It was also the same for me when Freddie Mercury died. Still play his tribute concert now which happened almost 24 years ago at the old Wembley.(20th April 1992). The line up of artists including Bowie was almost as good as Live Aid. Under Pressure......... what a song and what an opening bass riff. Another true classic.
I listened to the first seven albums straight through (last one being Diamond Dogs), and there's not a bad one among 'em. I'm now listening to Black Tie White Noise from 93, and it's hard work in comparison. The thing is, even on the later albums you can find a gem and the production quality is always there. I think his very best work was in the earlier years when the energy and substances were driving him on.
Last night I listened to Young Americans, Station to Station, Low, "Heroes" and Lodger in one go, and loved every second of it. Tonight I think I'll go from The Man Who Sold the World to Diamond Dogs.
How would you rank Bowie's albums? Like a top 10? Mine would be (at this moment, as with the songs it will likely change): 1. Low 2. Station to Station 3. Hunky Dory 4. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars 5. "Heroes" 6. Blackstar (still fresh in the mind though, so it would move) 7. Young Americans 8. Lodger 9. Heathen 10. The Next Day
Blackstar whilst being his last is for me his worst. I appreciate and respect how Bowies changes direction with his music but this one is not for me. Certainly at the moment. It may grow on me in time mind. Sorry David.
Bernard Sumner said an interesting thing last night, whilst Joy Division/New Order went from introspection to extraversion Bowie went in reverse and ended up doing some very introspective work near the end. Johnny Cash did the same. Two of his best songs were the covers of Hurt and One when he knew his days were numbered, take note McCartney, Jagger etc.
Interesting that Blackstar was two tracks that become one. You can hear them clearly with the first sandwiching the second. And it ended up at over twelve minutes long. Bowie insisted it was the single so they had to cut to under ten minutes to appease iTunes who won't list any single over ten! Rumour has it Apple now want to phase out the headphone jack...
I'm like most Quill, I couldn't do a top ten as I really only ever listen to his earlier stuff. Probably my loss. One l.p. I do love is David live, although my copy is unplayable now. (Oh how I would love to give young Kempton a slap for that) I'll be getting Blackstar just because... If you held a gun to my head, I might tell you 'Changes' is my favourite Bowie song and 'Scary Monsters' my least. All I'm really certain of though is, as a band, this planet isn't as good as was before David Bowie left it. It's seriously ****ing **** this.
I've never been a big Bowie fan - I liked some of his music and some not - but I love this duet with the great Bing Crosby.
This is worth hunting down if you are interested in his early stuff. please log in to view this image https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowie_at_the_Beeb
It certainly is. It's a slightly faster version than the album version. It's more punky and raw. It was recorded for a session on BBC radio in 1972.
I'm listening to it now actually, whilst making a tikka masala. The Ziggy era stuff. It's got a harder edge feel what with it being live session stuff. But then he did have a ****ing good band at that point!
