Shameless Self-Promotion...DAVID BOWIE

ralph · 11 May 2009

Buddah ...is far from dreadful. The title track, "Sex And The Church", "The Mysteries", "Strangers When We Meet", "Dead Against It" are some of the best things he's done. It's a bit all over the map style-wise, split between actual songs and instrumental drift, but I think it's a fine album and a worthy addition to the catalog.

I'd also suggest the two disc Bowie At The Beeb for a wonderful overview of BBC Bowie from "London Bye Ta Ta" to Ziggy. And the Ziggy material on this set is at times better than the actual album as the energy level is stunning. A must have for Bowie fans in my opinion.

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

I agree with you on the Beeb, but I rank Buddha, Labyrinth, & Black Tie as his 3 worst.

ralph · 11 May 2009

Geff R. wrote:

I agree with you on the Beeb, but I rank Buddha, Labyrinth, & Black Tie as his 3 worst.

Never heard Labyrinth, but I think Black Tie has a few good tracks, and "Jump They Say" is brilliant.

Also a big fan of Earthling, Heathen, Hours and Reality, which a lot of people seem to dislike. But my fave Bowie will always be Hunky Dory, would love a deluxe treatment of that. Maybe once the catalog ownership reverts back to Bowie in 2012 that will happen.

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

I'd love to see a deluxe HD also. Though some of the related tracks have been released on the Ziggy 2 disc & the Ryko Man Who Sold.

Main thing I know of left from HD would be the Bowie/Gillespie BBC session & the Arnold Corns Waiting For A Friend/Man In The Middle single. Also don't remember if Bombers is on anything EMI, it was on the Ryko HD.

Also agree with you on Earthling & Hours, & think the other 2 you mentioned are ok.

richman666 · 15 Nov 2006

I have the 3-CD "Bowie At The Beeb," so I'll be including that in my appraisal of his catalog. If I find Buddha Of Suburbia cheap enough in the next month or so, I'll include that as well, but it doesn't sound like it's essential (and I already own the rest of his studio albums).

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

Geff R. wrote:

Rich, being a huge DB fan & collector, I would suggest you spend a but of time with the early stuff before starting. At minimum, check out:

the 2 cd UK Decca comp, and either the USA "Early On" comp or the UK "1966" (Can't Help Thinking About Me is on both, & is probably the first recorded instance of DB sounding like the Bowie we came to know), & I also suggest one of the pre Mercury boots (at minimum you have to hear "Little Toy Soldier"), as DB's unoffical material from the time was also a bit more like Ziggy period (& less British music hall) than the official releases. One other boot really worth hearing for a definitive Bowie exploration is the BBC session that included Dana Gillespie & Arnold Corns. It includes a rather amazing hard rock version of Andy Warhol & more.

I just learned something. I've owned both for years but never connected the dots before: Little Toy Soldier which I mentioned above is heavily borrowed from the Velvet's Venus in Furs. (I assume the VU recording came first). Not identical, but that may be why it's never been released (though if Reed & Bowie are still friends you'd think Reed would say "go for it").

richman666 · 15 Nov 2006

Geff R. wrote:

Rich, being a huge DB fan & collector, I would suggest you spend a but of time with the early stuff before starting. At minimum, check out:

the 2 cd UK Decca comp, and either the USA "Early On" comp or the UK "1966" (Can't Help Thinking About Me is on both, & is probably the first recorded instance of DB sounding like the Bowie we came to know), & I also suggest one of the pre Mercury boots (at minimum you have to hear "Little Toy Soldier"), as DB's unoffical material from the time was also a bit more like Ziggy period (& less British music hall) than the official releases. One other boot really worth hearing for a definitive Bowie exploration is the BBC session that included Dana Gillespie & Arnold Corns. It includes a rather amazing hard rock version of Andy Warhol & more.

I just learned something. I've owned both for years but never connected the dots before: Little Toy Soldier which I mentioned above is heavily borrowed from the Velvet's Venus in Furs. (I assume the VU recording came first). Not identical, but that may be why it's never been released (though if Reed & Bowie are still friends you'd think Reed would say "go for it").

