This Day in Music: What No. 1 UK hit did David Bowie record at Trident Studios in 1969?

Renee Hansen

David Bowie On Stage / Michael Putland/GettyImages

On June 20, 1969, David Bowie recorded a song at Trident Studios in London at the request of his manager Kenneth Pitt who asked for "a very special piece of material that would dramatically demonstrate David's remarkable inventiveness and would probably be the high spot of the production."* This recording session would result in "Space Oddity," Bowie's first song to reach No. 1 on the UK charts.

"Space Oddity," a song on his second album, David Bowie, introduces a fictional astronaut Major Tom. Bowie has stated that he was inspired to create the character after viewing Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey film. The song was released on July 11, 1969, and became a UK top-five hit five days before the Apollo 11 launch. Although many believed the space landing inspired the song, as it came into prominence during the same time. Bowie since refuted this stating he saw 2001 several times and was stoned while viewing the film.

In 1972 RCA reissued "Space Oddity," and the song would become Bowie's first US hit that was promoted with a music video filmed by Mick Rock. The song would be re-released in 1975, climbing to No. 1 on the UK charts. Bowie would also record an acoustic version, which would become a concert staple.

In the 1980 single "Ashes to Ashes," which was featured on the Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) album, Bowie would revisit Major Tom, who is then described as a junkie "strung out in heaven's high, hitting an all-time low." It's been said that this song is about Bowie confronting his years of drug addiction in the 1970s.

Throughout the years, many artists have referenced or further developed the story of "Space Oddity," including Peter Shilling's "Major Tom (Coming Home), Panic on the Titanic's "Major Tom," and Def Leppard's "Rocket."

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Renee Hansen

Renee Hansen, a contributing writer for Undead Walking, joined the Fansided family in 2019. She has written for numerous sites, including Netflix Life, Winter is Coming, Show Snob, Audio Phix, and Stairway to 11. She covers a wide range of pop culture topics, from horror, zombies, and romantic comedies to music and period dramas. Renee has also conducted interviews with many notable figures, including Lennie James, Steven Ogg, Tom Payne, Josh Hamilton, Carrie Genzel, Cooper Andrews, Dan Fogler, and Vince Neil. She has also hosted panels at various events, such as The Camp Events and Atlanta Comic Convention. When not writing, Renee enjoys watching new TV and movie releases, revisiting 80s movies, or rewatching The Walking Dead.