1. Changes 2. Oh! You Pretty Things 3. Eight Line Poem 4. Life On Mars? 5. Kooks 6. Quicksand 7. Fill Your Heart 8. Andy Warhol 9. Song For Bob Dylan 10. Queen Bitch 11. The Bewlay Brothers

In Australia and New Zealand, Hunky Dory was the first of many albums that would carry the RCA Victor label (denoted in fine print about being manufactured in Sydney, Australia or Auckland, New Zealand).

Delayed from the international date, Hunky Dory, quite amazingly, appears to have charted in Australia prior to any other Bowie album appearing in the US or UK chart!

Unique to New Zealand was a 'double back' LP that repeated the usual back cover on both sides. Complete with double-sided lyric insert, this item is now worth hundreds of dollars in the UK.

NZ issue of Hunky Dory

'Changes'

The opening track - 'Changes' - was released as a single in Australia and New Zealand. Despite failing to chart, the song has since become one of his most famous - a staple of classic rock radio.

	NZ issue of 'CHANGES' (RCA Victor 74-0605). Scans sent in by Chas.

'Life on Mars?'

As in England, 'Life On Mars' was a belated single issue - appearing in New Zealand around August 1973 and more than likely Australia as well.

	NZ issue of 'LIFE ON MARS' (RCA Victor 60635). Scans sent in by Chas.

Peter Noone The lead singer of Herman's Hermitts appears to have taken a Bowie song into the Australian chart before any other - including Bowie himself. Entering the Australian chart on October 4 1971, Peter Noone's version of 'Oh You Pretty Things' (backed by Bowie on piano) stayed on chart for just 1 week (AUS #100).

1. Five Years 2. Soul Love 3. Moonage Daydream 4. Starman 5. It Ain't Easy 6. Lady Stardust 7. Star 8. Hang Onto Yourself 9. Ziggy Stardust 10. Suffragette City 11. Rock 'N' Roll Suicide

The Ziggy Stardust album was a huge success down under.

Like overseas, the album corresponded with a chart single ('Starman'). Signifying the start of a continued success, Bowie would have (with the exception of 1979) at least one single in the Melbourne Top 40 each year for the next 16 years.

In more recent times, Ziggy Stardust has indicated figures of 79 weeks on AUS chart and has probably surpassed that figure now.

AUS issue of 'STARMAN' (RCA Victor 102142). Backed by 'Suffragette City'.

	NZ issue of 'STARMAN' (RCA Victor 74 0719). Scans sent in by Chas.

'John, I'm Only Dancing'

One song from the Ziggy Stardust sessions that was never released on the album was 'John, I'm Only Dancing'. This was released as a single in both Australia and NZ but appears to have missed the charts.

	AUS issue of 'JOHN, I'M ONLY DANCING' (RCA Victor 102185). Scans sent in by Chas.

	NZ issue of 'JOHN, I'M ONLY DANCING' (RCA Victor 60604). The above right label was a variation where the words "HEADS" and "TAILS" were added on the A-Side and B-side respectively. Scans sent in by Chas.

'Rock n Roll Suicide' and 'Suffragette City'

A very belated single from the album was 'Rock n Roll Suicide' - issued in NZ in April 1974. 'Suffragette City' was issued even later again - in support of ChangesOneBowie (see later in the discography)

	NZ issue of 'ROCK 'N' ROLL SUICIDE' (RCA Victor LBPO 5021) Backed by 'Quicksand'. Scans sent in by Anthony.

Go Set

In November 1972, Bowie was featured in Go Set - more than likely the first time he graced the cover of a local publication.




The Ziggy Stardust Companion

In the late 1990s, research about the album's background was conducted by Mike Harvey from New Zealand. The resulting web site 5.years.com is a leading resource for all things Ziggy.

