And the pianist , awesome guitar wrangler and sound sculptor. Ronno and his criminally underpaid bandmates should have been treated better by a wonderful artist who discarded them when he was finished with the character of Ziggy. We love David Bowie and cried when he died but feel he should have made amends with a group that helped make him a star.
@@brewstergallery Agree. DB could and should have treated them all better when they were part of the band and after with royalties etc. Maybe it fitted in with the 'break up the band' line a bit too well. He brought Mick to a few gigs and said how great he was but I don't think he ever really gave Ronno the recognition or payoff he deserved.
Doing well is hard to say. Bowie was a talented occultists who luckily could be creative on massive amounts of drugs. Magik / Drugs work for a very few amount of people and he was one who could harvest the power.
“You’re NOT alone!” What every teenager who bought this album needed to hear ringing in their ears as the needle left the vinyl at the end of side 2. Still amazing. Thanks for the video, Doug.
I’m 16 years old and bought the album on vinyl just yesterday and I 100% agree, it’s definitely what I needed to hear, Bowie is providing me with comfort and hope when no one else is
I was almost 15 when I heard this. The next day I cashed in my £24 savings from my paper round and bought an electric guitar & 5 watt amp that was on sale at Woolworth's. Needless to say, It took me many, many years & more cash than the paper round provided to "Git Gud" as the gaming fraternity say. 🤣
I was in the audience at the Manchester show of the ‘72 tour for the album. The last song of the show was ‘Rock nRoll Suicide’ and when David screamed ‘gimme your hands!!’ we ALL reached for him...the whole auditorium. I will carry that moment with me to the end of my days.
I have a hard time listening to Rock n Roll Suicide without crying. I can neither confirm nor deny that that song stopped a young me from doing the last word in the title. Something about Bowie desperately screaming "you're not alone" and "you're wonderful" at me. What a great, but intense, way to close an album
Oh I keep asking reactors to do Blackstar and the video. And the album. But those two are not of this earth; the music of the dark and the call of death. Cheery it isn’t; astounding it is. So Doug?
During the Sound And Vision Tour I saw David Bowie play the Tokyo Dome; Adrian Belew was his touring guitarist. David played a two hour show with over 50,000 fans on their feet throughout. At the end the crowd cheered and cheered, David returned to the stage and proclaimed, "Be careful when you ask an Englishman for an encore, because sometimes you just might get one!" He proceeded to play for another hour!
Now following up with Aladdin Sane is a MUST. It's the "Ziggy Goes to America" follow-up album, literally all written while touring Ziggy. The title track has one of the greatest piano solos in all of rock.
So nice to see some of David’s music on this channel, he was a huge influence on me growing up in 1970’s England and was a huge influence, I’m sure, to other artists who followed him. Whatever you can say about Bowie, he was the constant chameleon, ever changing ahead of his peers and leading the trends rather than following them. You can’t talk about him, IMO, without mentioning Mick Ronson who was the musican genius beside Bowie in his earlier years. RIP David, our lives were richer for your music.
There's still a hole in my heart, all these years afterwards, when I think of David's passing. He really was in his own league, which is what makes an artist big. Thanks for sharing.
I don’t know why, but as a pretty average American suburban kid, aged 15, this album deeply resonated with me. I had it on my Walkman, played it over and over as I walked to school through the cold winter streets. I felt like such an alien in that environment.
As a teenager, I was mostly a metalhead. When I first listened to this album, it completely changed my outlook on music. I realized how much more could be done with it. Ever since, I've strived to do as much with music as I could.
"Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" is as magical as "Stairway To Heaven" in its progressive climax both instrumentally & vocally... one of my favorites on the album for sure (" Moonage Daydream" being another favorite). This album demands to be played at full volume (which is how we played it always)! Put Bowie in the spotlight of the rock world when it was released and we all know now that he remains a legend today.
I was amazed to learn that Bowie wrote “All the Young Dudes” for this LP, but he was a fan of Mott the Hoople, & when they were ready to break up due to lack of success, he offered it to them & offered to produce them. The rest, as they say,…✌️❤️🎶
Such a beautiful album. It's very straightforward, but it's also so powerful, so entertaining, melancholic at times, and that ending is tear inducing, a statement, which has saved so many people. Lovely to see your reaction, you're extremely knowledgeable, and it's cool to see someone who knows about music discuss it in depth!!
I first heard this album 50 years ago. I never gets old .It was one of the best albums of the 70's & the high water mark for David Bowie in my opinion. I really enjoyed your reaction. Great choice.
I was with you during the Queensryche Operation Mindcrime upload Doug. I will join you on this quest also. Salute from Wales UK 🏴 🇬🇧 Sir! Much love to you across the Pond 🇺🇸
One of those albums where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts! Even with the “loose” concept, this album plays so well front-to-back. Thanks for the extended play!
David Bowie was so versatile with his voice. You have found one of the essences of his art when you notice that. Man he could change the tone. Nice choice to listen to this album. And the guitar sounds are awesome here.
This is one of my all time favorite records. Ive got hundreds of listens to it under my belt, but something about watching someone enjoy the ride for the first time was such a pleasure! I found myself cracking the biggest grin when the album just gets into that incredible hot streak. And Rock N Roll Suicide as a closer... wow. STILL crushes me. I think your interpretation of the album was really quite on-point. The way you contextualized Soul Love is my favorite explanation of that song’s significance yet!
Might want to also check out the album he did just prior to this - Hunky Dory. Rick Wakeman was playing piano and said he was amazed with the chord progressions on Life on Mars.
@@wozzywick Bowie was asked by his manager at the time, Ken Pitt, to write English lyrics for the French original, he called it 'Even a Fool Learns To Love). In fact Paul Anka won the competition and so Bowie used, but changed, the chords about a bit for 'Life On Mars?' .. which has a magical progression. 'My Way' uses some pretty basic chords you'll find in many songs and Bowie ones too.
It’s hard to name a “best” of any band because it’s such a subjective thing. Plus, Bowie made so much great and remarkably innovative music over his long career. Having said that, I keep coming back to Low as my favorite.
I prefer Low, Heroes, Lodger, Scary Monsters, Hunky Dory, and Station to Station, but the fact that this album doesn’t crack my top five just goes to show what an amazing career Bowie had.
