| The Singles Collection | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 UK release cover | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 8 November 1993[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1969–1993 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 154:14 | |||
| Label | ||||
| David Bowie chronology | ||||
| ||||
| David Bowie compilation chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative covers | ||||
 Cover ofThe Singles 1969 to 1993 US release | ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
.jpg) Cover of the Dutch 1997 reissue | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [2] |
| Calgary Herald | B+[3] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
| Music Week |  [5] |
| New Musical Express | 9/10[6] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [7] |
| Select | 5/5[8] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 9/10[9] |
The Singles Collection is acompilation album by the English musicianDavid Bowie, released in 1993 in the UK and (with some changes) asThe Singles 1969 to 1993 in the United States. A video companion,Bowie – The Video Collection, was released on VHS at the same time.
Released in late 1993, this "singles" collection included some tracks that were never officially released as singles (such as "Ziggy Stardust").[10] This release marked the first time some 7"/single edits were available on CD, and included some unusual or rare versions, such as the shortened mixes of "TVC 15", "Space Oddity" and "Loving the Alien".[10] The US release included the full-length original version of Bowie's "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" and the 4:01 remix of "Under Pressure" fromClassic Queen, while the UK version instead includes a 3:58 edit originally found onQueen'sGreatest Hits II.[10]
The first 40,000 copies of the US CD release included a third disc containing a single track, "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy", a duet by Bowie andBing Crosby taken from Bing's 1977 Christmas television special.[10]
In Australia, the two discs were released separately, asThe Singles Collection 1 andThe Singles Collection 2.
All songs written byDavid Bowie except where noted.
(*) = not on the U.S. version
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Place of Origin | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Space Oddity" | David Bowie, 1969 | 5:15 | |
| 2. | "Changes" | Hunky Dory, 1971 | 3:35 | |
| 3. | "Starman" | The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, 1972 | 4:18 | |
| 4. | "Ziggy Stardust" | The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars | 3:14 | |
| 5. | "Suffragette City" | The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars | 3:26 | |
| 6. | "John, I'm Only Dancing" | Non-albumsingle, 1972 | 2:47 | |
| 7. | "The Jean Genie" | Aladdin Sane, 1973 | 4:07 | |
| 8. | "Drive-In Saturday" | Aladdin Sane | 4:30 | |
| 9. | "Life on Mars?" | Hunky Dory; released as a single in 1973 | 3:51 | |
| 10. | "Sorrow" | Bob Feldman,Jerry Goldstein,Richard Gottehrer | Pin Ups, 1973; originally byThe McCoys in 1965 and made famous byThe Merseys the following year | 2:54 |
| 11. | "Rebel Rebel" | Diamond Dogs | 4:30 | |
| 12. | "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" (*) | The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars; released as a single in 1974 | 2:58 | |
| 13. | "Diamond Dogs" | Diamond Dogs | 6:04 | |
| 14. | "Knock on Wood" (*) (Live) | Eddie Floyd,Steve Cropper | David Live, 1974; originally by Eddie Floyd fromKnock on Wood, 1966 | 3:03 |
| 15. | "Young Americans" | Young Americans, 1975 | 5:11 | |
| 16. | "Fame" | Bowie,Carlos Alomar,John Lennon | Young Americans | 4:14 |
| 17. | "Golden Years" | Station to Station, 1976; released as a single the previous year | 4:00 | |
| 18. | "TVC 15" | Station to Station | 5:31 | |
| 19. | "Sound and Vision" | Low, 1977 | 3:02 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Place of Origin | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | ""Heroes"" (Single edit) | Bowie,Brian Eno | "Heroes", 1977 | 3:37 |
| 2. | "Beauty and the Beast" | "Heroes" | 3:33 | |
| 3. | "Boys Keep Swinging" | Bowie, Eno | Lodger, 1979 | 3:17 |
| 4. | "DJ" | Bowie, Eno, Alomar | Lodger | 4:00 |
| 5. | "Alabama Song" (*) | Bertolt Brecht,Kurt Weill | Non-album single, 1980 | 3:51 |
| 6. | "Ashes to Ashes" | Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps), 1980 | 4:24 | |
| 7. | "Fashion" | Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) | 4:47 | |
| 8. | "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" | Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) | 5:11 | |
| 9. | "Under Pressure" (Edited version; withQueen) | Bowie,Freddie Mercury,Brian May,John Deacon,Roger Taylor | Non-album single, 1981; later included on the Queen albumHot Space the following year | 3:57 |
