Album review: DAVID BOWIE – David Bowie
Deram [Release date 26.07.24]
The late David Bowie had a long, successful and influential career, and most will (or should) be familiar with the bulk of his catalogue. Finally finding his ‘sound’, a groove, at the turn of the 70s, his success came after a number of false starts in the 60s. A number of singles under his birth name of Davy Jones, and the bands The King Bees or The Manish Boys, he was dropped by Pye and signed to Decca subsidiary Deram, and that brings us to Bowie’s eponymous 1967 debut (not to be confused with the 1969 album of the same name).
It would not be right, or fair, to compare to the 70s work to come, this album was very much of its time. The album has had many good reviews, in it’s own standing, but has never faired well when compared to more successful Bowie albums.
The first disc opens with the pleasant and whimsical Uncle Arthur. Sell Me A Coat is a mid paced gentle psychedelic pop; a decent tune but, like much of the album, lacking in direction. Then a nod to The Beatles with Rubber Band. In stark comparison, the whimsical pop of Love You Till Tuesday, with some gentle orchestration.
The album has been described as Baroque Pop, and Music Hall Pop. In fairness, I’d agree, and a couple of tracks nod to theme tunes for TV shows for the younger generation (think The Flumps). Producer Mike Vernon did well to bring a band together, musicians including renowned folk / jazz guitarist John Renbourn, and Big Jim Sullivan appears on one track. There’s also the orchestra. A standout is the better known than most tracks here “The Laughing Gnome”.
Back then Bowie clearly had an ear for a good tune, but maturity and finesse in lyric writing and overall direction were still clearly works in progress. The sound quality and mastering as excellent here, and Vernon did a great job on the production at the time.
Despite the good reviews, the album failed to sell greatly at the time, but looking back it’s a good slab of 60s pop.
This well annotated album comes with a bonus disc, featuring an alternate version or too, and additional material recorded at the time. Fans will love this as, like much of the original album, it’s a combination of some lovely (if very much of the period) tunes and the potentially classic Bowie in the making.
A good package with lots of pictures of period rarities and the story in the booklet is well written.
Enjoy.
Review by Joe Geesin
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections