Customer Reviews

David Bowie [2 CD Deluxe Edition]

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A vast sonic improvement over the 1997 Deram Anthology! CD #1: The original first album in mono and stereo...CD #2: singles, b-sides, rarities ("London Bye Ta-Ta", "Ching-a-Ling", "When I'm Five"...and live radio performances of some of the songs) A very extensive booklet and packaging. For many Bowie fans (and myself), this was the David Bowie that I discovered years after I had heard Ziggy and Aladdin Sane...and it fits right in with the chameleon thing: cool songs, weird songs, strange ones too...Bowie. Again, I really must stress the sound of this remaster is stunning!

Whilst the multiple (yet varied) recordings of different songs are wanted by the quintessential Bowie collector, where does this place your run-of-the-mill rock fan? That's what I'm here to answer.

Those of you who are already Bowie fans will appreciate this plunge into the past as you get a chance to see that which was formative in his later, much more widely known career as the charismatic entertainer; Ziggy Stardust, a glowing beacon among other subdivisions of his personality and style. For others, it will be a trip down memory lane as you are reacquainted with the old music hall style of music.

However, this album is not merely a hallmark of a bygone time, as it faces up to the demons of yesterday and tomorrow in the form of the very real issues of sexual leaning and identity. The album has a very jaunty, jovial feel overall (with the marked exception of "Please, Mr. Gravedigger) which only lends power to the message which is laced within it. It paints a sad picture of the fate of the non-conformist, whilst maintaining an energetic and unexamined veneer which belies the earnest truth within.

All in all, the tracks translate with clarity and no disambiguation over to the 21st century from their 60's setting, poignantly refreshing the everyday soundtrack of an average life, and displaying a sliver of the inspired young artist which Bowie once was, and remains today.

Every listen reveals a new wealth of meaning, which I shall allow you to uncover for yourself.
Most importantly, the album is immensely enjoyable, as it manages to lift spirits with its cheerful demeanour, whilst remaining un-flippant in its delivery as it tells the enduring story of the sublime innocence which encapsulates youth as it is peeled back to reveal the exclusion of differences and yearning for conformity.

David Bowie made many records, obviously. This particular one, which used to be a much shorter--but double--album, was made when he was just starting out. It had (and has) many different sorts of songs (funny, wildly creative, romantic, and just plain quirky...yet, always with a message). I bought a lot of his albums in my teenage years; a few were favorites. But this was probably my very favorite all around. This double CD-set has expanded on the record so much. There are the original songs. Some have slightly different "takes" and you must listen closely. Also, there are several different versions of the same songs, but with some of the verses changed. There are also additional, terrific songs that weren't on the original double-record. To some, it may seem tedious to hear slightly different versions; or to hear Bowie laugh in a different way...I particularly enjoy hearing words/sounds, etc. I never heard before...and his at-times very, very British accent. I enjoy the CD set--as well as pictures and other info. I feel it's a great CD-set.