David Bowie & Bob Harris – Sounds of the Seventies (1971)
In 1971, David Bowie returned to BBC radio as a rapidly evolving artist, appearing on Sounds of the Seventies, the influential program presented by Bob Harris. These sessions captured Bowie just months before the explosive arrival of Ziggy Stardust.
Unlike his earlier acoustic appearances, Bowie now performed with a developing rock band format, complete with electric instrumentation, early backing vocals and a far more theatrical delivery. The broadcasts documented Bowie in the final stages of transformation from experimental songwriter into full-fledged glam-rock icon.
Quick Facts
| Year | 1971 |
| Artist | David Bowie |
| Presenter | Bob Harris |
| Program | Sounds of the Seventies |
| Format | Full band BBC radio session |
| Style | Proto-glam rock, early Ziggy-era sound |
Background
Sounds of the Seventies was one of the BBC’s most forward-looking music programs, giving exposure to new and developing artists outside the mainstream charts. Bowie’s 1971 appearance came at the exact moment when his songwriting, visual identity and stage persona began to merge into a singular artistic vision.
The BBC recordings feature early versions of songs that would soon define Bowie’s next phase, with bolder arrangements, stronger rhythmic drive and increasingly stylised vocal delivery. These sessions are now regarded as the final broadcast bridge between Bowie’s folk-rock roots and the glam explosion that followed in 1972.
Live Performances & Locations
- 1971 – BBC Broadcasting House, London – Sounds of the Seventies session
- 1971 – National UK radio broadcast
Surviving Audio & Video
Multiple off-air recordings from Bowie’s 1971 Bob Harris sessions survive, preserving rare early live band performances that pre-date the Spiders from Mars lineup.
Bob Harris on his friendship with David Bowie
David Bowie Sounds of the 70’s Bob Harris sept 21st 1971
Historical Importance
Bowie’s 1971 Bob Harris sessions represent the final documented broadcast stage before the arrival of Ziggy Stardust. These performances show a confident, restless artist preparing to reinvent both his sound and visual identity on a global scale.
Within less than a year, Bowie would return to the BBC as an entirely transformed performer, backed by the Spiders from Mars and fronting one of the most influential rock personae of all time.
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