Add Prime to get Fast, Free delivery

Kindle
$9.99

Available instantly

Paperback
$14.95

$14.95

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

FREE delivery Monday, December 30 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Or fastest delivery Sunday, December 29. Order within 4 hrs 2 mins

Only 6 left in stock (more on the way).

$$14.95 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Ships from

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Returns

Returnable until Jan 31, 2025

Payment

Secure transaction

Add a gift receipt for easy returns

$11.11

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

FREE delivery Monday, December 30 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Or fastest delivery Sunday, December 29. Order within 4 hrs 2 mins

Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

$$14.95 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. Details

${cardName} not available for the seller you chose

${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}.

Sold by 777Khost and Fulfilled by Amazon.

Other sellers on Amazon

New & Used (28) from $11.11 FREE Shipping on orders over $35.00 shipped by Amazon.

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Hugo Wilcken

Follow

David Bowie's Low (33 1/3) Paperback – August 19, 2005

by Hugo Wilcken (Author)

4.6 239 ratings

Part of: 33 1/3 (174 books)

See all formats and editions

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$14.95","priceAmount":14.95,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"95","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"AOruGVsse54IlZdeHBXJEvT9UkgU7sQ9QdiQTdfr6ZMBZla%2F%2BmEwOUlZbjRndBgo0Sl7z324xQW3eh1HWYj1G6AkxbJ6MK0ElKg2g%2F2wRlHBa%2Fq6enaAtSjMwzGcVUpiDN6KNGkhzN8%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$11.11","priceAmount":11.11,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"11","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"11","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"AOruGVsse54IlZdeHBXJEvT9UkgU7sQ9ZfcwH2kZqfeu37a4hr4Sv8tPqZ2CGP7%2BPEQNgoKEkZZalCgmxEDhfLTO5wY5qnPTHapB8P30%2Bfd6cklsNbP2a86OXXkdcBtozyot2bGNQYb%2FqinRmBXayvScB4dAAV9%2B5Jf7MKJnt9%2FCIlMdGT4D2RdabVc77LOl","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Los Angeles, 1976. David Bowie is holed up in his Bel-Air mansion, drifting into drug-induced paranoia and confusion. Obsessed with black magic and the Holy Grail, he's built an altar in the living room and keeps his fingernail clippings in the fridge. There are occasional trips out to visit his friend Iggy Pop in a mental institution. His latest album is the cocaine-fuelled Station To Station (Bowie: "I know it was recorded in LA because I read it was"), which welds R&B rhythms to lyrics that mix the occult with a yearning for Europe, after three mad years in the New World.

Bowie has long been haunted by the angst-ridden, emotional work of the Die Brucke movement and the Expressionists. Berlin is their spiritual home, and after a chaotic world tour, Bowie adopts this city as his new sanctuary. Immediately he sets to work on Low, his own expressionist mood-piece.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“David Bowie's album Low, released in 1977, is an inspired high point for the singer/actor/musician/icon, yet the record still fails to generate the attention it deserves. Hugo Wilcken's Low will hopefully put an end to the long neglect....his book will captivate Bowie fans and the musically inquisitive looking for a lost gem from a name artist. Fascinating for rock historian types who are drawn in to the never-ending debate of who influenced who, and those that simply want to know the stories behind the songs. Devotees will be anxious to rediscover a forgotten favorite....an absorbing and appealing analysis, thankfully sans the type of mind-numbing prose that often accompanies this type of scrutiny. Once Bowie's long career has concluded Low will surely stand as his creative apex, and Hugo Wilcken's book will be its knowing and worthy companion.” ―Drastic Plastic Press

“No record exists in a vacuum-especially not one of David Bowie's from the 1970s. Low is the first in his famed Berlin Trilogy … Wilcken doesn't get around to discussing Low until nearly halfway through the book, and while such a lengthy prelude could easily descend into aimlessness or self-indulgence, here it shows the extent that Low works as both a comment on Bowie's previous records and a guide for his subsequent ones” ―Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork

