The fourth in a series of extensive David Bowie boxsets is set to be released this Autumn covering the period 1983 – 1988.
Parlophone’s massive Loving The Alienbox, available in CD, digital download and vinyl flavours, will be released on 12 October and features a brand new production of Never Let Me Down by Mario McNulty with new instrumentation by Reeves Gabrels (guitar), David Torn (guitar), Sterling Campbell (drums), Tim Lefebvre (bass) as well as string quartet with arrangements by Nico Muhly and a guest cameo by Laurie Anderson on ‘Shining Star (Makin’ My Love)’.
The 11 CDs / 15 vinyl LPs / whole bunch of WAVs include newly remastered versions of Let’s Dance, Tonight, Never Let Me Down (original and 2018 versions), Glass Spider (Live Montreal ’87), the previously unreleased Serious Moonlight live album, a collection of original remixes called Dance and compilation of non-album/ alternate takes/ b-sides etc compilation RE:CALL 4.
A spokesman for Parlophone says: "The seeds of this new reimagining of the albums were first sown in 2008 when David asked Mario McNulty to remix the track ‘Time Will Crawl’ and record new drums by longtime Bowie drummer, Sterling Campbell along with strings. The track was issued on the iSelect compilation to much acclaim, and in the notes, for that record, David remarked ‘Oh, to redo the rest of that album’.
"Fast-forward to early 2018 McNulty entered Electric Lady Studios in New York with Sterling, Tim Lefebvre on bass, who was in the ★ (“Blackstar") band and Reeves Gabrels and David Torn on guitars. All of the musicians had a history with David, so were a perfect fit for what now sound like brand new songs. Nico Muhly, whom Mario first met when they were both interns working for Philip Glass in 2001, has handled the string arrangements."
