The soundtrack to Nicolas Roeg’s 1976 cult classic film The Man Who Fell To Earth, which starred David Bowie, has up until now never been available as a complete body of work. In celebration of the film’s 40th Anniversary and 4K theatrical release, UMe has released the original movie soundtrack, with recently recovered tapes featuring original pieces by Stomu Yamash’ta and the Mamas and the Papas’ John Phillips, with performances by former Rolling Stone Mick Taylor.
The full 25-track soundtrack is available now digitally and on CD. On December 16, a 19-track vinyl edition of the soundtrack will be released as a double LP. Pre-order here.
A limited edition dual format deluxe box, which pairs the vinyl and CD releases with a 48-page hardback book with rare photos, notes from the movie’s editor and new essay by British music critic Paolo Hewitt, will be released that same day. Pre-order here.
The Man Who Fell To Earth was Bowie’s first starring film role and it reached cult status due to his performance as Thomas Jerome Newton, an alien who finds himself stranded on Earth while searching for water for his drought-stricken home planet. Bowie continued to be drawn to the character; his acclaimed 2015 play, Lazarus, continues the story of T.J. Newton.
Bowie also had starring roles in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence and The Hunger, among others.
From the announcement: “Little is known as to why the soundtrack was never originally released. The album just disappeared and the master tapes were lost. In addition to starring in the film, Bowie was to provide the soundtrack and intended to record the music as his follow-up to 1975’s Young Americans, once shooting was completed. But he started working on another project and after three months had only completed a handful of demos for the film. Although the music was composed to a videotape of the film, none of it was synched to the picture and it was nearly unusable. The director rejected [it] and decided to go [in] another direction. Bowie released Station to Station the same year as the film and in 1977 when he made Low, he sent Roeg a copy with a note that simply read, ‘This is what I had in mind for the film’.
“With just weeks until the film’s premiere, Roeg enlisted his friend John Phillips to take over and create the twangy music he envisioned. Phillips recorded the soundtrack with the help of former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, pedal steel session player BJ Cole and jazz percussionist Frank Ricotti. Phillips delivered an eclectic set of original songs and covers that ranged from country and bluegrass to rock, pop, jazz and instrumental soundscapes. Interspersed throughout the soundtrack are compositions from Japanese percussionist-composer Stomu Yamash’ta. Songs from Louis Armstrong and the Kingston Trio round out the soundtrack.”
Watch the trailer from the film’s 4K theatrical release…
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The Man Who Fell To Earth Double CD Track List:
CD 1
1. Poker Dice – Stomu Yamashta
2. Blueberry Hill – Louis Armstrong
3. Jazz II – John Phillips
4. Venus: The Bringer Of Peace – Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
5. Boys From The South – John Phillips
6. 33 1/3 – Stomu Yamashta
7. Rhumba Boogie – John Phillips
8. Try To Remember – The Kingston Trio
9. Mandala – Stomu Yamashta
10. America – John Phillips
11. Stomu Yamashta – Wind Words
12. Jazz – John Phillips
CD 2
1. One Way – Stomu Yamashta
2. Space Capsule – John Phillips
3. Bluegrass Breakdown – John Phillips
4. Desert Shack – John Phillips
5. Memory Of Hiroshima – Stomu Yamashta
6. Window – John Phillips
7. Alberto – John Phillips
8. Mars: The Bringer Of War (Excerpt) – Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
9. Liar, Liar – John Phillips
10. Hello Mary Lou – John Phillips
11. Silent Night – Robert Farnon
12. Love Is Coming Back – Genevieve Waite
13. The Man Who Fell To Earth (Demo) – John Phillips
The Man Who Fell To Earth Double Vinyl LP Track Listing
LP1
A1. Poker Dice – Stomu Yamashta
A2. Jazz II – John Phillips
A3. Boys From The South – John Phillips
A4. 33 1/3 – Stomu Yamashta
B1. Rhumba Boogie – John Phillips
B2. Mandala – Stomu Yamashta
B3. America – John Phillips
B4. Wind Words – Stomu Yamashta
B5. Jazz – John Phillips
LP2
C1. One Way – Stomu Yamashta
C2. Space Capsule – John Phillips
C3. Bluegrass Breakdown – John Phillips
C4. Desert Shack – John Phillips
C5. Memory Of Hiroshima – Stomu Yamashta
D1. Window – John Phillips
D2. Alberto – John Phillips
D3. Liar, Liar – John Phillips
D4. Hello Mary Lou – John Phillips
D5. The Man Who Fell To Earth – John Phillips
The Man Who Fell To Earth Deluxe 2 LP/2 CD Box Set Track List:
LP1
A1. Poker Dice – Stomu Yamashta
A2. Jazz II – John Phillips
A3. Boys From The South – John Phillips
A4. 33 1/3 – Stomu Yamashta
B1. Rhumba Boogie – John Phillips
B2. Mandala – Stomu Yamashta
B3. America – John Phillips
B4. Wind Words – Stomu Yamashta
B5. Jazz – John Phillips
LP2
C1. One Way – Stomu Yamashta
C2. Space Capsule – John Phillips
C3. Bluegrass Breakdown – John Phillips
C4. Desert Shack – John Phillips
C5. Memory Of Hiroshima – Stomu Yamashta
D1. Window – John Phillips
D2. Alberto – John Phillips
D3. Liar, Liar – John Phillips
D4. Hello Mary Lou – John Phillips
D5. The Man Who Fell To Earth – John Phillips
CD1
1. Poker Dice – Stomu Yamashta
2. Blueberry Hill – Louis Armstrong
3. Jazz II – John Phillips
4. Venus: The Bringer Of Peace – Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
5. Boys From The South – John Phillips
6. 33 1/3 – Stomu Yamashta
7. Rhumba Boogie – John Phillips
8. Try To Remember – The Kingston Trio
9. Mandala – Stomu Yamashta
10. America – John Phillips
11. Wind Words – Stomu Yamashta
12. Jazz – John Phillips
CD2
1. One Way – Stomu Yamashta
2. Space Capsule – John Phillips
3. Bluegrass Breakdown – John Phillips
4. Desert Shack – John Phillips
5. Memory Of Hiroshima – Stomu Yamashta
6. Window – John Phillips
7. Alberto – John Phillips
8. Mars: The Bringer Of War – Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
9. Liar, Liar – John Phillips
10. Hello Mary Lou – John Phillips
11. Silent Night – Robert Farnon
12. Love Is Coming Back – Genevieve Waite
13. The Man Who Fell To Earth – John Phillips
