"Memory of a Free Festival" is a 1970 single by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. The song had originally been recorded in September 1969 as a seven-minute opus for Bowie's second self-titled album. It was reworked in March–April 1970 at the behest of Mercury Records, the label believing that the track had a better chance of success as a single than "The Prettiest Star", released earlier in the year. Bowie and Tony Visconti roughly split the track in half, re-recording it so both halves could function as individual songs. A more rock-oriented version than the earlier album cut, this rendition featured guitarist Mick Ronson.
Biographer David Buckley described "Memory of a Free Festival" as "a sort of trippy retake of the Stones' 'Sympathy for the Devil' but with a smiley lyric". The track was written as a homage to the Free Festival, organised by the Beckenham Arts Lab, which was held at Croydon Road Recreation Ground in Beckenham on 16 August 1969.
Released in America in June 1970, the single was commercially unsuccessful; only a few hundred copies sold. It was also issued in the UK, but was similarly unsuccessful there.
The two-part single version was subsequently released on CD on the EMI/Rykodisc reissue of Bowie's 1969 self-titled album (in 1990), on a 2-CD special edition of that album (in 2009), and on Re:Call 1, part of the Five Years (1969–1973) compilation (in 2015).
Recording
David Bowie used a child's Rosedale Electric Chord Organ, obtained from Woolworths, on both LP and single versions of the song to give a "classic Ivor Cutler/harmonium feel". Producer Tony Visconti recalled Bowie "always had a hard time playing the organ and singing part one of the song".
The late reworking of the song also featured a Moog synthesizer played by classical music producer Ralph Mace and programmed by Chris Thomas. Mace would play the instrument again on the recording of The Man Who Sold the World (1970).
Track listing
"Memory of a Free Festival Part 1" (Bowie) – 3:59
"Memory of a Free Festival Part 2" (Bowie) – 3:31
Personnel
According to Chris O'Leary:
Album version
David Bowie – lead vocal, Rosedale electric chord organ
Mick Wayne – lead guitar
Tim Renwick – rhythm guitar
John Lodge – bass
John Cambridge – drums
Unknown musicians – baritone saxophones
Tony Visconti – producer, arranger, backing vocals
Bob and Sue Harris – backing vocals
Tony Woollcott – backing vocals
Marc Bolan – backing vocals
"Girl" – backing vocals
Single version
David Bowie – lead vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar, chord organ
Mick Ronson – guitar, backing vocals
Tony Visconti – bass, backing vocals, string arrangement, producer
Ralph Mace – Moog synthesiser
John Cambridge – drums
Unknown musicians – strings
Other versions
Bowie performed the song during a session for radio's The Sunday Show on 5 February 1970; it was broadcast on 8 February. An edited take of this performance was included on the 2000 compilation, Bowie at the Beeb. Bowie also performed the song during the 1973 Ziggy Stardust tour, as the third part of a medley which began with "Quicksand" and "Life on Mars?" (one such performance, from the Glasgow Apollo on 15 May 1973, has appeared on several bootleg albums). The Mike Garson Band, the name given to Bowie's backing group on his Philly Dogs tour, closed their supporting set with a soul-influenced version of the song on Bowie's 1974 US tour. The performance from the Radio City Music Hall, New York City on 28 October 1974 was included on the bootleg album Infected with Soul Love.