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DAVID BOWIE

Prog Related • United Kingdom


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David Bowie biography
David Robert Jones - Born 8 January 1947 (Brixton, London, UK) - 10 January 2016

He started making music in the late fifties (saxophone) and eventually played in a number of blues/rock bands, releasing his first single Liza Jane with The King Bees in 1964, he also changed his stage name to David BOWIE to avoid confusion with Davy Jones from THE MONKEES. BOWIE demonstrates several traits that single him out as a song-writer of interest to followers of Progressive music: narrative story-telling & characterisation, non-standard song structures, musical eclecticism and a variety of singing styles that have a wide vocal range and mixture of different tones & timbres to suit individual songs and stage personas.

⭐ Collaborators Top Prog Album of 2016 ⭐

Formative years. The Deram Years and Beckenham Art Labs

From 1966 until 1968 David BOWIE was under contract with Decca's Deram label. In 1967 he released his first album, a psychedelic pop album with music hall/cabaret overtones that show manager Ken Pitt's desire to form BOWIE into an 'all-round entertainer' like Tommy Steele and Anthony Newley when BOWIE's own aims were more Jacques Brel, Bertolt Brecht and Bob Dylan. The album and singles weren't much of a success, but reveal BOWIE's ability to craft simplistic sounding songs that were anything but the whimsical pop they first appear to be, rarely following pop or rock conventions many of these songs are mini-concepts or narratives with dark, subversive, dystopian and 'taboo' themes that he would develop in his later career. Marred by the uninspired addition of superfluous string arrangements the music of this early period has been captured by the Deram Anthology released in 1997 which also contains a number of previously unreleased tracks.

At the start of 1969 David was at a low point in his career. Together with some friends he decided to organise a Folk Club at the Three Tuns. It was an immediate success and soon developed into an Arts Laboratory - attracting talent from all over London and the south east. Musicians who played at the Arts Lab included Peter Frampton, Steve Harley, Dave Cousins and the Strawbs, Rick Wakeman, Tony Visconti and Mick Ronson. There was a lot more than music at the Beckenham Arts Lab. Visual artists created original works, poets gave readings, there were light shows, street theatre...
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DAVID BOWIE Videos (YouTube and more)


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DAVID BOWIE discography


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DAVID BOWIE top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.37 | 193 ratings
David Bowie
1967
3.35 | 378 ratings
Space Oddity [Aka: David Bowie, Man of Words / Man of Music]
1969
4.00 | 453 ratings
The Man Who Sold the World
1970
4.16 | 610 ratings
Hunky Dory
1971
4.26 | 789 ratings
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
1972
3.86 | 433 ratings
Aladdin Sane
1973
3.00 | 244 ratings
Pin Ups
1973
3.60 | 336 ratings
Diamond Dogs
1974
2.85 | 251 ratings
Young Americans
1975
4.06 | 411 ratings
Station to Station
1976
4.12 | 505 ratings
Low
1977
4.08 | 477 ratings
Heroes
1977
3.48 | 282 ratings
Lodger
1979
4.08 | 419 ratings
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
1980
3.19 | 304 ratings
Let's Dance
1983
2.32 | 169 ratings
Tonight
1984
2.23 | 97 ratings
David Bowie & Trevor Jones: Labyrinth (OST)
1986
2.26 | 145 ratings
Never Let Me Down
1987
3.06 | 136 ratings
Black Tie White Noise
1993
3.21 | 100 ratings
The Buddha Of Suburbia (OST)
1993
3.66 | 202 ratings
1. Outside
1995
2.98 | 195 ratings
Earthling
1997
3.39 | 164 ratings
Hours...
1999
3.74 | 217 ratings
Heathen
2002
3.31 | 167 ratings
Reality
2003
3.86 | 245 ratings
The Next Day
2013
4.48 | 460 ratings
Blackstar
2016
3.48 | 18 ratings
Toy
2021

