Customer Reviews

Ziggy Stardust: 30th Anniv

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Wow. 3-stars for Ziggy Stardust? Let me emphasize something right from the start: 3-stars is not indicative of my feelings towards the music contained on this set. Ziggy is a classic album, and deserves that status. In fact, in deserves far more than is offered in this poorly planned, shoddy two-disc "30th Anniversary Edition" offered from EMI.

Ziggy Stardust has been reissued countless times on CD in the past 15 years. In fact, let's take an inventory. There was the original, from-second-generation-tapes-but-unprocessed RCA disc that's currently having something of a critical renaissance. There was the original Rykodisc issue which came with bonus tracks. There was the anniversary Ryko box, with the same disc but a great box/booklet (far nicer than the one in this 30th Anniversary volume, and packaged much better to boot). Then there was the gold, Au20 series disc issued by Rykodisc (remastered again), and then in 1999 the Virgin reissue of the disc, which deleted the bonus tracks. And then this. While not publicized quite as much, it seems as if David might be competing with Hendrix or Elvis for "most endlessly reissued album" in this particular case.

So, uh, what do we have here, then? Well, we've got a two-disc set, held together by some *very* fragile packaging (the booklet seems almost designed to fall apart!). The main set is remastered again (although not very well...we'll get to that in a moment), and is supplemented by a second disc of bonus tracks.

Unfortunately, the iteration of "Ziggy" here is, I dare to say, the worst version on CD. The sound is slightly muddier than the already-overcompressed Virgin CD, but that isn't the main problem. What *is* a problem is the fact that the stereo channels of the album are reversed and intros to two songs (the acoustic segue between Ziggy and Suffragette City and the count-in to Hang On To Yourself) are missing. Missing. Inexcusable, and it's unfathomable that of all issues of the album, it's the "milestone" 30th anniversary set that's botched.

And the bonus tracks? Not only could they fit on the first disc--which, in current record company logic, would probably knock the price down a few notches--they've almost all been released before, mostly on the Ryko edition. There's nothing revelatory here, and although it's certainly nice to have these selections in print again, one must wonder why more effort wasn't expended in getting some nice, *really* never-been-heard-before vault tracks.

The verdict? If you absolutely, positively have never heard Ziggy before...well, don't buy this, as it's the only version on disc to actually make mistakes representing the original work. Track down the Ryko editions if you want bonus tracks, or grab the single-disc version (which really isn't all that bad) or--gasp--the RCA if you're so inclined. This set is for collectors, plain and simple.

My five issues with the mastering on this edition of one of my favourite rock albums:

(1) Some tracks have rather muffled sound: "Ziggy Stardust" is just a tiny bit congested when compared with the old EMI disc, but "Suffragette City" is noticeably lacking in upper-end bite. There's more low-end on the new disc, so this may represent an intentional change in emphasis, but it still sounds odd to my ears: much of the snarl is missing from Ronno's chugging guitar riffs.

(2) The little tiny three-note guitar lick at the very end of "Ziggy Stardust" -- the one *right* before "Suffragette City" crashes in -- has been faded out, so that the two songs no longer flow continuously one into the other. I can't imagine why this was done.

(3) The *really* puzzling one: the new disc has the stereo image REVERSED. Check out the opening of "Ziggy Stardust": the new disc has the acoustic guitar in the left channel, when it's been on the right on every previous release. Similarly, the five little hits on the ride cymbal at the very start of "Suffragette City" should be in the right speaker: here, they're on the left. It's not a remix: they've just swapped the L and R channels.

(4) The very first piano note in "Lady Stardust" is missing its initial attack: it sounds as if the track was faded up from silence, and a little bit of the initial "thunk" was lost. It's quite noticeable when compared with the 1999 EMI disc.

(5) The "one-two" count-in at the start of "Hang On To Yourself" is gone. Not reduced in volume: it's *gone*. The song just starts off with the two-chord hook. As far as I'm aware, every previous release of the album has had the count-in.

I've no idea what could have prompted the mastering team (Peter Mew and Nigel Reeve, the same gents who did the 1999 EMI master) to make these bizarre alterations to this album. Until/unless EMI fixes these issues, I'm afraid I can't recommend this release: stick with the 1999 EMI disc for the best available version of _Ziggy Stardust_.

The packaging and bonus tracks rate 2 stars by themselves. But as a best-ever release of the album, I think this edition falls woefully short.

Ziggy Stardust is one of the ten greatest albums that I have ever heard. The quality of the music isn't why I am giving this CD 3 stars. The reason that I am giving this edition three stars is because it is over priced. All of the music on this remaster could have fit onto one CD. Instead they put it on two CD's and charged the consumer the difference. The packaging here is pretty cool but it is not worth 22 dollars. If you don't have the original, buy it instead and save yourself the extra eight dollars. Back when Rykodisc had Bowie's catalog, they put out all of the songs on disc two of this collection but they put those songs on his other albums as bonus tracks and didn't charge the fan extra. Then EMI got Bowie's catalog and decided to not release the bonus tracks on his albums so that they could make more CD's out of them and I guess make more money. Don't be fooled by this. All of the music on both CD's equals about 79 and a half minutes of music. Short enough to fit onto one disc. The music industry is really slipping.

The little tiny three-note guitar lick at the very end of "Ziggy Stardust" -- the one *right* before "Suffragette City" crashes in -- has been faded out, so that the two songs no longer flow continuously one into the other. I can't imagine why this was done.

