Friday 24 July 2015

David Bowie album by album


Working in progress...


David Bowie  is a popular singer and significant art and media figure of the late 20th century. Born David Robert Jones in England on  8 January 1947, Bowie has been a major figure in the world of popular music for over four decades, and is renowned as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s. He is known for his distinctive baritone voice as well as the intellectual depth and eclecticism of his work. His androgynous appearance,  combined with his claim to be bi-sexual, was an iconic element to his image, particularly in the 1970s.

Bowie first caught the attention of the public in July 1969 when his song "Space Oddity" reached the top five of the UK Singles Chart. After a three-year period of experimentation he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with the flamboyant, androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust, spearheaded by the hit single "Starman" and the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Bowie's impact at that time, as described by biographer David Buckley, "challenged the core belief of the rock music of its day" and "created perhaps the biggest cult in popular culture." The relatively short-lived Ziggy persona proved merely one facet of a career marked by continual reinvention, musical innovation and striking visual presentation.

In 1975, Bowie achieved his first major American crossover success with the number-one single "Fame" and the hit album Young Americans, which the singer characterised as "plastic soul". The sound constituted a radical shift in style that initially alienated many of his UK devotees. He then confounded the expectations of both his record label and his American audiences by recording the minimalist album Low (1977)—the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno over the next two years. Low, "Heroes", and Lodger, the so-called "Berlin Trilogy" albums, all reached the UK top five and received lasting critical praise. After uneven commercial success in the late 1970s, Bowie had UK number ones with the 1980 single "Ashes to Ashes", its parent album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), and "Under Pressure", a 1981 collaboration with Queen. He then reached a new commercial peak in 1983 with Let's Dance, which yielded several hit singles. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles, including blue-eyed soul, industrial, adult contemporary, and jungle. He has not toured since the 2003–04 Reality Tour and has not performed live since 2006. Bowie's latest studio album The Next Day was released in March 2013.
David Buckley says of Bowie: "His influence has been unique in popular culture—he has permeated and altered more lives than any comparable figure." In the BBC's 2002 poll of the 100 Greatest Britons, Bowie was placed at number 29. Throughout his career, he has sold an estimated 140 million albums. In the UK, he has been awarded nine Platinum album certifications, 11 Gold and eight Silver, and in the US, five Platinum and seven Gold certifications. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him 39th on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time", and 23rd on their list of the best singers of all time.

Albums


David Bowie (1967)
This is fascinating. A quirky and very listenable and interesting album of songs. I've come to Bowie straight from looking at Elton John, and it's such a relief to encounter bold and clever lyrics playing around with a range of original themes and ideas. The oddity is the music hall style of the album. The voice is pure Anthony Newly, and the songs could come from either a playhouse or a theatre. This is not rock. Yet the lyrics have a rock sensibility, with a (perhaps at this stage purely coincidental) touch of Syd Barrett, and the delivery is knowing, arch and arty. Bowie was coming from a world of  Joe Brown, Tommy Steele, and Marty Wilde; but he also had an awareness of more rock orientated pop artist such as The Kinks and The Beatles, whose music hall influenced Sgt Peppers was recorded and released at the same time.

Back cover of US release
Other debut albums in the same year include Al Stewart's Bed Sitter Images; Van Morrison's Blowin' Your Mind; Captain Beefheart's Safe as Milk;  Strawberry Alarm Clock's Incense & Peppermint; Pink Floyd's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, which indicate that Bowie's  album is very much of its time. Yet it is also the work of someone who will become one of the most important, influential and fascinating musical and media figures of the late 20th century. It wasn't successful - apparently the album wasn't promoted, and it would be two years and a different record company before his next album.

I like the album. The quirky lyrics and somewhat daft 1967 approach combined with easy listening tunes make it an intriguing and listenable album. It's not a major album, and it's not on the same level as some of the other debut albums mentioned above, but it certainly beats almost every album that Elton John has released.

Released1 June 1967
Recorded14 November 1966 – 25 February 1967
StudioDecca, London
Genre
Length37
LabelDeram
ProducerMike Vernon

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Uncle Arthur"2:07
2."Sell Me a Coat"2:58
3."Rubber Band"2:17
4."Love You till Tuesday"3:09
5."There Is a Happy Land"3:11
6."We Are Hungry Men"2:59
7."When I Live My Dream"3:22
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Little Bombardier"3:23
2."Silly Boy Blue"4:36
3."Come and Buy My Toys"2:07
4."Join the Gang"2:17
5."She's Got Medals"2:23
6."Maid of Bond Street"1:43
7."Please Mr. Gravedigger"2:35
Total length:37:07

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Rating: 5

David Bowie / Space Oddity (1969)
More readily accepted by Bowie fans, critics and Bowie himself as the first "proper" Bowie album, as he is using his own voice, and the music is more rock focused. However, the songs and lyrics are pretty much the same as the first album, just different production, voice, and approach. I find it rather messy and lacking the quirky charm, energy and easy listening appeal of the first album. There is a lack of direction about it all, with a different feel to each song, sometimes Al Stewart, sometimes so it all feels rather random and amateurish. The first track "Space Oddity" was a hit as a single, allowing Bowie to buy a flat, and to feel excited about his future as an artist. But the album itself sold poorly, and Bowie drifted for a while before hitting success again with the "Starman" single and the Ziggy Stardust tour. The album was re-released in 1972 under the name Space Oddity, but has recently been returned to its original name. "Space Oddity" and "Memory of a Free Festival" provide nice moments, but mostly the album is  boring and difficult to listen to all the way through without some impatience. "Letter to Hermione" is one of Bowie's rare personal songs. It's about the break up of his relationship with Hermione Farthingale,  She is also the girl in "An Occasional Dream" and "Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed". In the video accompanying "Where Are We Now?" he wore a t-shirt with the words "Song for Norway", a film for which she left him to act in. They appeared together in the film Love You Till Tuesday. She is the girl with mousy hair in "Life On Mars?"

Released14 November 1969[1]
RecordedJune–September 1969
StudioTrident, London
Genre
Length45
LabelPhilips (UK)
Mercury (US)
Producer

Side one
  1. "Space Oddity" – 5:16
  2. "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" – 6:55
  3. "Letter to Hermione" – 2:33
  4. "Cygnet Committee" – 9:35
Side two
  1. "Janine" – 3:25
  2. "An Occasional Dream" – 3:01
  3. "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" – 4:52
  4. "God Knows I'm Good" – 3:21
  5. "Memory of a Free Festival" – 7:09

Wikipedia
AllMusic
Rating: 2 1/2

The Man Who Sold The World (1970)
This is the first album in which we get to hear the classic Bowie. The song structures are quite mature, and Bowie's voice is now fully developed so he uses it in those expansive styles that we recognise and value. We also have Mick Ronson on guitar, a significant part of early 70s Bowie. And Tony Visconti producing. The classic team has been assembled, and the sound on this album is focused so it feels like an album. How successful it is will be up to each listener, but it's certainly an album that intrigues, and encourages attention and repeat listening. Released shortly before Bowie and the team started recording were albums by Van der Graf GeneratorBlack Sabbath, and The Stooges.  Elements of these three areas of music - prog, heavy metal, and hard rock, are present in the album. A number of musicians at the time were playing around with blues rock and also with dark lyrics and themes, so there's nothing really innovative in this album, and at times the songs seem secondary to what is going on elsewhere - "Saviour Machine" and "She Shook Me Cold" for example; but the last two tracks on Side Two, the title track, and "Supermen", are worth the price of entry and indicate that this Bowie chap might be a little bit interesting. Unfortunately for Bowie, as they are right at the end of the album, and the rest of the songs are nothing special, this album didn't sell, and he had to wait a little longer for his breakthrough. While the first two albums (especially the first) are mostly disregarded by Bowie listeners, this one does get a little attention - particularly as during Bowie's creative peak when everything he touched turned to gold, he gave the title track to Lulu and produced the recording. Later, Nirvana also recorded the song in a stunning Unplugged performance. The Width of a Circle tends to get attention; though it's not an achieved song such as The Man and Superman, it shows promise, and it both shows the way Bowie would go, and also, interestingly, what elements of prog rock he would leave behind.