The Spiders were a truly phenominal band. One of my all time favs. Ronno, Trevor and Woody were all undeniable talents. I suggest you watch the movie "Ziggy Stardust" to see the incredible chemistry Bowie had during this phase of his carreer.
I was fortunate enough to see Ziggy Stardust in concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York. I brought a friend of mine who was from Egypt. I think her mind is still blown.
He had an amazing run of albums in the 70’s. Truly great albums in every sense, the production, arrangements, playing, song writing etc. From Ziggy Stardust , Aladdin Sane, Pin Ups, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans, Station to Station. In 5 years. The peak in my opinion were those five years, just incredible. Not to mention the live albums from those years that are available. The legendary Santa Monica 72’ album. The Spiders From Mars live film soundtrack. And David Bowie Live in 1974 are all fantastic.
Bowie's golden age began with Hunky Dory and ended with Diamond Dogs. Young Americans was a real letdown although Station to Station was something of a rebound.
You may like the Outside album, a completely different concept album from Bowie in the ‘90s. Music edited from band improvisations, lyrics put together using a ‘cut-up’ technique, very intense and creepy in places. Produced by Brian Eno. Probably my favourite Bowie album.
If you listen really close you may recognize a particularly skilled keyboard player that just happened to be in the studio. Rick himself commented about the experience, and how he enjoyed it
Ronno had such an incredible tone, certainly one of my favourites. Love Mick Ronson. Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey were a complimentary engine room; rhythm section.
Even though my favorite bands from my childhood are Yes, Santana, Pink Floyd, and Deep Purple.... THIS album was my gateway from "songs play on the radio" to "music is art."
Do you like David Bowie’s album The man who sold the world ? That’s very Deep Purple. I especially love The Width of a circle and All the mad men, in fact the whole album.
I’ve got a Deep Purple treat for you (you’ve probably seen it, but it’s still worth revisiting often, Child in time live 1970, what an amazing live performance! ruclips.net/video/OorZcOzNcgE/видео.html the audience reaction, or should I say non reaction is hilarious!
I know that Ziggy Stardust always seems to top 'best of' David's albums as you said and I like this one a lot but I still find that Space Oddity is my favorite, not just the song but the album as a whole. Thanks for playing this one!
The extra "debris" in those intro chords is created by Bowie playing an open A and an open E chord one fret higher than they should be (effectively Bb and F, but with open strings), creating that dissonant sound
Mick Ronson was always one of my fav's, I was pleasantly surprised to find that he is classified at #41 on Rolling Stone's recent Top 100 Guitarists list, long overdue recognition IMHO. If anyone has not seen it, Ronson's reunion with Bowie at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert is amazing, particularly his performance with an E-Bow on the song "Heroes", outstanding.
I was in Jr High when this came out. I was in Cleveland and we broke Bowie in the States because WMMS radio played the hell out of this album. It had a huge impact, mostly for the style and mood. It was not like anything a midwestern teenager had ever heard or seen. Immediately after this album the 'coolest' kids in school got the Ziggy haircut. People today don't realize how radically different Bowie was when he came out with Ziggy, He truly seemed like he came from outerspace.
Five Years always got me immediately, wonderful music, haunting lyrics, foreboding vocals. Roger Waters' "The Last Refugee" always reminds me of it too, another outstanding track from his "Is This The Life We Really Want" album!
I'm not a Bowie fan by any means but i adore this album. I discovered this gem just a year ago, and since then, i spin it in it's entirety at least once every 2/3 months.
@@OpenmindedHusker1 nah haha. As much as i adore this album, for some reason i really can't get into other Bowie stuff. I did try, it just didn't click like this album did for some reason. Don't ask me how or why, it just did lol. Cheers
True story: I spent much of 2016 in the middle of nowhere as a consultant on a really boring, mundane IT project. My client's office was a converted factory, windowless and joyless. There were about 20 of us (clients and consultants) in yet another interminable meeting, one of those in which there's a powerpoint projected on the wall and everybody is looking at their laptops, paying at best 50% attention. All of a sudden, a woman gasped and said, "David Bowie died!" We all stopped and checked for verification--or hopefully, refutation. "Yep, it's on CNN." "Twitter too." etc. Somebody started playing Ziggy Stardust and we listened to the whole thing, front to back. Everyone paid 100% attention.
The guitar solo on Moonage Daydream has one of the best guitar solos ever. Hand's down it beats Freebird and Stairway at the time. It's from another planet, and incredibly difficult to play compared to the first two I mentioned. Also, Starman's debris comes from Bowie's 12 string - the Bb and F chords at the start are played on the guitar with the 5th string 'A' open - adding both the A bass string and an A an octave higher. He may even be strumming the open E bass string as well.
Listening to this takes me right back to those awkward teen years when I hadn't a clue who I was or what I was all about. Somehow this album gave me hope that I would figure it all out and, eventually, I did! Still enjoy listening it today. 50 some years later. Thanks for the review Doug.
As someone from a small farming community, that was 17 at the time. I was in the navy in Long Beach CA when David played there. I gotta say I was pretty freaked out seeing all the Bowie look alikes going into the venue. I had listened to Mott the Hopple in school before I quit and wasn't too keen on them and never quite got into Bowie. But the guys I shared an apartment with before going to the gulf of Tonkin, played this album ALL THE TIME. Eventually got to enjoy it, after hearing it so often.
David was a Chamaeleon throughout his career, always changing and reinventing himself. As for the simplicity, sometimes, less is more. Love the reaction to this timeless classic.
During the same year of this album's release Bowie also wrote and produced All the Young Dudes for Mott the Hoople, co-produced (with Mick Ronson) Lou Reed's Transformer album, released a non-album single John I'm Only Dancing and the lead single Jean Genie from the 1973 follow-up album Aladdin Sane. Not a bad year's work!
