I have seven Bowie tracks in my collection.

What album should I listen to to decide if I want more Bowie?

I may not, but I don't want to go hit and miss through his catalogue.

SUPRMAN said:

I have seven Bowie tracks in my collection.

What album should I listen to to decide if I want more Bowie?

I may not, but I don't want to go hit and miss through his catalogue.

Any of the many comps is a good place to start. I got Changesbowie back in the day and that was a good guide for me but theres a new-ish triple cd comp that combines the releases 69-74 74-79 and 80-87.

The Best of Bowie double DVD is a good comp too and includes newer releases

or you could skip those and just collect the 70s albums. All of them are worthy. Honest.

Big question is whether you want the glam stuff like Aladdin Sane and Ziggy or the more funky and electronic, his albums from the '70s were brilliant in different ways.

You're gonna want to hear all of his output between The Man Who Sold The World and Scary Monsters.

Best to leave Space Oddity and Pin Ups till later, see how you go.

SUPRMAN said:

I have seven Bowie tracks in my collection.

What album should I listen to to decide if I want more Bowie?

I may not, but I don't want to go hit and miss through his catalogue.

All of his 70s albums are brilliant.

If you're into the acoustic, solid rock & roll stuff, you might enjoy his Spider years(early 70s).

But If you're like me, and dig the synth, dark & moody stuff with a lot of experimentation, get....

[img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d644/d64432167l1.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d644/d6443352u12.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d644/d64434igc4h.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d644/d64435cpxxy.jpg[/img:$uid]

Station To Station + The Berlin Trilogy

Along with his best side projects EVER....

[img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf500/f533/f53320pa3g8.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf700/f750/f75077aie43.jpg[/img:$uid]

I'd argue that both projects are also from the Berlin era. They have the same vibe.

He's got so many great albums, you can't really go wrong. Just buy everything you can get your hands on

Even the 80's period had some gems.

essential non compilation albums:

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars

Aladdin Sane

Station To Station

Low

"Heroes"

Well I see it's about a five album selection.

I don't own any albums though if I do, it's in the basement on record, I always find things I never knew we had. I found Rolling Stones a few weeks ago and was shocked cause it was the single of a song I love. My favourites are:

Rebel Rebel

The Man Who Sold The World

The Fame

Life On Mars

China Girl

Let's Dance

802 said:

essential non compilation albums:

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars

Aladdin Sane

Station To Station

Low

"Heroes"

You have to add Lodger to Low and Heroes because it is part of the Berlin Trilogy--these are essential for any serious David Bowie listeners! Also, don't forget to get the DVD of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, recorded at the end of the Ziggy era. It is a great musical documentary of the Bowie Glam Rock period.

I'm sure your public library has several of Bowie's CDs. Check 'em out, give 'em a listen. It won't cost you nothin'.

Oh yeah, I forgot Space Oddity, I think I may have that one on record, I do remember it being played

Harlepolis said:

SUPRMAN said:

I have seven Bowie tracks in my collection.

What album should I listen to to decide if I want more Bowie?

I may not, but I don't want to go hit and miss through his catalogue.

All of his 70s albums are brilliant.

If you're into the acoustic, solid rock & roll stuff, you might enjoy his Spider years(early 70s).

But If you're like me, and dig the synth, dark & moody stuff with a lot of experimentation, get....

[img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d644/d64432167l1.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d644/d6443352u12.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d644/d64434igc4h.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d644/d64435cpxxy.jpg[/img:$uid]

Station To Station + The Berlin Trilogy

Along with his best side projects EVER....

[img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf500/f533/f53320pa3g8.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf700/f750/f75077aie43.jpg[/img:$uid]

I'd argue that both projects are also from the Berlin era. They have the same vibe.

I agree with Harlepolis

elmer said:

Big question is whether you want the glam stuff like Aladdin Sane and Ziggy or the more funky and electronic, his albums from the '70s were brilliant in different ways.

You're gonna want to hear all of his output between The Man Who Sold The World and Scary Monsters.

Best to leave Space Oddity and Pin Ups till later, see how you go.