Glen Miller and "The Man Who Wasn't There" (1939), a possible inspiration for "The Man Who Sold The World".

Released4 November 1970
Recorded18 April – 22 May 1970
StudioTrident, London; Advision, West London
Genre
Length40
LabelMercury
ProducerTony Visconti

Side one
  1. "The Width of a Circle" – 8:05
  2. "All the Madmen" – 5:38
  3. "Black Country Rock" – 3:32
  4. "After All" – 3:52
Side two
  1. "Running Gun Blues" – 3:11
  2. "Saviour Machine" – 4:25
  3. "She Shook Me Cold" – 4:13
  4. "The Man Who Sold the World" – 3:55
  5. "The Supermen" – 3:38

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Rating: 6

Hunky Dory (1971)
This is an astonishing album. Possibly Bowie's best. It is crammed full of really, really good songs that stand alone as special, and when taken as a group make for a very satisfying and rewarding album to rival Lou Reed's Transformer, which, of course, Bowie produced during his creative peak when everything he touched turned to gold. It was not this album that broke Bowie, and that's chilling. That someone could make an album as good as this, with such catchy songs as Changes and O You Pretty Things, and someone who had already had a hit single, and yet despite favourable reviews it gets largely ignored by the public and unpromoted by the record company. How many other really great albums are there out there that are as yet undiscovered? If it hadn't been for "Starman", and for the critics picking up on the concept story of Ziggy Stardust and hyping Bowie, this album and Bowie's others would likely have been discontinued, and Bowie would have given up and become an art teacher or something.

When Bowie broke into the mainstream, this album was part of his back catalogue, and everyone was looking toward his future albums rather than toward his past, especially as his back catalogue was being confused with the release of his juvenalia, such as "The Laughing Gnome". However, over time people have gone back to this and found it exquisitely rewarding. Opinions are divided as to which is Bowie's greatest album, but for many this is it - an album unhyped, unpromoted, largely undeclared. An album that reveals itself uniquely and individually to each listener.

Released17 December 1971
Recorded8 June – 6 August 1971
StudioTrident, London
GenreArt pop
Length41
LabelRCA
Producer

Side one
  1. "Changes" – 3:37
  2. "Oh! You Pretty Things" – 3:12
  3. "Eight Line Poem" – 2:55
  4. "Life on Mars?" – 3:43
  5. "Kooks" – 2:53
  6. "Quicksand" – 5:08
Side two
  1. "Fill Your Heart" (Biff RosePaul Williams) – 3:07
  2. "Andy Warhol" – 3:56
  3. "Song for Bob Dylan" – 4:12
  4. "Queen Bitch" – 3:18
  5. "The Bewlay Brothers" – 5:22

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Rating: 9 1/2

Ziggy Stardust (1972)
The album that made him a star.

Released16 June 1972
Recorded9 July, 8, 11–12 & 15 November 1971, 4 February 1972
StudioTrident, London
Genre
Length38
LabelRCA
Producer

Side one
  1. "Five Years" – 4:42
  2. "Soul Love" – 3:34
  3. "Moonage Daydream" – 4:40
  4. "Starman" – 4:10
  5. "It Ain't Easy" (Ron Davies) – 2:58
Side two
  1. "Lady Stardust" – 3:22
  2. "Star" – 2:47
  3. "Hang On to Yourself" – 2:40
  4. "Ziggy Stardust" – 3:13
  5. "Suffragette City" – 3:25
  6. "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" – 2:58

TV appearances
"Starman" TOTP live vocal.  July 192. The moment he became a star.

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
5Years
Rating: 7

Aladdin Sane (1973)
A return to the Hunky Dory approach of an album of assorted songs. There's some very good songs here, some of my favourites, with at times great lyrical imagery, and occasional brilliant music. However, the album is a little uneven, and doesn't have both the consistency, variety, and charm of Hunky Dory.

Released13 April 1973
Recorded6 October 1972, 4–11 December 1972, c. 18–24 January 1973[1]
StudioTrident, London; RCA, New York City
Genre
Length40
LabelRCA
Producer

Side one
  1. "Watch That Man" – 4:30
  2. "Aladdin Sane (1913–1938–197?)" – 5:06
  3. "Drive-In Saturday" – 4:33
  4. "Panic in Detroit" – 4:25
  5. "Cracked Actor" – 3:01
Side two
  1. "Time" – 5:15
  2. "The Prettiest Star" – 3:31
  3. "Let's Spend the Night Together" (Mick JaggerKeith Richards) – 3:10
  4. "The Jean Genie" – 4:07
  5. "Lady Grinning Soul" – 3:54

TV appearances
"The Jean Genie" Live RnB version on TOTP January 1973
"Drive In Saturday" Live on Russel Harty Show January 1973


Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Rating: 8

Pin Ups (1973)
I really liked this when it was released. My friends and I would enthusiastically discuss his choices, and how close he was to the originals, or what he had done differently. It was a record of its time - an insight into the most fascinating pop figure of the time, and a re-stirring of some classic 60s music. Released at the same time as Brian Ferry's excellent These Foolish Things, it was cool and interesting, and seemed the very thing that cool and interesting musicians should do. But today it is significantly less interesting. Some of the covers are embarrassing, especially when Bowie plays the sax. Only a few tracks have stood the test of time - "Sorrow" being the main one (with Ken Fordham playing the sax this time).

Released19 October 1973
Recorded8 July – August 1973[1]
StudioChâteau d'HérouvilleHérouville, France
Genre
Length33
LabelRCA
Producer

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Originally byLength
1."Rosalyn"Duncan,  FarleyPretty Things2:27
2."Here Comes the NightBert BernsThem3:09
3."I Wish You WouldArnoldThe Yardbirds2:40
4."See Emily Play"Syd BarrettPink Floyd4:03
5."Everything's Alright"The MojosThe Mojos2:26
6."I Can't Explain"Pete TownshendThe Who2:07
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Originally byLength
1."Friday on My Mind"Young, VandaThe Easybeats3:18
2."SorrowFeldman, Goldstein GottehrerThe McCoys2:48
3."Don't Bring Me Down"Johnnie DeePretty Things2:01
4."Shapes of Things"Samwell-SmithMcCartyRelfThe Yardbirds2:47
5."Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere"Roger Daltrey, TownshendThe Who3:04
6."Where Have All the Good Times Gone"Ray DaviesThe Kinks2:35

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Rating: 3


The Astronettes (late 1973)

Diamond Dogs (1974)
A return to a rock orientated concept album. This one about a dystopian future. Savaged by the critics on release (mainly because it was seen as a step backward to Ziggy), this has been unfairly ignored since. The music, to me, is more adventurous and interesting than Ziggy - utilising some of the jazz ideas from Aladdin Sane to more vigorous effect. And "Rebel Rebel", though clearly a Rolling Stones copy, is one of Bowie's best rockers. I suppose it all comes down to which story appeals the most - a disturbing exploration of a disintegrating future society, or a story of an alien who forms a rock band. Most people prefer the Ziggy story. I quite like the Diamond Dogs story. Each to their own.

Released24 May 1974[1]
RecordedJanuary–February 1974
StudioOlympic and Island, London; Ludolph, Nederhorst den Berg, Netherlands
Genre
Length38
LabelRCA
ProducerDavid Bowie

Side one
  1. "Future Legend" – 0:58
  2. "Diamond Dogs" – 5:56
  3. "Sweet Thing" – 3:37
  4. "Candidate" – 2:39
  5. "Sweet Thing (Reprise)" – 2:31
  6. "Rebel Rebel" – 4:30
Side two
  1. "Rock 'n' Roll with Me" (Bowie/Warren Peace) – 3:57
  2. "We Are the Dead" – 4:58
  3. "1984" – 3:27
  4. "Big Brother" – 3:21
  5. "Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family" – 1:58

Wikipedia
AllMusic
Rating: 7 1/2

David Live (1974)
I'd forgotten this album, and listening to it again now, I remember why I had forgotten it. Though it may hold some historic curiosity as indicating Bowie's new interest in Philadelphia soul, which he would explore on his next album, it's really not worth the listen. It's truly dreadful. There may be some track on it worth hearing, but I haven't bothered listening to the whole thing to find out. The single from the album, "Knock on Wood", is good, but the rest deserves to be forgotten.

