This music thing we all like, it doesn’t get much better than this.
I'm an alligator I'm a mama-papa comin' for you I'm the space invader I'll be a rock 'n' rollin' bitch for you
He was from Mars, by way of Brixton, he’d fallen to Earth, he was androgynous, sexually amorphous, dressed like Christmas had a baby with a Bacofoil geisha and had a king hell of a great band behind him. Ladies and gentlemen I give you David Bowie The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars*, released, as was everything that is good, pure and rocking in this world, in 1972.
I didn’t quite latch onto the comet that was Ziggy Stardust at the tender age of 4 months but it was there in the background. David Bowie was the first contemporary music that my hippy parents had liked for at least 4 years when our lovely neighbour Lindsay turned them on to him.
When I was getting into this whole music thing under my own skin around the time of Labyrinth-era Bowie I remember asking my mum if he was really any good. I was dispatched to my room with a C90 of Ziggy Stardust on one side and Aladdin Sane on the other and told not to come out until I agreed; when I had done so, and not a moment before, I was allowed to listen to Hunky Dory with them.
That Christmas Ziggy Stardust: The Movie was on TV and my mum explained to me that Bowie was smart, he’d seen what happened to people who got too famous and had predicted and acted it in the guise of Ziggy to sidestep that fate for himself. Ahh, I thought, ‘what a clever clogs and I do like that ‘White Light/White Heat’ song’**.
It is a common theme with all the very best LPs ever made but there seems to be a quicksilver skein of pure serendipity running through the genesis of Ziggy Stardust. The concept, always a bit flaky-wakey, was boosted by the last-minute addition of ‘Starman’ and the recording of ‘Suffragette City’ and ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide’ – near enough the entire sound of the rocking glittery 70’s right there in the last session. All manner of lesser lights were jettisoned^.
Teaming Mr Jones with the delightfully heavy-handed Spiders From Mars was a real spurt of genius^*. The proletarian heft of Woody Woodmansey, Trevor Boulder and Mick Ronson gave fey Ziggy a real boost over the wall. Fair enough you could cajole them into all the make-up and sci-fi silver capes you wanted but as a group they would always be more redolent of fish ‘n’ chips than fission ships.
The end result of the LP was astonishing, a fabulous glam racket, with enough artsy oddness, emotion and endearing British amateurishness to make the whole thing both utterly unpredictable, stellar and unrepeatable. Jamming good with Weird and Gilly, indeed.
‘Five Years’ was the first Bowie song I ever properly sat down and listened to. It blew my mind, still does. That oddly beguiling, faltering drum pattern, the stark scenario … I can’t think of anything like it, to this day, so affecting yet so affected, so cinematic yet so personal, so poised and yet so emotional. I’m struggling already and I haven’t even made it through the first track yet folks.
I think I saw you in an ice-cream parlour, Drinking milk shakes cold and long Smiling and waving and looking so fine, Don't think you knew you were in this song
It’s all in the way he sings the verbs, trust me.
Dragging us into the silver jetpack future via the 1950’s hoop-la-la-la of ‘Moonage Daydream’ and ‘Soul Love’, immaculate tracks both sets us up for the real kicker, ‘Starman’. Nothing sounds like it, nothing can ever have the same impact. Familiarity breeds content I know, but listen to it, the odd off-key intro, the glorious orchestration, that amazing chorus, the boogieing children. Man.
Plus the Top of The Pops footage of him is just incredible, if I think of Bowie at all this is the image I associate most clearly with him^^.
Some folks decry the inclusion of Ziggy Stardust‘s sole cover ‘It Ain’t Easy’, I sneer at ’em. I genuinely only noticed it was a cover this week. I love the drama of it and it might actually be the oddest Ziggy-est corner of the LP.
I’ve always been a sucker for the slight melancholy of ‘Lady Stardust’ and its delightfully camp gender-bending of pronouns, nice piano from Ronson too on this one. Sequencing the full throttle ‘Star’ next is a great touch too, all the sex, guitars and backing vocals anyone could possibly want in a single song.
