Classical Composer Reacts to Ziggy Stardust FULL ALBUM (David Bowie) | The Daily Doug (Ep. 487)

#davidbowie #ziggystardust
In this special #masterpiecefriday edition of #thedailydoug, I'm releasing a full album reaction to David Bowie's classic album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. I recorded this reaction earlier this year, shortly after the album celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, for my Patreon community. I'm pleased to now make it available here on my KZbin channel. I hope you enjoy!
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[@starpowermike2846]

Bowie did well during this period in his career to back himself with a fantastic band. Mick Ronson is criminally underrated as a guitarist.

[@jackal59]

And as an arranger. I'm sure he did these strings.

[@brewstergallery]

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.

[@jamesnunn7181]

@@brewstergallerypfffft Bowie was his own man and went on to much more. They could’ve done likewise perhaps…

[@stephenslade1639]

@@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.

[@mushroomjesus2068]

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.

[@mikedonoghues4018]

“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.

[@there4im839]

Give me your hands. You're wonderful!

[@maddpablo6098]

I always cry with that last track, it's just unbelievable.

[@BirdTalk13]

@@maddpablo6098 same

[@StonefieldJim4]

Hear, hear. The most poignant, yet glorious of album closers. Amen.

[@cathalmckibben7176]

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

[@cliffordwaterton3543]

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.

[@BassGoBomb]

No wittering away on guitar .. superb succinct solos .. that serve the song.

[@FreeBrunoPowroznik]

Yes, it's a masterpiece of understatement

[@frankshailes3205]

And those amazing multitracked echoes - it's like nothing heard before on an album.

[@John-et9yl]

The live version of Moonage Daydream on Ziggy Stardust The Motion Picture is epic.

[@Rikkykins57]

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. 🤣

[@larrygallaway4224]

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.

[@jerryjanski551]

50 years on this is STILL the best sounding album ever. The production and arrangements are absolutely pure perfection.

[@BirdTalk13]

Spot on!

[@bartonone2005]

Ronno

[@rileysteve]

All that's missing is the LSD-25.

[@0liver0verson9]

Agreed. It's never been bettered really. It's the rock n roll standard.

[@hansschetselaar1657]

100 % agreed 👌👌👌👌👍👍👍

[@davedewsnap288]

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.

[@vilcabti]

Lucky you.

[@thembill8246]

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.

[@daveapple205]

Aladdin Sane is my personal favorite. I really liked Low and Scary Monsters too.

[@thembill8246]

@@daveapple205 yeah, I'd really love for him to hit the whole Berlin trilogy

[@daveapple205]

@@thembill8246 I like the Tin Machine stuff too.

[@cutthr0atjake]

@@daveapple205 I think the 1st Tin Machine album is underrated. I'd love Doug to do 1.Outside from the 90's.

[@ericpeterson6766]

Aladdin Sane unfairly compared to Ziggy...two different approaches.

[@wandersonoliveira263]

Bowie is my favorite artist ever! And I mean artist, not only musician. Such a brilliant creative force, never understimating his audience.

[@nofishinmydiet]

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

[@travisthornton1792]

I’ve seen others say that too, and knowing that it meant so much to so many others makes it meaningful to me too.

[@Yokosteamer]

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!

[@bubba88188]

I'm jealous.

[@richardhorky3717]

Mick Ronson not only a phenomenal guitar player and proficient piano player but an amazing arranger, as well!

[@mushroomjesus2068]

You HAVE to do Black Star ! ! Bowie literally wrote it on his death bed which is insanely haunting and beautiful.

[@antoniocarlin5026]

same as Innuendo and the last album of Leonard Cohen!

[@mattleppard1970]

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?

[@juurihoito]

Amen to that!

[@helenc1693]

Blackstar is amazing ❤

[@StevenMichals0812]

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.

[@jorgesimoes5706]

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.

[@kevingillespie5242]

"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!

[@chrisgardiner556]

Terrific stuff.

[@Young_Jim]

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.

[@heresthething41]

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.

[@eximusic]

This is the only way to listen to this album, in its entirety. Good job. This is his most iconic album.

[@betseyr.9081]

"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.

[@jayusrey3221]

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

[@brockmiller574]

It transcends Stairway in its connection to so many suffering souls who needed to hear it at a crucial time in their life.

