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What's your favourite David Bowie album?


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Old 06-07-2015, 19:03
Pointy
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I asked a LONG time ago about peoples favourite David Bowie singles, so it's only fair I do a thread about his albums!
For me, I find it hard to choose between Hunky Dory, Station to Station and Low, but, if push comes to shove, I'll plump for Station to Station. I'd probably go for Lodger if it wasn't for the song DJ. I could think of about four other tracks they could have picked for that album instead.
So... What's your favourite?!
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Old 06-07-2015, 19:04
Deep Purple
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Aladdin Sane.
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Old 06-07-2015, 19:19
swingaleg
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Ziggy Stardust was the only one I ever bought so I'll say that one !
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Old 06-07-2015, 20:52
day dreamer
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Hunky Dory.
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Old 06-07-2015, 20:54
Billy_Value
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why?...
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Old 06-07-2015, 21:50
little-monster
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A predictable choice but Ziggy Stardust
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Old 06-07-2015, 22:50
Torch81
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Very difficult, but top 5 for me...

1. Scary Monsters and Super Creeps
2. Aladdin Sane
3. Ziggy Stardust
4. Low
5. The Man Who Sold The World

And as I missed the Bowie singles thread...

1. Absolute Beginners
2. John I'm Only Dancing
3. Rebel Rebel
4. Rock N' Roll Suicide
5. Up The Hill Backwards
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Old 06-07-2015, 23:07
Microkorg
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"Heroes"
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Old 06-07-2015, 23:09
The_Bonobo
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It changes all the time but since it's not been mentioned I will say one that was my
favourite for a long time years ago.

Diamond Dogs
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Old 07-07-2015, 08:12
Rocketpop
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Station to Station.

His cover of Wild is the Wind remains my favourite cover of all time.
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Old 07-07-2015, 08:51
warszawa
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A toss up between Ziggy and Low.
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Old 07-07-2015, 09:45
Z Stardust
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<------- and the Spiders from Mars
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Old 07-07-2015, 13:58
Apollo Creed
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'Heroes' for me
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Old 07-07-2015, 14:44
Deep Purple
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Sorry. I didn't realise we had to explain why. I like the songs on it. I think it's a great album, even better than his earlier great albums.
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Old 07-07-2015, 17:34
Pointy
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Station to Station.

His cover of Wild is the Wind remains my favourite cover of all time.
It's probably the greatest cover of all time, for me at least.
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Old 07-07-2015, 17:49
SpaceCake
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Let's Dance
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Old 07-07-2015, 18:36
donna255
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Ziggy Stardust.

So many fabulous tracks.
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Old 07-07-2015, 19:02
Quixotic
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Station to Station
"Heroes"
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Old 07-07-2015, 19:14
Jim_McIntosh
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Diamond Dogs
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Old 07-07-2015, 19:18
Ally_Bowie
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I find the variety in his back catalog is impeccable.

His best for me....

Hunky Dory
Lets Dance
Scary Monster's
Earthling
Hours
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Old 07-07-2015, 20:59
barbeler
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1. Hunky Dory
2. Ziggy Stardust
3. Heroes
4. Aladdin Sane
5. Hours
6. Man Who Sold The World
7. Low
8. Space Oddity
9. Scary Monsters - great songs and great Fripp guitar, but I didn't like his trembling vocal style
10. Outside or Earthling - not sure which one to let creep in at the bottom.

I really don't like Diamond Dogs, Station To Station or Heathen much at all, although the last one has two or three good tracks on it. I really can't explain my aversion to Diamond Dogs. Its production is horribly dated, but there again, I never liked it at the time.
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Old 08-07-2015, 01:12
The_Bonobo
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I really don't like Diamond Dogs, Station To Station or Heathen much at all, although the last one has two or three good tracks on it. I really can't explain my aversion to Diamond Dogs. Its production is horribly dated, but there again, I never liked it at the time.
Diamond Dogs is certainly one of my faves (I picked that in an earlier post) but I do understand
something of what you are saying here.

After the slickness of his previous few with the notable help of Ronson it does sound
much rougher and the production is also kind of rough and ready. Funnily enough though
that is one of the things that draws me in. He is essentially doing this very ambitious failed
musical project with some very grand efforts while also throwing in a few straight rockers.
But all the while the guitar and production sounds quite demo-esque. There is a weird
tension between the ambitious aims but less sophisticated execution.

Ultimately if you don't like the songs I guess that doesn't matter so much but just throwing
this in anyway.
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Old 08-07-2015, 09:56
barbeler
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I just skimmed through the tracks again to try to work out exactly why I dislike it so much and I think there are several reasons.

Firstly, I think the vocals are probably the worst on any Bowie album – all whiny and screechy (probably due to the coke).

Then there are the arrangements, using backing singers and brass to create a kind of mid-Atlantic sound that I personally don't like at all. It completely lost its British identity.

I'm not a technical expert, but I suspect that a huge amount of compression was used in the production, so that everything seems to stay at the same level all the way through. I actually found it quite painful to listen to with the exception of Rebel Rebel, which was a straight rock song, ideally suited to the trashy treatment. I was also surprised to find the Bowie played lead guitar throughout, which may not have been the best idea, but had to be better than the tasteless histrionics of Carlos Alomar.

I never really liked Ronson's guitar to be honest as his tuning always seemed seemed to be flat (possibly deliberate). His solo during She Shook Me Cold has to be one of the worst ever committed to record. I'm sure it was deliberately ugly but it went on far too long and ruined what would have been a great track with several extra verses of vocals. As for that live solo in Moonage Daydream... I have to hide behind the cushions when that appears in the filmed concert.
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Old 08-07-2015, 10:51
Pointy
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Then there are the arrangements, using backing singers and brass to create a kind of mid-Atlantic sound that I personally don't like at all. It completely lost its British identity.

I'm not a technical expert, but I suspect that a huge amount of compression was used in the production, so that everything seems to stay at the same level all the way through. I actually found it quite painful to listen to with the exception of Rebel Rebel, which was a straight rock song, ideally suited to the trashy treatment. I was also surprised to find the Bowie played lead guitar throughout, which may not have been the best idea, but had to be better than the tasteless histrionics of Carlos Alomar.
Bowie had already flirted mid-Atlantic sounds in previous records, just different types.
I also rate Carlos Alomar quite highly. He brought something new to Bowie's sound, which I particularly like on Station to Station.
On the subject of Diamond Dogs, I think it's a wonderfully perverse album.
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Old 08-07-2015, 11:54
barbeler
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1. Hunky Dory
2. Ziggy Stardust
3. Heroes
4. Aladdin Sane
5. Hours
6. Man Who Sold The World
7. Low
8. Space Oddity
9. Scary Monsters - great songs and great Fripp guitar, but I didn't like his trembling vocal style
10. Outside or Earthling - not sure which one to let creep in at the bottom.
Have to edit my own post here: I somehow forgot about Lodger, which was far better than either Outside or Earthling.
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