Yes, you’re completely right. Engineer Dennis Mackay said of Bowie’s vocal take on Five Years, and particularly the emotion at the end : “Bowie’s screaming and what you hear on that song-the emotion- is for real. He’s bawling his eyes out. Mick was looking at Bowie stunned. I was in shock because he was also hitting every note spot on. I’ve worked with some great vocalists since. Butnoone who could do it in one take with that much emotion.” Also Bowie was the master of doing it in one take on his albums,that’s how he worked. He usually did a perfect vocal performance on the first take. I’ve seen interviews with the musicians who worked with him saying that they wanted a chance to do it again because they thought they could improve their performance but Bowie would say no, that’s the take, he wanted it spontaneous, raw, he knew that if they overdid it they would lose the magic.
Hey man, just discovered your channel. It is really good! I was watching one of your older videos, about a year ago where you are in front of a piano and have an organ behind you. I really like that setting where you have a piano in front so you can play what you are hearing. It adds a lot to the experience in my opinion. Because I am also listening to the chords in my head and having you reaffirm them brings some sort of satisfaction
Not sure of if anyone mentioned this, but Lady Stardust is most likely Marc Bolan of T. Rex. Marc was a good friend of Bowie's and definitely an inspiration for the more androgynous, glam centric Ziggy character.
My school played 5 years during morning assembly to the whole school .. as they felt it is pop with meaning. I was alredy into Bowie so having his stuff played by the school... amazing.. :-). Thank you Thomas Peacocke's, Rye. Bowie was an amazing singer, as we all know ... 'Lodger' and the vocal athletics, as I call it.
For a song that really highlights Bowie's voice, have a listen to 'Wild is the Wind'. Just make sure it's the, slightly longer, album version. It's a beautiful song and David's vocal performance is incredible! Every syllable drips with emotion, which is sort of his trademark. Bowie wrote in so many genres, even kickstarting a few himself, that there isn't really a definitive Bowie track. From pure pop, through folk, glam rock , punk, heavy rock, avant-garde, electronica, funk, soul, new wave, jazz... He mastered them all and often fused them together. Of course he was also a consummate performer, the epitome of cool. He seemed like a remote icon but a best friend at the same time. Then there was that voice! :)
So glad this came up on my list again today - really the BEST reaction video of my all time fav' album - I got this on 12", the week it came out and played it to death.
The transition from Soul Love to Moonage Daydream is perfect, literally. Count one - two - three - four as if you're still playing Soul Love after the fade out and you'l see what I mean.
Mick Ronson is the unsung hero of this album. Wether on guitar or piano, he is what's driving these tracks. His string arrangements and counter melodic guitar lines are just as important to the over all compositions as Bowie's voice and lyrics. With this tour and the next (in support of the Aladdin Sane LP), Bowie introduced the world to his Ziggy persona and ultimately retired him and the band on July 3, 1973 at the Hammersmith Odeon, with a stage announcement that shocked his fans and band alike. The usual opener and closer during these tours were Hang on to Yourself and Rock 'n' Roll Suicide respectively. This farewell show was captured on film in it's entirety... and released in 1980 (minus 2 songs with special guest, Jeff Beck) as Ziggy Stardust. I hope this has inspired you to dig deeper into Bowie's catalog. Though I personally wouldn't recommend jumping around between the different eras. Doing so would deprive you of experiencing the subtle (and not so subtle) transformations from album to album. Some may tell you to skip Pin-Ups because it's "just an album of covers"... that would be a mistake. The band is on fire on that album. Also of note are the jeybordist that have played on Bowie's albums Rick Wakeman (just before joining Yes) on Hunky Dory, the incredible Mike Garson on Aladdin Sane to Young Americans, the E Street Band's Roy Bittan on Station to Station and brian Eno on the "Berlin Trilogy" -- Low, "Heroes" and Lodger.. Cheers!
Ronson was a big influence on me - his output with Bowie, Mott the Hoople and Ian Hunter, assorted sessions and his solo work. I suspect my choice of university had an element of "Ronno came from there" (as well as having a course I wanted and a good level of student accommodation)! It was a tragedy that he died so young from cancer. As for Bowie, others have mentioned Hunky Dory and Aladdin Sane (the albums directly preceding and succeeding Ziggy) but I'd be interested in seeing your analysis and opinion of The Man Who Sold the World - a heavier album but with the same variety - and the first record he did with Mick Ronson.
Hey Doug, great reaction so far. with regards to your Suffragette City comment, I gues Bowie called it that mainly because it sounded cool. In later years he could be very intensional with his art, but for a long time he was (or seemed) very instinctive, taking leads from his collaborators, ie Ronson, Alomar, Fripp, et a;.
Super album! As you said, the songs are short and simple, but carry a lasting emotional punch. More than anything, David, through both this album and his whole music career, taught us weirdos, misfits, and outcasts that straying from the straight line was not just okay, but also meant being immeasurably cool and hip in a way the squares could never hope for! For that, he has my undying love and admiration. RIP, Starman!
Thanks for this one Doug! An all-time classic, one of the great, must-have albums of the rock-era. In my opinion, it's a songwriter's album, the songs being the strong suit rather than highly produced backing tracks. Don't forget to get back to sides 2, 3 and 4 on "Chicago Transit Authority." 😏
Hi, the cover art is an photograph of an actual street, now with a preservation order on it - this album is that important. At this time Bowie was also working with a Manchester based band that he really liked, Mott the Hoople, who were struggling to make it 'big'. He worked with them on a couple of albums and offed them Suffragette City as their relaunch single. They preferred 'All the Young Dudes' which he let them have instead. A fantastic song, big hit for them - Bowie: Legend!
I particularly look forward to masterpiecefridays! Thanks Doug. Hope you go further down this rabbit hole to discover the more experimental delights of Scary Monsters, Low and Blackstar to name but three!
You're an instantly appealing person... David is a genius..... I've heard him sing 5 years without the music...its incredibly emotional...and his emotion pours from his voice.... He is a chameleon and hence the vocal changes....thank you for this video....❤🎉
That's a superb álbum, Doug. It's a statement that you can write a mesterpiece with just a few notes and a bunch of great ideas. Bring more of Bowie into the channel!!!!
