David Bowie

1947–2016 · English singer and songwriter

David Bowie (1947–2016) both wrote ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ and recorded it first, in 1970, as the title track of the album that shares its name. It was one of the quieter corners of an enormous catalogue — never a single, easy to overlook next to ‘Space Oddity’ or ‘Heroes’. Bowie later noted, with some amusement, that young fans would tell him ‘It’s cool you’re doing a Nirvana song’ — the clearest sign of how thoroughly the cover had eclipsed the source.

Who recorded it

Songs David Bowie recorded first

The Man Who Sold the World

Recorded it first — now often credited to Nirvana

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