IMO, Bowie is unique in that listening to this song or that will rarely "blow you away" or define his style. It is only after hearing his huge discography that we get the impact of just how creative he was & almost compulsively changed styles from one album to the next. I can't think of anyone else who did that.

"Is There Life on Mars?" From Hunky Dory is a must-listen

David Bowie was an incredible artist. Musically, he was ahead of his peers, often putting out or fusing together sounds and elements that became standard later. His album, "Let's Dance", was credited in articles with pulling the recording industry out of the slumps. It was THE album at the time. And he stayed ahead of his time up until his death. He was also an amazing actor. His portrayal of Andy Warhol in "Basquiat" was incredible. And he was also a stage actor, delivering a performance in The Elephant Man that garnered tremendous praise from stage critics.

He played this on Soul Train - great radio song. “Stay” on this album is fantastic. Earl Slick on guitar and he delivers!

Thumbnail sketch of peak Bowie albums: 71-80 71 - Hunky Dory - Singer/Songwriter and Glam Rock. 72/73 - Ziggy Stardust/Aladdin Sane - Glam Rock, gradually getting a bit more experimental. 74/75/76 - Diamond Dogs/Young Americans/Station to Station - Phasing out of glam rock towards a more Soul-based sound which peaks on YA, title track of STS starts moving things forward again. 77 - Low/Heroes - Half of each album is an Electronic/Ambient collaboration with Brian Eno, other half mainly new wave rock/pop. 79 - Lodger - Slightly odd mish-mash of world music and new wave rock. 80 - Scary Monsters - More straightforward pop songs, but still a bit of avant garde influence.

Golden Years was a unique song in its time being that a renowned glam rocker was utilizing, in his own way, a subtle disco undercurrent for a dance floor hit, but it still contains a certain futuristic wash to it in its tonal quality for me. The Hat I'm throwing is the absolutely brilliant SCARY MONSTERS. It is a MUST LISTEN. David had gotten clean and it shows in that album's unique far reaching creative energy.

Huge hit back in the day..

Yeah, maybe not his best song, and maybe not his most complex, involved song, but a straight up fun, dance, disco-type party tune that just makes your ears and brain feel good. Gotta like that. For sure, it's his vocals that give the song any cred. He has a knack for unique phrasing, keeping things interesting. The final song on this album, "Wild Is The Wind", gives you Bowie in full on crooner mode. Heart wrenching and beautiful.

Although I wasn't a huge fan of Bowie in the 70's, over time, his music grew on me. I have to say, it's hard to imagine the music world without his contributions over the years. My daughter discovered him through his collaboration with Mick Jagger (as she was into the Stones at the time). It was interesting to watch her growth in music apprciation through the discovery of the roots of her musical idols. For example, she discovered The Kinks thru Green Day. In HS she had a great history teacher who would periodically discuss classic Rock music with his students. She discovered The Beatles, The Stones, and other Bristish Invasion atrists through her teacher's influence.

Ziggy Stardust and the spiders,Low Heroes, my fav Diamond Dogs,Sweet thing/Candidate /Sweet Thing Reprise is brilliant and We Are The Dead. Lady Grinning Soul,Drive in Saturday,Can You Hear Me, Stay, Wild Is the Wind, Blackstar. Just a few, he has 100's.

Rick Wakeman (Yes, Strawbs, solo) worked with Bowie on several occasions. He said that he never met someone like Bowie before in one respect. Rick said Bowie knew how any song was gonna sound when finished, because he could hear the song in his head, before it even had begun to be recorded. Not just the musical notes that were to be played, but also the subsequent timbre of the sounds that he heard in his head & how best to capture the sound & toy with it in the studio until he found the solution being brought forward to the sounds in his head being captured on recording tape. Pretty cool. My favorite is Moonage Daydream & Ashes to Ashes.

"Station To Station" came right after his full-on soul album "Young Americans". He moved to a more funky style. Then came "Low" which had two very different sides when released on vinyl. Side one has seven quite short, catchy songs. But side two has four longer, atmospheric, mainly instrumental pieces which was quite a shock for fans and critics alike. Around this time it felt like everyone was scrambling to keep up with his incredible versatility.