Young Americans is a bit patchy.

rialb said:

elmer said:

Big question is whether you want the glam stuff like Aladdin Sane and Ziggy or the more funky and electronic, his albums from the '70s were brilliant in different ways.

You're gonna want to hear all of his output between The Man Who Sold The World and Scary Monsters.

Best to leave Space Oddity and Pin Ups till later, see how you go.

Young Americans is a bit patchy.

I dig it but I kinda see where you're coming from. It sounds more polished & safe in comparison to his other 70s albums. This was supposedly his attempt to woo the American listener, so the music kinda seemed calculating, save for Fame.

Harlepolis said:

rialb said:

Young Americans is a bit patchy.

I dig it but I kinda see where you're coming from. It sounds more polished & safe in comparison to his other 70s albums. This was supposedly his attempt to woo the American listener, so the music kinda seemed calculating, save for Fame.

I like it ok but it always kind of stuck out as being a bit weaker than his other '70s albums. I certainly would not recommend it as a first purchase.

Although I agree with Harlepolis, I think Hunky Dory is his best album to start with. It's brilliant and really accessible.

Like others said, kinda depends on what you usually dig. But I'd say you cannot go wrong with 'Station to Station' and 'Low', no matter what you are listening to.

And you're going to end up buying everything anyway, so you might as well start there.

Seriously though, I do NOT own his 80s album, except 'Let's Dance' and obviously 'Scary Monsters', nor have I ever listened to them, save for a few seconds. And I never will. I prefer to keep my view on Bowie as the greatest genius ever of music alive.

Harlepolis said:

SUPRMAN said:

I have seven Bowie tracks in my collection.

What album should I listen to to decide if I want more Bowie?

I may not, but I don't want to go hit and miss through his catalogue.

All of his 70s albums are brilliant.

If you're into the acoustic, solid rock & roll stuff, you might enjoy his Spider years(early 70s).

But If you're like me, and dig the synth, dark & moody stuff with a lot of experimentation, get....

[img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d644/d64432167l1.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d644/d6443352u12.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d644/d64434igc4h.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d644/d64435cpxxy.jpg[/img:$uid]

Station To Station + The Berlin Trilogy

Along with his best side projects EVER....

[img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf500/f533/f53320pa3g8.jpg[/img:$uid][img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf700/f750/f75077aie43.jpg[/img:$uid]

I'd argue that both projects are also from the Berlin era. They have the same vibe.

Co-sign.

BUT I also got his progressive rock and glam rock material (from Man Who Sold The World to Diamond Dogs) and his so-called "plastic soul" work (Young Americans). So all these albums and the compilations mentioned would be good for you, man.

RKJCNE said:

Although I agree with Harlepolis, I think Hunky Dory is his best album to start with. It's brilliant and really accessible.

yes, plus it is early, chronologically speaking

The perfect introduction to his stuff

NDRU said:

RKJCNE said:

Although I agree with Harlepolis, I think Hunky Dory is his best album to start with. It's brilliant and really accessible.

yes, plus it is early, chronologically speaking

The perfect introduction to his stuff

In terms of albums, yeah Hunky Dory is the best one to start off with, then move on up lol

Timmy84 said:

NDRU said:

yes, plus it is early, chronologically speaking

The perfect introduction to his stuff

In terms of albums, yeah Hunky Dory is the best one to start off with, then move on up lol

That's exactly how I did it.

How about this?

Phishanga said:

Like others said, kinda depends on what you usually dig. But I'd say you cannot go wrong with 'Station to Station' and 'Low', no matter what you are listening to.

And you're going to end up buying everything anyway, so you might as well start there.

Seriously though, I do NOT own his 80s album, except 'Let's Dance' and obviously 'Scary Monsters', nor have I ever listened to them, save for a few seconds. And I never will. I prefer to keep my view on Bowie as the greatest genius ever of music alive.

That's what I want to hear.

What gives rise to such phrases?

Phishanga said:

Like others said, kinda depends on what you usually dig. But I'd say you cannot go wrong with 'Station to Station' and 'Low', no matter what you are listening to.

And you're going to end up buying everything anyway, so you might as well start there.