[@jameshw9751]

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.

[@UranusHz420]

Just a classic album. Completely groundbreaking for its time. And Bowie singing with so much emotion throughout.

[@supertramp78]

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.

[@brewstergallery]

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.

[@BassGoBomb]

The chord progression is just tttooooo good ... Love it.

[@wozzywick]

Aren't they just the chords from My Way?

[@BassGoBomb]

​@@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.

[@Hellyeahray21]

​@@wozzywickit's just the first 5 or 6 chords. The rest is Bowie

[@enricopaoli1183]

Five Years... what a song!

[@alpetrocelli4465]

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,…✌️❤️🎶

[@shemanic1]

This is definitely a Masterpiece. Bowie has been a big part of my life. “Just turn on with me & You’re NOT alone!”

[@jefflang6271]

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.

[@pigonthewind7908]

I would strngly suggest Station To Station/Low/Heroes. What an artwork

[@LSqrd1960]

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!

[@helterskelter1178]

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.

[@HeikkiRHackman]

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.

[@Klui_]

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!!

[@domenicgalata1470]

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.

[@harrybaran2683]

Amazing albums!!

[@tomeisenmenger7048]

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.

[@ragnarmyhr7238]

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.

[@BassGoBomb]

Me too ... :-)

[@johnnorthfieldmusic]

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

[@noahtomato3515]

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.

[@BassGoBomb]

One my faves from his amazing ouvre

[@Joe-ol5bq]

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!

[@thomasmcd5862]

Ziggy Stardust is a masterpiece. Another great review and analysis Doug!

[@_Mutineer]

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.

[@GrampsD63]

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.

[@JackMcLeodJr]

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 🇺🇸

[@davidteitel9720]

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.

[@FreeBrunoPowroznik]

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

[@davidknizner3773]

Awesome! I’ve always loved this album!!!

[@katherineh7290]

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.

[@jackscovers4586]

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.

[@Plantagenet1956]

Hey Doug! I’m glad you’ve decided to put this one up. Absolute classic!

[@John-et9yl]

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!

[@rockandrollpaddy]

As a life long Bowie fan, I have to say thank you for a unique and fab review.

[@josephbrowning4220]

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.

[@craigsartstuff-craiglhaupt]

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!

[@davidepannone6021]

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]

I would suggest that you are a Bowie fan! :)

[@davidepannone6021]

@@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

[@OpenmindedHusker1]

@@davidepannone6021 Cheers!

[@andalltheangelssay212]

@@davidepannone6021 have you tried his albums The man who sold the world (1970) and Hunky Dory (1971) ? I love the early ones ❤

[@redlioness6627]

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!

[@BassGoBomb]

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.

[@kathychristopherson8077]

That must be been so powerful! Wow!

[@keithjordan7805]

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.

[@stevencharlton7693]

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!!! 😀

[@BassGoBomb]

My school played 5 years during morning assembly to the whole school .. as they felt it is pop with meaning ... narrative substance ..

[@unicyclepeon]

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."

[@andalltheangelssay212]

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.

[@andalltheangelssay212]

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! kzbin.info/www/bejne/haDVi5aFr7OWnac the audience reaction, or should I say non reaction is hilarious!

[@RandymanB]

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.

[@Edward..de..lanndo]

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....❤🎉

[@KempHoneycutt]

Thanks!

[@Slayer-Knight]

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

[@JimNewstead]

Fantastic album, great video Doug! Love me some Bowie!!!

[@rickandgen]

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.

[@Codex7777]

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! :)

[@jasonremy1627]

Missed this when it came out a few days ago. Just hit play. Can't wait to see Doug get into this classic.

[@paulehney4581]

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

[@MrShopvideo]

Rick Wakeman (later of Yes) played piano on this album. The string arrangements were done by Mick Ronson (the guitar player)

[@ricklohn4140]

Actually Ronson played all piano on this album. Wakeman was Hunky Dory album.

[@stevegreen5552]

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.