Well, you’re never going to be able to “understand the changes” of an artists career by starting with an album released over a decade after his recording debut. Even before the Ziggy Glam Rock that made him a big star, Bowie had passed through Stones-ish Mod R&B, Anthony Newley style Show Tunes, Toytown Psych-Pop, Singer-Songwriter Folk-Rock and mystical Heavy Rock (the Man Who Sold the World lp, which is a masterpiece btw), so you need to go back...listen to some of the early singles, the brilliant ‘67 Mod lament ‘The London Boys’, the ‘69 hit Space Oddity and lp tracks like Cygnet Committee and Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud, onto the dense epics Width of a Circle, All the Madmen and The Supermen, not forgetting the Hunky Dory classics Changes and Life on Mars. All this before he became a mainstream Glam Star. Leave Low and Heroes until you’ve covered the back-story! 👍

Good song, even though it sounds like an escapee from Young Americans. If you want to follow Bowie's musical journey you'll have to listen to his albums in chronological order otherwise your going to get awfully confused. Bowie's early styles were psychedelic music hall (David Bowie), space folk rock (Space Oddity), hard rock/proto glam rock (Man Who Sold The World), pop rock (Hunky Dory), then glam rock (Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane), Glam rock/proto punk (Diamond Dogs), Philly Soul (Young Americans), and then funk rock/art rock (Station to Station). And that's before he gets to Germany... The first album is a ...well first album, but from Space Oddity onwards each album has at least some great songs on it, and it's fascinating following the evolution of Bowie's songwriting and his singing. Sorry, didn't mean to write a small novel, but Bowie is my second favourite artist after Kate Bush.

I danced to this song as it was played at every school disco/party and in my bedroom (turn it down - shouted from below). That was so fun. Ah, the days when I had unlimited energy.

Before the changes, it might be good to start with "Changes"! This is the opening track of the Hunky Dory album, possibly my favorite from Bowie. Probably, in part, because Rick Wakeman does lots of piano accompaniment on it.

From the album Let's Dance: Modern Love China Girl Let's Dance

Always loved the groove on this one...and yes...Bowie is one of the great chameleons of rock!...he went through so many permeations...and his final album was even another total reinvention...Cheers from Canada!

Golden years was the next track after Station to Station on the album of the same name. I do not think the placement of tracks was ever done inadvertently. I loved the album in 1976 and still love it now. Golden years is a clever composition. Having Bowie rapping some of the lyrics is a bonus.

Good Reaction....like me some David Bowie.....lol....

The Diamond Dogs album ranks really high in my opinion. well worth listening to

The previous album (Young Americans) is decribed as his 'plastic soul' period. I always feel that this is sort of a hangover from that album. The guitarist, Carlos Alomar is the main guy that gives the funk.

I have a couple of lava lamps from Mathmos (the inventors of the lava lamp), and I love them. Much better quality than the random cheapo lamps I had when I was younger. Highly recommended.

Its the diversity in styles that makes him a genius. I got this album from my parents at my 14th birthday in 1976. Like it was yesterday. 'Fame' was the first song I heard from Bowie and still got the single on vinyl.

David Bowie's Golden Years entered the UK Top 40 on 25th November 1975 and peaked at no.8 Top ten this week was: 1 - Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody 2 - Hot Chocolate - You sexy thing 3 - Billy Connolly - DIVORCE 4 - Jim Capaldi - Love hurts 5 - Bay City Rollers - Money honey 6 - David Bowie - Space Oddity 7 - Rod Stewart - This old heart of mine 8 - John Lennon - Imagine 9 - Steelye Span - All around my hat 10 - Roxy Music - Love is the drug New entries and climbers: Jigsaw - Sky high Slade - In for a penny Eagles - Lyin' eyes Nazareth - Holy roller David Bowie - Golden years Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Gamblin' bar room blues. Great reaction as always x

I love this song, makes me happy just hearing it!!

