LISTEN: Wilco Share Cover of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”

Chicago’s finest honor the Thin White Duke on his 77th birthday

January 8, 2024January 8, 2024 Ron Hart 0 Comments 2024, David Bowie, Jason Isbell, John Prine, Live on Mountain Stage, Lucinda Williams, NPR Music, Oh Boy Records, Sierra Ferrell, Space Oddity, Steve Earle, Tyler Childers, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Wilco

David Bowie would have turned 77 today.

And to honor his heavenly birthday, Chicago’s own Wilco have shared a special cover of his 1969 hit single “Space Oddity.”

David Bowie Space Oddity, RCA Records 1969

“As a gratefully, if not begrudgingly, Earth-bound band, it’s always an honor and a challenge to tackle any of David Bowie’s space-soaring arrangements,” the band said in a statement. “Striving to reach the heights of his freedom and talent is a wise goal for any band. We thank Mountain Stage for letting us give this song another home on Earth.”

Wilco have performed the song live in the past, but this rendition was recorded last year and will appear on a forthcoming compilation collecting performances from NPR Music and West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s legendary Mountain Stage program, which turns 40 in 2024. Other acts to be featured on the album, entitled Live on Mountain Stage: Outlaws and Outliers, include John Prine, Jason Isbell, Lucinda Williams, Tyler Childers, Sierra Ferrell, Steve Earle and the late John Prine among others. It will be released on April 19th via the Prine Family’s Oh Boy Records.

See the full tracklist and listen to Wilco’s “Space Oddity” below.