About the Author

Hugo Wilcken is a Paris-based, Australian-born writer and translator. His first novel, The Execution, was published by HarperCollins in 2002. ("A remarkably accomplished debut heralding the arrival of a noteworthy talent"- Publishers Weekly.) It was well reviewed, and has since been translated into Dutch and German. A second novel, Colony, was published in August 2007.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Continuum; 0 edition (August 19, 2005)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0826416845
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0826416841
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.83 x 0.37 x 6.51 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #336,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #902 in Music History & Criticism (Books)
- #1,404 in Rock Music (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 239 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Hugo Wilcken

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

239 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Review this product

Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and informative. They appreciate the detailed analysis and descriptions of conceptual ideas that manifest into creative decisions. The book provides an excellent look at the making and meaning of Bowie's Low album. Readers describe the writing quality as well-written and worth reading for fans of Bowie or rock history.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

Readability Insight Look Writing quality Sound quality

16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and recommended for fans of David Bowie's album Low. They say it stirs them up and is thorough.

"...You feel like you are there as it happens. A thoroughly enjoyable experience for anyone who loves that album." Read more

"...For such a small book, there's a wealth of information in these pages, and Wilcken writes it all in a clear, easy-to-follow style...." Read more

"...but not concerned with trivia; analysis of the music itself, detailed but not overblown; biography of the artist, at least enough to understand..." Read more

"...The book is a good companion piece & provides meaningful context to its many pop music innovations." Read more

13 customers mention "Insight"11 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the detailed analysis of Bowie's work in this book. They find it informative, with a good description of the creative process and cultural milieu. The author explains the album's influences, including Kraftwerk and Neu. There is also plenty of description of the surrounding atmosphere. Readers enjoy the insights into an interesting artist at an interesting time.

"...He describes conceptual ideas that manifest themselves into creative decisions, such as the merging of dense Germanic electronic sound with an..." Read more

"...Highlights included: a solid description of just where Bowie was, mentally, when he made the album..." Read more

"...The author does a good job of describing and highlighting both the creative processes and the cultural melieu surrounding the album...." Read more

"This is perhaps the finest, most detailed analysis of Bowie's work I've ever read, and I earnestly entreat the author to consider taking on the..." Read more

4 customers mention "Look"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides an excellent look at the making and meaning of Bowie's Low album. They find it nice enough, but some may not be a fan of the artist.

"...And track-by-track analysis which actually feels justified: not drawn-out or unnecessary..." Read more

"...but it's nice enough. If you're a Bowie fan don't even bother...." Read more

"Excellent look at both the making and meaning oof Bowie's Low album, but also a peek at the significance of the record in predicting the future of..." Read more

"Pretentious but with lots a good info..." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They say it reads like a novel and there is no dull moment.

"...Wilcken is a fine writer, but there is a serious absence of information within this text...." Read more

"...Well-written and well-worth reading for a fan of Bowie or of rock history in general." Read more

"...It's reads like a novel and there is not a boring moment in the book. Outstanding...." Read more

"Best writing yet on Bowie - hands down..." Read more

3 customers mention "Sound quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the sound quality. They mention it's immersive with obscure music, interviews, and literature.

"...themselves into creative decisions, such as the merging of dense Germanic electronic sound with an American soul-based rhythm section...." Read more

"...really "went into the weeds" for this book, siting literature, obscure music, interviews, etc...." Read more

"Sound and Vision extacy!..." Read more

Reviews with images

See all photos

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Duane s
33 1/3 Bowie - Low, one of the best of 33 1/3
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2008
Verified Purchase
I've read 7 or 8 of the 33 1/3 book series, which I consider to be a great idea for people to experience their favorite albums with deeper understanding. The 2 best, in my mind, are the Kinks Village Green Preservation Society, and David Bowie's Low.