This album has some of the best singing in his career. This song was a top 10 hit, very catchy. There are a lot of layers there, listen to it again. As for "Low" it's a divisive album, fans split on it, some turned away, others went with it. I couldn't decide but I couldn't stop listening to it either and eventually concluded that I liked it.

Young Americans is an outstanding album. Came before this album. Thanks for the great commentary.

They used this for a dance sequence in A Knight's Tale.

Cannot go wrong with 70s David Bowie wonderful wonderful stuff as always love your analysis and reactions love you

My favorite Bowie song. I love the dynamics of his voice and that guitar is infectious.

Thank you for getting to David Bowie. One of my favorite songwriters. LOW is a good album and my all time favorite is The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, so classic. Take care JP.

Good reaction, Justin....spot on with your views.

Love this one!!!

This was the top 40 hit in the US from this album. Fun song, great to dance to (see the movie "A Knight's Tale"), and hella good to sing in the car at the top of your lungs. I hope you continue with this album. I never felt the songs for together thematically, but they are all fantastic. Thanks for the reaction video.

Sounds and Vision

Speaking of the "changes" Bowie went through in his music, have you reacted to that song yet? It's a must... great classic.

My top 5 bowie albums are: station to station Low Diamond dogs Aladdin sane Scary monsters. So i suggest one of those albums next

One of my favourite Bowie songs. ("Fame" is my favourite). Thanks for the review.

It's nice to watch that first time to diving into Bowie like you are doing! I grew up Bowie at tender age of 12 when my sis and me snuck down to watch SNL and they carried him wearing this plastic suit with Klaus Nomi. That was it for me! Incredibly different and made me think waaay outside the box , inside the box, around the box, if there ever was a box!🤔 God bless my Mom for enduring me playing his music over and over and over for decades! I read everything I could about him, delved into the characters he portrayed. Into his interviews. I wanted to know behind the music, play the music, about all the musicians. His music, thoughts, movies and beyond. I could go on! He was never boring! Wikipedia doesn't give him justice! imo!! Though I do love to hear how others portray what they get from his art/music. I dreamed of the day I could see him live. And I did! But that chefs kiss of all times was I was very fortunate to grab 2 tickets at Tower in Philadelphia 12 rows back with my lovely sis now trying to play adults in life! She was the only one I knew who actually appreciated him almost as much as I did! He had sworn he would not ever sing his older music again however he changed his mind on this tour. It was one of those nights that will be with me till I leave this life! The people, the show and Mr Bowie himself! He's incredibly charming! A few months later he had to cancel the rest of his concerts due to what we found out later to be heart problems. I probably sound self serving but I appreciate you tapping into those memories and gave me a smile! Thank you!🌠🎶🕊

He always was taking us somewhere..

He wanted this song to be recorded by Elvis Presley so I think he kind of drawled like him when he sang it. He had an amazing knack for character voices. Some of his songs were sung like Anthony Newley, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Marc Bolan, Velvet Underground, all of his musical heroes. Once he sang his song Scary Monsters in a Johnny Cash voice with a background story about being in prison with the man in black. He loved to pay tribute to bands he liked and to help musicians in need: gave all the young dudes to Mott the Hoople when he heard they were about to break up, helped Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Tina Turner, Peter Frampton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and the list goes on. He was as big a music fan as one can be.

Hi everyone! David Bowie 👽 👍

Love this David Bowie song! I can listen to David Bowie on Duran Duran music. They were big fans and I can hear his influence im some of his songs like "Planet Earth".

I would suggest Hunky Dory of course, but I see a lack of discussion about his final album Blackstar. For sure, you might want to start with earlier Bowie, but Blackstar is a must and one of his strongest and most poignant works. Would highly suggest it.

Heroes is a must listen I love Fripp's haunting guitar work on the title track.

Such enjoyable music.. one of my frequents for easy listening next to Let's Dance. After he passed away, David's ashes were scattered in the sea with a Buddhist ceremony here in Indonesia on the island of Bali.. 😇✨

Not my fave, but I still enjoy it especially when I listen to the entire album! I'm glad you're still listening. He's got so much to offer.

