Had every intention to pick it up on RSD- yet many others had the same intentions. Still at the point to find a copy without paying an arm & leg. Your review has again prompted me to find that copy. Glad to learn the sound quality is there,

Hey Giggens! Great release for sure. To actually have this original/provisional 1971 running order on an actual record is very cool, and as you said, the sound quality is incredible! Easily the best I have heard any of this material, and arguably one of the best sounding records I own by anybody! There's definitely some sparkle on that untouched master tape which is in those grooves. There was a half-speed mastered Ziggy in 2022 for the 50th anniversary, but honestly I was surprised how unenjoyable it was - very flat (in a dull way) and the songs lost most of their power and excitement. I haven't tried the half-speed versions of Aladdin or Diamond Dogs yet, but this particular release made me re-consider whether it's the tapes or the half-speed process that achieved this amazing sound! The difference between this LP and the Ziggy is night and day...! I've always loved those other tracks, and was surprised how much I enjoyed the sequencing as someone like you who knows the regular album's formatting and flow by heart...! Thankfully those three originals tracks wound up being issued at some point during his RCA tenure (Amsterdam in '73, Holy Holy in '74 and Velvet Goldmine in '75). I definitely think of this version as a gateway spotlight at the brief and dubious transition between the Hunky Dory sessions and the Ziggy sessions, still has a lot of classic Ziggy but retains more of the singer-songwriter-y aspects he was still in the deep throes of...! Personally I would have taken Velvet Goldmine on the finished LP instead of It Ain't Easy (a pre-Hunky Dory leftover!), only left off at RCA's insistence (and when Starman was created to replace it!). All the recordings from those 18 months or so is a standalone immeasurable catalogue of Bowie greatness! Sorry for the long comment - a great review and overview as always! Take care!

Hey Giggens! Still watching, and dropping those likes on every video, I just don't comment as much anymore. Always have loved your reviews and the joy and sincerity you bring to your projects. I'll take anything Bowie so I'll have to check this one out, too!

I'm an avid viewer of your channel from New Zealand and love the Ziggy album.... it baffles me as to why he chose to add "It Ain't Easy" on the original LP when he had other songs he'd written and chose not to include 🤷🏼‍♂️ it just spols the flow of the album 💯