A few more things: The title of the album is a mash up of 2 American performers that where at the time on Bowies radar, namely Iggy Pop and The Legendary Stardust Cowboy. Five Years Ken Scott, the producer, said that by the close of 'Five Years' Bowie was crying his eyes out with the emotion he put in to it. Moonage Daydream and Hang On to Yourself Both these songs where from a project called Arnold Corns which was a vehicle for a prodigy Bowie was trying to promote at the time, by the name of Frederick Burretti, aka Rudi Valentino. Burretti was by trade a clothes designer that couldn't actually sing. Bowie thought he was beautiful and just really liked him. He was name checked in 'All The Young Dudes' as he is the 'Freddie' that got spots from pulling stars from his face 'the funky little boat race'. Lady Stardust Is heavily influenced, if not entirely about, Bowie's friend and rival at the time, Marc Bolan Star Freddie Burretti, or at least his alter ego, Rudi valentino gets another name check as 'rudi stayed at home to starve'. Demos of 'Star' predate even Hunky Dory, reinforcing the notion that the Ziggy 'narrative' was indeed an afterthought. Ziggy Stardust Is, in part at least, a character thought to be influenced by Jimi Hendrix. Give away lines are 'He played it Left hand' and 'Jiving us that we were voodoo'. Suffragette City Was offered to Mott The Hoople before All The Young Dudes. They turned it down. Bowie references 'Droogies' from A Clockwork Orange, which was another major influence on Bowie at the time, and it continued to be so right up until the end as he references 'Vellocet', a recreational drug used in the same movie, in 'Girl Loves Me' a song from Blackstar. Rock n Roll Suicide. influenced
This album has been a favourite of mine since I first bought it in the early 70s . You pointed out the variety within the songs and his vocals , and I find that that is what keeps this album fresh for me . He did an album called Bowie at the Beeb , where he performs a lot of these songs at the BBC . It is great , as he , and his band , give these songs a rougher edge , and it really works . Do yourself a favour and check it out . I actually prefer some of the versions on the Beeb album to the originals . Doug , you mentioned that you would like to hear the drums a little better . You will on those Beeb versions . Thanks for this video !!!
If you ever review another Bowie album please do Low. This album sounded like it came from another planet, particularly side 2 which is mostly instrumental. I'd also love for you to hear the track Aladdin Sane, mainly for the piano solo
BS"D Really surprised you never heard Ziggy Stardust. It's one of most famous songs. I love this album! Thank you for reviewing! His last album blackstar is so AMAZING!
My favorite album of all time. Your reactions are refreshing to both hear comments and see your facial reaction. Suffragette City is my favorite but Starman is a close second.
Young American still manages to tear me up from time to time though I've listened to it hundreds of times. One of the most beautiful and powerful lyrics I've ever heard.
As a 14yo working(#78) in a fast food place washing up,a cook who worked out the front gave me this album coz he liked "newer stuff"! I played it to death! Great album!P.S. Bowie was a fan of "Mott the Hoople" & when he heard they might be quitting coz they didn"t have a song,he offered them "Suffragette City" which they didn"t like,but they did like "All the Young Dudes" and had a massive hit with it!
Bowie did well during this period in his career to back himself with a fantastic band. Mick Ronson is criminally underrated as a guitarist.
And as an arranger. I'm sure he did these strings.
And the pianist , awesome guitar wrangler and sound sculptor. Ronno and his criminally underpaid bandmates should have been treated better by a wonderful artist who discarded them when he was finished with the character of Ziggy. We love David Bowie and cried when he died but feel he should have made amends with a group that helped make him a star.
@@brewstergallerypfffft Bowie was his own man and went on to much more. They could’ve done likewise perhaps…
@@brewstergallery Agree. DB could and should have treated them all better when they were part of the band and after with royalties etc. Maybe it fitted in with the 'break up the band' line a bit too well. He brought Mick to a few gigs and said how great he was but I don't think he ever really gave Ronno the recognition or payoff he deserved.
Doing well is hard to say. Bowie was a talented occultists who luckily could be creative on massive amounts of drugs.
Magik / Drugs work for a very few amount of people and he was one who could harvest the power.
“You’re NOT alone!” What every teenager who bought this album needed to hear ringing in their ears as the needle left the vinyl at the end of side 2. Still amazing. Thanks for the video, Doug.
Give me your hands. You're wonderful!
I always cry with that last track, it's just unbelievable.
@@maddpablo6098 same
Hear, hear. The most poignant, yet glorious of album closers. Amen.
I’m 16 years old and bought the album on vinyl just yesterday and I 100% agree, it’s definitely what I needed to hear, Bowie is providing me with comfort and hope when no one else is
Mick Ronson's guitar solo on Moonage Daydream is sublime - I was 11 years old when I first heard this in '72 - blew me away then and still does now.
No wittering away on guitar .. superb succinct solos .. that serve the song.
Yes, it's a masterpiece of understatement
And those amazing multitracked echoes - it's like nothing heard before on an album.
The live version of Moonage Daydream on Ziggy Stardust The Motion Picture is epic.
I was almost 15 when I heard this. The next day I cashed in my £24 savings from my paper round and bought an electric guitar & 5 watt amp that was on sale at Woolworth's. Needless to say, It took me many, many years & more cash than the paper round provided to "Git Gud" as the gaming fraternity say. 🤣
Five Years is a song that continues to haunt me for many many years. Just an intensely gorgeous tune that is one my all time favorites by any artist.
50 years on this is STILL the best sounding album ever. The production and arrangements are absolutely pure perfection.
Spot on!
Ronno
All that's missing is the LSD-25.
Agreed. It's never been bettered really. It's the rock n roll standard.
100 % agreed 👌👌👌👌👍👍👍
I was in the audience at the Manchester show of the ‘72 tour for the album. The last song of the show was ‘Rock nRoll Suicide’ and when David screamed ‘gimme your hands!!’ we ALL reached for him...the whole auditorium. I will carry that moment with me to the end of my days.
Lucky you.
I have a hard time listening to Rock n Roll Suicide without crying. I can neither confirm nor deny that that song stopped a young me from doing the last word in the title. Something about Bowie desperately screaming "you're not alone" and "you're wonderful" at me. What a great, but intense, way to close an album
I’ve seen others say that too, and knowing that it meant so much to so many others makes it meaningful to me too.
You HAVE to do Black Star ! ! Bowie literally wrote it on his death bed which is insanely haunting and beautiful.
same as Innuendo and the last album of Leonard Cohen!
Oh I keep asking reactors to do Blackstar and the video. And the album. But those two are not of this earth; the music of the dark and the call of death. Cheery it isn’t; astounding it is. So Doug?
