Hear David Bowie’s Newly Unearthed Version of the Who’s ‘I Can’t Explain’

A different version of David Bowie’s cover of the Who’s “I Can’t Explain,” recorded roughly a year before the take the late icon put out on Pin Ups, has been unearthed for Rock ’N’ Roll Star!, an upcoming box set focusing on Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust era.

Even before putting the Who classic on his 1973 covers LP Pin Ups, Bowie was experimenting with the track during the recording sessions between 1972’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and 1973’s Aladdin Sane, with this rendition of “I Can’t Explain” put to tape on June 24, 1972, at London’s Trident Studios, where he recorded those aforementioned LPs:

This version of “I Can’t Explain” is more in line with the guitar-heavy sound of both the Who — it doesn’t deviate much from that band’s original take — and Ziggy Stardust, galloping at a faster pace than the slowed-down, sax-bolstered rendition Bowie would ultimately record at France’s Château d’Hérouville studio and release on Pin Ups.

The 5CD/1Blu-Ray Rock ’N’ Roll Star!, out June 14, includes 29 unreleased tracks, from demos to outtakes to live performances. Highlights include the rarity “Shadow Man,” the previously released acoustic demo of “Ziggy Stardust,” a hotel recording of “So Long 60s,” Bowie’s in-character live appearances as his Ziggy Stardust persona, and more.

In addition to the audio Blu-Ray, the collection is rounded out with two books: A reproduction of Bowie’s notebooks from the era and a 112-page book featuring liner notes, photographs, and more. Rock ‘n’ Roll Star! is available to preorder here.