DAVID BOWIE Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.93 | 73 ratings
David Live
1974
3.89 | 90 ratings
Stage
1978
3.94 | 36 ratings
Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars-The Motion Picture Soundtrack
1983
4.07 | 28 ratings
Santa Monica '72
1994
2.33 | 3 ratings
Rock'n'Roll Suicide
1995
3.81 | 32 ratings
Bowie at the Beeb
2000
3.49 | 26 ratings
Live in Santa Monica'72
2008
4.11 | 43 ratings
A Reality Tour
2010
4.72 | 13 ratings
Cracked Actor (Live Los Angeles '74)
2017
4.75 | 13 ratings
Live Nassau Coliseum '76
2017
4.26 | 10 ratings
Welcome to the Blackout (Live London '78)
2018
3.88 | 15 ratings
Glastonbury 2000
2018
3.89 | 9 ratings
Glass Spider (Live Montreal '87)
2019
3.93 | 10 ratings
Serious Moonlight (Live '83)
2019
4.00 | 6 ratings
Ouvrez le chien: Live Dallas 95
2020

DAVID BOWIE Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

3.62 | 22 ratings
The Best of Bowie
2002
4.00 | 1 ratings
A Reality Tour
2004
3.78 | 9 ratings
Serious Moonlight, Live In Vancouver
2009

DAVID BOWIE Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.50 | 2 ratings
The World Of David Bowie
1970
4.00 | 2 ratings
Images 1966 - 1967
1973
3.62 | 34 ratings
ChangesOneBowie
1976
3.98 | 22 ratings
Soundtrack Christiane F. - Wir Kinder Vom Bahnhof Zoo
1981
3.83 | 12 ratings
Changestwobowie
1981
3.67 | 3 ratings
Rare
1982
2.05 | 3 ratings
Fame and Fashion (David Bowie's All Time Greatest Hits)
1984
3.34 | 10 ratings
Sounds + Visions
1989
4.53 | 15 ratings
Changesbowie
1990
3.53 | 26 ratings
The Singles Collection
1993
4.40 | 5 ratings
The Singles 1969 to 1993
1993
2.70 | 11 ratings
The Deram Anthology 1966-1968
1997
3.83 | 6 ratings
London Boy
1998
4.67 | 3 ratings
The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974
1998
4.67 | 6 ratings
The Best of David Bowie 1974/1979
1998
4.00 | 5 ratings
All Saints (Collected Instrumentals 1977 - 1999)
2001
3.47 | 36 ratings
Best of Bowie
2002
3.71 | 7 ratings
The Collection
2005
4.50 | 4 ratings
The Platinum Collection
2005
4.00 | 10 ratings
The Best Of David Bowie 1980/1987 (CD + DVD)
2007
4.00 | 5 ratings
iSelect
2008
4.67 | 6 ratings
Nothing Has Changed
2014
4.80 | 5 ratings
Bowie Legacy
2016
3.96 | 4 ratings
Loving the Alien (1983 - 1988)
2018
4.00 | 2 ratings
Mercury Demos
2019
3.08 | 3 ratings
The Width of a Circle
2021
3.18 | 2 ratings
Divine Symmetry
2022

