I am listening to a David Bowie compilation I made the other day. He has released “only” 26 studio albums and yet he has also released a staggering 46 compilation albums. There can’t be that many artists that have so many compilations, although a few do come to mind. Elvis would be one.
Anyway, here’s my suggested track list for a "47th compilation" album that does not (as far as I know) include any songs on any of those 46!
Nothing from the eponymous 1967 album. From Space Oddity 1969: God Knows I’m Good, Janine. The Man Who Sold the World 1970: After All, Running Gun Blues. A subdued album; not a favourite. Hunky Dory 1971: Eight Line Poem, Kooks. His best album maybe? The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars 1972: Lady Stardust, Star*. Just about everything else has appeared on compilations. ( * this track may have been on one or more of the official compilations.)
Aladdin Sane 1973: Lady Grinning Soul, Cracked Actor, Watch That Man. He could really do no wrong at this stage. Pin Ups 1973: Shapes Of Things. Bowie was years ahead of his time with this covers collection idea which is old hat now. Diamond Dogs 1974: Sweet Thing > Candidate > Sweet Thing, We Are The Dead. For me not the failed-concept-album that some feel it is.
Young Americans 1975: Across The Universe. My least favourite 70s album. Station to Station 1976: Word On A Wing. Everything else has been included in a compilation. Used to listen to the title track in the dark. Low 1977: Always Crashing In The Same Car, What In The World. Heroes 1977: Sons Of The Silent Age, Joe The Lion, The Secret Life Of Arabia. The two sides of tunes from these two albums combined would have created his best album maybe.
Lodger 1979: Look Back In Anger, Red Sails, Repetition. Grown on me over the years. Scary Monsters 1980: Because You’re Young. The last truly great album; I remember taping it off the radio a few days prior to its release. In fact I am not overly keen on anything that came after 1980 too much but I’ll put The Hearts Filthy Lesson from 1995’s not-too-bad Outside on the compilation
Hi there FMF. Clearly a massive 'Bowie' fan, and a fascinating trawl through his albums and the great tracks that havent been 'cherry picked' so far.
I always have a 'little argue' so let's get that out of the way! You say DB was 'years ahead' by doing a covers album. Didn't Bryan Ferry of Roxy also bring out HIS 1st covers album (These Foolish Things) also in 1973? It may be a controversial stand to yourself, but I would say that the BF album is better than the DB one.
Anyway, my main focus on Bowie is the 'holy trinity' of Hunky Dory/Ziggy, Aladdin Sane . As you say, most already on compilations. I think 'Cracked Actor' is a 'cracking' track. Excellent sexual content for a (then) 16 year old! On the other hand, what was he doing on 'Watch that Man'. It is so badly mixed that his lyrics come out as a fuzzy mess. You will no doubt tell me it is genius!
Thanks for an informed post, I shall play Hunky Dory now
Nick
Originally posted by st dominics previewI think everyone should always be about to play Hunky Dory.
Hi there FMF. Clearly a massive 'Bowie' fan, and a fascinating trawl through his albums and the great tracks that havent been 'cherry picked' so far.
I always have a 'little argue' so let's get that out of the way! You say DB was 'years ahead' by doing a covers album. Didn't Bryan Ferry of Roxy also bring out HIS 1st covers album (These Foolis ...[text shortened]... doubt tell me it is genius!
Thanks for an informed post, I shall play Hunky Dory now
Nick
I can't say I am a big fan of Pin Ups. If Ferry beat him to the idea then that's good. I shall dig out These Foolish Things because I don't remember it well. The two of them were ahead of their time in their various ways.
In a way I think Cracked Actor and Watch That Man, along with Queen Bitch, John I'm Only Dancing and Jean Genie, kind of 'belong' on Ziggy Stardust.
Yes a great trilogy there but I am also taken with the Low-Heroes-Lodger one, maybe on account of my age.
What would be your ten song compilation from Hunky-Ziggy-Aladdin? I'll reply to your with mine.
An interesting one for me is 1974's David Live which I like very much and rate as his best live album. This flies in the face of the very negative attitude to it by Bowie himself along with plenty of disparagement from the music critics, if I'm not mistaken. "Cracked Actor" on David Live has loads of grit and balls. It also has the definitive version (out of the two that exist) of the Sweet Thing suite.
Hi there. I like that game, and will reply on the thread, as very music related and (hopefully) interesting to others.
I am afraid My choices would be 'singles related', but here goes, in a suggested 'album order'
5 Years (the introduction of 'saw you...' is genius
Life On Mars
Drive In Saturday (LOVE this track, no wonder Mott wanted it!)
Suffragette City
Song For Bob Dylan (Dylan fan, Bowie pastiches his lyrics brilliantly)
Changes
Queen Bitch
Cracked Actor (of course ~ when I first heard 'forget that I'm 50, cause you
just got paid ' I thought it would NEVER apply to me! ...not
that I have ever paid!!! )
Jean Genie
Rock and Roll suicide
In my 'youth' (early 70's) you were either an Alice Cooper fan, or DB. I went with the Coopster
Originally posted by st dominics previewFive Years
5 Years
Life On Mars
Drive In Saturday
Suffragette City
Song For Bob Dylan
Changes
Queen Bitch
Cracked Actor
Jean Genie
Rock and Roll suicide
Oh You Pretty Things
Ziggy Stardust
Aladdin Sane
Queen Bitch
Lady Grinning Soul
Life On Mars?
Cracked Actor
Lady Stardust
Rock And Roll Suicide
Subs bench: Moonage Daydream, Changes, Watch That Man