I've never got into bowie for some reason but i'm always looking for new GREAT music to listen.

I respect him becuase he plays alot of instruments and i'm wondering if there is an ESSENTIAL album that even non-bowie fanatics can appreciate all the way through?

Any advice/info plz?

mikek1 said:

Your missing some of the greatest music of all time by not having any David Bowie albums. His greatest hits albums don't contain a lot of his best songs.

All of David Bowie's albums from 1970-80 are essential albums to own. If your just getting in to David Bowie then the album I'd most recommend as essential would be Diamond Dogs. All of David Bowie's from 1970-80 are way ahead of there time, and still sound ahead of there time. The man is a genius, and the most innovative musican of rock/pop music.

My favorite David Bowie albums are.....

1. Station To Station

2. Diamond Dogs

3. "Heroes"

4. Low

5. Scarey Monsters

It's difficult cause I like a hell of a lot of Bowie's stuff but definitely not a whole album. I think his most accessible and instantly gratifying album is Hunky Dory, between Oh you pretty things, Andy Warhol, Life on Mars and Changes you've got some of his best and most catchy material (There's a lot of fans of Quicksand and Queen Bitch too) but like I say each album usually one or two songs I really love.
eg Aladdin Sane: Time
Ziggy Stardust: Starman, John I'm only Dancing
Young Americans: Title Track, Fame
Diamond Dogs: Sweet Thing (Track 3-5)
... actually I can't be bothered nameing all my favourite songs cuz it doesn't really answer your question but yeah compilations don't do him justice. Hunky Dory is what I would consider his only essential 'album' the rest is pick and chose for yourself.

Isolar said:

Now THAT's David Bowie list to consider !

If you'd like to get some of Bowie's greatest records then you should check these:
The Rise & Fall Of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars (1972)
Hunky Dory (1971)
Low (1977)
Aladdin Sane (1973)
Station To Station (1976)

These are mentioned as "bests" most of the time...


...though my two favourite albums are:

"Heroes" (1977) and "Diamond Dogs" (1974)...

ALL his 70s albums are MUST HAVE. And that is NOT exaggerated.

mikek1 said:

The 70s surely are full of Bowie greatness, but if you look for some more recent stuff which is great, then I would recommend

"1.Outside" (1995)

and/or

"Heathen" (2001).

"1.Outside" really IS far out, but I would even call it one of the greatest records of the 90s (if you want to open your ears for a bit of avantgarde). "Heathen" is poppier and more melodic imo, depends on what you prefer.

Hunky Dory or/and Diamond Dogs

Low & Lodger

Yes...and he has several. Here are some I think everyone should own:

Hunky Dory
Aladdin Sane
Low
Station to station

MikeMatronik said:

I wouldn't recommend these albums for those who have no taste!

.
[Edited 10/16/06 9:12am]

Cheek said:

Still they can be "educated"

MikeMatronik said:

Then they should start with "Never Let Me Down"...

Cheek said:

That album was used on the Al-Quaeda members that were emprisoned in Guatanamo...

The problem with the concept of a "must-have" album is that Bowie has covered so many musical landscapes. He's done so many different things stylistically that there isn't one album that really covers all of them.

That being said, I've always thought his strongest from start to finish is "Aladdin Sane." Every single track is utterly killer.

Í just can´t get into his music - don´t know why...

Ziggy has got to be the essential Bowie record.

It's like his Purple Rain, and while Prince fans will tell you to get Dirty Mind, Parade, Gold, or whatever (and they're not wrong), we all know Purple Rain is the ultimate Prince.

NDRU said:

dammme said:

a dangerous thing to say, probably.

But you chose Hunky Dory, which might be as good or better than Ziggy, but it's not as essential as a summary of Bowie.

Changes is like his 1999, a huge megahit, but Ziggy is Purple Rain, the thing that will always be mentioned first in association with the artist.
[Edited 10/16/06 14:06pm]

mikek1 said:

No. He has several.

In no order of preference:

Outside (his last great one)
Scary Monsters
Low
Station To Station
Young Americans
Diamond Dogs
Aladdin Sane
Stage

Cheek said:

Your name is apt. I'd recommend time alone in a room with Tonight to those who think Janet Jackson's latest album represents the hallmark of quality.

NDRU said:

I don't think Ziggy is the essential Bowie record if you think Purple Rain is Prince's zenith. You should be strongly recommending Let's Dance. And, while you're at, throw in Mick Jagger's She's the Boss as the essential Stones record. It rocks maaaaan!
[Edited 10/16/06 14:57pm]

Shapeshifter said:

she's the boss isn't a stones record, but if it was, I'd agree it's the absolute essential! Fuck Exile!

I'm not just talking sales, I'm talking about defining a career. Both Prince & bowie have a lot of highlights (and choosing 1999 or Hunky Dory isn't a mistake by any stretch), but those 2 records are defining, and high points artistically.

NDRU said:

Shapeshifter said:

Whatever!

Pic another orger to downgrade!

Yep..I have Tonight...it's good...but Never Let me down sucks...really sucks! DEAL WITH IT!



[Edited 10/16/06 15:33pm]

dammme said:

just joking!

mikek1 said:

wow. that's hard because he's gone through so many phases. i can recommend a few and let you decide from there...

young americans...i think its quintessential bowie. its not my all time favorite buy i'm not about to send you in that direction (station to station, low, lodger). besides young americans i'd say check out aladdin sane and/or diamond dogs.

but personally, i think you only come across dodgy stuff in the 80s period.

MikeMatronik said:

Tonight is NOT good Mike.

NDRU said:

Damn! I saw this thread going into tongue in cheek defences of turd-on-a-stick albums.
[Edited 10/16/06 23:17pm]

Shapeshifter said:

It's more enjoyable than "Never Let Me Down" and it's worth buying for "Loving The Alien" alone.