Released29 October 1974
Recorded10–13 July 1974
VenueTower TheaterUpper Darby, Pennsylvania
Genre
Length81
LabelRCA
ProducerTony Visconti

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."1984"3:21
2."Rebel Rebel"2:42
3."Moonage Daydream"5:10
4."Sweet Thing8:48
Total length:20:01
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Changes"3:36
2."Suffragette City"3:46
3."Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)"4:58
4."All the Young Dudes4:19
5."Cracked Actor"3:29
Total length:20:08
Side three
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Rock 'n' Roll with Me"Bowie, Warren Peace4:19
2."Watch That Man"4:23
3."Knock on WoodEddie FloydSteve Cropper3:08
4."Diamond Dogs"6:34
Total length:18:24
Side four
No.TitleLength
1."Big Brother4:11
2."The Width of a Circle"8:14
3."The Jean Genie"5:19
4."Rock 'n' Roll Suicide"4:49
Total length:22:33 (81:06)

Wikipedia
AllMusic
Rating: 2 1/2

Young Americans (1975)
I really like this album. I like soul, and this is one of the albums that helped me to get into it. Though it wasn't the only one. Soul music was getting pretty big and pretty cool in the mid 70s, and disco was about to break huge. Other albums I was listening to around this time (and possibly Bowie also) were Halls & Oates Abandoned Luncheonette, Grover Washington, Jr.'s  Mister Magic, Stevie Wonder's Innervisions,  as well as hit singles like "Rock The Boat",  "Love Train",  "Hang In On There Baby", "Funky Stuff",  "Never Can Say Goodbye" (the album version, as that is what I rushed out to buy when I heard it on the radio - and I've just learned that this extended mix by  Tom Moulton is considered something of a first, giving Moulton the title of  "father of the disco mix"), "Rock Your Baby",  "Summer Breeze", and "Sad Sweet Dreamer".

The title track is one of Bowie's best songs. Perfect. Great music, great lyrics, and one of his best (possibly his greatest) vocal performances."Fame", another great song and hit single,  was co-written with John Lennon and Carlos Alomar. - the riff that Carlos developed was copied that same year by James Brown for "Hot (I Need To Be Loved The rest of the album is a bit hit and miss, but the album is important as it really drove home that here was a person willing to explore music interests, and who enjoyed using a wide palate. Bowie has an ability to write fascinating lyrics - they may not always be spot on, but they are usually interesting, and are a step above the average "You broke my heart" love song, or the "Purple dwarves vomit on the highway" prog rock song. He also has an ability to write catchy melodies, simple rockers, and decent music.

Released7 March 1975[1]
RecordedAugust 1974 – January 1975
Studio
Genre
Length40
LabelRCA
Producer

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Young Americans"5:11
2."Win"4:44
3."Fascination" (Bowie, Luther Vandross)5:45
4."Right"4:15
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Somebody Up There Likes Me"6:36
2."Across the Universe" (John Lennon)4:29
3."Can You Hear Me?"5:03
4."Fame" (Bowie, Carlos Alomar, Lennon)4:16
Total length:40:13

Wikipedia
AllMusic
Rating: 8 1/2

Station to Station (1976)
The transition from the interest in funk and soul shown on Young Americans to the Krautrock inspired electronic minimalism of Low.  For the exploration into electronic minimalism that starts here and is developed further on the next three albums, the "Berlin Trilogy", Bowie took ideas from Kraftwerk's Autobahn (1974), Neu!'s '75 (1975), Can's Soon Over Babluma (1975), Faust's IV (1973), Cluster's Zuckerzeit (1974), and Tangerine Dream's Phaedra (1974) among others.  He is given rather a lot of credit for the innovative ideas explored in those albums, though the innovation had already been done by the German bands, and by his Berlin Trilogy collaborator Brian Eno who was well versed in the electronic minimalism  that appears on this and the Trilogy albums as shown by Another Green World (1975), No Pussyfooting (1973), etc. So the credit should not be for the innovation, but for bringing these ideas to a wider audience; or, rather, for making some of these ideas more acceptable to a wider audience by making them poppier and more accessible.  This has some good tracks on it; "Wild Is The Wind" is a beautifully performed cover of the Johnny Mathis sung title song from the 1957 film Wild Is the Wind, though Bowie was following, sometimes very closely, the Nina Simone version; and "Golden Years", which though recorded at the Station to Station sessions, feels very much like a left over from the Young Americans sessions, and would be better suited on that album. On the whole, this album is interesting as a transitional album, and that the quality of the songs and performances is very high, but it is patchy and directionless, and so is one of the weaker Bowie studio albums of his classic Seventies period. 

Released23 January 1976
RecordedSeptember–November 1975
StudioCherokee, Los Angeles
Genre
Length37
LabelRCA
Producer

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Station to Station"10:15
2."Golden Years"3:59
3."Word on a Wing"6:04
Side two
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."TVC 15"5:31
2."Stay"6:16
3."Wild Is the Wind"Ned WashingtonDimitri Tiomkin6:06

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Rating: 5

Changesonebowie (compilation) (May 1976)
Not the first compilation, but the first authorised and first useful compilation.


Released21 May 1976[1]
Recorded1969–1976
GenreRockglam rockart rock
Length44
LabelRCA Records

Side one
No.TitleOriginal releaseLength
1."Space Oddity"Space Oddity (1969)5:14
2."John, I'm Only DancingSingle  (1972)2:43
3."Changes"Hunky Dory (1971)3:33
4."Ziggy Stardust"Ziggy Stardust (1972)3:13
5."Suffragette City"Ziggy Stardust3:25
6."The Jean Genie"Aladdin Sane (1973)4:03
Total length:22:11
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Original releaseLength
1."Diamond Dogs"Diamond Dogs (1974)5:56
2."Rebel Rebel"Diamond Dogs4:30
3."Young Americans"Young Americans (1975)5:10
4."Fame"Bowie, AlomarLennonYoung Americans4:12
5."Golden Years"Station to Station (1976)3:59
Total length:22:03 (44:14)

AllMusic
Rating: 

Low (1977)
The first album in the three collaborations with Brian Eno that are termed the Berlin Trilogy. The trilogy wasn't popular, and sales of these albums were slow at the time, and even by 2009 with intense focus on the importance of the trilogy, sales are still at least 1 million (or a third) lower than contemporary regular releases by Bowie. The first half uses music and musicians that Bowie used on Station to Station - popular songs that utilise electronic instruments that were becoming increasingly popular, especially among bands in Germany. The songs include the very fine hit single "Sound and Vision",  the very decent "Be My Wife", and the excellent "Always Crashing in the Same Car". The second side is mainly instrumental music, some of it developed from the unused music Bowie created for the film The Man Who Fell to Earth", utilising ideas from Philip Glass, while the main piece, "Warszawa", was written by Brian Eno with "lyrics" added by Bowie. The music is typically Eno in the way it uses sound to create texture and ambiance. This side has challenged listeners since the album was first released, as it doesn't sit comfortably with the first side, and belongs more to the realm of electronic texture musicians, like Eno (1975), Glass (1974), Faust (1973), Pink Floyd (1971), Kraftwork (1974), Neu (1975), Popol Vuh and Tangerine Dream (1974), rather than the pop/rock star realm in which the first side and Bowie as a whole operated.  Most critics were initially not comfortable with it, but as electronic music has since became more mainstream, critics look back on the album and see it as something of a breakthrough in that it was introducing both electronic instrumentation, such as the synthesiser, and ambient music, to a wider audience, and thus assisting in the public acceptance of the electronic and synthpop bands that would dominate in the 1980s. But for all the retrospective debate on the importance of the album, the second side is dull, and the first side is patchy and while likeable is mainly superficial. The music which influenced Bowie is far more robust, interesting and attractive.