DAVID BOWIE Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.50 | 2 ratings
Liza Jane (as Davie Jones with The King Bees)
1964
3.00 | 1 ratings
I Pity the Fool (The Manish Boys)
1965
3.00 | 2 ratings
You've Got a Habit of Leaving (as Davy Jones)
1965
3.67 | 3 ratings
Rubber Band
1966
4.00 | 1 ratings
Can't Help Thinking About Me
1966
3.00 | 1 ratings
Do Anything You Say
1966
3.00 | 1 ratings
I Dig Everything
1966
4.50 | 2 ratings
Love You Till Tuesday / Did You Ever Have a Dream
1967
4.00 | 3 ratings
The Laughing Gnome
1967
3.50 | 2 ratings
Rubber Band (US version)
1967
4.71 | 12 ratings
Space Oddity / Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud
1969
3.00 | 13 ratings
Memory Of A Free Festival
1970
3.00 | 1 ratings
Ragazzo Solo, Ragazza Sola
1970
4.75 | 4 ratings
All the Madmen
1970
3.00 | 2 ratings
The Prettiest Star
1970
3.00 | 2 ratings
Holy Holy
1971
0.00 | 0 ratings
David Bowie / Dana Gillespie
1971
3.21 | 10 ratings
Starman / John, I'm Only Dancing
1972
3.86 | 9 ratings
Changes / Andy Warhol
1972
4.71 | 7 ratings
Starman / Suffragette City
1972
3.67 | 3 ratings
The Jean Genie
1972
4.00 | 7 ratings
Time / The Prettiest star
1973
3.00 | 3 ratings
Let's Spend the Night Together
1973
3.00 | 4 ratings
Sorrow / Amsterdam
1973
4.75 | 8 ratings
Life on Mars?
1973
3.50 | 2 ratings
Drive-in Saturday
1973
3.50 | 2 ratings
Knock on Wood
1974
4.50 | 4 ratings
Rock 'n' Roll Suicide
1974
4.00 | 2 ratings
1984
1974
3.82 | 8 ratings
Rebel Rebel
1974
4.00 | 5 ratings
Diamond Dogs
1974
3.80 | 5 ratings
Young Americans / Suffragette City
1975
3.00 | 4 ratings
Fame
1975
3.75 | 4 ratings
Golden Years / Can You Hear Me
1975
3.67 | 3 ratings
TVC 15
1976
3.33 | 3 ratings
Stay
1976
3.67 | 3 ratings
Be My Wife
1977
3.26 | 8 ratings
Heroes
1977
3.89 | 9 ratings
Sound and Vision / A New Career in a New Town
1977
3.80 | 5 ratings
Beauty and the Beast
1978
3.67 | 3 ratings
Breaking Glass
1978
3.00 | 3 ratings
Boys Keep Swinging
1979
2.00 | 1 ratings
D.J.
1979
3.33 | 3 ratings
John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)
1979
3.50 | 2 ratings
Alabama Song
1980
2.75 | 4 ratings
Fashion
1980
4.30 | 10 ratings
Ashes To Ashes
1980
3.00 | 2 ratings
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
1981
3.89 | 16 ratings
David Bowie In Bertolt Brecht's Baal
1982
3.04 | 8 ratings
Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
1982
3.20 | 5 ratings
Modern Love
1983
3.83 | 6 ratings
Let's Dance
1983
3.00 | 4 ratings
China Girl
1983
2.50 | 2 ratings
Tonight
1984
2.20 | 6 ratings
Blue Jean
1984
3.00 | 1 ratings
Loving the Alien
1985
4.00 | 1 ratings
Man in the Middle (Arnold Corns A.K.A. David Bowie and The Spiders from Mars)
1985
4.00 | 3 ratings
This Is Not America (with Pat Metheny Group)
1985
3.00 | 2 ratings
When the Wind Blows
1986
4.50 | 2 ratings
Absolute Beginners
1986
4.00 | 1 ratings
Underground
1986
4.00 | 1 ratings
Day-In-Day-Out
1987
4.00 | 1 ratings
Never Let Me Down
1987
4.00 | 1 ratings
Time Will Crawl
1987
3.75 | 7 ratings
1966 [Aka: I Dig Everything: The 1966 Pye Singles]
1989
3.07 | 8 ratings
Jump They Say
1993
3.50 | 2 ratings
Earthling in the City
1997
4.00 | 2 ratings
Little Wonder
1997
3.00 | 1 ratings
Thursday's Child
1999
4.00 | 3 ratings
Liveandwell.com
2000
3.00 | 1 ratings
John, I'm Only Dancing
2012
3.90 | 10 ratings
Where Are We Now?
2013
3.90 | 10 ratings
The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
2013
3.77 | 24 ratings
No Plan
2017
3.00 | 2 ratings
Is It Any Wonder?
2020

DAVID BOWIE Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Santa Monica '72 by BOWIE, DAVID album cover Live, 1994
4.07 | 28 ratings

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Santa Monica '72
David Bowie Prog Related

Review by TenYearsAfter

4 stars David Bowie on the brink of international fame.

In the autumn of 1972 David Bowie and his band started an extensive USA tour, his first live American radio broadcasting was at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on October 20th. This show was put legally on a CD in 1994 (after beiing a popular bootleg for a long time) and it is dedicated to the late Mick Ronson (1946 - 1993). Mick Ronson played many years with Bowie and is responsible for legendary guitar riffs on Bowie hits like Rebel Rebel and The Jean Genie. Mick Ronson also played with Bob Dylan, Ian Hunter, Van Morrison, Elton John, Lou Reed, Roger McGuinn and Roger Daltrey, for me he is one of the great archetypical rock and roll guitarplayers and on this live Bowie CD he really shines!

