US album release: Aladdin Sane

David Bowie’s sixth album, Aladdin Sane, was released in the United States of America on 20 April 1973.

Although commonly believed to have been released on 13 April 1973, Bowie’s official site stated in 2018 that the official date was actually 20 April – although in the UK it was brought forward by a day due to the Easter holiday.

Previously thought to have been issued on 13th April, 1973, new evidence has come to light that proves the release date was officially the 20th, but being Good Friday in the UK the album was ‘made available’ on the 19th.

Contemporary evidence does seem to bear this out. One full-page industry advertisement from MainMan in 1973 stated in large letters at the top: “Available April 19th”.

I wasn’t at all surprised Aladdin Sane made my career. I packaged a totally credible plastic rock star – much better than any sort of Monkees fabrication. My plastic rocker was much more plastic than anybody’s.

Aladdin Sane topped the UK charts, and was a top ten hit in Australia, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden. In the US it peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200.