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Space Oddity

Phonograph Record
06/1969 - 09/1969 (recorded), 11/1969 (released)
Artist/Maker
Philips (record label)
David Bowie (performing artists)
Victor Vasarely (artist)
Dewhurst, Vernon (photographer)
Place of origin
London (recorded)

The title and subject of Space Oddity is said to have been influenced by William Anders' Earthrise, the first colour photograph of earth from space in 1968. In 2003 Earthrise appeared in Life magazine's 100 Photographs that Changed the World.

The cover of Space Oddity features an optical art design by Victor Vasarely (1906-1997) from his Folklore Planetaire series. Optical art was very popular in the 1960s and lead to designs being printed on fabric and used in fashion.

The V&A holds in it's collections both a c-type photographic print of Earthrise and a screenprint of the design by Vasarely used on the cover of Space Oddity.

Object details

Category
Entertainment & Leisure
Object type
Phonograph record
TitleSpace Oddity (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Vinyl and printed card
Vinyl
Cardboard
Brief description
David Bowie Space Oddity LP, released in 1969
Physical description
Vinyl LP record for the Space Oddity album by David Bowie. Featuring a photograph of Bowie's head overlaid on an optical spotted design from Victor Vasarely's Folklore Planetaire series. The words David Bowie run across the top of the design, and the Philips logo is in the top right corner.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.5cm
  • Fanned out width: 8.5cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
DAVID BOWIE (Printed on cover in capital letters)
Gallery label
(22/02/2013)
[G4.3 – label 4 on strip]
Keyword: ILLUSION

Space Oddity
David Bowie
1969

Bowie’s second album is a collage of musical style and influences, from the Bee Gees to Marc Bolan and Bob Dylan. The title track has remained the most famous, but others including ‘Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud’ and ‘Memory of a Free Festival’ have remained in Bowie’s repertoire throughout his career.


V&A: S.434-2013

[2D-0412]
Subject depicted
David Bowie
Summary
The title and subject of Space Oddity is said to have been influenced by William Anders' Earthrise, the first colour photograph of earth from space in 1968. In 2003 Earthrise appeared in Life magazine's 100 Photographs that Changed the World.

The cover of Space Oddity features an optical art design by Victor Vasarely (1906-1997) from his Folklore Planetaire series. Optical art was very popular in the 1960s and lead to designs being printed on fabric and used in fashion.

The V&A holds in it's collections both a c-type photographic print of Earthrise and a screenprint of the design by Vasarely used on the cover of Space Oddity.

Collection
Theatre and Performance Collection
Accession number
S.434-2013

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Record createdMarch 12, 2013
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1261680/space-oddity-phonograph-record-david-bowie/
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