My brain hurt like a warehouse...
Okay, trying to narrow down a "best of" list for the David. Album per album favourite songs. No idea how even to do that with some albums... (Aladin Sane, I'm lookin' at you.)
As stated earlier today, input appreciated (with reasons, please). Tell your friends; I'll take any advice on this one.
1. David Bowie (1967 Deram) - difficult... either "Love You 'Til Tuesday" or "When I Live My Dream" On vinyl, not ripped.
2. Space Oddity (1969, Philips/Mercury) - "Space Oddity" is the single; "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" is my favourite song but I'd probably go with the single for this one. On vinyl, not ripped.
3. The Man Who Sold The World (1970 Mercury) - My third favourite album (at the moment). "All The Madmen" is my favourite song, I think, but I've heard David say the title track is his favourite song, so I'd include that one. "Saviour Machine" is good, too. On vinyl, ripped.
4. Hunky Dory (1971 RCA) - There are three singles here - "Changes," "Oh! You Pretty Things" and "Life on Mars?", but I'd have to say "Queen Bitch" is my favourite track. On vinyl, ripped.
5. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972, RCA) - Iconic Bowie - a must-have album for any collector, although not on my favourite albums top three. Still. Oh man, where to begin... Um. All of it? How about "Suffragette City" and "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide"... On vinyl, ripped.
6. Aladdin Sane (April 1973 RCA) - This is my favourite album, so more hard choices. ...I'd go with "Time" (definitely) and "Lady Grinning Soul." On vinyl, ripped.
7. Pin Ups (October 1973 RCA) - Meh. Cover album. I like best David's versions of Bert Berns' "Here Comes the Night" and Syd Barret's "See Emily Play." Mind, I love Syd, so there's that... I don't think I'd include any of these, though. On vinyl, not ripped.
8. Diamond Dogs (1974 RCA) - "Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family" delights me to laughter, but I wouldn't put it on a 'best of' list. I think "Rock 'n' Roll With Me" definitely, perhaps also "1984". On vinyl, ripped.
9. Young Americans (1975 RCA) - Nice version of the Beatles' "Across the Universe" (with John, as I recall - album is downstairs, not close enough to have the credits handy); I'd include "Fascination" and "Fame." On vinyl, not ripped.
10. Station to Station (1976 RCA) - I know people talk about the Berlin Trilogy being Low, "Heroes" and Lodger, but I'd frankly take Lodger off that triad and put Station to Station with the other two. Although the ideas were not fully realized yet (and David was still in the US), I think the richness of this album speaks more to the two coming in the next year than Lodger relates back, two years after "Heroes." *ahem* Okay, so now that I've got that off my chest... This is another difficult choice, as I love the ballads on this album, but I'd go with "Stay" and (emotional choice) "Wild is the Wind." On vinyl, ripped.
11. Low (January 1977 RCA) - "Always Crashing in the Same Car" and "Subterraneans," both for historical context and musical value. On vinyl, ripped.
12. "Heroes" (October 1977) - Easily, ""Heroes"" (although I'd dig out my copy of the Christine V soundtrack and put up ""Helgen"" instead) and "Sense of Doubt." On vinyl, ripped.
13. Lodger (1979 RCA) - "Yassassin" and "Look Back In Anger." ...I notice I'm not keeping this down to one track per album... On vinyl, ripped.
14. Scary Monsters and Super Creeps (1980 RCA) - Look, I don't like this album. I've listened to it more than once, I've tried, really I have. I know it has critical acclaim, and none of the songs are bad, but it's not one I'll pull out to listen to... Okay, so. "Fashion," and call it a wrap. On vinyl, not ripped.
15. Let's Dance (1983 EMI) - Catchy, but not stellar. Another album I don't miss listening to, although more because there's no motivation to do so than a disliking per se. "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" is the best off this one, despite the various hits that fuelled the 'Serious Moonlight' tour. On vinyl, not ripped.
16. Tonight (1984 EMI) - Weird mix of cover versions of other folk's work (pilfering madly from Iggy's 'Lust For Life' album in particular) and original work. I'd say "Blue Jean" for this one, and for heaven sake, if you havn't seen the 20-minute mini-movie 'video' for "Blue Jean," arrange to do so! On vinyl, not ripped.
