Lost in the Stardust: Ten Unheard Bowie Tracks Unearthed
It is 2026, a decade since the world lost David Bowie, the chameleon-like artist who redefined rock music. Yet the cosmos still offers new treasures. In September, fans will travel back to the very beginning of his journey. David Bowie: The Shel Talmy Recordings is set for release on 18 September, a collection that promises ten previously unheard tracks from the early days of his career when the world knew him as Davie Jones.
This release is more than a compilation; it feels like a time capsule. It captures the raw ambition of a 17-year-old artist before the Ziggy Stardust persona, before the alien glamour, and before the world was introduced to the Thin White Duke. It aims to “close a primary chapter” on Bowie’s musical genesis, tracing the early years of a boy from Brixton who would become one of the most influential figures in music history.
The Origins of a Starman
The story behind this collection begins in the mid-196s, a pivotal time for British music. It was an era of mod clubs, rhythm and blues, and the burgeoning “British Invasion.” The young Davy Jones, eager to escape the shadow of Davy Jones from The Monkees, was a constant presence on the London music scene, especially around Denmark Street, the heart of the UK’s songwriting and publishing industry.
It was there he met Shel Talmy, a larger-than-life American producer who had already achieved legendary status by helming some of the defining records of the decade, including The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” and The Who’s “My Generation.” Talmy, a tough-talking “Yank” in a sea of British producers, saw something in the young Jones. He signed him and his band, The Manish Boys, in December 1964.
The majority of the recordings featured on the new album were made with The Lower Third or as solo demos, dating back to this hectic period of 1965.
The Shel Talmy Recordings: A Tracklist of History
Billed by Bowie’s label as “the most complete collection of tracks recorded by a nascent David Bowie” with Talmy, the album is not just a set of rarities; it features contributions from musicians who would go on to become rock royalty.
Jimmy Page (who would soon co-found Led Zeppelin) and pianist Nicky Hopkins (a sought-after session man for The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who) are present on the recordings. Their involvement lifts these young recordings from simple demos into genuine historical artefacts.
The release will include 22 tracks across its CD and vinyl formats, with ten tracks that have never before been heard by the public. A key highlight of the collection is the advanced release of the single I Want Your Love, which was made available on streaming services on 15 July 2026.
Previously Unheard Tracks (CD and Digital)
- I Want Your Love
- Cupid
- Keep Up With The Jones (Instrumental)
- Leave Her To Me
- You Gotta Tell Her
- Certain Woman
- Today (Demo)
- I Live In Dreams (Demo)
- I Do Believe I Love You (Demo)
- Baby Loves That Way (Alternative vocal take)
The Complete Collection
CD Tracklist :
- You’ve Got A Habit Of Leaving (2026 Remaster)
- I Want Your Love *
- Cupid *
- I Pity The Fool (2026 Remaster)
- Baby Loves That Way (2026 Remaster)
- Keep Up With The Jones (Instrumental) *
- Leave Her To Me *
- I’ll Follow You
- You Gotta Tell Her (2026 Remaster) *
- Take My Tip (2026 Remaster)
- Certain Woman *
- Today (Demo) *
- I Want My Baby Back (Demo) (2026 Remaster)
- I Live In Dreams (Demo) *
- Bars Of The County Jail (Demo)
- That’s Where My Heart Is (Demo) (2026 Remaster)
- I Do Believe I Love You (Demo) *
- You’ve Got A Habit Of Leaving (Alternative overdub/vocal) (2026 Remaster)
- I Pity The Fool (Alternative vocal take) (2026 Remaster)
- Baby Loves That Way (Alternative vocal take) *
- Take My Tip (Alternative vocal take) (2026 Remaster)
*Key: Previously Unreleased, ^ Davie Jones & The Lower Third, + The Manish Boys, – Davie Jones
Vinyl Tracklist :
Side One
- You’ve Got A Habit Of Leaving (2026 Remaster)
- I Pity The Fool (2026 Remaster)
- Baby Loves That Way (2026 Remaster)
- I’ll Follow You
- Take My Tip (2026 Remaster)
Side Two
- I Want Your Love *
- Cupid *
- Keep Up With The Jones (Instrumental) *
- Certain Woman *
- Leave Her To Me *
- You Gotta Tell Her (2026 Remaster) *
Unearthing the Demos and The Manish Boys
It is worth noting that the vinyl version of the album is an abridged 11-track collection designed for the audiophile experience, while the CD and digital versions feature the full 22-track treasure trove. This includes the alternative takes and solo demos recorded by Bowie before he assembled The Lower Third. These demos—tracks like Today, I Live in Dreams, and I Do Believe I Love You—show Bowie’s earliest attempts to capture his songwriting on tape, often with just his voice and a guitar or piano. They provide an intimate glimpse into his musical mind, revealing the raw talent that was waiting to be shaped.
The release also features tracks credited to The Manish Boys—namely, I Pity The Fool and Take My Tip. These recordings nod to Bowie’s first professional steps, performing covers and original material with a band that featured future notable musicians.
A Fresh Context and a Legacy Preserved
The album’s release is accompanied by extensive sleeve notes written by music historian Alec Palao. He offers a thoughtful perspective on how to listen to this new material, placing it firmly in its historical context. Palao writes: “David Bowie the artist is a book of chapters…Each fascinating phase in his career should be considered complementary. This collection, a primary chapter if not the very earliest instalment in David’s musical journey, deserves legitimate consideration.”
He continues, acknowledging the temptation to search for the seeds of future genius in these early recordings, but warns against viewing them through the lens of Bowie’s later masterpieces. He suggests they should be judged “by the standards of what was happening in Britain at that precise point in time,” capturing “the excitement of London and its music scene in that pivotal year of 1965.” This is not the sound of a fully formed Starman, but the sound of an ambitious young man soaking up the energy of a vibrant city, finding his voice amidst the garages and clubs of swinging London.
These recordings remained unheard for over 60 years, locked away in Talmy’s archives. Before his death in 2024, Talmy spoke about these tapes, having kept them in “secure storage for many years,” saying they were “unknown to even the most ardent Bowie-philes.” His estate has now collaborated with the Bowie estate to ensure these early works are finally given a legitimate and high-quality release, with the album mastered and remastered by John Webber.
Bowie in the 202s: A Continuing Legacy
The release of The Shel Talmy Recordings is part of a broader trend of posthumous Bowie releases that have kept his flame burning brightly in the 202s. This year alone has seen other notable archival releases. For Record Store Day 2026, Parlophone issued a neon pink 12″ EP of Hallo Spaceboy, featuring six remixes of the Outside track, including a previously unreleased Tim Simenon mix. The same event also saw the release of Excerpts from Outside, a half-speed remastered vinyl edition of the abridged album.
These releases show the enduring appetite for Bowie’s work. Whether it is the polished, electronic experimentation of his later years or the raw, bluesy rock of his formative period, audiences remain fascinated. The 2026 release of the Talmy recordings connects the dots from the teenage hopeful to the global icon, showing the journey was long and hard-won.
The songs are energetic, simple, and deeply of their time. They are records of a young man trying to break through. They might not contain the existential dread of “Blackstar” or the world-building of “Ziggy Stardust,” but they hold the DNA of an artist who would change music forever. The album is not just for the completists; it’s for anyone wanting to understand the genesis of a star. As Palao notes, this “primary chapter” is finally ready for its well-deserved consideration.
by ASHLEY GREEN