Amen to that!
Blackstar is amazing ❤
I listened to it once when it was released 2 days before his death and haven't been able to give it a second listen.
During the Sound And Vision Tour I saw David Bowie play the Tokyo Dome; Adrian Belew was his touring guitarist.
David played a two hour show with over 50,000 fans on their feet throughout. At the end the crowd cheered and cheered, David returned to the stage and proclaimed, "Be careful when you ask an Englishman for an encore, because sometimes you just might get one!" He proceeded to play for another hour!
I'm jealous.
Bowie is my favorite artist ever! And I mean artist, not only musician. Such a brilliant creative force, never understimating his audience.
Now following up with Aladdin Sane is a MUST. It's the "Ziggy Goes to America" follow-up album, literally all written while touring Ziggy. The title track has one of the greatest piano solos in all of rock.
Aladdin Sane is my personal favorite. I really liked Low and Scary Monsters too.
@@daveapple205 yeah, I'd really love for him to hit the whole Berlin trilogy
@@thembill8246 I like the Tin Machine stuff too.
@@daveapple205 I think the 1st Tin Machine album is underrated.
I'd love Doug to do 1.Outside from the 90's.
Aladdin Sane unfairly compared to Ziggy...two different approaches.
So nice to see some of David’s music on this channel, he was a huge influence on me growing up in 1970’s England and was a huge influence, I’m sure, to other artists who followed him. Whatever you can say about Bowie, he was the constant chameleon, ever changing ahead of his peers and leading the trends rather than following them. You can’t talk about him, IMO, without mentioning Mick Ronson who was the musican genius beside Bowie in his earlier years. RIP David, our lives were richer for your music.
"Ain't it funny how C major can be melancholy" is such a profound sentiment. Thanks for sharing, very cool to hear your takes on these pieces!
Terrific stuff.
There's still a hole in my heart, all these years afterwards, when I think of David's passing. He really was in his own league, which is what makes an artist big. Thanks for sharing.
Mick Ronson not only a phenomenal guitar player and proficient piano player but an amazing arranger, as well!
This is the only way to listen to this album, in its entirety. Good job. This is his most iconic album.
I don’t know why, but as a pretty average American suburban kid, aged 15, this album deeply resonated with me. I had it on my Walkman, played it over and over as I walked to school through the cold winter streets. I felt like such an alien in that environment.
As a teenager, I was mostly a metalhead. When I first listened to this album, it completely changed my outlook on music. I realized how much more could be done with it. Ever since, I've strived to do as much with music as I could.
"Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" is as magical as "Stairway To Heaven" in its progressive climax both instrumentally & vocally... one of my favorites on the album for sure (" Moonage Daydream" being another favorite). This album demands to be played at full volume (which is how we played it always)! Put Bowie in the spotlight of the rock world when it was released and we all know now that he remains a legend today.
I'm replying a year later, but this is for betseyr.9081.
I had the vinyl and do believe it said to be played at full volume on the record
Five Years... what a song!
I was amazed to learn that Bowie wrote “All the Young Dudes” for this LP, but he was a fan of Mott the Hoople, & when they were ready to break up due to lack of success, he offered it to them & offered to produce them. The rest, as they say,…✌️❤️🎶
I would strngly suggest Station To Station/Low/Heroes. What an artwork
Such a beautiful album. It's very straightforward, but it's also so powerful, so entertaining, melancholic at times, and that ending is tear inducing, a statement, which has saved so many people. Lovely to see your reaction, you're extremely knowledgeable, and it's cool to see someone who knows about music discuss it in depth!!
This is definitely a Masterpiece. Bowie has been a big part of my life. “Just turn on with me & You’re NOT alone!”
Just a classic album. Completely groundbreaking for its time. And Bowie singing with so much emotion throughout.
I first heard this album 50 years ago. I never gets old .It was one of the best albums of the 70's & the high water mark for David Bowie in my opinion. I really enjoyed your reaction. Great choice.
I was with you during the Queensryche Operation Mindcrime upload Doug. I will join you on this quest also. Salute from Wales UK 🏴 🇬🇧 Sir! Much love to you across the Pond 🇺🇸
One of those albums where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts! Even with the “loose” concept, this album plays so well front-to-back. Thanks for the extended play!
David Bowie was so versatile with his voice. You have found one of the essences of his art when you notice that. Man he could change the tone. Nice choice to listen to this album. And the guitar sounds are awesome here.
This is one of my all time favorite records. Ive got hundreds of listens to it under my belt, but something about watching someone enjoy the ride for the first time was such a pleasure! I found myself cracking the biggest grin when the album just gets into that incredible hot streak. And Rock N Roll Suicide as a closer... wow. STILL crushes me. I think your interpretation of the album was really quite on-point. The way you contextualized Soul Love is my favorite explanation of that song’s significance yet!
Might want to also check out the album he did just prior to this - Hunky Dory. Rick Wakeman was playing piano and said he was amazed with the chord progressions on Life on Mars.
Hey Cheney, Ned from Spain here. Doug should definitely check out Hunky Dory, it is an absolute must and the follow up Aladdin Sane too.
The chord progression is just tttooooo good ... Love it.
Aren't they just the chords from My Way?
@@wozzywick Bowie was asked by his manager at the time, Ken Pitt, to write English lyrics for the French original, he called it 'Even a Fool Learns To Love). In fact Paul Anka won the competition and so Bowie used, but changed, the chords about a bit for 'Life On Mars?' .. which has a magical progression. 'My Way' uses some pretty basic chords you'll find in many songs and Bowie ones too.
@@wozzywickit's just the first 5 or 6 chords. The rest is Bowie
Very ‘glam rock’ drum sound, but it’s mick ronson’s guitar sound that lifts the whole thing for me. Mick was a monster player
This is my go to all time favorite album of David Bowie. Im so glad you all reviewing it. I do hope you enjoyed it.
So pleasant having a listening companion! I haven't heard most of this before, either.
First time I heard Bowie back in '72. I was listening to this album over and over back then. One of my favourite albums at all time.
Me too ... :-)
Ziggy Stardust is a masterpiece. Another great review and analysis Doug!
this is without a doubt the best david bowie album and a glam rock and rock masterpiece,gotta love mick ronson and trevor bolder too
Station to Station and Low also up there.
