The B-side to "The Prettiest Star" single release from 1970, which failed to chart in that year. Not included on any of Bowie's original LPs, but added as a bonus track to the 1990 CD re-issue of the album "Space Oddity", along with the two-part single versions of "Memory of a Free Festival", also from 1970, and also failing to chart.
Re-recorded by Bowie in 2001, and intended for inclusion on the suddenly-cancelled album "Toy", the new version found the light of day as part of the "Heathen" 'limited edition' bonus CD disc from 2002. "Toy" eventually surfaced online in 2011, as an unofficial album. As Chris O'Leary (of the "Pushing Ahead of the Dame" blog) observes: "There have been few songs written about academics, whether tenured or failed.
"All that comes to mind are REM's 'Sad Professor' and this one, 'Conversation Piece', which may not be about an academic at all. An independent scholar, let's say - a shabby young man with an old man's habits, who lives above an Austrian grocer; his rug is scattered with the pages of unpublished essays, and he spends his time wandering the streets begrudging life. He may throw himself off a bridge at song's end.
"'Conversation Piece' was Bowie's most recent composition when he made a demo tape in April 1969 (John Hutchinson calls it 'a new one' and Bowie has to prompt him with the opening guitar chords, G-D-G). It's unlike most of the songs written in this period, which are either love ballads or self-mythical explorations, as it harkens back to the oddball character sketches of the first Bowie LP, like 'Little Bombardier' or 'She's Got Medals'.
love this jam. going to see "Bowie Is..." exhibit at MCA here in Chicago today, followed by Jon Langford and Sally Timms (both of the Mekons) playing a set of Bowie covers.
8 Comments (since 21 Nov 2014)
leejohnson
The B-side to "The Prettiest Star" single release from 1970, which failed to chart in that year. Not included on any of Bowie's original LPs, but added as a bonus track to the 1990 CD re-issue of the album "Space Oddity", along with the two-part single versions of "Memory of a Free Festival", also from 1970, and also failing to chart.
leejohnson
Re-recorded by Bowie in 2001, and intended for inclusion on the suddenly-cancelled album "Toy", the new version found the light of day as part of the "Heathen" 'limited edition' bonus CD disc from 2002. "Toy" eventually surfaced online in 2011, as an unofficial album. As Chris O'Leary (of the "Pushing Ahead of the Dame" blog) observes: "There have been few songs written about academics, whether tenured or failed.
leejohnson
"All that comes to mind are REM's 'Sad Professor' and this one, 'Conversation Piece', which may not be about an academic at all. An independent scholar, let's say - a shabby young man with an old man's habits, who lives above an Austrian grocer; his rug is scattered with the pages of unpublished essays, and he spends his time wandering the streets begrudging life. He may throw himself off a bridge at song's end.
leejohnson
"'Conversation Piece' was Bowie's most recent composition when he made a demo tape in April 1969 (John Hutchinson calls it 'a new one' and Bowie has to prompt him with the opening guitar chords, G-D-G). It's unlike most of the songs written in this period, which are either love ballads or self-mythical explorations, as it harkens back to the oddball character sketches of the first Bowie LP, like 'Little Bombardier' or 'She's Got Medals'.
leejohnson
"(That said, some, like Bowie's then-manager Ken Pitt, have said the song is fairly autobiographical, a sketch of the frustrated composer and failed pop singer Bowie of 1968.)" http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/d/david_bowie/conversation_piece.html
TragicBeauty
love this jam. going to see "Bowie Is..." exhibit at MCA here in Chicago today, followed by Jon Langford and Sally Timms (both of the Mekons) playing a set of Bowie covers.
lynn200
im a thinker not a talker,have no-one to talk to anyway... love the man.
kemiladashdot
Lee just find this "trivia" on YT (not about DB). Did you know this?? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVsyD3rNcKk about Pink F. changing the album name?