I guess I need to seek out Little Toy Soldier just for the VU comparison. I have a strong connection to that first VU album. Back in October 2001, my band at the time was the house band at a killer Halloween party in New York (my first celebration of any kind after 9/11) where we performed that VU album in it's entirety with various vocalists & guest musicians. I'm guessing I'll be able to find that Bowie song with a little searching online, right? I'll let you know when I hear it. Thanks for the suggestion, Geff.

richman666 · 15 Nov 2006

I continued my trawl through Bowie's back catalog at my blog, revisiting Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, Pinups and Diamond Dogs. Gotta love those Spiders From Mars:
http://kamertunesblog.wordpress.com/201 ... as-insane/

richman666 · 15 Nov 2006

I just wrote about a transitional period in Bowie's career during the mid-70s, including David Live, Young Americans and Station To Station. Even though it was only three albums, it took awhile to get into them, but it was worth the effort (especially for Station To Station). Here's a link to that post:

http://kamertunesblog.wordpress.com/201 ... hite-duke/

So, Bowie experts: Do I need to upgrade to the expanded edition of STS? Or is my Rykodisc version sufficient?

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

Richman, the biggest reason for the 3 disc S2S is the Nassau '76 concert. If you are a fan, yes you need that. Stacey Haydn is pretty stunning on guitar. An official release of that concert was one of my holy grails for many years. 3 of the live tracks are on the Ryko

It's also a much better sounding master of the regular album than the Ryko.

For sound quality comparisons, see viewtopic.php?f=17&t=53230&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=station&start=83

richman666 · 15 Nov 2006

Geff R. wrote:

Richman, the biggest reason for the 3 disc S2S is the Nassau '76 concert. If you are a fan, yes you need that. Stacey Haydn is pretty stunning on guitar. An official release of that concert was one of my holy grails for many years. 3 of the live tracks are on the Ryko

It's also a much better sounding master of the regular album than the Ryko.

For sound quality comparisons, see viewtopic.php?f=17&t=53230&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=station&start=83

Thanks for referring me to your previous post on STS. I had read about that mega box, which would be great to have, but the 3-CD set is a lot more affordable. I'm definitely adding it to my list. I'll probably get it after I'm finished revisiting his catalog.

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

I definitely recommend the 3 disc over the mega box.

richman666 · 15 Nov 2006

Geff R. wrote:

I definitely recommend the 3 disc over the mega box.

Thanks Geff. Your confirmation will save me about $100. Much as I'd like to hear the album in surround sound (of which I've read mixed reviews), and it would be cool to have the studio & live albums on vinyl, I couldn't justify spending that much on it. I've added the 3-disc version to my "must buy" list.

richman666 · 15 Nov 2006

Today (Jan. 8, 2012) is David Bowie's 65th birthday. Celebrate by listening to some of his amazing music as well as checking out my latest blog post. This time I discuss the so-called "Berlin Trilogy" (Low, "Heroes" and Lodger):
http://kamertunesblog.wordpress.com/201 ... 1977-1979/

Also, in case you missed my "Year In Review" post, you can find it here:
http://kamertunesblog.wordpress.com/201 ... view-2011/

As always, thanks for indulging me a little self-promotion.

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 13665

richman666 wrote:

Today (Jan. 8, 2012) is David Bowie's 65th birthday. Celebrate by listening to some of his amazing music as well as checking out my latest blog post. This time I discuss the so-called "Berlin Trilogy" (Low, "Heroes" and Lodger):
http://kamertunesblog.wordpress.com/201 ... 1977-1979/

Also, in case you missed my "Year In Review" post, you can find it here:
http://kamertunesblog.wordpress.com/201 ... view-2011/

As always, thanks for indulging me a little self-promotion.

Yeah, it may be Bowie's birthday, and Elvis's and Kreiger's, and Soupy Sales but it's mine so screw them!

richman666 · 15 Nov 2006

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

Yeah, it may be Bowie's birthday, and Elvis's and Kreiger's, and Soupy Sales but it's mine so screw them!

Sorry for the oversight, IP. I hope you, Bowie, Elvis (who's probably still alive), Krieger and Soupy (who definitely isn't alive) are all having a great birthday. I like the connection between Bowie & Soupy, since he played with two of Soupy's kids in Tin Machine. I'll be getting to those albums in a couple of weeks.

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 13665

richman666 wrote:

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

Yeah, it may be Bowie's birthday, and Elvis's and Kreiger's, and Soupy Sales but it's mine so screw them!