Not a Bowie expert like others but I know this was and continues to be played on the classic rock stations. Very radio friendly song, funky, disco beat, good to dance to. Funny you mentioned changes cuz that was the name of one of his biggest hits! 👍👍

Just wanted you to know that I have had this song as a CONSTANT ear worm ever since I watched your vid as soon as it came out!!!! While slightly irritating, as ear worms can be, it's not been entirely a bad thing! Been bringing back some good memories! made me wish I had a decent turntable to play my "Changesonebowie" album!!! ;)

Diamond dogs and Aladdin sane are my favorite albums. But man who sold the world,, Aladdin sane, and lady grinning soul and 5 line poem are my favorite songs.

Low side one my absolute favorite album side of all time I can only hope you will do this album love you

So many great songs to choose from I really liked “Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence” from the film of the same name

Boys Keep Swinging is a great Bowie song❤️ and Station To Station❤️

This was the FM radio track from station to station. Low, Aladin Sane or even Let's dance are excellent albums to explore.

Fame: Funk with Dr. Winston O Funk aka John Lennon playing guitar. Low-Heroes-Lodger are the Berlin Trilogy. Great stuff and Robert Fripp is all over Heroes. Scary Monsters has more Fripp and Earthling is just insane.

Love David Bowie, all of his work is fantastic (some quite exceptional). Let’s Dance was his most commercially successful album and accessible for new fans!

This is one of my favorite Bowie Albums. Listen to Station to Station. Unforgettable song. Bowie said of this album he was so high that he did not remember making it. It was the 70s after all !!

Ziggy, Diamond Dogs, Low. I could listen to them all day...

Hey Justin, in your quest to understand the CHANGES in Bowie's music, the Hunky Dory album (1971) would in my opinion to be a good place to start. Song for song, it's probably my fave Bowie long-player. It's not overtly futuristic or trailblazing in the way of, for example, Low (1977), but there is still plenty of whimsy and adventures. And most of all, very strong tunes. One of which is called - wait for it - CHANGES. "Ch-ch-ch-changes / turn and face the strange". Life On Mars you might have heard it already - for me, it's a perfect 10/10 of a song. By the way, back in the day I worked/wormed my way into Bowie through the compilation albums CHANGESONEBOWIE (1976) and CHANGESTWOBOWIE (1981). As for da funk, Bowie recorded Young Americans (1975) - the album just before Station to Station (1976) - in Philadelphia and New York with a soul and R&B crew. Golden Years is probably a bit of a leftover from said era. Anyway, Bowie was always into funk and soul. I remember an interview on MTV from the early 80s where he quite sternly chastised the channel for not playing the videos of black artists. (This was just before Michael Jackson blew up into a phenomenon that MTV couldn't ignore.)

Love Bowie. He is very much a musician that evolved in his life. Hunky Dory Space Oddity & The man Who Sold the Earth, for me were one phase of his early pop cycle, cracking albums all. Ziggy Stardust Alladin Sane & Diamond dogs are another phase, his more rock harder edge sound. Seminal stuff. Then you get to where you are now, and all the way through to the wonderful 'Blackstar'. He never stopped innovating, he was one of the first musicians to understand that the internet would change things, he got involved in some fascinating projects there. As a side bar, he wasn't a bad actor, two films i recommend, (very out there in style)'The Man Who Fell To earth', and the wonderful 'Merry Christmas Mr Laurence'. His output could keep you busy for a decade of reactions.

I agree with you about Bowie's voice. I think the stuff of his that I came to like most was when he sang in a straight forward manner like this. The man could sing. He did a Bing Crosby Christmas special and a glorious duet of Peace on Earth and The Little Drummer Boy was the result. Give it a listen to see him just singing. It is all over KZfaq. There is also a great video out there of Bowie and Jagger doing a cover of 'Dancing in the Street'. You have to watch the video not just listen to the song.

"....David just knows he's good...." lol....Yes. Yes he knows he's a rock god. Just a fantastically gifted artist.

This song is featured in a scene in the movie "A Knight's Tale" with the late great Heath Ledger, very interesting way it's used. Hearing it always makes me think of that scene.

Tony Kaye of early Yes played (very well) with Bowie on the Station to Station tour.