Mott The Hoople The Mott The Hoople single 'All The Young Dudes' (written by David Bowie) entered the Australian chart a month before 'Starman'. It hit AUS #60 and stayed 15 weeks on chart. The accompanying Bowie co-produced album entered the Australian chart in February 1973. It hit AUS #61 and stayed 7 weeks in. The following year, the album Mott also charted (AUS #57 and 3 weeks in).

1. Space Oddity 2. Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed 3. Don't Sit Down 4. Letter To Hermione 5. Cygnet Committee 6. Janine 7. An Occasional Dream 8. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud 9. God Knows I'm Good 10. Memory Of A Free Festival

Following the impact of Ziggy, David Bowie's second album was re titled Space Oddity and reissued worldwide by RCA.

'Space Oddity'

The album coincided with the re-release of the title track. Released in May 1973, the song hit AUS #9 and stayed 25 weeks on chart.

Australian issue of 'Space Oddity' 1973 (RCA Victor 102235). Backed by 'The Man Who Sold The World'

In NZ, the song went three spots higher to number 6 and on the NZ airplay chart, it went all the way to number 1.

	NZ issue of 'SPACE ODDITY' (RCA Victor 74-0876). The label shown to the left was a variation where the words "HEADS" and "TAILS" were added on the A-Side and B-side respectively. Scans sent in by Chas.

1. The Width Of A Circle 2. All The Madmen 3. Black Country Rock 4. After All 5. Running Gun Blues 6. Saviour Machine 7. She Shook Me Cold 8. The Man Who Sold The World 9. The Supermen

Despite lesser sales, The Man Who Sold The World is often considered among Bowie's best albums.

On reissue, the album finally charted but without the benefit of a hit single, it's success was less spectacular.

Post 1995, the title track has become well known among local audiences via Nirvana.

1. Watch That Man 2. Aladdin Sane 3. Drive In Saturday 4. Panic In Detroit 5. Cracked Actor 6. Time 7. The Prettiest Star 8. Let's Spend The Night Together 9. The Jean Genie 10. Lady Grinning Soul

Aladdin Sane was Bowie's first Australian top 10 album.

Concurrently, it was his most successful album to date in most markets.

Bowie was touring intensely at this time (the album was written on tour) including his first dates in Japan. The likelihood of him reaching these distant shores, however, was minimal given his intense fear of flying.

Soon after the album release, Bowie again made the cover of Go Set - but this time with his affirmation of quitting live performance altogether.

'The Jean Genie'

'The Jean Genie' was released as a unique picture sleeve release in Australia. Released in February, the single peaked at AUS #42 (versus US #71 and UK #2). It also went considerably higher on Melbourne chart (#11).

AUS issue of 'THE JEAN GENIE' Backed by 'Ziggy Stardust'. Scans sent in by Anthony.

	NZ issue of 'THE JEAN GENIE' (RCA Victor 60614). Scans sent in by Chas.

	NZ issue of 'DRIVE-IN SATURDAY' (RCA Victor 60629). Scans sent in by Chas.

	NZ issue of 'LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER' (RCA Victor ABPO 0028). Scans sent in by Chas.

Lou Reed Produced by David Bowie and guitarist Mick Ronson, Lou Reed's Transformer was released on the local market in April - shortly after Aladdin Sane. The album was accompanied by 'Walk on the Wild Side' - a big airplay single. Amazingly, the classic song only managed to enter the singles chart in Perth (allowing an overall AUS position of #100 for 1 week). The album, however, remains the highest and longest charting album of Reed's career (AUS #12 and 34 weeks on chart). The Australian position also bettered the US (#29) and went a notch higher than the UK (#13).

1. Rosalyn 2. Here Comes The Night 3. I Wish You Would 4. See Emily Play 5. Everything's Alright 6. I Can't Explain 7. Friday On My Mind 8. Sorrow 9. Don't Bring Me Down 10. Shapes Of Things 11. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere 12. Where Have All The Good Times Gone

Bolstered by Bowie's first chart topping single down under, Pin Ups charted in Australia for 36 weeks - much longer than the UK or US.