Seriously though, I do NOT own his 80s album, except 'Let's Dance' and obviously 'Scary Monsters', nor have I ever listened to them, save for a few seconds. And I never will. I prefer to keep my view on Bowie as the greatest genius ever of music alive.

Totally agree w/ you on Station to Station and Low.

But the Never Let Me Down and Tonight are no worse than New Power Soul or The Chocolate Invastion; even genius's put out these odd little ill-advised albums from time to time. And the genius still comes through at times; "Time Will Crawl" for instance. Some great moments on both of those albums.

Of course, they'd be near the bottom of my list of Bowie albums to recommend.

My favorite is Aladdin Sane. It's hard to find a collection of songs that amazing. It rocks, and has those great swooning, dramatic ballads - lady grinning soul, time, the tittle song. Mike Garson's piano... ahhh. I think I need to put that record on.

SUPRMAN said:

Phishanga said:

Like others said, kinda depends on what you usually dig. But I'd say you cannot go wrong with 'Station to Station' and 'Low', no matter what you are listening to.

And you're going to end up buying everything anyway, so you might as well start there.

Seriously though, I do NOT own his 80s album, except 'Let's Dance' and obviously 'Scary Monsters', nor have I ever listened to them, save for a few seconds. And I never will. I prefer to keep my view on Bowie as the greatest genius ever of music alive.

That's what I want to hear.

What gives rise to such phrases?

Mmmh... to be honest, maybe not 'music' as such, but 'popular culture'. Not to devalue his music in any way, but with him I think it's as much about the music as it is about the image.

Besides that... it's the diversity, the range and expression of his vocals, the quality of the song writing, the depth of the lyrics and the worlds they create... But, of course, such a phrase is very subjective and I couldn't really give you a real reason for it anyway. It's not even something I would usually say - favorite musician, though.

SUPRMAN said:

Phishanga said:

Like others said, kinda depends on what you usually dig. But I'd say you cannot go wrong with 'Station to Station' and 'Low', no matter what you are listening to.

And you're going to end up buying everything anyway, so you might as well start there.

Seriously though, I do NOT own his 80s album, except 'Let's Dance' and obviously 'Scary Monsters', nor have I ever listened to them, save for a few seconds. And I never will. I prefer to keep my view on Bowie as the greatest genius ever of music alive.

That's what I want to hear.

What gives rise to such phrases?

Well, I don't know about greatest genius ever, but I agree that he's a genius, as far as his musicianship is concerned.

I'm still in the newbie stage but I'll say why I fell in love with hi. Like Prince, his music have been through some pretty interesting developments and transformations, at least from Hunky Dory all the way to Scary Monsters. I'm ALL for artists flirting with different types of musical statements as long as they don't end up sounding awkward, forced and out of place, which he did pretty successfully in his 70s period. And like Prince again, I love the fact that his influences are sometimes ambiguous and could take some work to trace them, hell, he didn't even sound like some of the influences behind some of the albums he recorded back then, I think this speaks volumes about his individuality IMO

But I have to say that Brain Eno helped to shape his music, at least in the Berlin era.

Harlepolis said:

SUPRMAN said:

That's what I want to hear.

What gives rise to such phrases?

Well, I don't know about greatest genius ever, but I agree that he's a genius, as far as his musicianship is concerned.

I'm still in the newbie stage but I'll say why I fell in love with hi. Like Prince, his music have been through some pretty interesting developments and transformations, at least from Hunky Dory all the way to Scary Monsters. I'm ALL for artists flirting with different types of musical statements as long as they don't end up sounding awkward, forced and out of place, which he did pretty successfully in his 70s period. And like Prince again, I love the fact that his influences are sometimes ambiguous and could take some work to trace them, hell, he didn't even sound like some of the influences behind some of the albums he recorded back then, I think this speaks volumes about his individuality IMO

But I have to say that Brain Eno helped to shape his music, at least in the Berlin era.

yes! To me, some of the most interesting music is when someone tries to emulate a certain style of music and still ends up just sounding like themselves

That makes it harder to listen to them on autopilot, maybe, because the music does not fit neatly into a category, but it makes for a more interesting listen