This book sets the standard & should be the model for how the others in the series are written. It begins with background on where Bowie was in his career, leading up to Low. Then a detailed description of the early creative process, chronicling how they first recorded Iggy Pop's "The Idiot" as a way of fleshing out sonic ideas that would govern Low. Followed by the early sessions in France, as Eno entered the creative mix, soon followed by longtime Bowie producer, Tony Visconti . And then traveling to Berlin to finish mixing at Connie Plank's Hansa by the Wall studio.

Hugo Wilcken doesn't dwell too deeply on a technical description of the songs, and he definitely doesn't resort to one of those dry "at 2:37 into the song there is a bridge that pre-supposes the chorus structure while belying a sub harmonic tonality of the root level rhythm...." type texts that can creep into some other books of the series.

Instead, the author focuses on the life being lived by the artist as the songs were being created, and how it influenced and shaped the process. He describes conceptual ideas that manifest themselves into creative decisions, such as the merging of dense Germanic electronic sound with an American soul-based rhythm section. Plenty of description of the surrounding atmosphere in the whole process. You feel like you are there as it happens.

A thoroughly enjoyable experience for anyone who loves that album.

Read more

12 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Michael Avolio
covers LOW as well as a bit on STATION TO STATION and Iggy Pop's THE IDIOT, which Bowie produced
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is a smart little book about David Bowie's album Low, which is one of his finest and strangest records (recently winning an online poll among Bowie fans ranking Bowie's best albums).

In a hundred-odd pocket-sized pages, Hugo Wilcken covers the recording of the album in appropriate detail and takes the time to talk about each individual song. He also explores the lead-up to Low, starting with Bowie's previous album, Station to Station, as well as the Iggy Pop album The Idiot, which Bowie produced and co-wrote (and first experimented with some of the sounds used on Low). For such a small book, there's a wealth of information in these pages, and Wilcken writes it all in a clear, easy-to-follow style. Highly recommended.

And if you like this one, other books in the 33 1/3 series I've read and recommend are:
Geeta Dayal's book on Brian Eno's Another Green World Brian Eno's Another Green World (33 1/3 series)
Jonathan Lethem's book on Talking Heads' Fear of Music Talking Heads' Fear of Music (33 1/3)
Mark Polizzotti's book on Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited (33 1/3)

Read more

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
William J. Cumbie
Solid introduction to Low
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2012
Verified Purchase
There are a few things I'd expect from a book like this: a description of the way the album was made, detailed but not concerned with trivia; analysis of the music itself, detailed but not overblown; biography of the artist, at least enough to understand where the album came from. This book has all of that. It's difficult for an entire book about a single album to be intriguing from start to finish, but this mostly manages.

Highlights included: a solid description of just where Bowie was, mentally, when he made the album (a description which does a lot to explain the album's unique mood). Explanation of the album's influences, with focus on acts like Kraftwerk and Neu!, as well as the ways the album connects to its predecessor, Station to Station. And track-by-track analysis which actually feels justified: not drawn-out or unnecessary (although not of much interest to anyone but the committed fan), but not clipped or peremptory.

It's a book-length analysis of a brilliant album. If you're a hardcore David Bowie fan, a lot of it is already familiar to you; if you love the album but don't know anything about its history, it's a must-read. There's nothing "ambitious" about the book--it's no more or less than the story of Low--but it does its job well.

Read more

13 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
T. O'NEILL
Low was actually a High (in many ways)
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2014
Verified Purchase
I was more a fan of Eno's than Bowie's when this album came out - this album made me more of a Bowie fan than I had been prior to its release. The author does a good job of describing and highlighting both the creative processes and the cultural melieu surrounding the album. Loved the background info re the Chateau (French recording studio & compound where much of the album was tracked). The album's reception was lukewarm in the U.S. but more widely embraced in Europe; it's now considered one of his landmark albums. The book is a good companion piece & provides meaningful context to its many pop music innovations.

