David Bowie - Karma Man - Non-Album Tracks (1967)

Here's more of David Bowie's stray track material. This album covers 1967. It's a very curious time in Bowie's career. He'd just moved away from his rock and R&B material, but he had yet to hit his stride with his unique Bowie sound, which he would start to do in 1969. During this time, he went through a sort of music hall phase that was drastically out of step of what was considered cool in those years.

But, Bowie being Bowie, it was much more complicated than that. He was inspired from all sorts of sources, including the old-fashioned entertainer Anthony Newley, but also the songwriting of Ray Davies of the Kinks, as well as the music of the Velvet Underground. Furthermore, Bowie was a big science fiction fan, and that was starting to show up in his songs. The result was a truly unique mix.

Much of his output from this era appeared on his very first album, the 1967 album simply called "David Bowie." But, as you can see here, there was just as much material that didn't get on that album. A lot of this has never been officially released, probably because Bowie has been somewhat embarrassed about this phase of his career. Admittedly, it is hit or miss. For instance, people either love or hate "The Laughing Gnome." Personally, I think it's brilliant; you just have to appreciate it as a goofy novelty song.

But also, we can see the first examples of the fully developed Bowie style. For instance, I think songs like "Karma Man" and "Let Me Sleep Beside You" could have easily stood proudly as part of any of his next several albums.

I believe all the songs here are Bowie originals, except for "I'm Waiting for the Man," a Velvet Underground song.

This album is 34 minutes long.

01 The Laughing Gnome (David Bowie)
02 Everything Is You (David Bowie)
03 Social Girl (David Bowie)
04 Silver Treetop School for Boys (David Bowie)
05 Little Toy Soldier (David Bowie)
06 I'm Waiting for the Man (David Bowie)
07 Did You Ever Have a Dream (David Bowie)
08 C'est la Vie (David Bowie)
09 Karma Man (David Bowie)
10 Let Me Sleep Beside You (David Bowie)
11 When I Live My Dream [Alternate Version] (David Bowie)
12 Run Piper Run [Edit] (David Bowie)

https://www.upload.ee/files/15536162/DavidB_1967_KarmaMn_atse.zip.html

I found a photo of Bowie in 1967, then removed the background and replaced it with a psychedelic-styled one to fit the kind of albums covers that were in vogue in that year.