http://www.davidbowie.com/news/who-can-i-be-now-1974-1976-details-55996

With Bowie's new boxset Who Can I Be Now? (1974-1976) coming soon I was wondering which is your favorite. Do you still choose Young Americans or what it was originally: The Gouster?

YA is my favorite album from Bowie but I gotta say (without listening to the alternative versions/mixes) The Gouster takes the winnings.

Young Americans:

1. "Young Americans"

2. "Win"

3. "Fascination"

4. "Right"

5. "Somebody Up There Likes Me"

6. "Across the Universe"

7. "Can You Hear Me?"

8. "Fame"

The Gouster:

1. "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)"

2. "Somebody Up There Likes Me" (alternate mix)

3. "It's Gonna Be Me" (the mix without strings)

4. "Who Can I Be Now?"

5. "Can You Hear Me" (unreleased version)

6. "Young Americans"

7. "Right" (unreleased version)

I'm glad the version that ALMOST got released is finally coming out. To me, YA was almost perfect: take out "Across......" and put in one of the many "Gouster Session" outtakes.

I'm interested in everyone's opinions and why you chose the one you did.....

Unrelated (slightly): Does anyone else think that "Fame" should've been on StationtoStation ? STS is perfect as it is, but "Fame" just doesn't sound much like anything else on YA or TG....

I LOVE It's Gonna Be Me and Who Can I Be Now? from the Rykodisc reissue - not such a fan of John, I'm Only Dancing (Again). Will be great to hear The Gouster but think Young Americans is pretty great just as it is - even love Across the Universe

mynameisnotsusan said:

I LOVE It's Gonna Be Me and Who Can I Be Now? from the Rykodisc reissue - not such a fan of John, I'm Only Dancing (Again). Will be great to hear The Gouster but think Young Americans is pretty great just as it is - even love Across the Universe

"Who Can I Be Now?" is just so perfect. I mean knowing how deep he lost himself in Ziggy/Aladdin/Halloween Jack and then the Cocaine...it really makes the song better. He truly was wanting to be himself for just a little bit, just seems like he didn't know how.

purplemajesty23 said:

I love Young Americans, but I may check out the Gouster.

Based on what I've heard from the Rykodisc versions, I would still go with YA. I need that Fascination. I'm curious to check out The Gouster lineup, though. There's a commitment to a texture that YA does not have...

And on that note, I've never liked Fame all that much. Personal opinion.

Ill probably have to go with Young Americans here, just because "Fame" is on it.

Back in the 1990s, I got the Rykodisc release of Young Americans with the bonus tracks from the earlier sessions at the end of it, and always thought they made the release a whole lot stronger. "Who Can I Be Now?" is one of my all-time favourite Bowie tracks.