3.The Laughing Gnome

So,on 16 September 1965,Davie Jones became David Bowie,and it was the singer's first alter ego.

The most remarkable thing about Bowie's 1960s recorded output is that,with only one or two exceptions,it gives not the slightest hint of the greatness to come,save for one very important aspect: his innate sense of theatre.

A flop single in 1967,but a UK number 6 when re-released ( without Bowie's permission ) in 1973,'The Laughing Gnome' is a supremely catchy children's song.despite selling around a quarter of million copies in the UK alone,it has never appeared on any officially sanctioned collection or greatest hits.Bowie appears embarrassed by it,yet he should be proud.It's a lovely little song and,despite Bowie's reputation for cool,arty,more serious songs,it's surely time now for it to be reappraised.According to some sources,it's Bowie's tenth-biggest-selling UK single.The fact that in a recent poll Channel Four viewers voted it the 78th worst pop song ever,is likely to prolong its status as a banushed Bowie song.

The 'Laughing Gnome' is not the only song showing affinity for childhood.'When I'm Five' recorded in 1968 and inclued on the Love you Till Tuesday promo soundtrack is another song which sows a quite well-honed affinity with the quiddities of childhood;another is 'Rupert the Riley'.

Dungeon ( with whom Bowie collaborated on The Laughing Gnome): "I mean,it was pathetic,really.Technically it worked,but it's bloody embarrassing"

Here's a sample of the wit and widsom of Dungeon/Bowie:

Bowie: 'Ere,where do you come from?

Gnome: Gnome-man's land.

Bowie: Oh,really?

Or try this:

Bowie: 'Ere,what;s that clickin' noise?

Gnome: That's Fred - he's a metro-gnome!