Released14 January 1977
RecordedSeptember–November 1976[1] (except "Subterraneans", December 1975, Cherokee, Los Angeles[2][3])
StudioChâteau d'HérouvilleHérouville, France; Hansa Studio by the Wall, West Berlin
Genre
Length38
LabelRCA
Producer

Side one
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Speed of Life"2:46
2."Breaking Glass"Bowie, Dennis DavisGeorge Murray1:51
3."What in the World"2:23
4."Sound and Vision"3:03
5."Always Crashing in the Same Car"3:29
6."Be My Wife"2:55
7."A New Career in a New Town"2:51
Total length:19:18
Side two
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Warszawa"Bowie, Brian Eno6:20
2."Art Decade"3:43
3."Weeping Wall"3:26
4."Subterraneans"5:39
Total length:19:08

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Rating: 6

"Heroes" (1977)
It was with the release of this album that I lost interest in Bowie. Though some find the Berlin Trilogy Bowie's most interesting period, I find it's not really for me. Having been familiar with and grown up musically with much of the music that  influenced and informed Bowie during this period, I didn't at the time, and still don't find it better than the source material (listed above in Low and Station to Station). I like the way that James Brown informs this album, giving a little twist to the electronic texture music that is the heart of the trilogy, but it doesn't really save it for me. This album, though, does hold what is for me one of Bowie's most attractive and satisfying songs, the title track "Heroes". Nothing else comes close. Indeed, nothing else is music you want to listen to again - well, some of side two is stuff I can't abide listening to a first time!

Great title track, crap album.

Released14 October 1977
RecordedJuly–August 1977
StudioHansa TonstudioWest Berlin, Germany
Genre
Length40
LabelRCA
Producer

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Beauty and the Beast"3:32
2."Joe the Lion"3:05
3."'Heroes'"Bowie, Brian Eno6:07
4."Sons of the Silent Age"3:15
5."Blackout"3:50
Total length:19:49
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."V-2 Schneider"3:10
2."Sense of Doubt"3:57
3."Moss Garden"Bowie, Eno5:03
4."Neuköln"Bowie, Eno4:34
5."The Secret Life of Arabia"Bowie, Eno, Carlos Alomar3:46
Total length:20:30 (40:19)

Wikipedia
Pitchfork
Stylus
Rolling Stone
AllMusic
Rating: 4 (mainly for the title track, which by itself is a 10)

Stage (live) (1978)
Bowie works his way solidly through a range of his songs.  Spotify has the 2017 release which has a different set list.  Useful as a guide to how Bowie sounded live in 1978, but the performances here are acceptable rather than interesting or special. Not an essential recording.

Released8 September 1978
Recorded28–29 April, 5–6 May 1978
Venue
GenreRock
Length73 (original LP release)
77:17 (1991 CD version)
85:31 (2005 CD reissue)
94:30 (2017 version)
LabelRCA
Producer

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Hang On to Yourself"3:26
2."Ziggy Stardust"3:32
3."Five Years"3:58
4."Soul Love"2:55
5."Star"2:31
Total length:16:22
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Station to Station"8:55
2."Fame" (Bowie, Carlos AlomarJohn Lennon)4:06
3."TVC 15"4:37
Total length:17:38
Side three
No.TitleLength
1."Warszawa" (Bowie, Brian Eno)6:50
2."Speed of Life"2:44
3."Art Decade"3:10
4."Sense of Doubt"3:13
5."Breaking Glass" (Bowie, Dennis DavisGeorge Murray)3:28
Total length:19:25
Side four
No.TitleLength
1.""Heroes"" (Bowie, Eno)6:19
2."What in the World"4:24
3."Blackout"4:01
4."Beauty and the Beast"5:08
Total length:19:52 (73:17)

2017 CD release:

CD 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Warszawa"Bowie, Eno6:53
2.""Heroes""Bowie, Eno6:19
3."What in the World"4:25
4."Be My Wife"2:49
5."The Jean Genie" (Previously unreleased)6:17
6."Blackout"4:00
7."Sense of Doubt"3:07
8."Speed of Life"2:40
9."Breaking Glass"Bowie, Davis, Murray3:22
10."Beauty and the Beast"5:06
11."Fame"Bowie, Alomar, Lennon4:13
Total length:49:11
CD 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Five Years"3:57
2."Soul Love"2:56
3."Star"2:28
4."Hang On to Yourself"3:22
5."Ziggy Stardust"3:30
6."Suffragette City" (Previously unreleased)3:58
7."Art Decade"3:01
8."Alabama Song"Brecht, Weill3:55
9."Station to Station"8:43
10."Stay"7:21
11."TVC 15"4:36
Total length:47:51 (94:30)

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 4

Lodger (1979)
I skipped this one when it came out. I had grown fed up with the trivial electronic doodling of the previous albums, and as no reviews I read were favourable, and nobody I knew had anything positive to say about it, there didn't seem any point buying it, and the single "Boys Keep Swinging" was really not my thing. However, listening to it now, I am really impressed. This is more in the style of his later albums, and is more comfortably in Bowie territory - songs, rather than music doodles. The music informs the songs rather than on the previous two albums where it seemed that most of the time the lyrics were more of a breathed instrument to fill out the musical attempts.

I like "Fantastic Voyage" - it's like Bowie has at last found his own voice, though the best songs are the ones co-written with Brian Eno. Indeed, "Yassassin" is an awful song - probably one of Bowie's worse, and "Move On" and "Repetition" are just album filler.

Released25 May 1979
RecordedSeptember 1978, March 1979
Studio
Genre
Length34
LabelRCA
Producer

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fantastic Voyage"Bowie, Eno2:55
2."African Night Flight"Bowie, Eno2:54
3."Move On"Bowie3:16
4."Yassassin" (Turkish for 'Long Live')Bowie4:10
5."Red Sails"Bowie, Eno3:43
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."DJ"Bowie, Eno, Carlos Alomar3:59
2."Look Back in Anger"Bowie, Eno3:08
3."Boys Keep Swinging"Bowie, Eno3:17
4."Repetition"Bowie2:59
5."Red Money"Bowie, Alomar4:17
Total length:34:38

Wikipedia
AllMusic
Score: 6 1/2

Scary Monsters (1980)
For a number of major artists, the 1980s was not a good period artistically. There seemed a desire to turn commercial, and to use electronic or synthesised music rather than more organic instruments. It was the nature of the period. And Bowie was no different. His music turned very commercial - but it still retains enough of interest. This album comes after the difficult and non-commercial Berlin Trilogy, and for a good number of Bowie listeners, this was a blessed relief. Proper music again! There are some good songs on this album -  on Side One there are plenty of songs as good as anything he has done.

Released12 September 1980
RecordedFebruary–April 1980
StudioThe Power Station, New York City; Good Earth, London[1]
Genre
Length45
LabelRCA
Producer

Side one
  1. "It's No Game (No. 1)" (Bowie, trans. Hisahi Miura) – 4:20
  2. "Up the Hill Backwards" – 3:15
  3. "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" – 5:12
  4. "Ashes to Ashes" – 4:25
  5. "Fashion" – 4:49
Side two
  1. "Teenage Wildlife" – 6:56
  2. "Scream Like a Baby" – 3:35
  3. "Kingdom Come" (Tom Verlaine) – 3:45
  4. "Because You're Young" – 4:54
  5. "It's No Game (No. 2)" – 4:22

Wikipedia
AllMusic
Score: 6

Christiane F.  (soundtrack/compilation) (1981)


ReleasedApril 1981
Recorded1975-1979
GenreRockart rock
Length41 (LP version) 41:50 (CD version)
LabelRCA Victor (1981 issue) EMI (2001 re-issue)
ProducerDavid BowieHarry MaslinTony Visconti

No.TitleOriginal releaseLength
1."V-2 Schneider""Heroes"3:09
2."TVC 15 (Single Edit Version)"Station to Station3:29
3."Heroes/Helden" (Bowie, Brian Eno, Antonia Maaß)"Heroes"6:01
4."Boys Keep Swinging" (Bowie, Eno)Lodger3:16
5."Sense of Doubt""Heroes"3:56
6."Station to Station (Live)"Stage8:42
7."Look Back in Anger" (Bowie, Eno)Lodger3:06
8."Stay (US Single Version)"Station to Station3:20
9."Warszawa" (Bowie, Eno)Low6:18

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 8
Score:

Changestwobowie (Nov 1981)
An acceptable compilation, though fairly limited.