Read more

Helpful

Report
K. Buckley
Bring Back Hugo!
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2007
Verified Purchase
This is perhaps the finest, most detailed analysis of Bowie's work I've ever read, and I earnestly entreat the author to consider taking on the remainder of the Berlin trilogy albums. In spite of the minor error or three (that's Walter Tevis who wrote The Man Who Fell To Earth, not Travis), this book answers so many questions I've always wanted to ask about "Low"-- which is saying a lot, as this has remained one of the most important albums of all time to my own musical work. Great stuff!

Read more

22 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
jozbe
David Bowie's Low (33 1/3) - A Review
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2020
Verified Purchase
I had been waiting for this book for ages; since I heard it was coming out. I was not disappointed. Writing about Bowie is always a task; writing about Bowie during this period in his career and about the "Diamond Dogs" LP is a titanic endeavor. The author really "went into the weeds" for this book, siting literature, obscure music, interviews, etc. that made up this phenomenal, schizophrenic masterpiece.
The book was delivered on time and in good order.

Read more

Helpful

Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

kristen227
A book one can't lay down, until thoroughly read.
Reviewed in Canada on August 12, 2018
Verified Purchase
Found this take on 'Low' to be nothing short of excellent. Very important revelations regarding Bowie's thought process, studio prowess and personal demons. Thumbs up.

Read more
Report
Guilherme
Excelente livro!
Reviewed in Brazil on December 2, 2017
Verified Purchase
Muito interessante e muito bem escrito. Primordial para os fãs dessa grande obra. Recomendo fortemente.
Curto, mas com grande profundidade.

Read more
Report
Translate review to English
M. Hill
A cracking little read and one of the best in this series
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 20, 2017
Verified Purchase
Not sure what the one star snobs expect in a pocket book! A cracking little read and one of the best in this series.

Read more
Report
Darker Scratcher
David Bowie bestes Album ?
Reviewed in Germany on October 20, 2014
Verified Purchase
Für mich gehört "Low" zweifellos zu seinen besten Alben überhaupt.
Dieses Buch über das Album, das in Europa und teilweise während seiner "Berlinzeit" entstand und maßgeblich von Brian Eno beeinflusst wurde, dokumentiert anhand vieler Quellen das Zeitgeschehen und die Hintergründe zur Entstehungsgeschichte des Albums. Wichtig ist hier natürlich auch der Nicolas Roeg Film "Der Mann der vom Himmel fiel" von dem auch das Foto für das Albumcover stammt.
Das Vorgängeralbum "Station to Station" wird auch intensiv beschrieben und besprochen, um so auch "Low" in den passenden Kontext zu stellen. Parallelen werden vorallem immer wieder zu Kraftwerk "Radioaktivität" und "Trans Europa Express" gezogen.
Ein Kapitel beschäfigt sich auch ausführlich mit dem Schwesteralbum " The Idiot" von Iggy Pop an dem Bowie mit Herrn Osterberg
etwa zeitgleich gearbeitet hat. Das Album zeigt einige Parallelen und natürlich auch klare Unterschiede- es war ein Art Testlauf für "Low".
Der Text auf 136 kleinformatigen Seiten (etwa DINA 6) ist in verständlichem Englisch geschrieben und auch recht unterhaltsam, wenn man sich für diese Art Themen interessiert.

Read more
Report
Translate review to English
Christabel
un must-have in ogni biblioteca musicale che si rispetti
Reviewed in Italy on July 15, 2014
Verified Purchase
Profondo ed esaustivo, di non facile lettura, ma assolutamente meritevole di ogni singolo minuto passato a leggerlo e rileggerlo. Un testo indispensabile per capire non solo questo disco ma una buona fetta di tutta l'opera di Bowie.

Read more
Report
Translate review to English

See more reviews

Amazon Prime Free Trial

Return this item for free

Return this item for free

Image Unavailable

Follow the author