Conversation Piece
Encyclopedia
"Conversation Piece" is a song written by David Bowie
. It was released as the B-side of the single "The Prettiest Star
" from 1970.
The song is a first-person narrative of an old scholar who is almost completely alone in the world, and seems to be waiting for death.
It was covered live in 2002 by singer Kristeen Young
.
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
. It was released as the B-side of the single "The Prettiest Star
The Prettiest Star
"The Prettiest Star" is a song by David Bowie, originally released as a single in 1970.Bowie had recently re-recorded an old Deram track, "London Bye Ta Ta", intended as a follow-up single to "Space Oddity" in early 1970. However, the same sessions had also spawned a new composition named "The...
" from 1970.
The song is a first-person narrative of an old scholar who is almost completely alone in the world, and seems to be waiting for death.
It was covered live in 2002 by singer Kristeen Young
Kristeen Young
Kristeen Young is an American singer, songwriter and keyboardist from St. Louis, Missouri. She is noted for her aggressive style and four-octave vocal range....
.
Other releases
- Bowie recorded a demo version of the song together with John Hutchinson in February 1969.
- The song also appeared as a bonus track on the 1990 USA RykodiscRykodiscRykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
double LP and CD re-release of Space OdditySpace Oddity (album)-Release history:-7" open reel tape releases:There was only one release of Space Oddity on open reel, in 1972 duplicated by Magtec, North Hollywood, CA 91605. This is a high speed 7.5 ips release...
, as well as the same year's British CD, Cassette and single LP editions released by EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
. - In 2000 Bowie recorded a new version of the song for an unreleased album project called ToyToy (David Bowie album)Toy is an album by the British rock musician David Bowie, recorded for release in 2001, and leaked onto the Internet in 2011. Although Bowie had begun recording the album intended to feature new versions of some of his earliest pieces as well as three new songs, its sessions led him to Heathen and...
. This version was released on the Limited edition bonus disc of Heathen in 2002.