Then we’re up and running down the home straight ‘Ziggy Stardust’, ‘Suffragette City’ and ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide’. Words fail me a bit, as a trifecta it has rarely been bettered in rock/pop/space glam mariachi music. The narrative of the title track ties absolutely everything together, giving the concept the weight needed to secure its kimono. ‘Suffragette City’ is often my favourite Bowie rocker and I have misty eyed memories of leaping around to it in the Lizard Club in Leeds, the ‘wham bam thank you ma’am!‘ just sends me skywards every time I hear it.
Despite the title, ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide’ ends everything on a wonderfully upbeat note, the music swelling and growing ever more grandiose with every bar as the lyrics switch from an isolated individual to the multitude. The gentle sax swells are as perfect as the Beatles-y final chord.
As he toured Ziggy even after Aladdin Sane came out, not killing him off until 1973, the two identities merge for me, but whatever, this era of glam Bowie will always be Ziggy’s for me.
As an LP Ziggy Stardust was and still is a real life-changer, at the risk of nauseatingly smug circularity I will simply say that this music thing we all like, doesn’t get much better than this.
My copy of Ziggy Stardust is a 1990 reissue, assembled with 5 extra bonus tracks and a gatefold sleeve. It’s rather well done too, maybe a touch quiet but hey, that’s what VOLUME is for. The bonuses are mostly interesting ‘Sweet Head’, ‘Velvet Goldmine’, ‘John, I’m Only Dancing’ and a pair of demos. It’s not expensive still and I’d recommend it as an edition.
1047 Down (the Velvet Goldmine).
Dedicated to Lindsay Harrison, thank you for Bowie-ing the Storeys.
PS: I tried to finish this for Bowie’s birthday yesterday, but hey-ho, life gets in the way.
PPS: I know the D.A Pennebaker film isn’t called Ziggy Stardust: The Movie, but I couldn’t be bothered changing it.
PPPS: Wrong album, but performed here as Ziggy here’s my favourite Bowie live bit:
*henceforth Ziggy Stardust, in order to keep me out of a finger ward this weekend.
**along with ‘why is he doing that thing with his mouth to that chap’s guitar?’
^although may I say, in full Four Weddings And A Funeral mode, how lovely to see so many of them here today as bonus tracks*^.
*^Maybe I will deal with them at some later point, I have no wish to overstay my welcome.
^*I’ve simplified things, they were around for a while before with Bowie as the Hype but this is the LP where they really developed a presence.
^^now that 30 years of expensive therapy has helped me unsee the bulge in his Labyrinth leggings.
I always mention ‘Hereos’ (Fripp/Eno input) as my DB album but the truth be know i wore a couple copies of this out. Where I came on board. Time to cast my self back and catch the vibe. I was a closet (wardrobe) listener in my neighborhood. My buddies were very cruel on what was cool to listen to.
I love the idea of you glamming up and rocking out in your closet CB. Ziggy is cool period.
I had the Keith Emerson hair cut to top it off. I liked the work Ronson went on to do with Hunter.
I was listening to Low the other day actually and while it was coming to an end I thought I should give this a listen, but I didn’t. Completely forgot. Go figure. Anyhoo, great write-up, man. I do like this one… but I only have it on those silvery discs (though, thinking about it, it may have been among the many many silvery discs I moved on… I have some regret about that, but that’s a regret for another day). I’ll need to go check. I probably still have the rip at least. I think.
Thanks J – I listened to Low a couple of times the other day too, I can take or leave the first side but the second … wow.
Ziggy best heard on vinyl, definitely. It’s always around and well worth it. I just love it so much!
I don’t have it on vinyl (it was MP3… again from a silvery disc… well, technically AAC, but who’s got time for a digital squabble, right?), but the second half of that album is incredible.
Do people get het up about loss less formats, well apart from Neil Young and his Porno system made out of bits of old American cars, I think. I may have jumbled up some bits there.