It’s hard to name a “best” of any band because it’s such a subjective thing. Plus, Bowie made so much great and remarkably innovative music over his long career. Having said that, I keep coming back to Low as my favorite.
I prefer Low, Heroes, Lodger, Scary Monsters, Hunky Dory, and Station to Station, but the fact that this album doesn’t crack my top five just goes to show what an amazing career Bowie had.
The Spiders were a truly phenominal band. One of my all time favs. Ronno, Trevor and Woody were all undeniable talents. I suggest you watch the movie "Ziggy Stardust" to see the incredible chemistry Bowie had during this phase of his carreer.
I was fortunate enough to see Ziggy Stardust in concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York. I brought a friend of mine who was from Egypt. I think her mind is still blown.
He had an amazing run of albums in the 70’s. Truly great albums in every sense, the production, arrangements, playing, song writing etc. From Ziggy Stardust , Aladdin Sane, Pin Ups, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans, Station to Station. In 5 years. The peak in my opinion were those five years, just incredible. Not to mention the live albums from those years that are available. The legendary Santa Monica 72’ album. The Spiders From Mars live film soundtrack. And David Bowie Live in 1974 are all fantastic.
Amazing albums!!
Bowie's golden age began with Hunky Dory and ended with Diamond Dogs. Young Americans was a real letdown although Station to Station was something of a rebound.
You may like the Outside album, a completely different concept album from Bowie in the ‘90s. Music edited from band improvisations, lyrics put together using a ‘cut-up’ technique, very intense and creepy in places. Produced by Brian Eno. Probably my favourite Bowie album.
One my faves from his amazing ouvre
If you listen really close you may recognize a particularly skilled keyboard player that just happened to be in the studio. Rick himself commented about the experience, and how he enjoyed it
Ronno had such an incredible tone, certainly one of my favourites. Love Mick Ronson.
Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey were a complimentary engine room; rhythm section.
Awesome! I’ve always loved this album!!!
I absolutely love that you examine the lyrics and story of the album. I believe that lyrics are just as important as the music in songs.
Even though my favorite bands from my childhood are Yes, Santana, Pink Floyd, and Deep Purple.... THIS album was my gateway from "songs play on the radio" to "music is art."
Do you like David Bowie’s album The man who sold the world ? That’s very Deep Purple. I especially love The Width of a circle and All the mad men, in fact the whole album.
I’ve got a Deep Purple treat for you (you’ve probably seen it, but it’s still worth revisiting often, Child in time live 1970, what an amazing live performance! ruclips.net/video/OorZcOzNcgE/видео.html the audience reaction, or should I say non reaction is hilarious!
I know that Ziggy Stardust always seems to top 'best of' David's albums as you said and I like this one a lot but I still find that Space Oddity is my favorite, not just the song but the album as a whole. Thanks for playing this one!
The extra "debris" in those intro chords is created by Bowie playing an open A and an open E chord one fret higher than they should be (effectively Bb and F, but with open strings), creating that dissonant sound
This was one of my favourite albums when I was in primary school. This is the first time I've heard the whole thing in ages!!! Nice one Doug!!! 😀
My school played 5 years during morning assembly to the whole school .. as they felt it is pop with meaning ... narrative substance ..
The whole thing is just an wonderful work of art. I once set it to repeat and wrote an entire novel as is rolled around in my subconscious.
Mick Ronson was always one of my fav's, I was pleasantly surprised to find that he is classified at #41 on Rolling Stone's recent Top 100 Guitarists list, long overdue recognition IMHO.
If anyone has not seen it, Ronson's reunion with Bowie at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert is amazing, particularly his performance with an E-Bow on the song "Heroes", outstanding.
I was in Jr High when this came out. I was in Cleveland and we broke Bowie in the States because WMMS radio played the hell out of this album. It had a huge impact, mostly for the style and mood. It was not like anything a midwestern teenager had ever heard or seen. Immediately after this album the 'coolest' kids in school got the Ziggy haircut. People today don't realize how radically different Bowie was when he came out with Ziggy, He truly seemed like he came from outerspace.
Mick Ronson. Great player and arranger.
Five Years always got me immediately, wonderful music, haunting lyrics, foreboding vocals.
Roger Waters' "The Last Refugee" always reminds me of it too, another outstanding track from his "Is This The Life We Really Want" album!
As a life long Bowie fan, I have to say thank you for a unique and fab review.
I'm not a Bowie fan by any means but i adore this album. I discovered this gem just a year ago, and since then, i spin it in it's entirety at least once every 2/3 months.
I would suggest that you are a Bowie fan! :)
@@OpenmindedHusker1 nah haha. As much as i adore this album, for some reason i really can't get into other Bowie stuff. I did try, it just didn't click like this album did for some reason. Don't ask me how or why, it just did lol. Cheers
@@davidepannone6021 Cheers!
@@davidepannone6021 have you tried his albums The man who sold the world (1970) and Hunky Dory (1971) ? I love the early ones ❤
Hey Doug! I’m glad you’ve decided to put this one up. Absolute classic!
True story: I spent much of 2016 in the middle of nowhere as a consultant on a really boring, mundane IT project. My client's office was a converted factory, windowless and joyless. There were about 20 of us (clients and consultants) in yet another interminable meeting, one of those in which there's a powerpoint projected on the wall and everybody is looking at their laptops, paying at best 50% attention. All of a sudden, a woman gasped and said, "David Bowie died!" We all stopped and checked for verification--or hopefully, refutation. "Yep, it's on CNN." "Twitter too." etc. Somebody started playing Ziggy Stardust and we listened to the whole thing, front to back. Everyone paid 100% attention.
The guitar solo on Moonage Daydream has one of the best guitar solos ever. Hand's down it beats Freebird and Stairway at the time. It's from another planet, and incredibly difficult to play compared to the first two I mentioned.
Also, Starman's debris comes from Bowie's 12 string - the Bb and F chords at the start are played on the guitar with the 5th string 'A' open - adding both the A bass string and an A an octave higher. He may even be strumming the open E bass string as well.
Yes! That solo is what I want to hear as I cross over! What a wonderful, beautiful way to go!
