David Bowie Box Set Unearths Hunky Dory Era’s Unreleased Songs and Demos

Parlophone Records has announced a new David Bowie box set, Divine Symmetry, which is out November 25 in physical and digital formats. The collections captures the year leading up to the release of Hunky Dory in December 1971. It features unreleased songs and demos, as well as alternate mixes of Hunky Dory songs helmed by the album’s co-producer, Ken Scott. Below, hear a previously unreleased version of “Kooks,” which was recorded by Bowie and guitarist Mick Ronson for BBC Radio in September 1971.

Divine Symmetry will be available as a 4xCD box set, featuring an additional Blu-ray audio disc, a 100-page hardcover book, and a 60-page reproduction of a Bowie notebook from the era, which the musician used to document song lyrics, costume ideas, production notes, setlists, and more. The set also has sleeve notes by Tris Penna, with further contributions from Ken Scott, Geoff MacCormack, George Underwood, Dana Gillespie, Mark Pritchett, and others.

Read Pitchfork’s feature “Anthems for the Moon: David Bowie’s Sci-Fi Explorations.”