Interestingly, if you have a look at the data for 2021 Bowie’s sales only land him in 3^rd place with 53,181, right behind Taylor Swift in second with 56,917, and then The Beatles rounding out the list with 58,567. But as for the ’20s as a whole, Bowie comes out on top; more than likely due to the massive reissue campaign that has been put in place now Warner Chappell Music own the publishing rights to all of Bowie’s back catalogue. A 50th-anniversary limited-edition picture disc version of the seminal album Hunky Dory proved to be a massive success that allowed the album to re-enter the vinyl charts at no.31. Bowie’s posthumous release Toy also proved to be a commercial success after its Box-set and standard edition vinyl release launched it up to 5^th position. The last release to make big waves for Bowie since the release of Blackstar and his untimely death in 2016 is the compilation album Legacy, the 75^th birthday celebrations have led to a spike in sales allowing the album to sit at 19^th for the duration of the celebrations.

This news comes not long after the announcement that vinyl sales in the UK are experiencing a new high that comes from 14 consecutive years of growth for the format. 2021 was the first year since 1991 to have more than 5 million vinyl records sold in the UK. This feat may have been helped along by record-breaking releases from ABBA, Adele, and other mammoth rollouts like that from Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift last year.

Bowie’s official merch store is currently still shifting copies of a series of releases in association with Bowie’s 75th birthday celebrations. If you want some reasonably limited pressings, picture disc reissues, or one of the few remaining Toy box-sets, then now is your time to get in there quickly.

As of yesterday (December 17^th), the seminal collection of music celebrated its 50^th birthday. The record is hailed as one of Bowie’s best albums, given that it features some of the prolific songwriter’s most well-known and revered tunes, such as “Life on Mars?”, “Queen Bitch” and “Oh! You Pretty Things”. 

The re-issue of the album will be released on a vinyl picture disc via Parlophone Records on January 7^th, 2022. You can pre-order the physical version here.

In a statement, producer Ken Scott (who has also worked with The Beatles, Elton John and several other Bowie records such as Space Oddity and Aladdin Sane) said of the re-issue in a statement: “The new version of ‘Changes’ is a fresh look at David’s classic… When listening to the original multi-track I discovered a few things that I had eliminated from the original mix and also a completely different sax solo at the end. It was those things that led me to try a new mix, trying for a slightly harder, more contemporary edge to it.”

Originally released on the 17^th of December 1971, Hunk Dory was extremely well-received in both the United Kingdom and abroad, with British and American publications producing glowing reviews. Reviewing the album shortly after its initial release, NME’s Danny Holloway said of the record: “[Hunky Dory is] a breath of fresh air compared to the usual mainstream rock LP of [1972]. It’s very possible that this will be the most important album from an emerging artist in 1972, because he’s not following trends – he’s setting them”.

Publications formed in later years have also given the album very positive reviews, with Allmusic’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine saying: On the surface, such a wide range of styles and sounds would make an album incoherent, but Bowie’s improved songwriting and determined sense of style instead made Hunk Dory a touchstone for reinterpreting pop’s traditions into fresh, postmodern pop music.

In other news regarding the legendary British songwriter, January 8^th 2022 will mark what would have been his 75^th birthday. In celebration, a livestream concert will take place, featuring appearances from various icons of pop culture such as comedian Ricky Gervais, actor Gary Oldman, Simon LeBon of Duran Duran, and Def Leppard. The event was announced earlier this month, and tickets can be found here via RollingLiveStudios