ReleasedNovember 1981
Recorded1971–1980
Genre
Length42
LabelRCA Records

Side one
No.TitleAlbumLength
1."Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)"
5:10
2."Oh! You Pretty Things"
3:13
3."Starman" 4:14
4."1984"
3:28
5."Ashes to Ashes (single edit)"
3:37
Total length:19:42
Side two
No.TitleAlbumLength
1."Sound and Vision"
3:03
2."Fashion (single edit)"
  • Scary Monsters (1980)
3:25
3."Wild Is the Wind" (Dimitri TiomkinNed Washington) 6:03
4."John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)"
  • Recorded 1974; Single A-side (1979)
6:59
5."DJ (single edit)" (Bowie, Brian EnoCarlos Alomar)
3:25
Total length:22:55 (42:37)

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 4

Baal (EP) (1982)



Released13 February 1982
RecordedSeptember 1981
StudioHansa by the WallBerlin
Length11
LabelRCA Records
Producer

Lyrics by Bertolt Brecht (translated by John Willett); music by Dominic Muldowney, except were noted.
Side A
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Baal's Hymn" uncredited, Muldowney4:02
2."Remembering Marie A.trad, Brecht, trans. Willetttrad. Bruinier, Muldowney2:07
Total length:6:09
Side B
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Ballad of the Adventurers" 2:01
2."The Drowned Girl" Kurt Weillarr. Muldowney2:26
3."The Dirty Song"Ludwig Prestel, arr. Muldowney0:38
Total length:5:05

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:

Bowie Rare (compilation) (Dec 1982)

ReleasedDecember 1982
Recorded1969-1980
GenreRock
Length42
LabelRCA Records

1.1[

  1. "Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola" (Bowie, Mogol) – 5:02
    • An Italian-language song featuring all new lyrics set to the music of "Space Oddity", released as single in Italy in late-1969/early-1970
  2. "Round and Round" (Chuck Berry) – 2:41
  3. "Amsterdam" (Jacques BrelMort Shuman) – 3:25
    • A cover of a Jacques Brel song, recorded for the Ziggy Stardust sessions, and released as the B-side to the single "Sorrow"
  4. "Holy Holy" – 2:15
    • A newer version of Bowie's 1970 single, recorded for the Ziggy Stardust sessions, and released as the B-side to the single "Diamond Dogs"
  5. "Panic in Detroit" – 5:49
  6. "Young Americans" – 3:11
    • US single edit

1.2[

  1. "Velvet Goldmine" – 3:08
  2. "Heroes"/"Helden" (Bowie, Brian Eno, Antonia Maass) – 6:07
    • A version of "Heroes" with English and German lyrics, released as single in West Germany in 1977
  3. "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)" – 3:26
    • Single edit
  4. "Moon of Alabama" (Bertolt BrechtKurt Weill) – 3:51
    • Recorded 1978, released as single A-side, 1980
  5. "Crystal Japan" – 3:07
    • Recorded 1979 for the soundtrack of a Japanese commercial, released as a Japanese single A-side, 1980, then internationally as the B-side to "Up the Hill Backwards" single, 1981.

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:

Let's Dance (1983)
Bowie's first EMI album was his most commercially successfully based on the huge popularity the three singles, "Let's Dance", "Modern Love" and "China Girl". Nile Rodgers' arrangement and production of Bowie's version of the gritty and powerful 1977 Iggy Pop song "China Girl" which Bowie had co-written the music for, accompanied by the video, propelled sales of the album.

The album is too pop oriented for my taste.


Released14 April 1983
RecordedDecember 1982 – January 1983[1]
StudioPower StationManhattan, New York City[2]
Genre
Length39
LabelEMI America
Producer

Side one
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Modern Love"4:46
2."China Girl"Iggy PopBowie, Pop5:32
3."Let's Dance"7:37
4."Without You"3:08
Side two
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Ricochet"5:14
2."Criminal World"GodwinBrowne, Lyons, BowieGodwin, Browne, Lyons4:25
3."Cat People (Putting Out Fire)"Giorgio Moroder5:09
4."Shake It"3:49
Total length:39:41

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 5

Ziggy Stardust (live/soundtrack) (Oct 1983)

An OK live album, one that captures one of the most famous concerts in rock history - the moment that Bowie retired Ziggy (or himself, or both).  It's the best official live Bowie album so far, but not quite as good at the bootleg of the Hemel Hempstead concert which I only heard through the stage door.....


ReleasedOctober 1983
1 April 2003 (2003 re-release)
Recorded3 July 1973
VenueHammersmith Odeon, London
Genre
Length69
83:33 (2003 re-release)
LabelRCA
Producer

Disc 1
  1. "Hang On to Yourself" – 2:55
  2. "Ziggy Stardust" – 3:09
  3. "Watch That Man" – 4:10
  4. "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud"/"All the Young Dudes"/Oh! You Pretty Things" – 6:37
  5. "Moonage Daydream" – 6:17
  6. "Space Oddity" – 4:49
  7. "My Death" (Jacques BrelMort Shuman) – 5:45
Disc 2
  1. "Cracked Actor" – 2:52
  2. "Time" – 5:12
  3. "Width of a Circle" – 9:35
  4. "Changes" – 3:35
  5. "Let's Spend the Night Together" (Mick JaggerKeith Richards) – 3:09
  6. "Suffragette City" – 3:02
  7. "White Light/White Heat" (Lou Reed) – 4:06
  8. "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" – 4:20


Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 5

Tonight (1984)
A fairly tedious and uninspired album.


Released24 September 1984[1]
RecordedMay–June 1984
StudioLe StudioMorin-Heights, Quebec, Canada[2]
Genre
Length35
LabelEMI America
Producer

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Originally byLength
1."Loving the Alien"David Bowie7:11
2."Don't Look Down" Iggy Pop,  New Values4:11
3."God Only Knows" Beach Boys,  Pet Sounds3:08
4."Tonight" (with Tina Turner)
  • Bowie 
  • Pop
Iggy Pop, Lust for Life3:46
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Originally byLength
1."Neighborhood Threat"
Iggy Pop,  Lust for Life3:12
2."Blue Jean"Bowie3:11
3."Tumble and Twirl"
  • Bowie 
  • Pop
5:00
4."I Keep Forgettin'"
JacksonAny Day Now2:34
5."Dancing with the Big Boys" 
3:34
Total length:35:47

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 3

Labyrinth (soundtrack) (1986)


Released23 June 1986
RecordedJuly–September 1985
Genre
Length43
LabelEMI AML 3104
Producer

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Opening Titles Including Underground"music by Trevor Jones; lyrics by Bowie3:21
2."Into the Labyrinth"Jones2:12
3."Magic Dance"Bowie5:13[a]
4."Sarah"Jones3:12
5."Chilly Down"Bowie3:44
6."Hallucination"Jones3:02
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."As the World Falls Down"Bowie4:51
2."The Goblin Battle"Jones3:31
3."Within You"Bowie3:30
4."Thirteen O'Clock"Jones3:06
5."Home at Last"Jones1:49
6."Underground"Bowie5:57
Total length:43:33

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:

Never Let Me Down (1987)

Fairly boring.

