Album

Reality

by David Bowie

Released15 September 2003

LabelColumbia

Popularity71.5

Also cited16 September 2003

alternative rock rock art rock pop rock art pop

Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗Deezer ↗Podcast cover

Reality is David Bowie's twenty-fourth studio album, released on 15 September 2003. It was his second record on his own ISO label, made in New York between January and May 2003 with longtime collaborator Tony Visconti co-producing. Bowie wanted songs that would work on stage, so most of the playing came from his touring band. The result is a more direct, mostly straightforward rock record than its predecessor, Heathen. It includes covers of the Modern Lovers' "Pablo Picasso" and George Harrison's "Try Some, Buy Some", plus "Bring Me the Disco King", a song that dates back to 1992.

Ageing runs through the lyrics, alongside portraits of despairing, diminished characters. Critics largely welcomed it, praising the vocals and a growing maturity in the writing. It reached number three in the UK and number 29 in the US. The A Reality Tour followed, but it ended early when Bowie was hospitalised with a blocked artery. Ten years passed before The Next Day.

Chart	Peak
UK Albums Chart · 2003	3
US Billboard 200 · 2003	29
Danish Albums · 2003	1
European Albums (Billboard) · 2003	1
French Albums · 2003	2
Norwegian Albums · 2003	2
Austrian Albums · 2003	3
Belgian Albums (Wallonia) · 2003	3
German Albums · 2003	3
Scottish Albums · 2003	3

Belgian Albums (Flanders) · 2003	4
Italian Albums · 2003	4
Swedish Albums · 2003	5
Swiss Albums · 2003	5
Irish Albums (IRMA) · 2003	6
Portuguese Albums · 2003	6
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) · 2003	8
Canadian Albums (Billboard) · 2003	9
Australian Albums (ARIA) · 2003	13
Dutch Albums · 2003	14
New Zealand Albums · 2003	14
Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ) · 2026	25
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) · 2003	25
UK Independent Albums · 2014	42
Japanese Albums (Oricon) · 2003	47

Source	Date	Note
MusicBrainz	15 September 2003
Wikipedia infobox	15 September 2003
Wikidata	16 September 2003
US release	16 September 2003	earliest US date
UK / Europe release	2003	earliest UK or European date

Date	Country	Label	Barcode	Kind
—	XW	Rhino	5054197573934	other
—	US	Columbia	886972663029	other
2003	RU	Columbia	4606817020505	other
2003	US	Columbia	827969074329	other
2003	XE	Columbia	5099751255536	other
2003	AU	Columbia	9399700114096	other
2003	AU	Columbia	9399700112054	other
2003	AU	ISO Records	5099751255567	other
September 2003	XE	Columbia	5099751255598	other
15 September 2003	AT	ISO Records	5099751255529	original
16 September 2003	US	Columbia	827969057629	other
16 September 2003	US	Columbia	827969066027	other
26 September 2003	JP	Sony Music Japan International Inc.	4547366012163	other
26 September 2003	JP	Sony Records International	4547366012170	other
4 November 2003	US	Columbia	827969075265	other
18 February 2004	JP	—	4547366014624	deluxe
6 June 2007	JP	Sony Records International	4582192934630	other
27 March 2013	JP	Sony Records International	4547366192988	other
17 March 2014	XE	Music on Vinyl	8718469533671	other
21 January 2022	XW	Rhino	5054197615313	other

Source	Size	Verdict
deezer ✓	1200×1200	upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25)
coverartarchive	1152×1139	upscaled
fanarttv	1000×1000	upscaled

Region	Certification
France · 2003	Gold
New Zealand	Gold
United Kingdom	Gold

Reality

Reality: tracklist, credits and charts

Tracklist

Line-up

Singles

Peak chart positions

Certifications

Released the same week

Also released on 15 September

More from David Bowie

The best of 2003

More on Columbia

Releases and pressings