In the early 70s David Bowie was on the brink of international R&R stardom, I love his voice from that era. This live album captures his very distinctive voice in its most purest form, from tender to raw. And always with that expressive undertone and in great balance with Mick Ronson his mindblowing rock and roll guitarwork, what an exciting combination!

And how fascinating is the contrast and tension between the mellow songs and the up-tempo rock and roll tracks in which Ronson and Bowie add an extra dimension to the music. Like in Five Years (great vocals), Hang On To Yourself, Queen Bitch and The Jean Genie (catchy and powerful guitar riffs riffs) and the moving ballad Rock 'N' Roll Suicide (emotional vocals and fiery wah-wah drenched guitar runs).

In the long track The Width Of A Circle we can enjoy Jimi Hendrix inspired excertitions on guitar, Mick Ronson in full splendor!

Bowie and his band played two covers. First My Death (excellent, very compelling vocals), from legendary Belgian singer Jacques Brel. And second Waiting For The Man (strong build-up and climax with biting guitar runs), from Lou Reed. Halfway Mick and Bowie play an 'unplugged' session on acoustic guitar (Bowie on a 12-string) featuring songs like Space Oddity and Andy Warhol, it sounds wonderful.

What a thrill, early Bowie, and his guitar player Mick Ronson (both R.I.P.), nicknamed 'my Jeff Beck' by Bowie, in a time when Art-rock was hot (like Queen, Roxy Music and 10CC).

 David Bowie & Trevor Jones: Labyrinth  (OST) by BOWIE, DAVID album cover Studio Album, 1986
2.23 | 97 ratings

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David Bowie & Trevor Jones: Labyrinth (OST)
David Bowie Prog Related

Review by Warthur
Prog Reviewer

2 stars Most people coming to this soundtrack album will only be interested in the Bowie tracks, and of these your response will likely hinge on whether Labyrinth was an eye-opening part of your childhood or just an odd fantasy movie that kind of came and went at some point back in the 1980s. For the former, reviewing this is almost pointless - Magic Dance will bring a smile to your face even if you're fully aware of the pop artifice involved. For the latter... well, if you want a complete picture of what Bowie was doing in the 1980s, this will be a likely stop on your journey, but the bits you want are extracted on the Re:Call 4 compilation from the Loving the Alien box, which you may find a better deal given how stuffed to the gills it is.
 David Bowie In Bertolt Brecht's Baal by BOWIE, DAVID album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 1982
3.89 | 16 ratings

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David Bowie In Bertolt Brecht's Baal
David Bowie Prog Related

Review by Warthur
Prog Reviewer

4 stars This brief EP consists of Bowie performing the songs he performed in a TV production of Baal, an early Brecht musical. His theatrical style lends itself well to the material, and a certain Brecht influence could perhaps be heard on his early 1960s pre-Space Oddity material, so it's a logical combination of performer and material, and the chamber folk style of much of the material ends up offering a different sonic approach both to what Bowie did immediately before this (Scary Monsters) and right afterwards (Let's Dance). A full album of this stuff might have ended up being a bit much - though if that idea appeals to you, try out his 1967 debut, because it kind of offers that (though Bowie was not as good a songwriter as Brecht at that point in his career) - but as a quick EP, this is charming.
 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by BOWIE, DAVID album cover Studio Album, 1972
4.26 | 789 ratings

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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie Prog Related

Review by gbjones

3 stars I agree with the reviewers who say this is not his best work, and it's not even progressive really. Out of all the Bowie albums this one gets the greatest number of ratings and I think the highest score too, but there's a reason why Bowie is considered prog RELATED. The songs are mostly top 40 oriented and have sort of a cacophonic edge to them that for me is just unpleasant listening. The exceptions would be the very first song, Five Years, and Starman (which along with the song Space Oddity might be the two best tunes he ever did). There IS a concept holding the album together and I suppose people like that sort of thing; other than that I don't really see this as prog. Listeners who want prog would be better served by the albums Hunky Dory and The Man Who Sold the World. Credit to Bowie for having such a variety though; he's all over the map from prog to not prog to straight rock and roll. I really want to give this two stars but I'm going to give it three, just barely, and not a penny more.
 Heroes by BOWIE, DAVID album cover Studio Album, 1977
4.08 | 477 ratings

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Heroes
David Bowie Prog Related