As long as I get to listen to the music I’m not fussed, but definitely don’t tell Neil Young or he’ll be ramming the Porno in the ears and preaching about how it’s the future (before discarding the whole thing).
*also, I think it was made from bits of old trains.
Don’t you love the Glam Brickies? Trev and Woody always look s o o o uncomfortable in their androgynous garb. It’s impossible not to chuckle.
Well, JATS, your capacity to write entertainingly about classic albums continues to surprise and delight. Keep it up, Starman.
Now…
Ziggy
Low
Young
Hunky
Heroes
Station
Black
Aladdin
S/Titled
Scarey
Yup the glam brickies! I think that’s exactly what gives it a bit of edge too, there’s a certain air of ‘well you can dress me up like a (insert 70’s appropriate term for a camp chap, rightly no longer appropriate) but I’m going to play like a right bruiser!’.
Good list Bruce, I don’t know Scary or Blackstar well enough to evaluate them, but I do struggle with Station To Station – Mrs 1537’s favourite Bowie. You could lose weeks in that particular discussion, even Pinups has its moments.
And thank you so much – this took me days, the important ones always do.
S to S is an LP with great personal resonance for me (and perhaps for Mrs 1537 too?) though the songs that made my twenty-something heart… er, do something heart-related… W on/is a/the W… don’t do much for me at all these days. But as for the rest, still Wowie after all these years.
I’ve always liked this album but reading his post, I came to the conclusion that I finally need to add this to vinyl collection, much sooner than later. I’m not sure what’s taking me so long…
Pure brilliance. And that album is pretty damn good too. 😉
(bows)
Great stuff. Bowie with Brickie glam backing is the best.
I just want to be Trevor Bolder.
So you can be in Uriah Heep for 30 years?
Job for life, that. Not many of them left.
It’s called Easy Living
Great review on one of my favorite Bowie releases. You did that album proud!!
Thank you so much John, it took me an age to do.
Good one, full of alien and freaks. Maybe an alien will report again on the radio and promise the youth of the world speedy redemption?
It’s what I’m pinning my hopes on! Otherwise we’re back to planet earth is blue and there’s nothing I can do.
You’re not alone!
Great spin on such a classic album
Such an amazing album. I have a 1980 UK pressing which sounds amazing as well.
I figured you were posting this since tomorrow is 5 years since his passing..5 years!!!
It seems like yesterday..I took off work because I was so messed up that day.
We had just got a puppy right after that and I insisted we call him Bowie.
Thanks for reminding me of the date. I deem tomorrow Bowie Day in Boppinville.
So I managed to miss his birthday AND deathday too! I’m rubbish at this blogging thing!
I love the puppy name, does he reinvent his image every couple of years?
Is Ziggy your favourite? Hunky Dory just beats it for me.
Our dog often changes his image, sometimes on a daily basis. So far he has been Bowie, Bitey, Scratchy, Barky, Muddy and Dumb Ass. He hurt his knee a while back and I have also called him Hoppy and since he doesn’t walk as much he soon may be Porky.
You are the David Bowie of this blogging thing imo.
Ziggy is my fave. Ronson slayed me with the guitar work on this one at a pretty young age and there was no looking back.
Did your parents ever see the band live during this period?
My sister-in-law plays violin in our local orchestra and while I usually am not an orchestral music lover I had tears in my eyes the night they had a full rock band in.tow and performed this album front to back. Soooo good!!!
Barky Stardust works for me, definitely. Our dog has recently turned into a very dignified old lady.
Hunky, Ziggy, Aladdin, Young Americans, Low – is my list. Ronson was superb, especially with his arrangements which are every bit as great as his guitar – his work with Lou Reed and Ian Hunter both just do it for me too.
Never saw him, our neighbour Lindsay saw him a couple of times in 71-73, small venues back then too. I can’t imagine really.
I bet that was amazing Bop, especially an orchestral ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide’ -I’d imagine it was very moving too.
And thank you.