17. Never Let Me Down (1987 EMI) - I have an uncomfortable relationship with this album. I recall saying to a friend (and CFRU dj) that I thought this was David's most important work since Ziggy, but not his most coherent album. I've been revisiting this album extensively in the past year, and I come to the conclusion that this is still true. Yeah, I know, I know, Berlin, but this is my opinion. Anyway. "Time Will Crawl," "Zeroes" and "New York's In Love." On vinyl, ripped - need to buy on CD as my vinyl copy is crap.
At this point David wandered off and formed Tin Machine. I'm not going there. Fortunately, he figured this out and went back to solo work:
18. Black Tie White Noise (1993 Arista/BMG) - "Pallas Athena" and "Black Tie White Noise" for the flavour of the album, "Don't Let Me Down & Down" for the backstory of that song. On CD, ripped.
19. 1. Outside (1995 RCA) - An album I've learned to appreciate with a little persuation. Grateful for the prodding. Not a background album at all, and the most conceptual of David's work. I'd pull "Strangers When We Meet" out of the story for a stand-alone. On CD, not ripped.
20. Earthling (1997 RCA) - David's foray into techno, but with definite pop riffs. Quite a few I like on this, let's go with "Little Wonder" and "Telling Lies." On CD, ripped.
Here's where I fail. Only one of David's most recent three albums in my collection *woe* So I can't speak to Hours (1999 Virgin) or Reality (2003 ISO/Columbia). I shall rectify this situation asap. However...
21. Heathen (2002 ISO/Columbia) A very close second favourite album. I'd say top two tracks would be "Sunday" and "5:15 The Angels Have Gone," but it's a very difficult choice to have to make. On CD, ripped.
*****
There's a huge amount of music left out of this - B-sides, movie soundtracks, singles not otherwise on albums, EPs. I'd have to include "John I'm Only Dancing (Again)," "The Naughty Song," "This Is Not America," "Under Pressure" with Queen, "Lightning Frightening"...
But this is a start. Let me know what you think. Seriously. Please.
As stated earlier today, input appreciated (with reasons, please). Tell your friends; I'll take any advice on this one.
1. David Bowie (1967 Deram) - difficult... either "Love You 'Til Tuesday" or "When I Live My Dream" On vinyl, not ripped.
2. Space Oddity (1969, Philips/Mercury) - "Space Oddity" is the single; "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" is my favourite song but I'd probably go with the single for this one. On vinyl, not ripped.
3. The Man Who Sold The World (1970 Mercury) - My third favourite album (at the moment). "All The Madmen" is my favourite song, I think, but I've heard David say the title track is his favourite song, so I'd include that one. "Saviour Machine" is good, too. On vinyl, ripped.
4. Hunky Dory (1971 RCA) - There are three singles here - "Changes," "Oh! You Pretty Things" and "Life on Mars?", but I'd have to say "Queen Bitch" is my favourite track. On vinyl, ripped.
5. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972, RCA) - Iconic Bowie - a must-have album for any collector, although not on my favourite albums top three. Still. Oh man, where to begin... Um. All of it? How about "Suffragette City" and "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide"... On vinyl, ripped.
6. Aladdin Sane (April 1973 RCA) - This is my favourite album, so more hard choices. ...I'd go with "Time" (definitely) and "Lady Grinning Soul." On vinyl, ripped.
7. Pin Ups (October 1973 RCA) - Meh. Cover album. I like best David's versions of Bert Berns' "Here Comes the Night" and Syd Barret's "See Emily Play." Mind, I love Syd, so there's that... I don't think I'd include any of these, though. On vinyl, not ripped.
8. Diamond Dogs (1974 RCA) - "Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family" delights me to laughter, but I wouldn't put it on a 'best of' list. I think "Rock 'n' Roll With Me" definitely, perhaps also "1984". On vinyl, ripped.
9. Young Americans (1975 RCA) - Nice version of the Beatles' "Across the Universe" (with John, as I recall - album is downstairs, not close enough to have the credits handy); I'd include "Fascination" and "Fame." On vinyl, not ripped.
