233) David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust

Music is important to people, a pleasant distraction to others or a load of rubbish if you are my mother whenever she entered my bedroom in the eighties. I had avoided social media for years, but I needed to do something than sit in front on the telly, so I started writing these basic reviews and engaging with like-minded souls on social media. I fall into the first category, but music is not Bill Shankly’s life or death comment to me, but I get pleasure listening, talking, and learning about music.

Now one of the biggest shocks to me since I started engaging with people is how important David Bowie is to them. I am not an idiot (I keep saying that to convince myself I think) I knew he was huge, had made landmark albums, inspired people but the level of devotion he still inspires surprised me.

As stated in Aladdin Sane review, I knew the singles, nothing more, so what do I think of my second full Bowie album listen?

If I give this one out of ten or ten out of ten it doesn’t matter because even, I know it’s a classic album and helped build the legend that is David Bowie.

The songs I knew before I heard this record Starman, Ziggy Stardust, and Suffragette City no one needs me to write anything, you all know them, and they are magic.

Five Years starts slowly, gentle drums, piano and Bowie arrives, the song builds, and Bowie becomes more and more frantic, and the backing vocals bring a further urgency, what an opener. Soul Love I found his vocals a bit grating at the start, sorry, but the guitar and sax make this song. The three men who made up The Spiders of Mars, Mick, Trevor, and Woody deserve a hell of a lot of credit. Ronson is inspirational on Moonage Daydream.

It Ain’t Easy I have read has Rick Wakeman involved on harpsichord and the female backing vocals on the chorus elevate this cover and Lady Stardust I have heard before and Bowie and the piano work in harmony perfectly, Ronson on piano proving how essential he was on this record.

Hang on to Yourself sounds of its time to me, its enjoyable enough with great bass and  Rock n Roll Suicide from the moment Bowie sings “Oh no, love, you’re not alone,” he has me.

That’s two albums I have listened to by Mr Bowie, I have found them both enjoyable and exciting, I have plenty more to listen to and a long way to go but I think I may be starting to understand this devotion thing.

9/10  

GIVE IT A STREAM: Suffragette City