"Fame" was another great song of his (1975)

Space Oddity The live version w/ Ainsley Dunbar on drums (specify that in search) great work by Mick Ronson on guitar and effects ! Bowie in costume as Ziggy !

As I mentioned before, I never got into Bowie maybe cause his music was on the softer side of rock, but I do like quite a bit of his music. Maybe because he was a staple on the radio growing up.

"Low" for sure,. Brian Eno produced and it's a very creative album.

Hello Justin ! At the end of this album, You must listen to "LOW", recorded in Berlin with Eno !

I was a huge Bowie fan back in the day. When Ziggy came out Moonage Daydream was played on the radio constantly. Almost immediately kids started showing up in school with Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold the World, Hunky Dory and of course Ziggy. All of these records along with Aladdin Sane and Diamond Dogs were essential and made him a star. But then he changed, the David Live tour sucked, I saw it. Young Americans was a funk and r and b record album which I bought but never played much, I didn't bother with Station the Station. Something happened and it seemed David was coasting, the creativity and inspiration even the effort seemed to be missing. We now know it was the drugs. He returned to form with the art/kraut Rock efforts Low and Heroes which are good listens. I suggest Hunky Dory or Ziggy as the best examples of his first period. There are few artists who can match his body of work, but I don't think Station to Station is a great example of Bowie at his best.

Starman; Is There Life On Mars; Suffragette City; Rebel Rebel...lots of great music

My go to Bowie albums are Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars,Diamond Dogs, from the glam period. Young Americans, funk period Low, Heroes from the Berlin experimental period. Also from that album Stay, Wild is the Wind, TVC 15.

Every time i hear this song, I remember the 1991 Stephen King's TV-series by the same title.... there it fits very well too as the opening tune

MAN YOU GOTTA DO THE SONG "LOOK BACK IN ANGER" the killer drums galloping and grooving at the same time.

The thing about Bowie is the journey...if you listen to his 70s output in order, it takes you on an artistic trip. Bowie would usually telegraph where he was headed with a song on one album that would lead tp another...I’m not sure if it was always intentional, but in retrospect you can connect the dots. I think he’s easily the most fascinating and influential musician of the 20th century. Low and Heroes are a peak for him creatively, but they’re not for everyone.

Bowie started with personas. Space Oddity was an outlier, his first hit, but he didn't know how to follow it up effectively. After two minor hit albums in The Man Who Sold The World and Hunky Dory (hits only after Ziggy landed) he invented Ziggy Stardust. There is a phenomenal film of his last Ziggy concert, and how he killed Ziggy off. Then you get Aladdin Sane, which is a poppier, but still glam character. After that comes the apocalyptic David, in Diamond Dogs, which like most of his albums, is a masterpiece, though often overlooked. There is another documentary about a tour, in which he explained his writing method. After that he reinvented blue-eyed soul, mastering that as he did most other things. He picked up on trends, followed them to their natural conclusion. He started his acting career, because of the Cracked Actor documentary, getting major box office hits with The Man Who Fell To Earth, Laybrinth and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. After the Thin White Duke, he gave up on personas, and tried to kick the cocaine habit that was killing him. He divorced Angie Bowie, and went to Berlin (and discovered heroin). That's where Low and Station to Station were made, and he also produced and helped write Lou Reed's seminal album, Transformer. His next big commercial success, his biggest to date, was working with Nile Rodgers on the funky Let's Dance album. His amazing output continued, working with Trent Reznor, and getting another huge hit with Scary Monsters. By then he was married to Imam, and by all accounts, the marriage was a very happy one. His influence, his invention and the way he transformed live perfomances as well as music can't be underestimated. You have a wonderful journey ahead of you. Bowie never stood still. He fits into no comfortable slot, occupies his own place. I would start at the beginning, with Space Oddity, and then pick tracks off his next albums, but Ziggy needs to be listened from start to finish, since it's a concept album, and Diamond Dogs, too.