Although the concept was based around 1960s British covers, Pin Ups also included a cover of 'Friday on My Mind' by Australian band The Easybeats (they had been deeply involved in the UK scene).

Towards the end of 1973, The Rolling Stones 'Angie' (allegedly a reference to Bowie's wife) topped of the Australian chart for no less than 7 weeks.

'Sorrow'

'Sorrow' spent 2 weeks at AUS #1 and 24 total weeks on chart. Backed by 'Amsterdam' (a Ziggy Stardust album out take), it was Australia's 16th biggest single of 1974.

Australian issue of 'SORROW' (RCA Victor 102383) Backed by 'Amsterdam'

In New Zealand, the song spent 3 weeks at NZ #1 and 15 weeks on chart total.

	NZ issue of 'SORROW' (RCA Victor 60642). Scans sent in by Chas.

'The Laughing Gnome'

A month after the release of 'Sorrow', Bowie's former record company Dec ca decided to release Bowie's old novelty song 'The Laughing Gnome' on our local market. In New Zealand, the song matched the UK chart position of #3 but in Australia, it stalled at #57.


Collectors

A unique Pin Ups sampler was released in New Zealand featuring 'Rosalyn', 'Where Have All The Good Times Gone' and DJ intro's. Issued by the RCA Record Club, it was housed in a fold-out picture sleeve with a message to the subscribers of the Club. Recent prices on Eil.com are indicating in the region of £400 (almost $1000 AU) for this item.

NZ 'Pin Ups' Sampler 1973. Scans sent in by Anthony.

1. Future Legend 2. Diamond Dogs 3. Sweet Thing 4. Candidate 5. Sweet Thing (reprise) 6. Rebel Rebel 7. Rock 'N Roll With Me 8. We Are The Dead 9. 1984 10. Big Brother 11. Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family

Diamond Dogs was Bowie's highest Australian charting album of the 1970s.

According to Go-Set, the album actually topped the Australian chart for two weeks (on the 17th and 24th of August). It was also the first Bowie album not to be delayed locally (appearing ahead of the UK and US).

The rumours of Bowie appearing down under never materialised. With the exception of 3 Canadian dates, the accompanying tour was exclusively American.

'Rebel Rebel'

In April, 'Rebel Rebel' was released well in advance of the album reaching AUS #29 and staying 22 weeks on chart. Although it did not match the success of 'Sorrow', the song remains very popular on radio to this day.

Australian issue of 'REBEL REBEL'. (RCA Victor 102417) Backed by 'Queen Bitch'.
	Australian issued sheet music. Scan sent in by Anthony.

In New Zealand, the song climbed to number 16, staying 6 weeks on chart.

	NZ issue of 'REBEL REBEL' (RCA Victor LBPO-5009). Scans sent in by Chas.

'Diamond Dogs'

'Diamond Dogs' was the follow up single in Australia (AUS #66). Released in June, it featured an exclusive edit (2'58") as against the full album length (6'03") which was released overseas.

	Australian issue of 'Diamond Dogs' (1974). (RCA Victor 102462) Backed by 'Holy Holy'. Scans sent in by Anthony.

Exclusive EP

In November, 'Rebel Rebel' was issued again in Australia now as an exclusive four track EP with picture sleeve. This included a card picture sleeve, a wrap around and a total of 3 different label configurations.

Australian issue of 'Rebel Rebel' EP (1974). Backed by 'Queen Bitch', 'Sorrow' and 'Amsterdam'

Lulu In 1974, David Bowie planned to write and produce an entire album for English recording artist Lulu. No album was released, however, Lulu's version of 'The Man Who Sold The World' backed by 'Watch That Man' was released as a single. Written, produced and musically backed by David Bowie and his band, the single entered the Australian chart in May but stalled at AUS #81 during a 9 week chart run. It did not match the success of the UK where it went to number 3. Lulu's biggest local success remains to be 'To Sir With Love' which topped the AUS charts in 1968.