Older readers will know the classic Top Of The Pops performance of ‘Starman’. It’s based loosely around a story involving an alien that, when explained, sounds a bit rubbish… so don’t pay any mind to the concept, just listen to how good the record still sounds nearly 40 years after its release. This was the album that catapulted Bowie onto the bedroom walls of a million teenagers. David Bowie, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars: 23 Heddon Street, W1 Pub quiz fact: The sleeve was designed by Apple Records’ creative director Kosh and is the only original UK Beatles album sleeve to include neither their name or the album title.

Photographer Ian Macmillan was given ten minutes to climb a stepladder while a policeman stopped traffic and at approximately 11.30 am on 8 August 1969 music history was made.Ĭonspiracy theories that stated Paul McCartney was dead and replaced in the band by a look-a-like went into overdrive after the release as the number plate on the Volkswagen Beetle behind the band read LMW 28IF - 28 being McCartney’s age, had he still been alive. They put aside their differences and pulled a blinder with the album which contains not one single bad tune (we’ll settle with fisticuffs anyone who says that the macabre ‘ Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ is a dud, even if Lennon referred to it as ‘More of Paul’s granny music’!) They got together for what was pretty much acknowledged beforehand by all as their last album. Go there on any day of the week and you'll see the traffic being held up as Beatles fans from around the world recreate the cover.Īt the time of recording The Beatles were on the verge of splitting up, triggering their downward spiral toward law suits and slanging matches in the press. Anyone who loves music and lives in London has made / has plans to make / has been too-cool-for-school-and-deliberately-avoided-making a pilgrimage to the most famous road crossing in the world.

Made in the am album cover art