Listening to this takes me right back to those awkward teen years when I hadn't a clue who I was or what I was all about. Somehow this album gave me hope that I would figure it all out and, eventually, I did! Still enjoy listening it today. 50 some years later. Thanks for the review Doug.
As someone from a small farming community, that was 17 at the time. I was in the navy in Long Beach CA when David played there. I gotta say I was pretty freaked out seeing all the Bowie look alikes going into the venue. I had listened to Mott the Hopple in school before I quit and wasn't too keen on them and never quite got into Bowie. But the guys I shared an apartment with before going to the gulf of Tonkin, played this album ALL THE TIME. Eventually got to enjoy it, after hearing it so often.
Missed this when it came out a few days ago. Just hit play. Can't wait to see Doug get into this classic.
Rick Wakeman (later of Yes) played piano on this album. The string arrangements were done by Mick Ronson (the guitar player)
Actually Ronson played all piano on this album. Wakeman was Hunky Dory album.
David was a Chamaeleon throughout his career, always changing and reinventing himself. As for the simplicity, sometimes, less is more. Love the reaction to this timeless classic.
During the same year of this album's release Bowie also wrote and produced All the Young Dudes for Mott the Hoople, co-produced (with Mick Ronson) Lou Reed's Transformer album, released a non-album single John I'm Only Dancing and the lead single Jean Genie from the 1973 follow-up album Aladdin Sane. Not a bad year's work!
Would be awesome to see your reaction to Bowies "Berlin trilogy": Low (1977), Heroes (1977) and Lodger (1979). Classic albums!
Yes and yes and yes
always kinda thought Bowie gives his all to most if not all his songs , but 5 years i think he bust a gut and meant every word.
Yes, you’re completely right. Engineer Dennis Mackay said of Bowie’s vocal take on Five Years, and particularly the emotion at the end : “Bowie’s screaming and what you hear on that song-the emotion- is for real. He’s bawling his eyes out. Mick was looking at Bowie stunned. I was in shock because he was also hitting every note spot on. I’ve worked with some great vocalists since. Butnoone who could do it in one take with that much emotion.” Also Bowie was the master of doing it in one take on his albums,that’s how he worked. He usually did a perfect vocal performance on the first take. I’ve seen interviews with the musicians who worked with him saying that they wanted a chance to do it again because they thought they could improve their performance but Bowie would say no, that’s the take, he wanted it spontaneous, raw, he knew that if they overdid it they would lose the magic.
Hey man, just discovered your channel. It is really good!
I was watching one of your older videos, about a year ago where you are in front of a piano and have an organ behind you. I really like that setting where you have a piano in front so you can play what you are hearing. It adds a lot to the experience in my opinion. Because I am also listening to the chords in my head and having you reaffirm them brings some sort of satisfaction
Not sure of if anyone mentioned this, but Lady Stardust is most likely Marc Bolan of T. Rex. Marc was a good friend of Bowie's and definitely an inspiration for the more androgynous, glam centric Ziggy character.
My school played 5 years during morning assembly to the whole school .. as they felt it is pop with meaning. I was alredy into Bowie so having his stuff played by the school... amazing.. :-). Thank you Thomas Peacocke's, Rye. Bowie was an amazing singer, as we all know ... 'Lodger' and the vocal athletics, as I call it.
That must be been so powerful! Wow!
For a song that really highlights Bowie's voice, have a listen to 'Wild is the Wind'. Just make sure it's the, slightly longer, album version. It's a beautiful song and David's vocal performance is incredible! Every syllable drips with emotion, which is sort of his trademark. Bowie wrote in so many genres, even kickstarting a few himself, that there isn't really a definitive Bowie track. From pure pop, through folk, glam rock , punk, heavy rock, avant-garde, electronica, funk, soul, new wave, jazz... He mastered them all and often fused them together. Of course he was also a consummate performer, the epitome of cool. He seemed like a remote icon but a best friend at the same time. Then there was that voice! :)
So glad this came up on my list again today - really the BEST reaction video of my all time fav' album - I got this on 12", the week it came out and played it to death.
Fantastic album, great video Doug! Love me some Bowie!!!
The transition from Soul Love to Moonage Daydream is perfect, literally. Count one - two - three - four as if you're still playing Soul Love after the fade out and you'l see what I mean.
Awesome. It has been too long since I listened to the whole album. Something I will now change
Great choice! I listened to it straight through again a couple of months ago and really loved it. I had forgotten how good the whole album was.
Mick Ronson is the unsung hero of this album. Wether on guitar or piano, he is what's driving these tracks. His string arrangements and counter melodic guitar lines are just as important to the over all compositions as Bowie's voice and lyrics.
With this tour and the next (in support of the Aladdin Sane LP), Bowie introduced the world to his Ziggy persona and ultimately retired him and the band on July 3, 1973 at the Hammersmith Odeon, with a stage announcement that shocked his fans and band alike. The usual opener and closer during these tours were Hang on to Yourself and Rock 'n' Roll Suicide respectively. This farewell show was captured on film in it's entirety... and released in 1980 (minus 2 songs with special guest, Jeff Beck) as Ziggy Stardust.
I hope this has inspired you to dig deeper into Bowie's catalog. Though I personally wouldn't recommend jumping around between the different eras. Doing so would deprive you of experiencing the subtle (and not so subtle) transformations from album to album. Some may tell you to skip Pin-Ups because it's "just an album of covers"... that would be a mistake. The band is on fire on that album.
Also of note are the jeybordist that have played on Bowie's albums Rick Wakeman (just before joining Yes) on Hunky Dory, the incredible Mike Garson on Aladdin Sane to Young Americans, the E Street Band's Roy Bittan on Station to Station and brian Eno on the "Berlin Trilogy" -- Low, "Heroes" and Lodger..
Cheers!
Ronson was a big influence on me - his output with Bowie, Mott the Hoople and Ian Hunter, assorted sessions and his solo work. I suspect my choice of university had an element of "Ronno came from there" (as well as having a course I wanted and a good level of student accommodation)! It was a tragedy that he died so young from cancer.
