Produced by Tony Visconti, except *David Bowie **Ken Scott
and David Bowie
OVERALL: This is THE METAL ALBUM OF THE 70'S!!!!! The whole record
is an amazing array of spaced out moog drenched heavy rock, with chunky guitar, great
songs, and Cream-like wig outs. The beginning if Ziggy is right here on The Man's first
totally satisfying album. Grade:A+
1. The Width Of A Circle 8:05
Led by a great riff (one of the best in rock history, definitly) this album get's off to a blistering start. As on all the tracks, the epic lyrics, heavy bass, guitar, and drums all stand out. The acustic guitar blends in perfectly. Crank it up, this is true rock n' roll heaven!! Grade:A+
2. All The Madmen 5:38
The synthesizer, by the unsung hero of the album Ralph Mace, really shines in Bowie's first song dealing with insanity. Mr. Mace creates a swirling landscape all his own, but it is only the icing on the cake. Again the band shines, especially Mick, and there's another set of extremely creative lyrics. Grade:A+
3. Black Country Rock 3:32
This is a decent tune in the T-Rex vein. It's got some heavy bass and strange, repetitive lyrics. Grade:A+
4. After All 3:51
A deliciously murky song, filled with a swirling moog, a great sounding acustic, and very trippy-yet-intelligent lyrics. Although it is rather slow, it fits on the album perfectly. Grade:A+
5. Running Gun Blues 3:11
Some people may have problems with the lyrics on this on (depicting a very gory war story) but I don't mind them. It starts out pretty innocently, but then the band enters and rocks with Ralph adding more tasty synths. Grade:A+
6. Saviour Machine 4:25
This is an excellent song filled with creative lyrics (with narratives jumping all over the place) and a sensational melody that's carried by Mick's spectacular guitar and Ralph's superb synths. Grade:A+
7. She Shook Me Cold 4:13
Heavy metal paradise, with each of the band members working off each other perfectly. The heavy infatuation lyrics fill the HEAVY melody perfectly, though only as an afterthought. Mick and Woody's break in the middle is undescribeable. Then Tony's bass come's in for a smash climax. Grade:A+
8. The Man Who Sold The World 3:55
The title track flows along next. It's lyrics are great and as far as the music goes, Woody's drums stand out. As compared to Nirvana's version, this is much more elaborate with more percussion, guitars, and backround vocals. Nirvana did a good job of simplifying it. Grade: A+
9. The Supermen 3:38
A great way to end a great album. Very rhythmic drums and a wild guitar lead the way.The weird backing vocals are O.K. by me but ruin it for some. Grade:A+ note:there's an alternate version on the ryko issue of Hunky Dory.
Lightning Frightning** 3:38 1970 outtake, on Ryko issue
A song recorded in the same year this album was but it is vastly different from anything on it. It's a fun, bluesy ditty punctuated by a great slide guitar, sax, and harmonica. Strange lyrics though. Grade:A+
Holy Holy* 3:52 1972 Ziggy outtake,B side of Diamond Dog's, on Ryko issue
A fabulous rocker, this one is probably one of the best songs The Spiders ever did. Nice vocal effects and guitar. Grade:A+ note: this is a re-recording of one of DB's 1971 singles. The original is listed on the Ryko issue but it is indeed the Spiders version. It can be found on numerous bootlegs, but I've never heard it. People say it sounds like Conversation Piece, and I wouldn't doubt it since it has the same musicians as Space Oddity and was produced by Herbie Flowers.
Moonage Daydream* 3:55 1971 single under the name Arnold Corns
The 'singalong version', as I have dubbed it. Not nearly as good as the beefed up version on Ziggy Stardust, but very fun nontheless,with some alternate lyrics. This and the next one actually have a very wierd set of musicians: Bowie, Ronson, Woodmansey, future Spider Trevor Bolder, SO guitarist Mike Carr Prichard, and Bowie's hairdresser Freddi Buretti. The whole Arnold Corns project was to make Freddi a star,actually, but it soon turned in to another flop single from The Man. Grade:A
Hang On To Yourself* 2:55 B side of Moonage Daydream
This is a tad worse than Moonage Daydream. As a matter of fact, this is butchery--stupid lyrics, weak acustic arragement, and the band sounds like it's asleep. Grade:C