Diamond Dogs [ECD] [Enhanced, Original recording reissued]

David Bowie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 28, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Original recording reissued
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B00001OH7S
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (139 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,088 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #66 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Proto Punk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

George Orwell's classic tale of totalitarianism, 1984, was the inspiration for a project that David Bowie hoped would further solidify his standing as a rock visionary. Bowie was a natural artist to helm a musical companion to Orwell's allegory, since his own music exhibits an innate alienation. The concept ultimately broke down, but the music didn't. "Rebel Rebel" has become a rock staple, while "Sweet Thing," "Candidate," and the forthright yet experimental title track (Bowie as puppet master) offer additional highlights. Still, despite such benchmarks and its conceptual flaws, Diamond Dogs is best listened to as a thematic collection. --Rob O'Connor

Product Description

Remastered Fts : "1984", "Rock n Roll With Me","Sweet Thing","Rebel Rebel"

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars And, in the death..... August 2, 2004

By Tim Brough TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Those four words lead off the album that scared the tar outta me as a 14 year old. Even more than my well worn Black Sabbath albums. Sabbath was scary, but a lot of that came from the fact that they were so darn heavy and demonic. But on "Diamond Dogs," David Bowie just made everything musically bone rattling, insane and unsettling. Visualizing Hunger City and the hordes of jeweled and fur clad "peoploids" on the prowl was akin to something out of a George Romero movie. I was too young to understand what a rock and roll musical would sound like, all I knew was "We Are The Dead" and "Chant Of The Ever Circling Skeletal Family" captured my attention like no other save for Alice Cooper.

No other album or artist has done that for me since. Marylyn Manson? Megadeth? Slayer? Mindless poseurs all after the theatrics of "Sweet Thing/Candidate." Of course I couldn't know it at the time, but Bowie was beginning to bridge the gap between the Ziggy character (in retrospect, it seems like this was the album where Ziggy is at last buried forever) and the soon to emerge Philly Soul monger of "Young Americans." The croon Bowie lays into "When You Rock and Roll With Me" and the "Shaft/Superfly" licks in "1984" are the most obvious forays in that direction.

But still, is this really 30 years old? Jeepers, it sounds like it was recorded last week. "Diamond Dogs" is now enriched by the excellent packaging, including Bowie's comments about his state of mind during the creation of the "1984" stage musical concept to several of the contributing players' thoughts, and a host of pictures and other graphics from the period. The bonus disc is a treat as well. I'd actually forgotten the single mix of "Rebel Rebel," and my ensuing disappointment when I bought the album and the background vocals were gone! But why quarrel with what has to be one of the ten best guitar riffs ever composed?

Additional kudos must be given to the fact that this is a two CD set. While a single disc with bonus tracks could have easily been released (and has), "Diamond Dogs'" original 40 minutes stands at its best without additional clutter tacked on the end like some hideous footnote from an obsessive Bowie acolyte insisting that a masterpiece has to be amended. MORE artists/albums need to be treated with this kind of respect - Thanks EMI!

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars "Lord I think you'd overdose if you knew what's going down" November 6, 2002

By Clyde D. Hoops

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

You know, I've had this album since it was released back in 1974 and thought, "cool album, man".

But since trying to rebuild an album collection into a cd collection of the same size (currently about 400 cd's vs 900 albums) I am always hesitant about replacing some of the albums I've had with the cd format, whether its due to money or the cd formatting (straight transfer, record company ripoffs vs. digital remastering, the only way to go).

And so it came to be with this version of 'Diamond Dogs' by the master of paranoia induced futuristic tales David Bowie.

Last week I bought the 1999 remastered edition and was taken aback by scope of this particular work. Forget what you may read by Rolling Stone or AMG, this is one Bowie's deepest works. The fact that he was rebuked by Orwell's widow is a moot point. Here Bowie is bridging the gap between the glam era of "Man who sold the World"-"Aladdin Sane" to the 'Plastic Soul' period of "Young Americans" and "Station to Station" without missing a beat. The only missed beat was with the music critics, as it always is.

Listen to the often cited song cycle of 'Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing-reprise' if you don't believe, he was already there. Not the transition album some expert critics would have you believe, the real transition album would have been "Aladdin Sane". Sure you get some bleed through of moments past but this collection isn't built upon the past but pushing forward. I fail to find any music during the 'Thin White Duke' period that has as much soul or energy put into it as the aforementioned songs set of ST/C/ST-R or "We are the Dead", any of which would have been quite at home on either "Young Americans" or "Station to Station".

There are sure fire rockers included within this set as well, with "Rebel Rebel", "Diamond Dogs" and "1984", but personaaly the most overlooked gem on this entire set would have to be the track "Big Brother". The second line of the song even tells the listeners and critics "Don't think of last years capers, give me steel...," but I think the best passage of the song is the acoustic bridge in the middle of the song wherein its almost as if David were talking to his critics and especially his fans, face to face and says:

'I know you think you're awfully square
But you've made everyone and you've been everywhere
Lord I'd think you'd overdose if you knew what's going down'

And then the song slams back into the chorus with the bass and guitar to finish the song and end the collection with the "Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family". An incredible tour through the mind of a truly under appreciated artist in his own time, but isn't that always the s.o.s, Shake it up, move it up, brother!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Listened To This In The 70's , It May Explain Things..... August 31, 2006

By Rude Boy 1979

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I listened to this album (my older brothers) during the 70's, ad nausea. For me it is must own Bowie. I like this album so much that I'm even into Chant of the ever circling skeletal family! I actually think that song's very cool but I may be alone on that one. For me this is Bowie's best. I followed him through the 70's (I remember seeing him on Soul Train doing Golden Years), the pop 80's from Ashes to Ashes to China Girl, even followed him a bit in Tin Machine and later hating Americans or something, lol. This is my all time favorite Bowie, I'm ordering it today so we can get reacquainted. Highly recommended, definitely a top 100 rock album of all time.