David Bowie (Original Recording Reissued, Original Recording Remastered)

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David Bowie

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This much underrated early debut is a must for any Bowie fan. Though the music at this point lacks the sophistication of his later work, the lyrics are brilliant and the production is excellent. His early work shows him to be one of the wittiest lyricists of his time. This album is a thoughtful jab at all the pretensions of the 60's. It makes a connection with far stranger artists such as the Bonzo Dogs and Frank Zappa, but is more clever and dignified than either.

Somehow, this album makes the whole rest of Bowie's career fall into place, and made me even more mindful of the underlying wit present in all his other albums. This album may seem strange at first, but it grows on you. I find myself loving it more with each listening, which is odd for an album full of "novelty songs". It proves to be so much more.

I would also recommend The Deram Anthology 1966-1968 as a more complete collection of early Bowie recordings, but some of the added songs were unwelcome intrusions next to the coherence of this album as it was originally released. I myself own both and wouldn't part with either of them.

David Bowie's first album originally released in June 1967 is a pretty cool little record. If you like Bowie or quirky mid-60's British pop, then you really can't go wrong. Should it be the first Bowie album one buys? God no! But it is very enjoyable in the right frame of mind. "Join the Gang" is a rip on certain aspects of "Swinging London" and is a personal fav from the debut. "Rubber Band" is a fun nostalgia trip on big bands during the Great War. "Uncle Arthur" is a silly song about the ultimate mama's boy. "When I Live My Dream" is generally considered the best song on the disc; it definitely seems the most mature. Even "Sell Me Your Coat" sounds cheerful though the poor guy seems to be freezing to death. David will always be one of rock's greatest songwriters and lyricists and 'Bowie' the album has its fair share of hilarious stories of maids, transvestites, models in the ads, meglomaniacs, childhood fantasists and psychotic gravediggers. 'David Bowie' is a neat little record where every song is memorable for good or bad. Not essential listening for 60's psychedelic enthusiasts but more for Bowie completists. In 1967 a 20 year old genius was having a blast giving commentary on both Mod London and Twentieth Century England in general. Years after this release, when Bowie became Ziggy and ruled the world; he may have been embarassed by this record. However, fans of folky, campy rock will enjoy!