Released20 April 1987
RecordedMid 1986 to early 1987[1]
Studio
Genre
Length
  • 53 (CD)
  • 48 (LP)
LabelEMI America
Producer

Side One
No.TitleLength
1."Day-In Day-Out"4:38
2."Time Will Crawl"4:18
3."Beat of Your Drum"4:32
4."Never Let Me Down" (David Bowie, Carlos Alomar)4:03
5."Zeroes"5:46
Side Two
No.TitleLength
1."Glass Spider"4:56
2."Shining Star (Makin' My Love)"4:05
3."New York's in Love"3:55
4."'87 and Cry"3:53
5."Too Dizzy" (David Bowie, Erdal Kızılçay)3:58
6."Bang Bang" (Iggy PopIvan Kral)4:02
Total length:48:06

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 3 

Black Tie White Noise (1993)


Released5 April 1993
RecordedJune – September 1992
Studio
Genre
Length56
Label
Producer

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."The Wedding"instrumental5:04
2."You've Been Around"Bowie, Reeves Gabrels4:45
3."I Feel Free"Pete BrownJack Bruce4:52
4."Black Tie White Noise"4:52
5."Jump They Say"4:22
6."Nite Flights"Noel Scott EngelEngel4:30
7."Pallas Athena"4:40
8."Miracle Goodnight"4:14
9."Don't Let Me Down & Down"Hembara, trans. Martine ValmontHembara4:55
10."Looking for Lester"instrumentalBowie, Nile Rodgers5:36
11."I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday"MorrisseyMark E. Nevin4:14
12."The Wedding Song"4:29

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:

The Buddha of Suburbia (1993)
The Buddha of Suburbia was a BBC drama for which Bowie was commissioned to write the soundtrack. Only the title track was used in the soundtrack - the other pieces on the album were "reconstructed...completely" from the original idea.

Released8 November 1993
RecordedJune–July 1993
StudioMountainMontreux, Switzerland
O'Henry SoundBurbank, USA
Genre
Length55
LabelBMG International
Virgin/EMI
Producer


Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 4

Santa Monica '72 (live) (April 1994)
Originally a bootleg (according to some, "the" bootleg to have), then released in 1994 by Bowie's previous management company. It's an OK live album, though feels as tired and bland as the Ziggy Stardust live album, but without the significance of that performance. The best bootleg, for me, is the Hemel Hempstead one, when Bowie and the band were still unknown and hungry for it.

Released25 April 1994(UK)
28 March 1995(US)
Recorded20 October 1972
GenreGlam rock
Length76
LabelGolden Years (UK)
Griffin Music (US)

  1. "Intro" – 0:15
  2. "Hang on to Yourself" – 2:47
  3. "Ziggy Stardust" – 3:24
  4. "Changes" – 3:32
  5. "The Supermen" – 2:57
  6. "Life on Mars?" – 3:28
  7. "Five Years" – 5:21
  8. "Space Oddity" – 5:22
  9. "Andy Warhol" – 3:58
  10. "My Death" (Eric BlauJacques BrelMort Shuman) – 5:56
  11. "The Width of a Circle" – 10:39
  12. "Queen Bitch" – 3:01
  13. "Moonage Daydream" – 4:38
  14. "John, I'm Only Dancing" – 3:36
  15. "I'm Waiting for the Man" (Lou Reed) – 6:01
  16. "The Jean Genie" – 4:02
  17. "Suffragette City" – 4:25
  18. "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" – 3:17

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:

Outside (1995)

A modern Bowie album. Acceptable and listenable, but not great. Nothing here that really invites repeated listening, but it's acceptable when playing. 


Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 4

Earthling (1997)
The opening track, "Little Wonder", takes ideas from The Prodigy, particularly "Firestarter". It has been typical of Bowie to use ideas from other musicians. Usually he was taking ideas from lesser known musicians and so it appeared he was doing something new, but here he was taking ideas from a musical format that was already very well known to the general public. 

Released3 February 1997
RecordedMarch – August 1996
Studio
Genre
Length48
Label
Producer

All lyrics are written by David Bowie; all music is composed by Bowie, Reeves Gabrels and Mark Plati, except where noted.
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Little Wonder"6:02
2."Looking for Satellites"5:21
3."Battle for Britain (The Letter)"4:48
4."Seven Years in Tibet"Bowie, Gabrels6:22
5."Dead Man Walking"Bowie, Gabrels6:50
6."Telling Lies"Bowie4:49
7."The Last Thing You Should Do"4:57
8."I'm Afraid of Americans"Bowie, Brian Eno5:00
9."Law (Earthlings on Fire)"Bowie, Gabrels4:48

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 4

'hours...' (1999)
The modern Bowie albums are a little slow and melancholy and lacking in adventure. They're not necessarily unattractive, but there's nothing special about them. They're a little dull, a little boring.  This is not classic Bowie, and if Bowie had started out as an unknown with these modern albums, he would not have been successful.  


Released4 October 1999[1]
Recorded1998–1999
Studio
GenrePop rock[3]
Length47
LabelVirgin
Producer

All tracks are written by David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels; except "What's Really Happening?", with lyrics by Alex Grant.
No.TitleLength
1."Thursday's Child"5:24
2."Something in the Air"5:46
3."Survive"4:11
4."If I'm Dreaming My Life"7:04
5."Seven"4:04
6."What's Really Happening?"4:10
7."The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell"4:40
8."New Angels of Promise"4:35
9."Brilliant Adventure"1:54
10."The Dreamers"5:14

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 3 1/2

Bowie At The Beeb 
(compilation 68-72) (2000)
Useful and interesting and occasionally attractive, but not really essential. This is for curious Bowie fans - there's little here for the general public.

Released26 September 2000 (original release)
2 April 2002
Recorded13 May 1968 – 23 May 1972, various BBC Radio studios, London
27 June 2000, London (3 CD version)
GenreRock
Length141 (2 CD version)
215:31 (3 CD version)
LabelEMI/Virgin
ProducerBernie Andrews, etc

Disc one
  1. "In the Heat of the Morning" – 3:02
  2. "London Bye Ta Ta" – 2:36
  3. "Karma Man" – 3:00
  4. "Silly Boy Blue" – 6:08
  5. "Let Me Sleep Beside You" – 3:17
  6. "Janine" – 3:24
  7. "Amsterdam" (Jacques Brel) – 3:18
  8. "God Knows I'm Good" – 3:36
  9. "The Width of a Circle" – 5:21
  10. "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" – 5:07
  11. "Cygnet Committee" – 9:07
  12. "Memory of a Free Festival" – 3:18
  13. "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" – 5:55
  14. "Bombers" – 3:19
  15. "Looking for a Friend" – 3:34
  16. "Almost Grown" (Chuck Berry) – 2:44
  17. "Kooks" – 3:32
  18. "It Ain't Easy" (Ron Davies) – 2:51
Disc two
  1. "The Supermen" – 2:51
  2. "Eight Line Poem" – 2:56
  3. "Hang On to Yourself" – 2:50
  4. "Ziggy Stardust" – 3:26
  5. "Queen Bitch" – 2:59
  6. "I'm Waiting for the Man" (Lou Reed) – 5:24
  7. "Five Years" – 4:24
  8. "White Light/White Heat" (Reed) – 3:48
  9. "Moonage Daydream" – 4:58
  10. "Hang On to Yourself" – 2:50
  11. "Suffragette City" – 3:28
  12. "Ziggy Stardust" – 3:24
  13. "Starman" – 4:05
  14. "Space Oddity" – 4:16
  15. "Changes" – 3:29
  16. "Oh! You Pretty Things" – 2:57
  17. "Andy Warhol" – 3:14
  18. "Lady Stardust" – 3:21
  19. "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" – 3:08

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 4

Heathen (2002)
One of the better modern Bowie albums.


Released11 June 2002[1]
RecordedOctober 2000 – January 2002
Studio
Genre
Length52
Label
Producer

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Sunday"4:45
2."Cactus"Black Francis2:54
3."Slip Away"6:05
4."Slow Burn"4:41
5."Afraid"
3:28
6."I've Been Waiting for You"Neil Young3:00
7."I Would Be Your Slave"5:14
8."I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship"Norman Carl Odam4:04
9."5:15 The Angels Have Gone"5:00
10."Everyone Says 'Hi'"
3:59
11."A Better Future"4:11
12."Heathen (The Rays)"4:16
Total length:52:08

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 7
Score: 4

Best Of Bowie (compilation) (Oct 2000)
This is a very useful and attractive compilation. Great introduction to Bowie.


