David Bowie ‘Heroes’ 40th Anniversary Picture Disc

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The next in a series of David Bowie picture discs was announced today (July 19) as his 1977 single “Heroes” is being released on Parlophone Records and Rhino as a double-A-sided release on September 22. Originally released in the U.K. on September 23, 1977, “Heroes” was the first single to be taken from the album of the same name, the second of the so-called “Berlin Trilogy” of albums.

The release coincides with the recent announcement of David Bowie A New Career in a New Town (1977-1982), the third in a series of career-spanning box sets scheduled to arrive on September 29 as a 11-CD or 13-LP collection. The set includes Bowie’s “Heroes,” Low and Lodger albums that comprise the “Berlin Trilogy.”

“Heroes” was recorded in English, French and German and, as the announcements states “has over the past forty years become an inspirational anthem. When Bowie performed the song in West Berlin in 1987 with the Wall as a backdrop, thousands of East Berliners could be heard singing and cheering along; Bowie later described it as one of the most emotional performances of his career.”

Bowie wrote the song’s lyrics; the music is by Bowie and Brian Eno.

The AA of the disc is a previously unreleased live version of the track from Marc Bolan’s Marc TV show, where the song was heard for the first time by fans in the U.K.. The track was recorded on the September 7, 1977 but wasn’t broadcast until later that month by which time Bolan had died in a tragic accident.

Watch Bowie perform the song on Marc

“Heroes” is one of Bowie’s most-covered tracks with the likes of Prince, Blondie, Oasis, Nico, Depeche Mode, Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, The Wallflowers and many more having performed it.

A-Side “Heroes” (Single version 2017 Remaster)
Produced by David Bowie & Tony Visconti
Recorded at Hansa by the Wall, Berlin and Mountain Studios, Montreux

AA-Side “Heroes” (Marc show version)
Recorded for the television show ‘Marc’ on 7th September 1977 and broadcast on 20th September 1977
Previously unreleased