Realising that his potential as a solo artist was dwindling, Bowie decided to form a band with bassist , who previously worked with Bowie on Space Oddity, and drummer John Cambridge | But at the end of the chorus we slide down a half-step from B-flat minor to A major, a step toward home |
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However, its parent album, , released later that year, was not as successful, partly due to the failure of to promote the album efficiently | Cobain found great interest in the title track and was surprised to learn it was by Bowie |
In the United States, Mercury rejected MacMillan's photo and released the album with Weller's design as its cover, much to the displeasure of Bowie, although he successfully lobbied the record label to use the photo for the release in the United Kingdom.
29They subsequently commended Lulu and Nirvana's cover versions for helping bring the song into the mainstream | Originally titled Metrobolist, a play on 's 1927 film , the title was changed at the last minute by Mercury without Bowie's consultation |
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Retrieved 27 June 2021 — via Google Books | Like other tracks on the album, the song is predominantly hard rock |
Bowie re-recorded "The Man Who Sold the World" on multiple occasions.
6The Complete David Bowie 7th ed | The final image, featuring Bowie wearing a blue dress designed by fashion designer , was used as the cover for the UK release |
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Jack Whatley of Far Out magazine writes that while 's cover is "the stuff of legend", it is Lulu's version of the song that "has us spellbound from its first sleazy moments | Neil Bartlett characterised her performances as "dressed and sounding exactly like a diminutive Bowie" |
Bowie was initially aggravated that Mercury had retitled the album from his preferred title of Metrobolist without his consultation, but following its release in the US, Bowie attempted to persuade the label to retitle the album Holy Holy after his newly released single.
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