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Original 1972 releases

LP RCA SF 8287 - 6 June 1972 (UK)
LP RCA LSP 4702 - 1 September 1972 (US)
LP RCA APRS 6815 - 1972 (US promotional in plastic Ziggy bag)
LP Capitol Custom Metal Acetate disc - 1972 (US)
LP RCA LSP 4702 - 1972 (Italy)
LP RCA LSP 4702  APRS-6814 - 1972 (Spain)
LP RCA 443051 - 1972 (France)
LP RCA LSP 4702 - 1972 (Germany)
LP RCA SF 8287 - 1972 (Holland)
Cassette RCA PK 1932 - 1972 (US)
Cassette RCA 677 - 1972 (Spain)
Stereo 8 Track RCA P8S-1932 - 1972 (US)
Reel to Reel RCA EPPA 4702-C - 1972 (US)

In 1972 RCA released THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS on LP.
The album was released in the UK on 6 June 1972 and in the US on 1 September 1972.

Promotional LP RCA APRS 6815 - US (1972)
In the US a Promotional LP was circulated by RCA.  This sported a white sticker (track listing & times for DJs) on the front cover.

 

"LA ASCENDENCIA Y CAIDA DE ZIGGY STARDUST Y LAS ARANAS DE MARTE"
Front and back cover RCA LSP 4702 - APRS-6814 (Spain 1972)

RCA also released the album in Italy, France, Germany, Spain and Holland in 1972. The German release was notable for being the only LP to have a "gatefold sleeve" featuring the lyrics and pictures of David Bowie and the Spiders (which were found only on the LP innersleeve in other countries). In Spain the album was known as "LA ASCENDENCIA Y CAIDA DE ZIGGY STARDUST Y LAS ARANAS DE MARTE" (The red English words on the cover were simply airbrushed out and the title redone in white) and which also featured a blue rear cover and not the more familiar colourised version. The reason for the blue rear cover was probably expense - i.e rather than reprint the back cover just for Spain - it was cheaper to airbrush out the English white words, colourise the back image and then include the Spanish words in black type complete with the instruction "PARA SER TOCADO AL VOLUMEN MAXIMO"!

The English titles, however, were not changed for Italy, France, Germany and Holland.

 

7.5 IPS Reel-to-Reel front and back cover RCA EPPA 4702-C (1972 US)

 

Stereo 8-Track front and back cover RCA P8S-1932 (1972 US)

It should be noted too that in the 1970's, many record companies juggled the tracks of a tape album to even up the lengths of the recorded sides hence the original cassette version of Ziggy Stardust (and subsequent reissues) showed tracklistings different to the vinyl as follows:

 

RCA PK-1932

Side One
Five Years
Lady Stardust
Soul Love
Moonage Daydream
Rock n Roll Suicide

Side Two
Starman
Star
Hang Onto Yourself
Ziggy Stardust
Suffragette City
It Ain't Easy

Later cassettes

Side One
Five Years
Soul Love
Moonage Daydream
Lady Stardust
It Ain't Easy

Side Two
Starman
Star
Hang Onto Yourself
Ziggy Stardust
Suffragette City
Rock n Roll Suicide

 

Post 1972 releases

On 31 January 1981 RCA re-released THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS as a budget price LP (RCA International INTS 5063) in the UK (highest chart position = #33) and on cassette (RCA International Cassette INTK 5063). In 1982 it was reissued in the US (RCA 3843) and Japan (RCA RPL 2102).

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1- 064

A Japanese half-speed Original Master Recording LP of THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS was released in 1983 on Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL 1- 064). Also in 1983 THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS was reissued in Germany as a double package called ROCK GALAXY along with HUNKY DORY on both LP (NL 43593) and cassette (TC 43593).

 

RCA Picture disc - BOPIC 3 (March 1984)

A Limited Edition 12" Picture disc (above) was issued as RCA BOPIC 3 in March 1984.

 

Rykodisc Ziggy Stardust Clear vinyl 2LP (RALP 1034-2)

Along with new releases on CD, cassette and minidisc, in 1990 Ryko re-issued the album on LP in a special limited edition clear vinyl 2LP release and also on dynoflex in a CD/LP press-kit: Ryko/EMI 1990 & 1994 reissues of Ziggy Stardust

 

EMI LP 7243 8 55666 1 5 (1997)

In 1997 a limited edition vinyl re-release was made of THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST (EMI 7243 8 55666 1 5) in a heavy quality sleeve featuring only the original Ziggy Stardust tracks as part of EMI's "100 Classic Albums" promotion.

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---This page last modified: 12 Jan 2019---