Sorry for the oversight, IP. I hope you, Bowie, Elvis (who's probably still alive), Krieger and Soupy (who definitely isn't alive) are all having a great birthday. I like the connection between Bowie & Soupy, since he played with two of Soupy's kids in Tin Machine. I'll be getting to those albums in a couple of weeks.

Yeah-that's a funny connection but I'd rather have no more birthdays than ever hear a Tin Machine album!
I'm reading the very long, detailed biography Starman that came out last summer and man, is it good (I had read segments before). 123 pages in and I'm only up to the "Space Oddity" single. What a great read and it's over 500 pages. Really well done and researched.
P.S.
Don't let that oversight happen again. :lol:

Charles · 19 Dec 2007

Nice writeups.....finally saw them today.

Don't forget, there was some old stuff before the 1st record back when he was Davy Jones (not the Monkee).
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000003SZW/?tag=imwan-20

I don't have this.....but have a couple of the songs are on various Nuggets collections.

richman666 · 15 Nov 2006

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

Yeah-that's a funny connection but I'd rather have no more birthdays than ever hear a Tin Machine album!
I'm reading the very long, detailed biography Starman that came out last summer and man, is it good (I had read segments before). 123 pages in and I'm only up to the "Space Oddity" single. What a great read and it's over 500 pages. Really well done and researched.
P.S.
Don't let that oversight happen again. :lol:

I came to the Tin Machine albums at least 10 years after they were released, and I remember thinking they weren't as bad as I expected. I'm curious to see what I think when I get to them in a week or two, after really getting to know all these classic Bowie albums.

I wish I had the time to read all the rock books I want to. I've had a bookmark on the same page of the Keith Richards book for the last 3 months. To supplement my Bowie listening, I've been reading through the Uncut special edition that came out a few months ago.

As for your future birthdays, it's been noted.

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

richman666 wrote:

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

Yeah, it may be Bowie's birthday, and Elvis's and Kreiger's, and Soupy Sales but it's mine so screw them!

Sorry for the oversight, IP. I hope you, Bowie, Elvis (who's probably still alive), Krieger and Soupy (who definitely isn't alive) are all having a great birthday. I like the connection between Bowie & Soupy, since he played with two of Soupy's kids in Tin Machine. I'll be getting to those albums in a couple of weeks.

Yeah-that's a funny connection but I'd rather have no more birthdays than ever hear a Tin Machine album!
I'm reading the very long, detailed biography Starman that came out last summer and man, is it good (I had read segments before). 123 pages in and I'm only up to the "Space Oddity" single. What a great read and it's over 500 pages. Really well done and researched.
P.S.
Don't let that oversight happen again. :lol:

OK, it's my turn............ Give TM #1 another chance. I think it's a very good album. I have to be in the mood for the style, but when in the mood i like it a lot.

In fact funny story: as a big DB fan I taken quite aback with TM when it first came out & bitched about it alot; until one night at a gig I noticed I was all of a sudden playing guitar A LOT like Reeves Gabrels!

richman666 · 15 Nov 2006

Charles wrote:

Nice writeups.....finally saw them today.

Don't forget, there was some old stuff before the 1st record back when he was Davy Jones (not the Monkee).
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000003SZW/?tag=imwan-20

I don't have this.....but have a couple of the songs are on various Nuggets collections.

Thanks Charles. I will probably go back to some of the albums & stray songs I don't already own sometime after I finish revisiting all the albums I already own. That applies to all the artists I've been covering at the blog. If I tried listening to every single, b-side, live recording, duet, soundtrack, bootleg, etc., I'd probably still be covering my first artist. If only I could live to the age of 200 (and still have my hearing).....

I appreciate you stopping by the blog. Glad you enjoyed the writeups.

richman666 · 15 Nov 2006

Geff R. wrote:

OK, it's my turn............ Give TM #1 another chance. I think it's a very good album. I have to be in the mood for the style, but when in the mood i like it a lot.

In fact funny story: as a big DB fan I taken quite aback with TM when it first came out & bitched about it alot; until one night at a gig I noticed I was all of a sudden playing guitar A LOT like Reeves Gabrels!

Geff, what about the second Tin Machine album? Also, do you consider these David Bowie albums, or are they separate from his catalog? I have them filed in the Bowie section on my CD shelves.

Shameless Self-Promotion...DAVID BOWIE

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