Review by sgtpepper

4 stars "Heroes" comes as the second in a row of three Berlin inspired records produced by Eno. The structure of the record is similar to the previous one - experimental pop music followed by instrumental synth supported reflective tracks. As a fan of Eno from this era and Bowie in general, I didn't expect any moment of disappointment here and so it went. Production is great with modern mid 70's dance rock beats, solid guitar, great bass playing. Keyboards are the most experimental instrument, credits to Eno. Songwriting is very good, not only succeed the first and third track to be catchy, they were inspirational at their time thanks to their sound, lyrics. However, melody is not the most important element on this record as it attempts to glue the instruments, expressions, textures and lyrics together as one unit - a rather holistic approach. "V-2 Schneider" marks the return of the Bowie-Eno active instrumental collaboration. Bowie contributes some good saxophone lines, non-intrusive vocals. I love dark Eno's textures such as on "Sense of doubt" with synth layers - the feeling reminding me of "Warszawa". This track could go on for double time. "Moss garden" explores Japanese sounding main instrument - a great relaxing moment that can still capture you ear by sonic details. "Neukölln" perfectly combines more traditional synths/organ, dark guitar and oriental sounding saxophone. The result is a dark and reflective moment to indulge in. The bonus track includes another instrumental "Abdulmajid" with a pulsating Kraut-rock rhythm, recommended! Bowie and Eno were still on top of their contemporary game with this album.
 Hunky Dory by BOWIE, DAVID album cover Studio Album, 1971
4.16 | 610 ratings

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Hunky Dory
David Bowie Prog Related

Review by DangHeck
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Onto another from Bowie that I'm so excited to hear through again (just over a year after my Man Who Sold the World review). It's also been some time since I've heard Hunky Dory, and really, despite my extreme admiration for Bowie, he's not an artist/band I find myself returning to with any real intention. Of course we have Mick Ronson on guitar, and we get a return from the great Rick Wakeman, who plays piano on all but two songs. Let's jump right into it!

Our start is the ever-popular hit single "Changes", which has such a striking sound, though it won't be alone in its sonics for too long. It's funky at times (for Whitey), but is otherwise an artsy Pop ballad. And an incredibly effective one at that. And the way the chorus vocals are ramped up to the max is just a choice. Firmly entering his Glam era (Praise the Lord), "Oh! You Pretty Things" is such a great display of what kind of wild, artsy bullsh*t Glam thankfully had to offer; and David Bowie was foremost in this experimentation. Still indebted to the Edwardian-reverential vibes of pure Psych Rock, there's something likewise very familiar and of-that-time strewn through. As with this last one, Bowie takes the keys on "Eight Line Poem", in Wakeman's stead. The sweetness and softness of the lead guitar reads similar to George Harrison to me; slightly more rootsy than it is bluesy.

Following this slight, though still appropriate lull is the monumental "Life on Mars?". Sprawling and epic, this ballad is of course as essential a Sinatra-slight as you can find. What's hard for me to express, as much as I enjoy this song, it doesn't strike me as even Bowie essential (let alone Rock essential). It is lovely. But also, how 'Rock' can Trad-esque Pop even be? Up next is "Kooks", another more overt glance backwards, bearing similarities to the lilting Baroque Pop of his earliest albums, though introducing once again more Music Hall and (broadly) Roots 'n Blues. This is followed by "Quicksand", one I'm not sure I remember all too well from my years-now-gone last listen. To be frank, this feels like the more emotional, more boring material from Glam contemporaries T. Rex (I'm whatever the opposite of a fan is). Approaching minute 2, we finally get some interest, as rhythm section suddenly ramps up in the mix (from nothing). Regardless, as is to be expected for Hunky Dory, there's still quite a lot of interest, but really only in the second half; that first bit was painful slogging for me.

Pouring into the second side of the disc, we have the fun, light "Fill Your Heart". With little in the way of drums (literally just some brushing on the high-hat), this has a forward drive that'll make you tap your foot (if you aren't terribly depressed). And I believe the first time hearing Bowie on tenor sax since "Changes", this is a welcomed addition. Approaching minute 3, through to its end, Rick gives us an increasingly more boogie-woogie thang on the 88s. If you couldn't stand that, maybe you'll be excited about the expectedly artful track "Andy Warhol", which has studio chatter of David making sure 'Warhol' was spelled correctly. This has such a good sound, reminiscent to me, thanks to the acoustic strumming and light percussion specifically, of early America. Got a real kick out of the lines "He'll think about paint / And he'll think about glue / What a jolly boring thing to do". At its darkest moment, fast approaching its end, it honestly reminded me of Comus! Interesting.

