Customer Reviews

Bowie at Beeb: Best of BBC Radio 68-72

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you have any notion of buying this great set, look at the used listings for the earlier, limited edition, now OOP, 3CD BBC set. It contains a fabulous live disc recorded at the BBC London Theatre 06/27/00 that this later edition does not have. Check out the tracklist for the live disc:

Disc: 3
1. Wild Is The Wind
2. Ashes To Ashes
3. Seven
4. This Is Not America
5. Absolute Beginners
6. Always Crashing In The Same Car
7. Survive
8. Little Wonder
9. Man Who Sold The World
10. Fame
11. Stay
12. Hallo Spaceboy
13. Cracked Actor
14. I'm Afraid Of Americans
15. Let's Dance

As of this writing, the OOP 3CD is available here on Amazon for less, used, than this 2-disc set, new. Don't pass up the opportunity to get the live CD. The audio is first rate, and the performance is excellent.

Unlike a lot of the overblown versions on his first five albums, one of which being the magnificent Ziggy Stardust, those presented here are live and very stripped down, allowing you to hear the song instead of the studio. Surprisingly, the primitive sound of these recordings sound fresher when heard for the first time today than the produced album versions, which can sound dated due to the use of late '60's/early '70's production techniques. Also, the versions of Space Oddity songs with Mick Ronson on guitar add a more rock feel and therefore fit better alongside the Ziggy stuff, which start to appear toward the album's end. A good representation of a hungry pre-fame Bowie, when he still sang in a higher register. The energy on this is as electric as it can get, and that's all that he was shooting for back then.

This is yet another interesting byproduct of the recent rush to re-release Brit groups and stars who performed during rock's glory age for various BBC TV and radio programs. Usually these are a mixed bag, as they often collect different time periods, different settings, different styles, and different sound dynamics, all wrapped onto one or two discs. Notable recent BBC collections include an early collection by the Beatles, a generally enthusiastic release from the Kinks, a great Led Zeppellin cd, and a very strong late-period Procol Harum set.

This one is no different. Like those I mentioned, the first cd of Bowie at the Beeb collects several early live performances of a red-hot Bowie fresh off the high of "Space Oddity" performing an eclectic set of solo, small group acoustic, and rock performances. Leaving aside the annoying BBC host who is always omnipresent in these sets, Bowie turns in a strong yet tentative collection of his early songs, some joined by Mick Ronson toward the end of the disc. Standouts include "Janine," "The Width of a Circle," and a rave-up performance of "It Ain't Easy." Those familiar with the early Bowie sound will find it in abundance on the first cd, an obvious talent looking for the right sound and fit for his muse, trying on and abandoning different styles but always a solid performer throughout.

The second cd finds a far more confident Bowie a few years later (1972) in a studio setting, bringing his amped-up Ziggy Stardust persona and ripping through a blistering set of highlights from that period. The sound (recorded with overdubs in the studio) is especially fine, and the performances first-rate -- Mick Ronson leaves no prisoners as he slashes through "Hang on to Yourself" and "Ziggy Stardust." Bowie even brings on a large contingent of supporters later on to help him with a superb set that includes "Starman," "Space Oddity," and "Changes."

Bowie fans will rejoice. I hope the Bowie archivists start releasing more of his early and mid-period live sets, as we have seen with other similar artists, so we can fill in the missing pieces in the evolution of a singular rock icon.

CD2 - The first CD could be a symphony of (flatus) and I'd still give this release 5 stars for the nearly immaculate performances on the second disk. In particular, "Hang Onto Yourself" (track 3), "White Light/White Heat," and "Suffregette City" (featuring Mick Ronson making this totally hot kissing noise with his guitar) crackle with energy. It is truly a thrill to hear these old favorites in such a new (as such) and exciting light. Bowie and Co. burn down the BBC studios. Repeatedly. Any rock fan (but especially an old Bowie fan, of course) is likely to meltdown in ecstacy upon hearing this.

CD1 - Many hardcore fans will surely (sweet milk) over CD1 as well although I'm not personally crazy about all of it. Some of David's early British folk period is represented which can be a bit hippy-dippy at times. The first 4 tracks, recorded in May of '68, fit that description although they do feature brilliant in-studio orchestral accompaniment.

