SHEL TALMY RECORDINGS

Witness the exact moment a rock legend was born with the Shel Talmy Recordings, the definitive archival compilation collecting David Bowie’s foundational 1965 studio sessions. Released via Parlophone Records, this essential LP captures a nascent Bowie—then performing under his real name, Davie Jones—teaming up with legendary American producer Shel Talmy, the sonic architect behind groundbreaking 1960s hits by The Who and The Kinks.

Before the glitter of Ziggy Stardust or the soul of the Thin White Duke, Bowie was a hungry Mod navigating London's Denmark Street music scene. Spanning across 12 meticulously curated tracks, this mono vinyl compilation features Bowie fronting his earliest backing bands, including The Manish Boys and Davie Jones & The Lower Third. Adding massive historical weight to the collection, the sessions feature a young Jimmy Page (later of Led Zeppelin) contributing blistering session guitar riffs, alongside legendary piano player Nicky Hopkins.

The album serves as a treasure trove for completionists, unearthing six previously unreleased recordings on vinyl, including completely unheard alternate vocal takes, overdub variants, and forgotten compositions. It bridges the gap to Bowie's future as well—spotlighting early versions of singles like "You’ve Got a Habit of Leaving" and "Baby Loves That Way," tracks so dear to Bowie that he re-recorded them decades later for his legendary Toy album.