In another devotion, David gives us "Song for Bob Dylan", a playful tune squarely in Dylan's style (the Folk-Rock thing). Interestingly enough to me, though this is in that Roots-Folk vein, I hear echoes of what Glam Rock would become, in part; I distinctly think of Mott The Hoople here. Next is "Queen Bitch", the heaviest in a bit, and some sincere Proto-Punk Glam Rock. Additionally, to glance even further ahead, this song gives me vaguely Britpop vibes ('Britpop' should have a hyphen in it, obviously...). And finally, here we go back into spacy Folk territory with "The Bewlay Brothers". It's pretty lovely and has a mysteriousness about it that I'm definitely pulled into.

To be honest once again, Hunky Dory, classic as its greatest bits most certainly are, is not a phenomenal album. But those awesome bits are worth the trek.

True Rate: 3.25/5.00

 Liveandwell.com by BOWIE, DAVID album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 2000
4.00 | 3 ratings

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Liveandwell.com
David Bowie Prog Related

Review by Warthur
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Originally an exclusive to subscribers to Bowienet - David Bowie's odd foray into running an ISP he undertook in the late 1990s - liveandwell.com has now become more generally available thanks to a rerelease in the Brilliant Live Adventures series, trimming back the extra disc of remixes (no great loss) and adding in a couple more live tracks in the form of Pallas Athena and V2 Schneider (the latter in a version extremely different from the one on Heroes).

Rather than presenting one integral show, the set consists of picks from various dates on the Earthling tour, and is very much skewed towards material from that album and Outside. This may be a dealbreaker to some - but if you think Bowie's forays into industrial and dance of the mid-1990s were an intriguing experiment, this might be of interest to you, and if you are curious about what he was doing at the time this makes about as good a case for the material as can be made.

 Divine Symmetry by BOWIE, DAVID album cover Boxset/Compilation, 2022
3.18 | 2 ratings

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Divine Symmetry
David Bowie Prog Related

Review by sl75

3 stars Another archival box set, focusing on 1971 and the lead up to Hunky Dory - this time there are 4 CDs, plus a Blu-Ray audio disc (which I haven't checked out yet), plus two booklets (one of which, a reproduction of one of his notebooks, will probably be amazing for serious collectors but pointless for people like me who just want to hear the music).

The first disc is all demo recordings, including of several songs that never made it to an album (although two were reworked and retitled for the Scary Monsters album 9 years later). The second two discs are live recordings, two from radio broadcasts, and one from a show at Friars Aylesbury. The final disc is alternative mixes of the tracks from Hunky Dory (or recorded during those sessions, such as Bombers and Amsterdam).

My main takeaway from hearing all these early versions? It really becomes clear that Rick Wakeman was crucial to the musical success of Hunky Dory, once you hear what many of these songs sounded like without him - it is Wakeman's piano that lifts songs like Kooks, Fill Your Heart and Song For Bob Dylan out of the ordinary, it is Wakeman's piano (and Mick Ronson's string arrangement) that lifts Quicksand from nice to sublime. Life On Mars would have been an extraordinary song whoever played on it, but again it's Wakeman who makes the biggest contribution.

One of the unfamiliar songs (Looking For A Friend) was apparently written for the Arnold Corns project, which makes one wonder where the rest of the Arnold Corns recordings are - unless they're saving them for a future Ziggy-focused box set?

Really a collectors/fans release that should be two stars, but because this is by far and away my favourite era of Bowie, I can't rate it less than three.

 Heroes by BOWIE, DAVID album cover Studio Album, 1977
4.08 | 477 ratings

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Heroes
David Bowie Prog Related

Review by VianaProghead
Prog Reviewer

5 stars Review Nº 590

"Heroes" is the twelfth studio album of David Bowie and that was released in 1977, in the same year of his previous album, "Low". This is his second studio album from his "Berlin Trilogy", with the collaboration of Brian Eno. The others are "Low" and "Lodger". It developed further the sound of "Low". Of the three albums, it was the most befitting of the appellation Berlin, being the only one wholly recorded there. This is also considered one of his best musical works.

