🔘 The Width Of A Circle – Album: Apr. 2020 (UK 2CD Companion Release)

Released: April 17, 2020 (UK)

Label: Parlophone Records

Catalogue Number: DB 2020 001

Released in the UK on April 17, 2020, by Parlophone Records, The Width Of A Circle is a two‑CD companion piece to the 2020 reissue of The Man Who Sold The World (restored under its original intended title, Metrobolist).

🔘 Archival Overview

The Width Of A Circle expands the Metrobolist reissue with a comprehensive set of early‑1970s recordings, BBC sessions, singles, and unreleased material from the period surrounding The Man Who Sold The World. The collection provides a deeper contextual frame for Bowie’s transitional 1970–1971 era, capturing the evolution of his sound as he moved toward the Ziggy Stardust breakthrough.

🔘 Format Details

Format: 2 × CD, Album, Compilation

Country: UK

Year: 2020

Notes:

- Companion release to Metrobolist (2020)

- Includes BBC recordings, singles, and unreleased tracks

- Curated to document Bowie’s 1970–1971 creative period

- Part of Parlophone’s ongoing Bowie archival campaign

🔘 Track Sources (Overview)

Disc 1

- 1970 BBC sessions

- Singles and alternate mixes

- Early versions and period outtakes

Disc 2

- The complete 1970 John Peel Sunday Show performance

- Additional BBC material

Produced by: Tony Visconti (original recordings)

Compilation produced by: Parlophone / Bowie Estate

🔘 Release Details

Label: Parlophone Records

Format: 2CD Set

Country: UK

Year: 2020

Notes:

- Issued as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of The Man Who Sold The World

- Designed as a historical expansion rather than a standalone album

- Packaging and liner notes contextualise Bowie’s early‑’70s development

🔘 Variants (Discogs‑Verified)

Variant 1

UK – Parlophone – DB 2020 001 (2020)

Format: 2 × CD, Compilation

Country: UK

Year: 2020

Notes:

- Standard UK edition

- Only confirmed physical variant under this catalogue number

🔘 Context & Notes

Personnel (Period Recordings)

David Bowie — vocals, guitar

Mick Ronson — guitar

Tony Visconti — bass, production

Mick Woodmansey — drums

BBC session musicians — various

Recording Notes

The material spans multiple 1970 sessions, including BBC broadcasts and studio recordings that predate Bowie’s glam-era transformation. The John Peel Sunday Show performance is presented in full, offering a rare document of Bowie’s early live sound.

Press Reception

The release was praised for its archival depth and its role in illuminating Bowie’s transitional period. Critics highlighted the Peel session as a standout inclusion.

Legacy

The Width Of A Circle stands as a definitive archival companion to Metrobolist, enriching the understanding of Bowie’s early‑’70s artistic evolution.

🔘 Related Material

Previous Release

Metrobolist (2020 reissue of The Man Who Sold The World)

Next Archival Release

Bowie 1971–1972 era compilations and box sets

🔘 Discography (Selected, Chronological)

The Man Who Sold The World — 1970

Metrobolist — 2020

The Width Of A Circle — 2020

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

1970 — Original album released

1970–1971 — BBC sessions and Peel performance recorded

2020 — Metrobolist reissue released

Apr. 17, 2020 — The Width Of A Circle companion set issued

🔘 Glam Flashback

Before Ziggy rose, Bowie was already reshaping rock — these recordings capture the moment the spark caught fire.

🔘 Closing Notes

A richly curated archival release, The Width Of A Circle deepens the Metrobolist reissue with essential early‑’70s recordings, offering a fuller portrait of Bowie’s creative ascent.

🔘 Sources

Discogs

Parlophone Records

Bowie archival documentation