Released22 October 2002
Recorded1969–2002
GenreRock
Length156:20 (UK version)
Varies from region to region
Label
ProducerProducer varies from track to track

CD 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Place of OriginLength
1."Space Oddity"David Bowie, 19695:15
2."The Man Who Sold the World"The Man Who Sold the World, 1970/19713:55
3."Oh! You Pretty Things"Hunky Dory, 19713:12
4."Changes"Hunky Dory3:33
5."Life on Mars?"Hunky Dory3:48
6."Starman"Ziggy Stardust , 19724:16
7."Ziggy Stardust"Ziggy Stardust 3:13
8."Suffragette City"Ziggy Stardust 3:25
9."John, I'm Only Dancing"single, 19722:43
10."The Jean Genie"Aladdin Sane, 19734:08
11."Drive-In Saturday"Aladdin Sane4:36
12."Sorrow"Feldman, GoldsteinGottehrerPin Ups, 19732:53
13."Diamond Dogs"Diamond Dogs, 19746:05
14."Rebel Rebel"Diamond Dogs4:30
15."Young Americans" (United States single version)Young Americans, 19753:16
16."Fame"Bowie, Carlos AlomarJohn LennonYoung Americans4:17
17."Golden Years" (single version)Station to Station, 19763:22
18."TVC 15"Station to Station5:33
19."Wild Is the Wind"Dimitri TiomkinNed WashingtonStation to Station6:02
CD 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Place of OriginLength
1."Sound and Vision"Low, 19773:00
2.""Heroes"" (single)Bowie, Brian Eno"Heroes", 19773:37
3."Boys Keep Swinging"Bowie, EnoLodger, 19793:18
4."Under PressureBowie, QueenNon-album single, 1981
5."Ashes to Ashes" (single)Scary Monsters, 19803:38
6."Fashion" (single)Scary Monsters3:23
7."Scary Monsters" (single)Scary Monsters3:27
8."Let's Dance" (single)Let's Dance, 19834:07
9."China Girl" (single)Bowie, Iggy Pop Let's Dance4:18
10."Modern Love" (single)Let's Dance3:56
11."Blue Jean"Tonight, 19843:12
12."This Is Not America" (with the Pat Metheny Group)Bowie, Lyle MaysPat MethenyThe Falcon and the Snowman soundtrack, 19853:43
13."Loving the Alien" (single)Tonight4:43
14."Dancing in the StreetMarvin Gaye, etcSingle Live Aid, 19853:14
15."Absolute Beginners" (single)Absolute Beginners,  19865:39
16."Jump They Say" (radio edit)Black Tie White Noise, 19933:53
17."Hallo SpaceboyBowie, Eno1. Outside, 19954:25
18."Little Wonder" (single version)Bowie, GabrelsPlatiEarthling, 19973:40
19."I'm Afraid of Americans" (V1 radio edit)Bowie, EnoEarthling4:26
20."Slow Burn" (radio edit)Heathen, 20023:55

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 9
Score:

Toy (intended 2001, internet release 2011)


Released2011
Recorded2000–2001[1]
GenreRock
Length62:07
ProducerMark Plati[2]

No.TitleOriginal version onLength
1."Uncle Floyd"Previously unreleased6:15
2."Afraid"Previously unreleased3:29
3."Baby Loves That Way"B-side of "You've Got a Habit of Leaving", Early On (1964-1966)4:38
4."I Dig Everything"Single from 1966, Early On (1964-1966)4:52
5."Conversation Piece"B-Side of "The Prettiest Star", Five Years (1969-1973)3:53
6."Let Me Sleep Beside You"The Deram Anthology 1966–19683:14
7."Toy (Your Turn to Drive)" Previously unreleased4:46
8."Hole in the Ground"Previously unreleased3:30
9."Shadow Man"Previously unreleased; originally recorded in 1971 during the sessions for Ziggy Stardust4:41
10."In the Heat of the Morning"The Deram Anthology 1966–19683:52
11."You've Got a Habit of Leaving"Single from 1965, Early On (1964-1966)4:49
12."Silly Boy Blue"David Bowie (1967)5:33
13."Liza Jane" (Leslie Conn)Single from 1964, Early On (1964-1966)4:48
14."The London Boys"B-side of "Rubber Band", The Deram Anthology 1966–19683:47

Wikipedia
Score:

Reality (2003)



Released15 September 2003
RecordedJanuary–May 2003
StudioDavid Bowie's home studio, SoHo
Looking Glass, NoHo
Mike Garson's home studio, Bell Canyon
GenreRock[1]
Length49:25
Label
Producer

No.TitleLength
1."New Killer Star"4:40
2."Pablo Picasso" (Jonathan Richman)4:06
3."Never Get Old"4:25
4."The Loneliest Guy"4:11
5."Looking for Water"3:28
6."She'll Drive the Big Car"4:35
7."Days"3:19
8."Fall Dog Bombs the Moon"4:04
9."Try Some, Buy Some" (George Harrison)4:24
10."Reality"4:23
11."Bring Me the Disco King"7:45

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 7
Score:

A Reality Tour (live) (2010)
A solid and professional crowd pleasing live performance of the 2003-2004 Reality tour, his last tour which had to be cut short because he had a heart attack.


Released25 January 2010
Recorded22–23 November 2003
VenuePoint Theatre, Dublin
GenreRock
Length154:00
LabelISO, ColumbiaLegacy
ProducerJerry Rappaport

Disc 1
No.TitleOriginal AlbumLength
1."Rebel Rebel"Diamond Dogs (1974)3:30
2."New Killer Star"Reality (2003)4:59
3."Reality"Reality5:08
4."Fame" (Bowie, John LennonCarlos Alomar)Young Americans (1975)4:12
5."Cactus" (Black Francis)Heathen (2002)3:01
6."Sister Midnight" (Bowie, Alomar, Iggy Pop)The Idiot (by Iggy Pop (1977))4:37
7."Afraid"Heathen3:28
8."All the Young Dudes"
3:48
9."Be My Wife"Low (1977)3:15
10."The Loneliest Guy"Reality3:58
11."The Man Who Sold the World"The Man Who Sold the World (1970)4:18
12."Fantastic Voyage" (Bowie, Brian Eno)Lodger (1979)3:13
13."Hallo Spaceboy" (Bowie, Eno)Outside (1995)5:28
14."Sunday"Heathen7:56
15."Under Pressure" (Bowie, Queen)Single4:18
16."Life on Mars?"Hunky Dory (1971)4:40
17."Battle for Britain (The Letter)" (Bowie,  GabrelsPlati)Earthling (1997)4:55
Disc 2
No.TitleOriginal AlbumLength
1."Ashes to Ashes"Scary Monsters (1980)5:46
2."The Motel"Outside5:44
3."Loving the Alien"Tonight (1984)5:17
4."Never Get Old"Reality4:18
5."Changes"Hunky Dory3:51
6."I'm Afraid of Americans" (Bowie, Eno)Earthling5:17
7."”Heroes"" (Bowie, Eno)"Heroes" (1977)6:58
8."Bring Me the Disco King"Reality7:56
9."Slip Away"Heathen5:56
10."Heathen (The Rays)"Heathen6:24
11."Five Years"Ziggy Stardust  (1972)4:19
12."Hang On to Yourself"Ziggy Stardust2:50
13."Ziggy Stardust"Ziggy Stardust3:44

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 4 1/2

The Next Day (2013)

Ten years since the last studio album, this was welcomed, and widely regarded as the best of Bowie's modern albums. I think time will tell whether everyone got over enthused. However, "Where Are We Now" is a respectable song from an elder statesman of pop music.