Much of CD1 does in fact rock. "Let Me Sleep Beside You" and "Janine" are very good, easy-going rockers recorded with Junior's Eyes who had a short-lived collaboration with Bowie. The session was never broadcast. Bowie delivers a stunning solo performance of Jacques Brel's "Port of Amsterdam" (vocal and guitar). The same session shows off Mick Ronson just a few days after hooking up with Bowie for the first time. They perform an intriguing, half-written version of "Width of a Circle." Ronson really cuts loose on "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" and "Cygnet Committee" is positively intense. Some studio hum can be heard on the session, an atmospheric reminder of the electric nature of these proceedings (that may or may not appeal to the listener). "Memory of a Free Festival" had sadly been edited for time and remains so.

Recorded in June of '71, the last session on CD1 features all of the future Spiders From Mars as well as some friends on vocals. Also along for the ride is guitarist Mark Carr-Pritchard who played for a phantom Bowie project called Arnold Corns. Early embryonic versions of "Moonage Daydream" and "Hang Onto Yourself" were recorded and released under that name. The group stomps through "Bombers," a rare HUNKY DORY-era cut that sounds better (and less cheesy) than the studio version which I have as a bonus cut on the RYCODISK release of HUNKY DORY. "Looking For A Friend" is a country-ish, Stones-y rocker and they also turn in a rousing cover of Chuck Berry's "Almost Grown." And Bowie performs "Kooks" solo on vocal and guitar which he had just written for newborn son Zowie.

Note: Those concerned about excessive voice-overs from BBC radio hosts (like the ones that marred the Jimi Hendrix BBC release) can relax. There's very little talking over the songs and quite a bit of interesting Bowie banter on CD1. CD2 has nothing but back-to-back songs. Thankfully, tracks begin with actual songs, not the preceeding dialogue.

Contrary to the reviews here- i think disc One is the stunner here featuring many of Bowies earliest mod folk and acoustic rockers. God knows im good- (Brels) Amsterdamn -In the heat of the morning and well pretty much all of the first disc capture David at his early climb to fame. The interviews and radio chatter only enhance the uniqueness and rarity for fans. Its all very informative and captures a time and place and the sound is excellent- you can almost sense coming superstardom in the confidence of the material and in the band. Disc two contains most of his Ziggy Stardust material which ofcourse is all good but basically sounds like demos of that album and for the most part is very familiar even to the casual fan. The acoustic versions of Supermen and Andy Warhol would have sat better on disc one as they flow into that material better. This is a great bargain especially used nearly 40 songs of Bowie at his peak. Disc One however finds itself on permanent rotation in my cd player- i could listen to this all day.

If you're a bowie fan, you're in for a treat. I first heard tracks from this album while I was sitting in a coffee shop. I thought he'd done some new live acoustic recordings, they sounded so fresh. There are a lot of tracks and some clunkers, but the good ones make up for it. Bowie is of course and incredible performer and the necessity of these stripped down BBC recordings lets his performances shine. He rips into the songs in a way that's not possible on a studio album. Magical!!

Disc 2 really kooks (!) This is rock'n'roll at it's best. Mick Ronson's guitar shines through the way it never did on the Ziggy Stardust studio album. Check out Hang On To Yourself. But disc 1 isn't bad. It kind of grows on me. I feel I'm ready to check out Bowie's earlier catalog. I consider myself a Bowie fan although not a hardcore one. The albums Hunky Dory and Scary Monsters are some of my all time favourites. I will now add Bowie At The Beeb to that list.

a grand album for any bowie devotees . It simply highlights the musical flair that. Bowie always possessed. The live recordings makes this set a gem, all tracks very unique and original. Possibly my favorite Bowie album, simply because of its rarity. You wont here bowie like this on any other cd.

This is a great package of early bowie material it is a must have to any bowie fan!

Great music, if you are a big Bowie fan you need this. If your not you just need SOME of this. One warning is there is an annoying DJ on both ends of some songs. I went to the preferences menu on iTunes and set the songs to end sooner or start later to cut the idiot off. But when he is talking over the music you can not really do this. So I knocked off a star for the DJ