon cover” artwork

• Includes Japanese liner‑notes insert

• Extremely rare stock copy; white‑label promo highly collectible

• Recorded in London, April–May 1970

• First Bowie album featuring Ronson & Woodmansey

🔘 Singles

• No singles were released from the album

🔘 The Story

The Japanese Mercury edition of The Man Who Sold The World is one of the most elusive and prized Bowie releases. Issued in 1971, it retained the original US “cartoon cover” artwork by Michael J. Weller, making Japan one of only two countries to use this design during the album’s initial Mercury run. Distributed by Nippon Phonogram, the LP was pressed in small quantities, with stock copies long believed not to exist until collectors confirmed their presence decades later.

The album includes a Japanese liner‑notes insert and was occasionally sold with an OBI strip, now exceptionally rare. Label variations include a white‑label promotional pressing and a blue‑label stock copy, both of which command high collector interest.

Musically, the album represents Bowie’s decisive break from his earlier folk‑leaning sound. With Tony Visconti producing and contributing bass, Mick Ronson’s explosive guitar work, Mick Woodmansey’s powerful drumming, and Ralph Mace’s Moog synthesiser, the album forged a dense, heavy sound that would become foundational to Bowie’s early‑70s output.

🔘 Personnel

• David Bowie — lead vocals, backing vocals, 12‑string acoustic guitar, Stylophone

• Mick Ronson — lead & rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals, recorder, piano

• Tony Visconti — bass, backing vocals, recorder

• Mick Woodmansey — drums, timpani, percussion

• Ralph Mace — Moog synthesiser

Technical

• Tony Visconti — producer

• Ken Scott — engineer

• Gerald Chevin — engineer

• Robin McBride — executive producer

🔘 Variants (Japan)

• LP — Mercury – SFX‑7345 — Japan — 1971 — Blue‑label stock copy

Standard issue; extremely scarce.

• LP — Mercury – SFX‑7345 — Japan — 1971 — White‑label promo (見本盤)

Most collectible Japanese variant; includes promo markings.

(No cassette or 8‑track variants documented for Japan.)

🔘 Sleeves

• Uses the US “cartoon cover” artwork

• Issued in heavy matt single sleeve

• Includes Japanese liner‑notes insert

• Rare OBI strip on some copies

• Label misprints on some editions (“All The Mad Men”, “The Superman”)

• Pressed by Nippon Phonogram

🔘 Chart Performance

Japan

No chart entry recorded for the original 1971 Mercury release.

US — Billboard

Charted only after 1972 RCA reissue.

UK — Official Albums Chart

Charted only after 1972 RCA reissue.

🔘 Context & Notes

• One of the rarest Mercury‑era Bowie LPs

• Only Japan and the US used the “cartoon cover”

• Themes include insanity, war, technology, and existential dread

• No singles released; some tracks later used as B‑sides

• Reissued multiple times; remixed in 2020 as Metrobolist

• Highly collectible due to scarcity and label variations

🔘 Related Material

See tags at foot of page

🔘 Discography

The World of David Bowie — 1970

The Man Who Sold The World — 1970 / 1971

Hunky Dory — 1971

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

✦ April–May 1970 — Recording begins in London

✦ November 4, 1970 — US release (Mercury “cartoon cover”)

✦ 1971 — Japan release (SFX‑7345, Do It Rock series)

✦ April 10, 1971 — UK release (“dress cover”)

✦ 1972 — RCA reissue charts internationally

✦ 2020 — Metrobolist remix released

🔘 Glam Flashback

A rare blue‑label gem from Tokyo — Bowie’s darkness exported with immaculate style.

#ReleaseChronicle #DavidBowie #TheManWhoSoldTheWorld #1971 #Mercury

🔘 Sources

Primary reference sources: Mercury Records, Discogs, Official Charts Company, Japanese pressing guides, illustrated db, contemporary music‑press documentation, archival references.

🔘 Copyright Notice

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.