David Bowie 1972 RCA Demo Space Oddity LP Unique Artwork & Bio Not For Sale

	£		97
	$		129

NO RESERVE AUCTION
This is a no-reserve 7 day auction for the ultra rare David Bowie 1972 Demo LP Space Oddity // Not For Sale. 
This unique iteration of the Space Oddity LP is an ultra rare demo copy (as opposed to a promo copy) with a Ziggy Stardust era photograph by Mick Rock, unique to this pressing. 
Demo LP often only very loosely resemble their later official release and this demo also includes a unique and lengthy artist biography (see LP COVER description below) which was never seen on any other US, EU or UK pressings by RCA, either before or since.
On this demo LP the track list/running order and track timings are visible to radio programmers and DJ's published on the rear cover where some brief handwritten symbols have also been added to certain tracks. A brief note is also visible above one of the catalogue numbers. Please see the large photographs provided. 
Side 1 has the official RCA demo sticker affixed to the label which reads "SALE PROHIBITED - FOR DEMONSTRATION".  
Although the vinyl LP has no visible signs of having ever been played I have to assume that the liner notes on the rear sleeve were attributed by the author having listened to the album so I have rated the vinyl conservatively as EX+/NM-  
As far as I am aware the LP has not actually been played and I have stored it this past thirty five years (or more) in a Japanese anti-static sleeve separated from the picture sleeve. 
It would be extremely unusual for a serious collector to want to add this early unique demo LP to their collection, only to play it. So this leaves the collector plenty of scope to enjoy owning this seminal David Bowie demo LP, including framing for exhibition or private display. 

REAR SLEEVE BIO TRANSLATION "....Finally you don't have the words, only the music talks, they cannot elucidate or illuminate, sounds enter through the ears, but only the music travels along the entire body to animate it. David Bowie in the world of music, as all Bowie's music is static. It is situated in the consistent paradoxical odyssey of Bowie. Your experience will be personal and universal, perhaps galactic, microcosmic, and macrocosmic...."

TRACK LIST
A1 Rareza Del Espacio = Space Oddity (5:15) A2 Sin Lavar Y Algo Deslumbrador = Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed (6:55) A3 Carta A Hermoine = Letter To Hermione (2:28) A4 Comite Cygnet = Cygnet Committee (9:33) B1 Janine (3:18) B2 Un Sueño Ocasional = An Occasional Dream (2:51) B3 El Niño De Ojos Salvajes De La Nube Libre = The Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud (4:45) B4 Dios Sabe Que Soy Bueno = God Knows I'm Good (3:13) B5 Memoria De Un Festival Libre = Memory Of A Free Festival (7:05)
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – RCA Records Record Company – RCA S.A.I.C.
LP COVER The official 1972 reissue of the Space Oddity LP by RCA was produced for the world market in a non laminated card sleeve with a new cover design featuring the in vogue Ziggy Stardust era colour photography of Mick Rock and printed in England by their trusted partner Robert Stace. 
However this demo LP was assembled using the far more makeshift methods of RCA S.A.I.C. at the time - and apparently from different stock, almost like a jigsaw, featuring different rear B&W cover artwork showing Bowie not with his hair in the now traditional spikey Ziggy style, but instead he is wearing his hair in a rather more well groomed fashion.  This may have occurred during the photo session or indeed later, by the magic of the advertising agency. 

CATALOGUE NUMBER  LSP 4813
MODE / SPEED Stereo / 33.3 rpm
VINYL WEIGHT Original 130 gram vinyl. Today, Audiophile reissues are sometimes pressed on 180 gram vinyl. Only a small percentage of early vinyl was ever pressed to this specification. Records pressed in the 1960s averaged 140 to 150 grams. Records pressed in the 1970s were usually lighter and some records pressed around 1973 were very light due an oil crisis at the time. The LP has been stored in a Japanese anti-static sleeve (see large photographs provided).
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE Argentina. The company was a branch of Radio Corporation Of America and renamed from RCA Victor Argentina S.A. around January 1950 when it began operating RCA sublabels RCA Victor, RCA Victor Red Seal, "X", Vik, 60s era Groove, RCA Camden and a homegrown sublabel called RCA Vik.
By the 70's RCA S.A.I.C. played a significant role not just in the Argentine music scene but in world music. It was a major label releasing a diverse range of music, including rock, pop and folkloric artists and enjoyed a growing presence in the country until it eventually became fully owned by Sony after the restructuring of Sony/BMG in 2008. 
MATRIX NUMBERS The LP was produced by David Bowie and Tony Visconti and pressed by RCA in Argentina with unique factory stamped matrix numbers BPRS 4501 1S and BPRS 4502 2S (please see the large photographs provided).
Fifty three years on and these factory matrix numbers are still unseen and undocumented on contemporary collector sites such as Discogs. 
MUSICIANS Bass – Herbie Flowers, Honk (3), Tony Visconti Cello – Paul Buckmaster Drums – John Cambridge, Terry Cox Engineer – Barry Sheffield, Ken Scott, Malcolm Toft Flute, Recorder – Tony Visconti Flute, Recorder, Guitar – Tim Renwick Guitar – Keith Christmas, Mick Wayne Harmonica – Benny Marshall And Friends Mellotron, Electric Harpsichord – Rick Wakeman Vocals, Twelve-String Guitar, Stylophone, Kalimba, Organ [Rosedal Electric Chord], Written-By, Arranged By – David Bowie
GRADING & CONDITION The vinyl demo LP and its labels have no signs of playing or wear. Only the DEMO STICKER is affixed to Side 1 label. But I have graded the LP conservatively as EX+/NM- because I have to assume the demo was played by the author of the notes on the sleeve rear.  This early demo sleeve and artwork are unique to this pressing and appear to have been assembled from various pieces of existing card stock by RCA S.A.I.C. hence there are no spine/credits/titles etc and so rates fair. There are some handwritten DJ notes added to the sleeve rear. Some separation at edges and spine and small taped repairs, see large photographs provided. 
QUESTIONS Please ask any questions you might have before bidding/buying.
SHIPPING UK, Europe and international shipping accepted, with tracking, as advertised. LP shipped securely packaged in a reinforced cardboard LP mailer with vinyl and picture sleeve stored separately.