Released8 March 2013
RecordedMay 2011 – February 2013
StudioThe Magic Shop, Human Worldwide, Manhattan, NY
Genre
Length53:17
Label
Producer

No.TitleMusicLength
1."The Next Day"3:27
2."Dirty Boys"2:58
3."The Stars (Are Out Tonight)"3:56
4."Love Is Lost"3:57
5."Where Are We Now?"4:08
6."Valentine's Day"3:01
7."If You Can See Me"3:15
8."I'd Rather Be High"3:53
9."Boss of Me"Bowie, Gerry Leonard4:09
10."Dancing Out in Space"3:24
11."How Does the Grass Grow?"Bowie, Jerry Lordan4:33
12."(You Will) Set the World on Fire"3:30
13."You Feel So Lonely You Could Die"4:37
14."Heat"4:25
Total length:53:17

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 7
Score: 4 1/2

Nothing Has Changed (compilation) (2014)



Released18 November 2014
Recorded1964–2014
GenreRock
Length69:00
Label
ProducerTony Visconti

 3-CD deluxe edition[edit]

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Place of originLength
1."Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)" (with the Maria Schneider Orchestra)Bob Bhamra, Bowie, Maria Schneider, Paul BatemanFull-length original single version; re-recorded version on Blackstar (2016)7:25
2."Where Are We Now?"The Next Day (2013)4:09
3."Love Is Lost" (edited version of the Hello Steve Reich mix by James Murphy for the DFA)The Next Day Extra (2013)4:07
4."The Stars (Are Out Tonight)"The Next Day3:57
5."New Killer Star" (radio edit)Reality (2003)3:43
6."Everyone Says 'Hi'" (edited version)Heathen (2002)3:29
7."Slow Burn" (radio edit)Heathen3:57
8."Let Me Sleep Beside You"Toy (2011); recorded 2000; original 1967 version was released on compilation album The World of David Bowie (1970) and the film Love You till Tuesday (1984)3:11
9."Your Turn to Drive" (also known as "Toy (Your Turn to Drive)")Toy4:53
10."Shadow Man"Toy; originally recorded in 1971 for The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)4:45
11."Seven" (Marius de Vries mix)Bowie, Reeves GabrelsHours (1999)4:13
12."Survive" (Marius de Vries mix)Bowie, GabrelsHours4:17
13."Thursday's Child" (radio edit)Bowie, GabrelsHours4:26
14."I'm Afraid of Americans" (V1; radio edit)Bowie, Brian EnoEarthling (1997)4:25
15."Little Wonder" (single version)Bowie, Gabrels, Mark PlatiEarthling3:41
16."Hallo Spaceboy" (Pet Shop Boys remix; with the Pet Shop Boys)Bowie, EnoOriginally from 1. Outside (1995); PSB mix released the following year4:25
17."The Hearts Filthy Lesson" (radio edit)Bowie, Eno, Gabrels, Mike GarsonErdal KızılçaySterling Campbell1. Outside3:34
18."Strangers When We Meet" (single version)1. Outside; originally recorded for The Buddha of Suburbia (1993)4:18
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Place of originLength
1."The Buddha of Suburbia"The Buddha of Suburbia (1993)4:24
2."Jump They Say" (radio edit)Black Tie White Noise (1993)3:53
3."Time Will Crawl" (MM remix)Originally from Never Let Me Down (1987); remix from iSelect (2008)4:20
4."Absolute Beginners" (single version)Absolute Beginners soundtrack (1986)5:35
5."Dancing in the Street" (with Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones)Marvin GayeWilliam "Mickey" StevensonIvy Jo HunterNon-album single for Live Aid (1985)3:10
6."Loving the Alien" (single remix)Originally from Tonight (1984); remix from the following year4:42
7."This Is Not America" (with the Pat Metheny Group)Bowie, Lyle MaysPat MethenyThe Falcon and the Snowman soundtrack (1985)3:51
8."Blue Jean"Tonight3:11
9."Modern Love" (single version)Let's Dance (1983)3:56
10."China Girl" (single version)Bowie, Jim Osterberg (a.k.a. Iggy Pop)Let's Dance; originally from the Iggy Pop album The Idiot (1977)4:15
11."Let's Dance" (single version)Let's Dance4:08
12."Fashion" (single version)Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (1980)3:26
13."Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)" (single version)Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)3:32
14."Ashes to Ashes" (single version)Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)3:35
15."Under Pressure" (with Queen)Bowie, John DeaconBrian MayFreddie MercuryRoger TaylorNon-album single (1981); later released on the Queen album Hot Space (1982)4:04
16."Boys Keep Swinging"Bowie, EnoLodger (1979)3:17
17.""Heroes"" (single version)Bowie, Eno"Heroes" (1977)3:33
18."Sound and Vision"Low (1977)3:03
19."Golden Years" (single version)Station to Station (1976); single version released the year before3:27
20."Wild Is the Wind" (2010 Harry Maslin mix)Dimitri TiomkinNed WashingtonStation to Station6:05
Disc three
No.TitleWriter(s)Place of originLength
1."Fame"Bowie, John LennonCarlos AlomarYoung Americans (1975)4:16
2."Young Americans" (2007 Tony Visconti mix of US single version)Young Americans3:10
3."Diamond Dogs"Diamond Dogs (1974)5:50
4."Rebel Rebel"Diamond Dogs4:30
5."Sorrow"Bob Feldman, Jerry GoldsteinRichard GottehrerPin Ups (1973)2:53
6."Drive-In Saturday"Aladdin Sane (1973)4:30
7."All the Young Dudes" (previously unreleased stereo mix given by Bowie to Mott the Hoople)Recorded in 1972 for Aladdin Sane and re-recorded/released in the same year on the Mott the Hoople album All the Young Dudes3:08
8."The Jean Genie" (original single mix)Originally from Aladdin Sane; single mix released in 19724:05
9."Moonage Daydream"The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)4:39
10."Ziggy Stardust"The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars3:12
11."Starman" (original single mix)The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars; single mix released a few months before the parent album's release4:12
12."Life on Mars?" (2003 Ken Scott mix;[24] exclusive to this edition)Hunky Dory (1971)3:48
13."Oh! You Pretty Things"Hunky Dory3:12
14."Changes"Hunky Dory3:35
15."The Man Who Sold the World"The Man Who Sold the World (1970 (U.S.)/1971 (UK))3:57
16."Space Oddity"David Bowie (1969)5:14
17."In the Heat of the Morning" (Stereo mix)First released on compilation album The World of David Bowie (1970); recorded 19682:58
18."Silly Boy Blue"Incorrectly listed as being from David Bowie (1969): it is from David Bowie (1967)3:54
19."Can't Help Thinking About Me" (released under the name "David Bowie with The Lower Third")Non-album single (1966)2:43
20."You've Got a Habit of Leaving" (Davy Jones (Bowie's professional name before changing it to his current one); released under the name "Davy Jones (& The Lower Third)")Non-album single (1965)2:29
21."Liza Jane" (released under the name "Davie Jones & The King Bees")Leslie ConnNon-album single (1964)2:15

Videos
"Where Are We Now?"
"The Stars (Are Out Tonight)"

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 9
Score:


Blackstar (2016)
Bowie's last album, released just two days before he died. It immediately became his most successful album commercially and critically, though time will tell if the popular and critical success will remain. I doubt it. This is very much in the modern Bowie style. Melancholy, Slow. Slightly cold and jazzy. 

Released8 January 2016
RecordedJanuary – March 2015
StudioThe Magic Shop, Human Worldwide, Manhattan, NY
Genre
Length41:14
Label
Producer

No.TitleLength
1."Blackstar"9:57
2."'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore"4:52
3."Lazarus"6:22
4."Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)" (music composed by Bowie, Maria Schneider, Paul Bateman and Bob Bhamra)4:40
5."Girl Loves Me"4:52
6."Dollar Days"4:44
7."I Can't Give Everything Away"5:47
Total length:41:14

Videos:
"Blackstar"
"Lazarus"


Wikipedia
AllMusic: 10
Score:



Summary

Voice

Image

Lyrics

Music

Impact/Influence

Importance

Popularity

Star quality

Emotional appeal

Legacy

Discography of studio albums 


Links

PushingAheadOfTheDame
DavidBowie.com
BestEverAlbums
Discography
DavidBowieNews
BowieWonderWorld
BowieBible

Documentaries
Sound and Vision

Best of lists

UltimateClassicRock
Rolling Stone
Diffuser
ConsequenceOfSound
Mojo
BestEverAlbums
The Mirror
NewsTribune
NME
StereoGum
LouderSound


Kitchen Table Music Blogs
Best Of The Best

69 April 2019