"Heroes" has ten tracks. All songs were written by David Bowie, except "Heroes", "Moos Garden" and "Neukoln", all written by David Bowie and Brian Eno, and "The Secret Life Of Arabia" written by David Bowie and Carlos Alomar. The first track "Beauty And The Beast" was issued as the second single taken from this album. It's a song with a disjointed musical combination of piano, guitar, electronics and voice. It features Robert Fripp on lead guitar and the synthesizer work by Brian Eno. This is a great song to open the album and is brilliantly performed. The second track "Joe The Lion" features also the lead guitar of Robert Fripp. The song is a tribute to the American performance artist Chris Barden, who became famous for him have be nailed to a Volkswagen in 1974. This is a very disjointed music track, which demonstrates clearly the influence of German krautrock music on the album. The third track is the title track "Heroes". It was the song chosen to be released as the first single of the album. It remains as one of the best and most known songs of Bowie and became also one of his most covered songs. It's a classic story of two lovers who meet and come together in the shadow of the Berlin Wall, known in history as the "Wall of Shame". It's the great highlight of the album and is also one of the highlights of all Bowie's musical career, a truly classic Bowie's song. The fourth track "Sons Of The Silent Age" is, according to Eno, the only song of the album composed prior to the recording sessions, and it could have been the title for the album. It's a most dark and oppressive song than the previous, with a delicious saxophone work. This is a fine song very enjoyable to hear. The fifth track "Blackout" is a very schizophrenic song with several chaotic and noisy musical moments. It returns to the musical style of the tracks 1 and 2, but with more aggressiveness and musical tension. It has a huge combination of driving beat, great guitar and synthesizers sequences, and frantic vocals. The sixth track "V-2 Schneider" was the song of the album chosen to be released as the B side of the single "Heroes". It was a tribute to Florian Schneider, the co-founder of Kraftwerk and is also a reference to the V-2, a German rocket in WW II. It's an excellent track clearly influenced by the electronic music, especially the music of Kraftwerk. The seventh track "Sense Of Doubt" is the first instrumental track that continuous the influence of electronic and krautrock music. It was the song chosen to be released as the B side of the single "Beauty And The Beast". This is one the darkest, desperate, emotional and oppressive tracks on the album. It represents one of my favourite musical moments too. The eighth track "Moss Garden" is the second instrumental track on the album. It features Bowie playing a koto, a traditional Japanese string instrument. This is a very beautiful piece of music, very tranquil and ethereal, that contrasts with the preceding track. It represents a perfect fusion between the traditional and the electronic music. The ninth track "Neukoln" is the third and last instrumental track on the album. This is another magnificent track with a special Arabian touch. Neukoln is a district of Berlin and the music can reflects, in part, the ruthlessness of the Turkish immigrants who made up a large portion of the area's population. The final section features a wonderful saxophone performance that can transmit to us a touching desperate call. The tenth and last track "The Secret Life Of Arabia" is a more traditional Bowie's song with an exotic mixture of eastern, jazz and funky. Despite be a good song, it breaks, in a certain way, the musical ambience on the album. So, it closes the album, somehow, in a strange way. I rader really would prefer that "Neukoln" was the last song on the album. If that had happened, it would have been the perfect ending to the album.

Conclusion: "Heroes" is, definitely, a great album and is one of the best David Bowie's albums. It developed even further the sound of "Low" and perfectly shows the recent new discoveries of the electronic soundscapes by Bowie, which transport his musical world to a new and darker musical territory. "Heroes" is a great art rock album that captures perfectly the spirit of the electronic and krautrock music and captures also the age of the new wave music. It also shows strongly the great Brian Eno's musical influence all over the album, especially on the second side of the album. Everybody knows the huge influence of Eno in the new wave music, especially in bands like Ultravox. Finally, we can't forget the participation of Robert Fripp, on lead guitar duties, complementing perfectly well Carlos Alomar. We can't also forget the musical collaboration between Fripp and Eno, on an ambient musical project, with the albums "(No Pussyfooting)" and "Evening Star". So, to have Fripp and Eno on a single Bowie's album is a remarkable thing, indeed.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

 Aladdin Sane by BOWIE, DAVID album cover Studio Album, 1973
3.86 | 433 ratings

BUY
Aladdin Sane
David Bowie Prog Related

Review by VianaProghead
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Review Nº 584

"Aladdin Sane" is the sixth studio album of David Bowie and that was released in 1973. It was the follow up studio album to his breakthrough previous studio album "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars". It was also the first David Bowie's album that he wrote and released as a real rock star. Despite many critics agree that it contains some of his best musical material, the general opinion about its overall quality, has often been a bit divided. However, it was one of the five Bowie's entries in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The others are: "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars", "Hunky Dory", "Low" and "Station To Station".