| 10. | "Wild Is the Wind" (*) | Dimitri Tiomkin,Ned Washington | Station to Station; originally byJohnny Mathis forthe film of the same name, 1957; released as a single in 1981 in support of theChangestwobowie compilation album | 6:01 |
| 11. | "Let's Dance" (Single edit) | Let's Dance, 1983 | 4:07 | |
| 12. | "China Girl" (Single edit) | Bowie, Jim Osterburg (a.k.a.Iggy Pop) | Let's Dance; originally by Iggy Pop fromThe Idiot, 1977 | 4:16 |
| 13. | "Modern Love" (Single edit) | Let's Dance | 3:56 | |
| 14. | "Blue Jean" | Tonight, 1984 | 3:11 | |
| 15. | "This Is Not America" (*) (with thePat Metheny Group) | Bowie,Pat Metheny,Lyle Mays | The Falcon and the Snowmansoundtrack, 1985 | 3:47 |
| 16. | "Dancing in the Street" (withMick Jagger ofThe Rolling Stones) | Marvin Gaye,William "Mickey" Stevenson,Ivy Jo Hunter | Non-album single forLive Aid, 1985; originally byMartha and the Vandellas released as a single in 1964 and appeared onDance Party the following year | 3:10 |
| 17. | "Absolute Beginners" (Single edit) | Absolute Beginnerssoundtrack, 1986 | 5:37 | |
| 18. | "Day-In Day-Out" (Single edit) | Never Let Me Down, 1987 | 4:11 |
(*) = Not on the UK version
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Originally from | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Space Oddity" (Edited version exclusive to this release) | David Bowie (1969) | 3:35 | |
| 2. | "Changes" | Hunky Dory | 3:36 | |
| 3. | "Oh! You Pretty Things" (*) | Hunky Dory | 3:15 | |
| 4. | "Life on Mars?" | Hunky Dory | 3:52 | |
| 5. | "Ziggy Stardust" | The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars | 3:16 | |
| 6. | "Starman" | The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust... | 4:16 | |
| 7. | "John, I'm Only Dancing" | non-album single | 2:49 | |
| 8. | "Suffragette City" | The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust... | 3:29 | |
| 9. | "The Jean Genie" | Aladdin Sane | 4:09 | |
| 10. | "Sorrow" | Feldman, Goldstein, Gottehrer | Pin Ups | 2:56 |
| 11. | "Drive-In Saturday" | Aladdin Sane | 4:30 | |
| 12. | "Diamond Dogs" | Diamond Dogs | 6:07 | |
| 13. | "Rebel Rebel" | Diamond Dogs | 4:31 | |
| 14. | "Young Americans" | Young Americans | 5:13 | |
| 15. | "Fame" | Bowie, Alomar,John Lennon | Young Americans | 4:18 |
| 16. | "Golden Years" | Station to Station | 4:01 | |
| 17. | "TVC 15" (Edited version exclusive to this release) | Station to Station | 3:46 | |
| 18. | "Be My Wife" (*) | Low | 2:58 | |
| 19. | "Sound and Vision" | Low | 3:06 | |
| 20. | "Beauty and the Beast" | "Heroes" | 3:34 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Place of Origin | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | ""Heroes"" (Single edit) | Bowie, Eno | "Heroes" | 3:39 |
| 2. | "Boys Keep Swinging" | Bowie, Eno | Lodger | 3:20 |
| 3. | "DJ" (Single edit) | Bowie, Eno, Alomar | Lodger | 3:24 |
| 4. | "Look Back in Anger" (*) | Bowie, Eno | Lodger | 3:09 |
| 5. | "Ashes to Ashes" (Single edit) | Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) | 3:37 | |
| 6. | "Fashion" (Single edit) | Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) | 3:26 | |
| 7. | "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" | Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) | 5:12 | |
| 8. | "Under Pressure" (withQueen) | Bowie, Mercury, May, Deacon, Taylor | Hot Space (Queen album) | 4:05 |
| 9. | "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" (*) (soundtrack version, withGiorgio Moroder) | Bowie, Moroder | Cat Peoplesoundtrack, 1982; re-recorded forLet's Dance the following year | 6:46 |
| 10. | "Let's Dance" (Edited version exclusive to this release) | Let's Dance | 4:10 | |
| 11. | "China Girl" (Edited version exclusive to this release) | Bowie, Osterburg (a.k.a. Pop) | Let's Dance | 4:18 |
| 12. | "Modern Love" (Edited version exclusive to this release) | Let's Dance | 3:59 | |
| 13. | "Blue Jean" | Tonight | 3:12 | |
| 14. | "Loving the Alien" (*) (Single remix) | Tonight; remixed & released as a 1985 single | 4:42 | |
| 15. | "Dancing in the Street" (withMick Jagger) | Gaye, Stevenson, Hunter | non-album single forLive Aid | 3:17 |
| 16. | "Absolute Beginners" (Single edit) | Absolute Beginners soundtrack | 5:39 | |
| 17. | "Day-In Day-Out" (Single edit) | Never Let Me Down | 4:17 | |
| 18. | "Never Let Me Down" (*) | Bowie, Alomar | Never Let Me Down | 4:07 |
| 19. | "Jump They Say" (*) (Radio edit) | Black Tie White Noise, 1993 | 3:55 |
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[24] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| France (SNEP)[25] | 2× Gold | 200,000* |
| Netherlands (NVPI)[26] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[27] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[28] | Platinum | 300,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
