Rare (David Bowie album)

Rare is a compilation album by David Bowie, released in 1982 by RCA Records. It's noteworthy for featuring several tracks not previously released on Bowie's studio albums, offering a glimpse into his diverse musical experimentation. While not a comprehensive overview of his unreleased material, it served as a valuable collection for fans seeking less-accessible recordings.

The album's contents primarily consist of B-sides from various singles, BBC radio sessions, and other recordings not included on his main releases. This makes it a useful resource for exploring deeper into Bowie's creative process and stylistic variations during the period covered by the album. Specific track listings varied across different regional releases, adding to its collectible appeal. The compilation's significance lies not in presenting new material in the traditional sense, but in its curation of otherwise hard-to-find recordings, providing a unique perspective on Bowie's output. The album received mixed critical reception upon release, with some praising its eclectic nature and others criticizing its inconsistent quality. Its lasting legacy is primarily amongst dedicated Bowie collectors and those seeking a broader understanding of his career's breadth. Later releases and reissues of Bowie's work have made many of these tracks more readily available, however, ''Rare'' maintains its place as a historic snapshot of his back catalogue from that particular point in time.