Written by: David Bowie
Recorded: 26 January 1967
Producer: Mike Vernon
Engineers: Gus Dudgeon
Released: 14 April 1967
Available on:
Laughing With Liza
Personnel
David Bowie: vocals
Pete Hampshire: guitar
Dek Fearnley: bass guitar, vocals
Bob Michaels: organ
John Eager: drums
Unknown: bassoon, oboe
‘The Gospel According To Tony Day’ was the b-side of ‘The Laughing Gnome’, David Bowie’s 1967 novelty single.
The song was recorded at Decca Studios on 26 January 1967, with the original title ‘The Gospel According To Tony Day Blues’.
On January 26 we were at the Decca studios all day recording ‘The Laughing Gnome’ and ‘The Gospel According To Tony Day’. Bob Michaels, organist with Dave Antony’s Moods, was on the session.
The Pitt Report
Although both songs were recorded during the sessions for Bowie’s debut album, they were always intended as a standalone single. ‘The Laughing Gnome’ was released on 14 April 1967 but failed to chart in the UK.
On 24 December 2007 a 7″ acetate disc was auctioned on eBay for $1,800. It contained a different version of ‘The Laughing Gnome’ on one side, with the released version of ‘Tony Day’ on the other. The latter song was listed on the label as ‘Gospel’.
The 2010 deluxe reissue of Bowie’s debut album contained the original 1967 mono mix of ‘The Gospel According To Tony Day’, plus a new stereo mix by Peter Mew and Tris Penna.