Mick Ronson: Only After Dark - The Complete Mainman Recordings, 4CD Boxset

• Ziggy Stardust-era Bowie’s guitarist’s impressive solo releases.

When David Bowie announced at the Hammersmith Odeon on 3rd July 1973 that he (or, as it subsequently turned out, alter-ego Ziggy Stardust) was breaking up the band, manager Tony Defries glimpsed a golden opportunity for a new Bowie, particularly one who would also be under MainMan’s management. Thus it was that Bowie’s faithful right-hand man, Mick Ronson, was thrust into the spotlight.

With Bowie’s help, he contributed three songs to the set debut ‘Slaughter On 10th Avenue’, the LP reached the UK album charts Top Ten.

Buoyed by this success, Ronson then recorded a second album, ‘Play Don’t Worry’ - although before it could appear, he’d accepted Ian Hunter’s invitation to join Mott The Hoople.

The 4CD set, ‘Only After Dark’ chronicles his peripatetic solo work during the rest of the 70s after his split with Bowie, with those two official albums joined by B-sides, alternative versions, out-takes and a plethora of unissued-at-the-time studio recordings (including a handful with Guam, the backing band for Bob Dylan’s legendary 1975 Rolling Thunder tour) and various highlights from his live shows.

Featuring some rare photos and a lengthy new essay on his 70s career, ‘Only After Dark’ is the most comprehensive anthology to date of a major talent.

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