デヴィッド・ボウイさんのインスタグラム写真 - (デヴィッド・ボウイInstagram)「WHEN DID THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD ARRIVE? “And I asked “Why not?” and I replied “I don't know.”” Extra points for any of you that have remained awake by the end of this train-spotter special. In a recent post regarding Metrobolist (AKA The Man Who Sold The World), we suggested we weren’t comfortable with the accepted release date of Wednesday 4th November, 1970, in the USA. Aside from Wednesday not being a normal release day for albums back then, we've yet to source an original review or press advert that was published before January 1971. When one takes into consideration the Thanksgiving and Christmas break it’s possible that journalists weren’t tied to their desks at the time. But two months is still a long time after an album release for reviews to start appearing, particularly as they are normally published ahead of release date. Of course, it could have been Bowie’s US promotional press trip in January/February 1971 that sparked journalists into action and gave Mercury the impetus to publish the one advert for The Man Who Sold The World we’ve managed to uncover, but it seems unlikely. Also, two sets of tape boxes (four boxes in total) with the final version of The Man Who Sold The World (but still bearing the title Metrobolist), exist in the archive. One of those sets was transferred at Mercury Sound Studios in New York on November 10th, 1970, fifty years ago today. That doesn't prove anything about the release date, safety masters can be made at any time, but it does confirm that the final running order that we know was still called Metrobolist, even though the album went through different sequencing before this one was settled upon. So, we’re asking if anybody out there reading this has any actual concrete evidence of The Man Who Sold The World having a release of Wednesday 4th November, 1970, in the USA? Obviously information in books published since doesn’t count as evidence. Fingers crossed. #Bowie1970 #BowieMetrobolist #BowieTMWSTW」11月11日 8時50分