Blackstar was recorded at The Magic Shop studio in New York City's SoHo neighborhood, with sessions taking place primarily between January 2015 and early 2016. The album was produced by David Bowie and longtime collaborator Tony Visconti, who also served as engineer and mixer. Bowie made the deliberate creative decision to work with a jazz ensemble rather than rock musicians, recruiting members of saxophonist Donny McCaslin's quartet, including bassist Tim Lefebvre, drummer Mark Guiliana, and keyboardist Jason Lindner, resulting in an experimental fusion of art rock, jazz, and electronic elements. The album was recorded in secrecy while Bowie was battling liver cancer, a diagnosis he kept private from all but his closest circle, and the lyrical and visual content of the album was later understood as a carefully crafted farewell statement. Blackstar was released on January 8, 2016, Bowie's 69th birthday, just two days before his death on January 10, and The Magic Shop studio, which had been a notable independent recording facility, closed its doors later that same year.
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2 cataloged · sorted by audiophile score
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ISO/Columbia/Sony — 88875173862
Standard CD is considered very good sounding; Joe LaPorta's mastering is praised as dynamic and well-balanced with no loudness war issues.
Columbia — 88875173871
Clear vinyl limited edition discussed on SHF; sonically identical to the black vinyl but collectible, with some members noting slightly more surface noise on colored pressings.