As for Bowie, others have mentioned Hunky Dory and Aladdin Sane (the albums directly preceding and succeeding Ziggy) but I'd be interested in seeing your analysis and opinion of The Man Who Sold the World - a heavier album but with the same variety - and the first record he did with Mick Ronson.
Yesss! I also requested the man who sold the world full album x
My favourite Bowie album!!
Hey Doug, great reaction so far. with regards to your Suffragette City comment, I gues Bowie called it that mainly because it sounded cool. In later years he could be very intensional with his art, but for a long time he was (or seemed) very instinctive, taking leads from his collaborators, ie Ronson, Alomar, Fripp, et a;.
"Suffragette City" is Bowie's jive/poetic way to have a bisexual character saying, hey boys get out of here, I'm back with the girls. My 2c
Super album! As you said, the songs are short and simple, but carry a lasting emotional punch. More than anything, David, through both this album and his whole music career, taught us weirdos, misfits, and outcasts that straying from the straight line was not just okay, but also meant being immeasurably cool and hip in a way the squares could never hope for! For that, he has my undying love and admiration.
RIP, Starman!
Thanks for this one Doug! An all-time classic, one of the great, must-have albums of the rock-era. In my opinion, it's a songwriter's album, the songs being the strong suit rather than highly produced backing tracks.
Don't forget to get back to sides 2, 3 and 4 on "Chicago Transit Authority." 😏
1.Outside, great album, very underrated, but one of the best things he did in the 90's. my favorite album of his and one in my top 10.
@DougHelvering Thank You, never listened to this album before, only ever heard Star Man. This has been an absolute pleasure for the ears.
One of the highest fidelity vinyl LPs ever pressed. Back of the album states "To be played at maximum volume".
Hi, the cover art is an photograph of an actual street, now with a preservation order on it - this album is that important. At this time Bowie was also working with a Manchester based band that he really liked, Mott the Hoople, who were struggling to make it 'big'. He worked with them on a couple of albums and offed them Suffragette City as their relaunch single. They preferred 'All the Young Dudes' which he let them have instead. A fantastic song, big hit for them - Bowie: Legend!
I particularly look forward to masterpiecefridays! Thanks Doug. Hope you go further down this rabbit hole to discover the more experimental delights of Scary Monsters, Low and Blackstar to name but three!
You're an instantly appealing person...
David is a genius.....
I've heard him sing 5 years without the music...its incredibly emotional...and his emotion pours from his voice....
He is a chameleon and hence the vocal changes....thank you for this video....❤🎉
Was just listening to this yesterday. Bowies greatest work, and a close to perfect album.
Great to hear this album again, fifty years ago I would play it all the time especially in the car. Great album
With "Soul Love" you really see the influence of renowned English vocalist and actor Anthony Newley on David Bowie.
That's a superb álbum, Doug. It's a statement that you can write a mesterpiece with just a few notes and a bunch of great ideas. Bring more of Bowie into the channel!!!!
A few more things:
The title of the album is a mash up of 2 American performers that where at the time on Bowies radar, namely Iggy Pop and The Legendary Stardust Cowboy.
Five Years
Ken Scott, the producer, said that by the close of 'Five Years' Bowie was crying his eyes out with the emotion he put in to it.
Moonage Daydream and Hang On to Yourself
Both these songs where from a project called Arnold Corns which was a vehicle for a prodigy Bowie was trying to promote at the time, by the name of Frederick Burretti, aka Rudi Valentino.
Burretti was by trade a clothes designer that couldn't actually sing. Bowie thought he was beautiful and just really liked him. He was name checked in 'All The Young Dudes' as he is the 'Freddie' that got spots from pulling stars from his face 'the funky little boat race'.
Lady Stardust
Is heavily influenced, if not entirely about, Bowie's friend and rival at the time, Marc Bolan
Star
Freddie Burretti, or at least his alter ego, Rudi valentino gets another name check as 'rudi stayed at home to starve'.
Demos of 'Star' predate even Hunky Dory, reinforcing the notion that the Ziggy 'narrative' was indeed an afterthought.
Ziggy Stardust
Is, in part at least, a character thought to be influenced by Jimi Hendrix. Give away lines are 'He played it Left hand' and 'Jiving us that we were voodoo'.
Suffragette City
Was offered to Mott The Hoople before All The Young Dudes. They turned it down. Bowie references 'Droogies' from A Clockwork Orange, which was another major influence on Bowie at the time, and it continued to be so right up until the end as he references 'Vellocet', a recreational drug used in the same movie, in 'Girl Loves Me' a song from Blackstar.
Rock n Roll Suicide.
influenced
👍👍👍
This album has been a favourite of mine since I first bought it in the early 70s .
You pointed out the variety within the songs and his vocals , and I find that that is what keeps this album fresh for me .
He did an album called Bowie at the Beeb , where he performs a lot of these songs at the BBC .
It is great , as he , and his band , give these songs a rougher edge , and it really works .
Do yourself a favour and check it out . I actually prefer some of the versions on the Beeb album to the originals .
Doug , you mentioned that you would like to hear the drums a little better . You will on those Beeb versions .
Thanks for this video !!!
If you ever review another Bowie album please do Low. This album sounded like it came from another planet, particularly side 2 which is mostly instrumental. I'd also love for you to hear the track Aladdin Sane, mainly for the piano solo
BS"D
Really surprised you never heard Ziggy Stardust. It's one of most famous songs. I love this album! Thank you for reviewing!
His last album blackstar is so AMAZING!
My favorite album of all time. Your reactions are refreshing to both hear comments and see your facial reaction. Suffragette City is my favorite but Starman is a close second.
His poetry is sublime.
Young American still manages to tear me up from time to time though I've listened to it hundreds of times. One of the most beautiful and powerful lyrics I've ever heard.
As a 14yo working(#78) in a fast food place washing up,a cook who worked out the front gave me this album coz he liked "newer stuff"! I played it to death! Great album!P.S. Bowie was a fan of "Mott the Hoople" & when he heard they might be quitting coz they didn"t have a song,he offered them "Suffragette City" which they didn"t like,but they did like "All the Young Dudes" and had a massive hit with it!
Thanx 4 covering my favorite bands! Grateful Dead, Frank Zappa, Yes, Bowie, Traffic, Phish, & can't wait for Astronomy by Blue Oyster Cult! 💙😇💙