Know your Bowie!
I was quite horrified in the club recently, despite everyone recognising the legendry tune I was spinning, nobody knew what it was called.
Cliched as it sounds, “Starman” is a record that changed rock n roll overnight. While far from his best, its probably David Bowies, or (Ziggy Stardust as was his then persona) biggest commercial hit other than the eerie “Space Oddity (ground control to major Tom)”.
Released in 1972 the track is released on the amazing, and often quoted as his best album “The rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. ”
One can only quote the list of very different artists who quote Bowie as their icon, such is his diversity, a few being Marilyn Manson, Placebo, Culture Club, Def Leppard, REM, Nirvana, Kooks, Doves, and Soft Cell. I went off Oasis when they rubbished him!
Lets get started. Which Bowie Album should I get 1st?
Whats so great about Bowie is every track is different – this is an artist who continues to write new material with little regard for what anyone thinks of it. He could get millions for belting out his old hits but Bowie isnt about nostalgia.
His Glam Rock period is his most famous and for sheer rock n roll I would recommend “Aladin Sane”. Bear in mind that in 1972, rock music was an exclusive club, which had strict rules as to what was good and what wasnt. Rock was hard, masculine, denim clad and male.
Imagine the recation when David apeared having spent years as a struggling folk singer (having released the amazing but shockingly underlooked “Hunky Dory”) then strutted onto the scene in lycra, satin, Velvet and made up like a Japanese Geisha, quoting “rock music should be tarted up amd made into a parady of itself”. David was of course years ahead of his time, having divulged in an unknown scene over in New York, which in 1976 finally arrived in the Uk – punk. Camp and swish he might have been, but few artists can rock so hard...
Both Aladin Sane and Ziggy combine hard rock, with flamboyant swishes of synths, Sax, piano you name it, its in there somewhere, while sticking to the roots that made rock n roll – Jazz, r'n'b the Bo Diddely and Chuck Berry Riffs flying at you from all corners.
Download: “gene genie” that riff, I am sure, was ripped off by the Sweet for “blockbuster”, and “watch that man” is a belter. But for jaw dropping download moonage daydream from “ziggy stardust”
Chilling
Candidate for the best album ever to space out too – The 1st album, simply called David Bowie, later reissued as Space oddity.
Mellotrons, synths, electric effects, lyrics about “protein pills” need I say more? Combining the Blues with the afrementioned, this album was ahuge hit in 1969, and just has to be heard while sitting under the stars on a clear night. Download “spade oddity”
Thinking mans music
Well most of them, but Hunky Dory tackles taboo subjects in an absolutely unique way – Jazz influences abound. I would not buy this for a rock fan – this is art dressed as music and while genius, takes some getting used too. Download: “changes” or “life on mars” and you will see what I mean, the latter being more like a movie soundtrack – a stunning ballad.
The Man who sold the world title track was also covered by Nirvana and caused a row upon its release when Bowie arrived in the land of “the free” to be arrested for wearing “you have to understand dear, its a mans dress”
Something different
“Black Tie (white Noise) had a similar effect to me that Ziggy had on teenagers 20 years before its release when I was 14. This bizzare, gaunt, almost aryn figure captivated me with both his amazing dress sense as well as his eerie voice. Download “jump they say” and for the nostalgic minded, download “I know its gonna happen someday” - a tragic throwback to his glam heyday, rrecorded with the late Mick Ronson who was dying as he worked on it. Mick was tracially snatched from Bowie right at the top of the fame ladder and died aged just 42. This heartbreaking ballad is better than anything Jon Bon Jovi could write!
Rock as know it
How do you follow up Ziggy, one of the most defining albums ever? You dont. Bowie issues a complilation of covers! Critics howl in protest, but do we care?
Pin Ups is absolutely uniqe, and I love it. Compared to the magic of Ziggy, this album sounds like the pub singer Bowie was, for many years, actualy was – covers of the artits he grew up with, Pink Floyd, The Pretty Things, The, Yardbirds just a few. Its raw, ameteaur and so unexpected. Just take it as it is.
Download: Rosalyn – garage rock at its best, reminds me of Jet, as does “I wish you would”
Oh, did I forget Diamond Dogs?
Just go and download “Rebel Rebel” and see for yourself.
So there you go – have fun! And i cant be bothered discussing the Labyrynth soundtrack!