The line up on "Aladdin Sane" is David Bowie (vocals, guitar, harmonica and saxophone), Mick Ronson (vocals, guitar and piano), Trevor Bolder (bass guitar) and Mick "Woody" Woodmansey (drums). The album had also the participation of Mike Garson (piano and synthesizers), Ken Fordham (saxophone and flutes), Brian "Bux" Wilshaw (saxophone and flutes), Juanita "Honey" Franklin, Linda Lewis and G. A. MacCormack (backing vocals), as guest artists.

"Aladdin Sane" has ten tracks. All songs were written by Bowie except "Let's Spend The Night Together" written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richard. The first track "Watch That Man" was very probably a real shock for those who were used to Bowie's music because it represents a real cut with his usual sound. This is a Bowie's version of a typical Stones' rock song. It isn't a bad song, but sincerely it isn't my cup of tea. This is one of my less favourite songs on the album. The second track is the title track "Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)". It's without any doubt the most experimental track on the album. This is a completely different song. It's a chaotic and decadent track, and I specially love the avant-garde way of playing the piano. The final result is an amazing and excellent piece. The third track "Drive-In Saturday" was the second single of the album and was released a week before the album. It's a song strongly influenced by doo-wop style of music and it returned to the post apocalyptic Bowie's future world. This is a very futurist nostalgic nice song with some interesting and good lyrics. The fourth track "Panic In Detroit" is a very interesting and good song that is based probably on descriptions of revolutionary riots that occurred in 1967 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Musically, it's a typical glam rock song with an excellent percussion work and beautiful female backing vocals. The fifth Track "Cracked Actor" is a hard rock song clearly inspired in L.A. The song has various allusions to sex and drugs, and is about an encounter of a Hollywood star with a prostitute. It's an energetic song, very nice and pleasant enough to listen to. The sixth track "Time" was the third song of the album chosen to be a single. It's a song which was based in the Broadway Vaudeville cabaret music, in the style of Jacques Brel, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill. This is an excellent and brilliant track with a very dark and decadent style, and once more we have an amazing piano work. The seventh track "The Prettiest Star" was the song chosen to be released as the B side of their single, "Time". It was also a song originally released as a single in 1970. Bowie wrote it for his first wife Angela Barnett. The version on the album is a track with a more glam rock influence. This is another good song on the album, a love song with very good quality. The eighth track "Let's Spend The Night Together" is also a song of the album released as a single. It's a cover of a Stones' song, originally released as a single by The Rolling Stones in 1967. Sincerely, and like "Watch That Man", it's another song that definitely isn't my cup of tea. This is undoubtedly my less favourite track on the album. The ninth track "The Jean Genie" was the first song chosen to be released as a single to promote the future release of the album. It became the big hit single of the album. It's a very good straight rock song with a killer riff and science fiction lyrics. This is without any doubt the most famous song on the album and it became also an essential classic Bowie's song. The tenth and last track "Lady Grinning Soul" was composed in the style of being a soundtrack of a James Bond movie. Once more we have another amazing piano work on this album. This is a song with a very warm musical atmosphere wonderfully sung by Bowie. Definitely, this is one of my favourite songs of the album and represents an excellent way to close the album.

Conclusion: "Aladdin Sane" was an album written when David Bowie released his "Ziggy Stardust" live tour. Most of the songs were composed on the road during his 1972 American tour. It was essentially a real development of "Ziggy Stardust" in its appearance but in an American style. Bowie himself described it as simply "Ziggy Goes To America". However, it seems to me that "Aladdin Sane" is a very different album from "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars". Musically, we are in presence of a very different musical work and it has also, in my humble opinion, a little bit less quality than its predecessor. So, "Aladdin Sane" remains an excellent album and an essential Bowie's piece of music, as almost many other David Bowie's albums, but it isn't part of my favourite albums from him.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

Thanks to micky for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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