Hunky Dory [Enhanced, Original recording reissued]

David Bowie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 28, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1971
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Original recording reissued
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B00001OH7O
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (118 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,118 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #3 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Proto Punk
  • #7 in Music > Classic Rock > Glam
  • #40 in Music > Rock > Progressive > Progressive Rock

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bowie's Undisputed Masterpiece, June 5, 2005

By 

howzat "howzat" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunky Dory (Audio CD)

Hunky Dory (1971.), David Bowie's fourth studio album

David Bowie is arguably one of the greatest solo artists of all time and his unique alternative style (notice the omission of the word 'pop') is timeless and has deservedly won him loads of fans from generation to generation. Bowie has changed his style from album to album and has produced music in loads of different styles whilst still maintaining his distinctive sound. 'Hunky Dory', Bowie's fourth studio album, released in 1971 is one of the greatest chapters in his career and is definitely one of his most powerful releases.

'Hunky Dory' is the second album in what I would describe as Bowie's classic run of five albums from 'Man Who Sold the World' to 'Diamond Dogs' when he was at his very best. 'Hunky Dory' though is one of his most unique releases. Bowie was not yet into his famous Ziggy Stardust glam rock period but neither is this album as strongly guitar based as its predecessor 'Man Who Sold the World'. 'Hunky Dory' instead is much more acoustic based with lots of piano thrown in but most of all is an album of unbelievable songwriting - songs don't come much better than those on this album. The album is really well structured as well - each side of the original LP has happy/upbeat songs for the most part but finishes off with a darker, emotive and more powerful song ('Quicksand' and 'Bewlay Brothers'). Bowie's backing group are also excellent on this album. Rick Wakeman's jazzy piano playing is there practically throughout and really characterises the album. Mick Ronson plays some great guitar solos on the album especially in 'Life on Mars'. Bowie's accomplished and often overlooked saxophone playing is also top notch on this album.

David Bowie's album collection has undergone a number of remasters since CD's became commonplace about 20 years ago. Recently an enhanced CD version of 'Hunky Dory' was released. Obviously the sound quality is great but the version lacks any bonus tracks, which incidentally can be found on the 1991 remaster. The latter is the version I would recommend. It still has excellent sound quality and also has demo versions of 'Quicksand' and 'Bewlay Brothers' as well as an album outtake 'Bombers' and an alternative version of 'The Supermen' from 'The Man Who Sold the World' album.

Eventhough this masterpiece yielded a fair-share of singles, this album is not pop in my opinion but instead is a great serving of alternative, extremely listenable music. 'Changes', one of Bowie's well known songs starts the album. An excellent song, its got a classic chorus with loads of piano play. 'oh You Pretty Things' is a great follow up - brilliant for a sing along with another catchy chorus. It runs very cleverly into 'Eight Line Poem' which is a more reflective songs with somem rather bluesy guitar playing from Mick Ronson. 'Life On Mars?' is next up and this one truly one of Bowie's great songs. The lyrics are some of the best I've heard and Mick Ronson's closing solo is out of this world - listen out for the phone ringing at the end of the track! 'Kooks' is an upbeat acoustic track which Bowie wrote for his son, Zowy Bowie. Then we come to 'Quicksand', in my opinion the best track on the album. Its got an amazingly calming start before building into a powerful, heartfelt song - the chorus is really moving. A song about losing direction in life, this is one of Bowie's greatest songs.

What was side two of the LP kicks off with a happy sing along 'Fill Your Heart', a great track, although it is the weakest track on this great album - ironically Bowie didn't write this one! 'Andy Warhol' follows this; this strong acoustic jam is excellent. The goofing around in the studio at the start is a hillarious, where Bowie keeps correcting the sound engineer's pronunciation of 'Warhol'. 'Song For Bob Dylan' is a tribute to one of Bowie's great influences and is followed by 'Queen Bitch', the most rocking track on the album, Ronson's guitar work on this track is first rate. 'The Bewlay Brothers' is an unbelievably potent finish to the album. I'm amazed how many reviewers of this album overlook the greatness of this track. I've never heard a track like it. It's mostly acoustic based and is Bowie's telling story of his own brother's lifelong mental troubles. The warped sounding voice at the end of the album is really freaky and it makes your blood run cold but its a remarkable finish to an amazing album.

The 'Hunky Dory' album captures David Bowie on one of the high points of his career. I'm not sure if I'd call it his best album but its up there with his finest efforts and this album is sure to stand the test of time. I'd recommend this album to anyone who likes a unique alternative style of music or to any fan of David Bowie, although there isn't such such a thing as a Bowie fan who doesn't own this masterpiece!

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DIG IT, December 9, 2004

By 

J. Brady (PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hunky Dory (Audio CD)

As I delved deeper and deeper into Bowie's back catalogue I found this excellent album. I have never been a big fan of the hit single "Changes", which is admittedly a great song, perhaps a little overplayed, but there is so much more here. "Life on Mars" is perhaps Bowie's best song ever ( and check out the Mick Rock directed video of this song if you get a chance - it is just stunning, a wonderful visual compliment to an incredible song.)"Andy Warhol" is gentle folk rocker with twisted lyrics and a hilarious spoken intro. "Queen Bitch" is a great glam rocker, its lyrics a pointed barb at those who try too hard to dress up but totally miss the point of doing it. ( " God, I could do better than that!!" Bowie sings ... great lyrics on this one!) Overall this one covers many bases, from folk to rock to string enhanced ballads. ( Rick Wakeman, soon to join British prog rockers Yes, plays piano on a few songs on this album, and Bowie's guitarist, the criminally under-rated and incredibly versatile Mick Ronson, had a hand in the string arrangements.) If all you know of Bowie is his 80's hits like "Let's Dance" this album might come as a bit of a shock to you. But it's a great place to start digging into David.

43 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Before David became Ziggy, he was HUNKY DORY with his career, July 6, 2000

By 

30-year old wallflower "Eric N Andrews" (West Lafayette, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunky Dory (Audio CD)

This was where David Bowie's legend started to grow, and while the upbeat pop textures of HUNKY DORY would pale in comparison to the trashy glam rock of ZIGGY STARDUST, this album still rewrote the rules of pop music. "Changes" is quite possibly the most sophisticated pop song ever created, and even though it didn't make the top 40 in America, it's still one of Bowie's most memorable songs. And that's the way HUNKY DORY can be described: unapologetically pop. Songs like "Kooks", "Life On Mars", "Oh! You Pretty Things" are well-crafted jewels of keyboard-and-string-laden pop music that, in spite of the Bowie-ishness, are fine examples of what pop music should sound like. I guess before Bowie turned the amps up to 11 with ZIGGY STARDUST, he kept them low for HUNKY DORY. And that was a good idea, because can you imagine a song like "Changes" drenched in feedback? I don't think so. Even so, HUNKY DORY was basically the calm before the storm that was ZIGGY STARDUST.