Out today (October 12th) is the fourth in a series of David Bowie box sets, titled, Loving The Alien (1983-1988). The 11-CD box, 15-LP vinyl set, and standard digital download boxed set is named after the opening track from the Tonight album and includes newly remastered versions of 1983’s Let’s Dance, 1984’s Tonight, 1987’s Never Let Me Down (original and 2018 versions), the live album Glass Spider (Live Montreal ’87), the previously unreleased Serious Moonlight live album, a collection of original remixes entitled Dance and the non-album / alternate version / B-sides and soundtrack music compilation Re:Call 4.
Of particular interest to ’80s Bowie’s fans is the 2018 remix of the Never Let Me Down album. According to the press release: “The seeds of this new reimagining of the albums were first sown in 2008 when Bowie asked producer / engineer Mario McNulty to remix the track ‘Time Will Crawl’ and record new drums by longtime Bowie drummer Sterling Campbell along with strings. The track was issued on the iSelect compilation to much acclaim and, in the notes for that record, David remarked ‘Oh, to redo the rest of that album.’”
The new version features new instrumentation by Bowie collaborators Reeves Gabrels on guitar, David Torn guitar, Sterling Campbell on drums, Tim Lefebvre on bass as well as string quartet with arrangements by Nico Muhly and a guest cameo by Laurie Anderson on “Shining Star (Makin’ My Love).”