10. Station to Station (1976 RCA) - I know people talk about the Berlin Trilogy being Low, "Heroes" and Lodger, but I'd frankly take Lodger off that triad and put Station to Station with the other two. Although the ideas were not fully realized yet (and David was still in the US), I think the richness of this album speaks more to the two coming in the next year than Lodger relates back, two years after "Heroes." *ahem* Okay, so now that I've got that off my chest... This is another difficult choice, as I love the ballads on this album, but I'd go with "Stay" and (emotional choice) "Wild is the Wind." On vinyl, ripped.
11. Low (January 1977 RCA) - "Always Crashing in the Same Car" and "Subterraneans," both for historical context and musical value. On vinyl, ripped.
12. "Heroes" (October 1977) - Easily, ""Heroes"" (although I'd dig out my copy of the Christine V soundtrack and put up ""Helgen"" instead) and "Sense of Doubt." On vinyl, ripped.
13. Lodger (1979 RCA) - "Yassassin" and "Look Back In Anger." ...I notice I'm not keeping this down to one track per album... On vinyl, ripped.
14. Scary Monsters and Super Creeps (1980 RCA) - Look, I don't like this album. I've listened to it more than once, I've tried, really I have. I know it has critical acclaim, and none of the songs are bad, but it's not one I'll pull out to listen to... Okay, so. "Fashion," and call it a wrap. On vinyl, not ripped.
15. Let's Dance (1983 EMI) - Catchy, but not stellar. Another album I don't miss listening to, although more because there's no motivation to do so than a disliking per se. "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" is the best off this one, despite the various hits that fuelled the 'Serious Moonlight' tour. On vinyl, not ripped.
16. Tonight (1984 EMI) - Weird mix of cover versions of other folk's work (pilfering madly from Iggy's 'Lust For Life' album in particular) and original work. I'd say "Blue Jean" for this one, and for heaven sake, if you havn't seen the 20-minute mini-movie 'video' for "Blue Jean," arrange to do so! On vinyl, not ripped.
17. Never Let Me Down (1987 EMI) - I have an uncomfortable relationship with this album. I recall saying to a friend (and CFRU dj) that I thought this was David's most important work since Ziggy, but not his most coherent album. I've been revisiting this album extensively in the past year, and I come to the conclusion that this is still true. Yeah, I know, I know, Berlin, but this is my opinion. Anyway. "Time Will Crawl," "Zeroes" and "New York's In Love." On vinyl, ripped - need to buy on CD as my vinyl copy is crap.
At this point David wandered off and formed Tin Machine. I'm not going there. Fortunately, he figured this out and went back to solo work:
18. Black Tie White Noise (1993 Arista/BMG) - "Pallas Athena" and "Black Tie White Noise" for the flavour of the album, "Don't Let Me Down & Down" for the backstory of that song. On CD, ripped.
19. 1. Outside (1995 RCA) - An album I've learned to appreciate with a little persuation. Grateful for the prodding. Not a background album at all, and the most conceptual of David's work. I'd pull "Strangers When We Meet" out of the story for a stand-alone. On CD, not ripped.
20. Earthling (1997 RCA) - David's foray into techno, but with definite pop riffs. Quite a few I like on this, let's go with "Little Wonder" and "Telling Lies." On CD, ripped.
Here's where I fail. Only one of David's most recent three albums in my collection *woe* So I can't speak to Hours (1999 Virgin) or Reality (2003 ISO/Columbia). I shall rectify this situation asap. However...
21. Heathen (2002 ISO/Columbia) A very close second favourite album. I'd say top two tracks would be "Sunday" and "5:15 The Angels Have Gone," but it's a very difficult choice to have to make. On CD, ripped.
*****
There's a huge amount of music left out of this - B-sides, movie soundtracks, singles not otherwise on albums, EPs. I'd have to include "John I'm Only Dancing (Again)," "The Naughty Song," "This Is Not America," "Under Pressure" with Queen, "Lightning Frightening"...
But this is a start. Let me know what you think. Seriously. Please.