Low is a great album... from some dark times with Brian Eno...definitely stands out from others in that respect. Ziggy Stardust album is when he exploded on the scene, and it is essential🙂 Fave song from that era os Panic in Detroit from Alladin Sane. Scary Monsters was made with Robert Fripp on guitar, and it's very unique. So much great music over the years... and he definitely goes through some Changes. Cheers🙂

An essential album is Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, for the early period. Low and Heroes are in the same veine as Station to Station. Let's dance was a complete departure from everything else.

God what a voice. If I could choose who to do a duet with Pavarotti, it would be David Bowie and Jim Morrison.

I was in high school at the time. To me, Golden Years n Elton’s Philadelphia Freedom mark the end of that great epoch of rock n roll where each year bands would yearly put out singles for summer radio from their albums that they then would tour from then to fall n winter. After these two, it all just seemed to dry up n then disco n urban cowboy shit was taking over with all the ego driving cocaine. No more communal drugs n experiencing to connect with others n expand consciousness. Hunky Dory is his best album. Glam was not first for him. But dig into him. From HD try Queen Bitch n then Quicksand.

"Hunky Dory" is my favorite Bowie album.

First white man on Soul Train. Great song. He has so many styles, there's something for everyone.

Another great song from this unbelievably great album. So funky. So seductive. And yet, so desperate. Kind of stalker-ish, actually. 🤪 Can't wait until you get to "Wild is the Wind". It was Bowie's own favorite of all his vocal performances, and I tend to agree with that.

In every album he had something that connected to his last like this was his past (Young Americans) and this song was written for Elvis but his people didn’t want it. But also he had something for the future like the song Station to Station is at least half of what he would do with his future album Low(with the other half still got that funk like Young Americans. And with all of this and how a lot of love this album he doesn’t even remember making it! What a legend 🤘

This is the POP song on this very interesting and incredible album. Heavy air play. He even performed this song Live on "Soul Train". He lip synced but still good with his stage presence.

Where to start on Bowie’s various guises? There were so many and all have their merits. My first introduction was to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars, a monumental album, way ahead of its time. Bowie’s voice and the song writing was never bettered imho. However, you may want to start with Hunky Dory, which was his album just before Ziggy, and laid the groundwork for his songwriting chops. Plus it includes the sublime song Life on Mars, which has to be one of his best ever!

I believe "Low" is just O.K.....In this same period/genre I believe "Heroes" is much better.Definitely check them out.As far as older Bowie, listen to & react to "Man Who Sold the World".....haunting & heavy...as hard rock as Bowie achieved (other than the project Tin Machine)...Cheers from the old "rocker" in FL.

You will enjoy this multi-verse journey, and if you want to hear more experimental then pick the Berlin years. This was the single so a dance tune.

How about some almost prog from Bowie? - On "The man who sold the world"; Saviour Machine and Width of a circle. Or just fantastic fantastic song writing on 'Hunky Dory"; Life on Mars? and Quicksand. From 'Ziggy Stardust'; Five Years and Ziggy Stardust. From 'Aladdin Sane'; Time. Lady Grinning Soul and Aladdin Sane?

Hunky Dory and Low next. All his albums are worth a look

Scary Monsters and Supercreeps is recommended if you like the vibe on this one

His Ziggy Stardust album had an instruction: "To be played at maximum volume."

Another Bowie album suggestion? Try "Hunky Dory". Amazing album that culminates with the incredible "The Bewlay Brothers".

please try sweet things/candidate from the diamond dogs album!!

Suggest that you start with Space Oddity and so on, to experience his development...😎👍

I can't hear this song without thinking of the dance scene from A Knight's Tale.

This was a massive hit back in the day. It's also around the time Bowie appeared on Soul Train. The whitest of white boys on a predominantly black music show was a nice example of what "progressive music" can actually mean.

A thought has actually come to me. Should you wish a laugh, have a listen to one of the first singles David Bowie released in 1967. It's a pastiche of a well known singer at the time, i can't remember who without looking it up, but the song is called 'The Laughing Gnome'. It's not the greatest song to be honest, but it's blooming silly, and gives a nice grounding of where he began, to where he went.

Other Bowie albums you should listen too? All of them. Just moving through his style changes is an adventure. Note his use of his chest voice. Early albums it was his head voice.