I can't understand WHY THEY CAN'T PRODUCE THIS SPECIAL CD TO REFLECT THE ORIGINAL ALBUM!!
The small nuances give the recording life...

This 2-cd set of Bowie's classic 1972 release is nicely packaged with a 40 page booklet of rare photos, info.,etc. in a gatefold hard case. The first cd is the complete remastered album. The second disc has outakes, remixes, and some unreleased tracks. I have to agree with one other reviewer in that this is an overpriced 2 cd set that could have easily been one cd. Again, this is another attempt by a record label to squeeze every nickel they can out of consumers. Bowie's classic "The Rise & Fall Of Ziggy Stardust" album clearly demonstrates Bowie's fascination with aliens, spaceships, etc. Bowie's songwriting has always been his strong point as is the case with this cd. Certainly no one can deny Bowie was ahead of his time back in 1972 when rock groups like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and art rock bands such as The Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer were what the public were listening too. Perhaps Bowie's music was too futuristic and radio stations seemed reluctant to play his music in heavy rotation. Rykodisc also released a limited edition version of this album about 12 years ago which included a rather lengthy booklet containing alot of intersting info. on Bowie at a much lower price. The Rykodisc special edition also had extra bonus tracks (as did many of the Rykodisc versions of Bowie's albums). Those lucky enough to have picked that version up will no doubt pass on this 30th Anniversary collection. For the most part this collection is really for die hard Bowie collectors. The regular remastered album version should suffice for most buyers. Highly Recommened for disc one!

Not only is Ziggy Stardust among the best rock albums ever made and a work of art to last the ages it is also one of my desert-island discs.

I actually am not too bothered about there being 2 discs and I actually wouldn't mind paying a bit more for a well-designed and well-packaged overall cd. Although I like the overall design concept of a booklet the way it's done here, they totally screwed up when they tried to execute the plan.

Firstly, they have to redo this with more hardy cardboard or paper as it's really easy to tear this package apart. I'm actually afraid to read the liner notes for fear the whole thing will fall apart. Secondly, they have to make it easier to remove the cds without scratching them. Otherwise, the liner notes in booklet form is actually quite good.

Now for the really bad news: they have to do a MUCH, MUCH, MUCH BETTER job of remastering the first disc. The first track starts out very soft and actually sounds muddy with each passing track until it reaches the tour de force and my favourite track, "Ziggy Stardust" where it sounds like it could actually have been remastered before ending with a whimper. What a shame and to actually call this a 30th anniversary edition!

Ironically, the 2nd disc is much more interesting and actually some of the tracks sound like they had been really well remastered. So what if you can get some of the tracks on the Ryko Disc version which I fortunately also own, the other tracks are quite good and it was nice to hear Bowie do a version of the old Chuck Berry standard, "Reelin' and Rockin'".

Perhaps they should have let the guy who remastered disc 2 do disc 1 as well. Actually, the Ryko disc version which isn't advertised as a remastered disc sounds a whole lot better than disc 1. Perhaps they should have designed a more robust packaging and let Ryko do the cds.

I'd really like to see them try again with my above suggestions. Of all the "sins" they've done, surely the mediocre quality of disc 1, the main course, has to be the most mortal. What a shame!

We all know this is a landmark album, we all agree on that point.

However....

The ENTIRE STEREO L - R CHANNELS ARE REVERSED!!! Not just one song, EVERY SONG!

Many are wondering how does it sound? I am a sound geek, here is my take. The bass and drums are a touch muddier and have more warmth then the previous releases. I think that is good because Bowie's vocals are more prominent in the mix giving each song more bite. The older pressings on cd have more of a vintage feel. This is basically Ziggy Stardust version 2.0 for a new audience.

But still, how can you have the sound channels reversed?

Needless to say this is a CLASSIC album, surely one of Bowie's best. But this re-issue leaves me a little cold. The demos are of little consequence, far inferior to their ultimate recorded versions, and are of interest only to hard core fans( which, I suppose, is what this is aimed for ). The new version of "Moonage Daydream" also cannot touch the original. And the liner notes...uuuugh. Who REALLY cares about the impact of this album on Gary Kemp or Ian McCulloch, for pete's sake??? I would have rather read more quotes and interviews from those involved in the making of the album, not from members of long forgotten, marginally successful early eighties pop bands. My final compaint is the packaging itself. As one reviewer here noted, the case is flimsy and mine is also already falling apart, and the slipcases that house the discs themselves are too tight and are causing scratches when taken in and out.If you already have Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars on cd, do yourself a favour and keep it, and don't bother with this over-priced re-issue.

I like the packaging (as well as the idea of presenting the album in its original form and placing bonus tracks on a second disc) but the main reason I'd recommend this version is that the remastering job sounds incredible. This new one blows the Ryko gold disc away, and compares favorably with the rich, detailed sound of the long-deleted Mobile Fidelity LP.

There is absolutely nothing new on this CD, and seeing as that the digital remastered reissue came out only a couple years back, I essentially bought the same CD twice. The packaging is very nice, and the bonus tracks have been on the Rykodisc CDs since the Eighties. The version of "Holy Holy" is not the original single version (which evidently has fallen off the face of the earth), and the remaining "Arnold Corns" tracks have eluded official release. It seems that either the vaults have closed, or no one is really trying anymore. I'll stick to the bootlegs.