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

“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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

"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.

Five Years... what a song!

"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!

Mick Ronson was the best thing to happen to DB-especially on this lp. He played the awesome guitar parts and solos (check out the last bars of Moonage Daydream if you want to hear classic Ronson guitar god work), he arranged DB's horns and sax work and also did the string arrangements (Moonage Daydream again - those strings behind the guitar! WOW!) . Again on "Starman"- the guitar and arrangement on the choruses and the following pure rock and roll guitar boogie licks (is that a bridge? a coda?) that is all Ronson! Those arrangements are arguably the significant factor that raises the level of this album from a rock album to a rock "concept" album. it may have been just a bunch of songs, but Bowies vision was realized via Ronson's arrangements, instrumentals and execution.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Mick Ronson. Great player and arranger.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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."

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!

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!!

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

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.

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!

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 🇺🇸

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!

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

So pleasant having a listening companion! I haven't heard most of this before, either.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

My favourite Bowie album!!

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.

One of the highest fidelity vinyl LPs ever pressed. Back of the album states "To be played at maximum volume".

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.

Just found your channel. Love your take, looking forward to more!

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.

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.

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

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!

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

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.

The play on the word Star continued until his final work, Blackstar. They're above us, they're among us, they are us. Star stuff. Safe journey Major Tom. o7 Art is weird, especially when it's made this well. 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘 Rich the Ancient Metal Beast

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!!! 😀

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

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.

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.

With "Soul Love" you really see the influence of renowned English vocalist and actor Anthony Newley on David Bowie.

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

Worth mentioning that Bowie with Mick Ronson produced Lou Reed's Transformer in London in 1972, the same year Ziggy was released. Definite crossover themes and sounds between the two albums result. And, Bowie also wrote and produced All The Young Dudes for Mott the Hoople in 1972. He was a busy lad in '72, our Dave!

Outstanding! So good, I had to give the LP another listen after your video.

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

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

His poetry is sublime.

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....❤🎉

My God, I remember getting Jean Genie all those years ago, and finding Ziggy Stardust on the B-side. I just played them non-stop for days. Best single and B-Side ever. Also from around that time: Broken Down Angel/Witchdoctor Woman (Nazareth), Smoking In The Boys' Room/Barefootin' (Brownsville Station); loads of Alice Cooper singles. All with superb B-sides. What the hell happened to music since then?

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.

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.

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!

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 🎼🎸🎷

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

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.

Thanks, Doug. I keep coming back to this album, and it gives me new meaning every time I listen. It has something in common with Dark Side of the Moon in that it slowly builds, and reaches a crescendo with the deeply harrowing final song. I visualise him perched at the side of a bridge, ready to jump, while someone cries in increasing desperation "Give me your hand, you're wonderful". It's a truly shocking piece of music.

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!

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

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!

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!!!!

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! :)

Thanks Doug! This is great content.

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.