Customer Reviews

David Bowie: Santa Monica 1972 Live

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

 

 

An absolute must-have for every true Bowie fan. I finally got to see David play live nearly a year ago and one thing I'll say about a David Bowie concert, the man simply takes you into his own world for over two hours. A must-be there event!The shindig on this disc took place on October 20, 1972. Total of eighteen cuts and a duration of 76:39. Thank goodness for the invention of compact discs, no doubt. I remember years ago when the only source of an early '70's Bowie concert was some pricey lousy sounding bootleg put on 2-lp vinyl. Now, the fan gets the entire show one shiny disc. Great matching art work to go with it. Tunes I couldn't get enough of were "Ziggy Stardust", "The Superman", "Space Oddity", "John,I'm Only Dancing", "Jene Genie", "Suffragette City" and "Rock&Roll Suicide". One of the better archive concerts EVER to be released, period!

I find this a beautiful CD, of a RADIO SHOW, that was broadcast at the end of Bowie's first american tour. At that point, the SPIDERS were fresh, the material wasnt played to the point of tired repetition. If you compare this Cd, to the soundtrack to the movie ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS, you become amazed at the difference in sound. For one thing, the playing here is tight, concise, and energetic. On the movie soundtrack, from the END of the spider's history, what you hear is sloppy, dull playing. If you want to hear EARLY Bowie live, and your time machine is broken, so you cant go back to hear it in person, then for now, this is the next best thing. IF you can find it, buy it.

The greatest strength of this recording is the fact that it is LIVE. One night. One continuous take. It's a testament to just how good this artist was (and is)and how his talent takes over the stage without resorting to recording tricks or artifice. It's easy to think of Bowie as an image maker, and easy to forget that he's a music maker. The Spiders prove themselves to be a white-hot, smokin' band too. This recording gives me pleasure every time I listen, and I always find something new.

I have this on vinyl bootleg I acquired in the 1980's. If youngsters question why their elders claim Bowie is so influential they only have to listen to this. Apart from the duff take-off special effects noise bowie tries to conjure up in Space Oddity and the flat chorus on Five Years, this album blows away any other Bowie concert CD. The sound is incredible on the vinyl - I can't say for the CD edition as I have never heard it. I had the privelege of seeing Bowie on his STAGE tour in Sydney and was very disappointed by the concert album they released of that tour. I'm happy this 1972 performance has finally officially been released - but inexplicably it seems to have failed to make much of an impact- even with Bowie fans. Being there in 1972 must have been an incredible experience . As far as I'm concerned its the only Bowie album anyone needs to own!

OK folks-- remember this is 1972-- this is a live radio broadcast-- they are mixing on the fly
A stunning representation of the Bowie experience
Sure the levels are off from time to time i.e. Jean Genie, but look at it as a whole entity, warts and all. He flubs lyrics in Suffragette City (which he did again just recently in Cleveland 2004), the mix can be questionable from time to time BUT IT'S 1972!! A stunning collection of songs and better than the original version of the Ziggy Sardust movie S/T. Mick Ronson proved he was the next guitar god. Crank it up!

An addicting album, definitely. My copy was stolen recently, and I'm trying desperately to find another copy. It's especially nice if you happen to have "Ziggy Stardust the Motion Picture," and can envision the actual show. But even without that, it's spectacular! :-)

This is one of my all time favorite recordings. I have this CD version, and a vinyl 2 disc set I got in the 70s. The variable audio quality and audience chatter are part of its charm. I love the ebullient intimacy and irreverance of "Space Oddity", the exhausted Bowie flubbing the lines to "Suffragette City" while the band roars on. Mike Garson's piano sounds unfortunately awful, but Trevor Bolder's bass parts are nimble and the magnificent Mick Ronson's wrecking ball guitar may damage your speakers. Consider yourself warned.

This CD has a great selection of songs played with a raw unpolished edge. If the production/recording quality was better (and it should be) I would easily give this a five star. It sounds like it was recorded on tape somewhere in the audience and then transferred to CD. I have no problem with that except after you crank up the volume for the music (and you'll want to crank it up) the audience ovation after each song will come through your speakers twice as loud. Me? I endure it with volume control in hand because, you know, I think this was Bowies greatest era. To bad there isn't more live stuff!