David Bowie – Sense Of Doubt (1978)

Sense Of Doubt was originally a track from David Bowie’s 1977 album, “Heroes”. And then a live version was subsequently on the 1978 album, “Stage”.

The audio of Sense Of Doubt used here is from the 2005 remaster of “Stage”. “Stage” was recorded live at the Philadelphia, Boston and Providence shows, in Spring 1978.

Also included on this video is a excerpt from Neuköln, a track from David Bowie’s 1977 album, “Heroes”.

The footage we see is from the show at Dallas Convention Centre, in Texas, on the 10th of April, 1978. The show was shot by RCA as a promotional film for “Stage”. Thankfully the 21 minute film survived in great quality, and is easily the best record we have of the ’78 tour.

This video was originally planned as an extra track to be included on the end of the Blackout – Live 1978 video, that I uploaded yesterday. However, I also wanted to include another music and interview excerpt at the end, so then the thing became too long, uneven, unwieldy. Also, when I’m searching for music videos on the net, I usually prefer stand-alone songs.

During the ’78 tour, Sense of Doubt was the next track in the set, and both are from the “Heroes” album. In it’s own right, this is not a tremendously exciting video. Please just consider it a companion video to Blackout – Live 1978.

I didn’t change anything in the Dallas footage, just matched the audio from “Stage” note for note. Looking at the footage, one wonders – were the audience members really jumping up and down and cheering during Sense Of Doubt? It seems unlikely to me. Perhaps, some of the footage is random B-roll that the original filmmakers threw in due to a shortage of actual Sense Of Doubt footage, or to try make things a bit more exciting?

Also included on this video is part of Alan Yentob’s 1978 feature on Bowie that he made for the BBC 2’s Arena Rock program. The show was recorded, during the tour on the 16th of May 1978 in Berlin. I have included the section that features Neuköln – another of the dark “ambient” Bowie/Eno instrumental tracks from the “Heroes” album – and scenes shot around contemporary Berlin by Yentob’s crew. It’s nicely done and appropriate because Neukölln (correctly spelled with a double “L”) is a district of Berlin. And of course Berlin was Bowie’s home, at the time. I have replaced the rather scratchy Neuköln audio from the show, with a clean high quality version.

Hope you dig it!

Do me an’ yerself a favor – watch it in the H’est D available, with the sound UP LOUD!

If anyone has any other footage, or ideas for another video project, of material from Bowie’s classic period, do please get in touch: nachomarcho@gmail.com

Putting this video together was another huge labour of love, made with respect for the source.

I don’t own the rights, and I’m not making any money out of this etc. Just a fan making videos for other fans.

Nacho. 12.12.2016.