[@andalltheangelssay212]

Yesss! I also requested the man who sold the world full album x

[@saxmaniac6321]

Doug, David employed that "basic progression" the song ends with as a platform for Mick Ronson's most iconic guitar solo (I'd recommend giving the solo another listen in isolation). An interesting aspect of the whole Ziggy persona is where David unexpectedly killed Ziggy live onstage on the final leg of the tour - leaving the whole band confused as to his demise. As he did throughout his career, he then morphed into another character (the Thin White Duke) and only brought Ronson along with him...leaving a few disgruntled band members behind. Classic! I chose an analysis of everything around this album/tour during my undergrad degree 🎼🎸🎷

[@tommonk7651]

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.

[@steveyoung5811]

@DougHelvering Thank You, never listened to this album before, only ever heard Star Man. This has been an absolute pleasure for the ears.

[@geofflupton1254]

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." 😏

[@clowncarqingdao]

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.

[@kathychristopherson8077]

Yes! That solo is what I want to hear as I cross over! What a wonderful, beautiful way to go!

[@OtreborDrevka]

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.

[@TippiGordon]

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.

[@dreamerdeceiver6592]

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

[@GenericName52]

Station to Station and Low also up there.

[@andrewtedlow6552]

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.

[@LoganAlbright73]

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.

[@gwynedd-1]

Awesome. It has been too long since I listened to the whole album. Something I will now change

[@dennisgschmidt6167]

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.

[@nigeltown6999]

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.

[@Richard_Jones]

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;.

[@mmmcomfy]

"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

[@stevebradley704]

Mick Ronson. Great player and arranger.

[@MichaelLuke-w6p]

i have listened to all types of music since the early 60's and I am hard pressed to think of a more perfect studio album❤truly a work of art. faultless in every single way🙏

[@robinreiley1828]

I worked Bowie's "Sight and Sound Tour" at Giants Stadium, around 1990, building the stage for a week and on show day, I worked an MTV gig with him where he filmed spots for the "I Want My MTV" advertising campaign in different languages. That evening was his Very Last performance of the "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" song. It was a highpoint in my career as a Union Stagehand. After the MTV gig in the morning, I had the day off, but was still on the clock, so I hung around for the production load in, and ended up talking most of the afternoon with who I Assumed was the Guitar Tech for the Tour. He was busily changing strings, tuning, adjusting truss rods, setting intonation etc. We talked guitar models, favorite pick ups etc. The next thing I know he says "Well, I guess it's time to go to Work!" Straps on a Guitar and walks down stage to applause!?!? It turns out I had spent the afternoon with Joe Satriani, who was the Opening Act! Nicest most Humble guy in the Business!

[@Ryan-on5on]

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!

[@johnw706]

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 !!!

[@johnstallings4049]

Thanx 4 covering my favorite bands! Grateful Dead, Frank Zappa, Yes, Bowie, Traffic, Phish, & can't wait for Astronomy by Blue Oyster Cult! 💙😇💙

[@altair8598]

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!

[@glyngasson8450]

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

[@jameshw9751]

Was just listening to this yesterday. Bowies greatest work, and a close to perfect album.

[@nigeltown6999]

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!

[@massimosaffioti8798]

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!

[@vihtorisuominen1939]

Would be awesome to see your reaction to Bowies "Berlin trilogy": Low (1977), Heroes (1977) and Lodger (1979). Classic albums!

[@roblovett]

Yes and yes and yes

[@DetectiveAlley]

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.

[@claudiofernandes9834]

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!!!!

[@garyjerreat8521]

Great to hear this album again, fifty years ago I would play it all the time especially in the car. Great album

[@harrybaran2683]

My favourite Bowie album!!

[@blanewilliams5960]

Great choice Doug, love DB and this album. Very interested in your take and analysis of this fine concept album. Thanks Doug!

[@johnhouse9983]

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.

[@andalltheangelssay212]

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.

[@einsoflight18]

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!

[@patriciastewart2239]

His poetry is sublime.

[@radekseky4571]

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.

[@NikaWatt]

Listening to this with you I realised it is part of my DNA. I must have listened to it so many times over its life time and mine, nearly every note is anticipated with eager pleasure. What can I say? I was young and looking for a path forward. It turns out it was a pretty good optimistic path to follow. And then Supertramp arrived!!

[@rwestvang]

Lots of profound insight you bring to the table. I really like your take of the opposite view on Rock 'n' Roll Suicide... The "you're wonderful" backing could clearly be the protagonist reaching out to Ziggy.