Best of Bowie is a 2002 greatest hits album by English recording artist David Bowie. Released in October following the critical and commercial success of the Heathen album released four months earlier in June, the songs range from his second album, David Bowie to Heathen. It was released 35 years after his debut album, David Bowie. In each of the 21 territories that the album was released, it was given its own track listing, based upon which songs were most popular locally. In a number of countries, there were two versions – a single-disc version, and a double-disc version. All in all 63 tracks appear in at least one of the 20 different versions. The country the edition came from can be identified by a small national flag on the spine, except for the Argentine/Mexican, Eastern European and UK editions, which are "flag-less". All the tracks are digitally remastered either from 1999 or, for the single edits, 2002, with the exception of "Under Pressure", which is also at a lower volume than the rest of the disc. A DVD version of the compilation was also released, containing 47 videos and live performances as well as alternate versions and easter eggs. Some of the videos on this collection, notably "China Girl", "Loving the Alien" and "Day-In Day-Out" are the censored versions of the original videos. Initially peaking at number 11 on the UK Albums Chart upon release in October 2002, the album entered the top 10 for the first time in January 2016, following Bowie's death, and reached a new peak of number 1, marking Bowie's eleventh UK number-one album. It also became the first album to reach number 1 in the UK due to streaming. Best of Bowie has been certified 4× Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry for sales of over 1,200,000.
Chart performance
Initially peaking at number 11 in October 2002 on the UK Albums Chart, the album entered the top 10 for the first time in January 2016, following Bowie's death. On 5 February, after his final album Blackstar had spent three weeks at the top, Best of Bowie reached a new peak of number 1, marking Bowie's eleventh UK number-one album and making him the first artist to replace themselves at number 1 with a different album since Michael Jackson did it after his own death in 2009. It also became the first album to reach number 1 in the UK due to streaming.
Track listings
All tracks written by David Bowie except as noted.
Track listings note: The first unique track reference contains all information pertaining to that song and version, including song writing credits, source and length. Subsequent references only mention song and version unless where noted.
Europe
CD: EMI / 5 39821 2 // EMI 7243 5 39821 2 6 CD 1 CD 2
The "easter eggs" on this DVD may be accessed by following the sequence of navigation steps listed below, or in DVD players or playback software which ignore user operation prohibitions, these "easter eggs" can be accessed directly by jumping to the DVD Title number listed. DVD 1 "Oh! You Pretty Things"
Select 'play all'. Every 2nd time the whole DVD plays through, the alternate version will appear in place of the broadcast version of the song. If you don't want to wait, just skip through all of the chapters.
Alternatively, jump directly to Title 2 Chapter 1.
Interview with Russell Harty
Highlight "Drive-In Saturday" on the track listing display, and then press the 'right' button where an underscore will appear. Now press 'enter'.
Alternatively, jump directly to Title 30.
Ad for the forthcoming Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture DVD
Select the lightning bolt to the right of "Ziggy Stardust" on the track listing display. This is a still advertisement, not a video.
Highlight the track and press 'right'. Select the ')' symbol on the track listing display. The image to the right will change. Select the new image. The image can be toggled back and forth by pressing the ')' image.
Alternatively, jump directly to Title 31.
"Blue Jean" , recorded at The Wag Club, Soho, London
This has to be activated during the Easter egg Jazzin' For Blue Jean video. Right after the girl approaches the jukebox to start the video, as soon as Bowie appears on the TV above the jukebox, press 'enter'. If using a computer for playback, you can click on the TV screen Bowie appears in.
Alternatively, jump directly to Title 32.
DVD 2 "Day-In Day-Out"
The Extended Dance Mix will appear every second time you select "Day-In, Day-Out" from the track listing menu.
Alternatively, jump directly to Title 24.
"Miracle Goodnight"
This has to be activated after playback of the 'Miracle Goodnight' video. Wait 5 minutes on the track list display and press enter.
Alternatively, jump directly to Title 23.
"Seven Years in Tibet"
Play the video for "Seven Years in Tibet." Three seconds after the video starts a subtitle will appear. Press 'enter' and this will switch versions. Pressing 'enter' again at the same time will toggle the version back to English.
Alternatively, jump directly to Title 25.
"Survive"
Select 'play all'. Every 2nd time the whole DVD plays through, the live version will appear in place of the other version of the song. If you don't want to wait, just skip through all of the chapters.
Alternatively, jump directly to Title 2 Chapter 20.
