Trying to learn about David Bowie...

[blue_lotus13]

For years, I never paid any attention to David Bowie because my uncle was married to a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to Bowie. She looked A LOT like him. I wasn't the only person who thought this. I remember pointing it out to family members, and they agreed with me.

However, they are long divorced and I am feeling confident enough to learn more about Bowie. The Edmonton Public Library has an amazing collection of films and music, so I can get pretty much anything.

Where should I start?

Comments

[kazoogrrl.livejournal.com]

I particularly love "Low", and I like pairing it with Eno's "Here Come the Warm Jets". Mostly I love "Velvet Goldmine" (movie and soundtrack) for being what I wanted Bowie to be.

[blue-lotus.livejournal.com]

He's in The Hunger? I think that's in my Zip (Canadian netflix) queue.

I have seen Labyrinth, and Velvet Goldmine years and years ago. I will watch that again.

[amy-pi.livejournal.com]

I hated "The Man Who Fell to Earth" too. I couldn't even finish it.

[alexeye.livejournal.com]

conversely, i love it. but it's totally weird.

[willietheshakes.livejournal.com]

Rare among artists I like, I would actually recommend starting with a comprehensive Hits collection from Bowie. It'll give you a good overview, and make sure you hit the more popular points. After that, you can narrow it down to what speaks most to you -- my favourite period is the dark, mid-to-late-70s Berlin stuff (Low, Lodger, Heroes), but depending on my mood I like the pre-glam stuff (Hunky Dory, Space Oddity), the glam stuff (Ziggy should be in every collection, and I think Aladdin Sane is a better album...). I'm not fond of the 80s and Tin Machine stuff, but you might be...

[alexeye.livejournal.com]

i would agree, and would also be willing to send you copies of his 2-disk singles collection, which is still my favorite thing to listen to, even though i have a bunch of albums.

i also may be the rare person on this list who also enjoys some of his later albums. later as in, last 10 years or so.

movies? i lurve him as warhol in basquiat, but i just think he's a really interesting actor, across the board.

[blue-lotus.livejournal.com]

Would you send me the two disk singles? That would be great. Should I email you my Edmonton address?

[alexeye.livejournal.com]

sure! email me your address to bollygrlATyahooDOTcom.

[jessypie.livejournal.com]

I am far from an expert & only know a handful of his records, but Ziggy Stardust is one of my favorite records ever - even if you end up liking other Bowie records more in the end, I really don't think you can go wrong starting there.

[dangerdean.livejournal.com]

I'll add to the chorus of Ziggy Stardust recs, but don't agree that Aladdin Sane is a better album, it just has a cooler cover.
He was also a bad guy in Into the Night.

[lueread.livejournal.com]

I'm going to risk making a certain person's ego grow two sizes too big, and suggest you follow Willie the Shakes's advice. Bowie's musical scope varies quite a bit and you might prefer one sound of his over another.

As for movies, see "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence."

[willietheshakes.livejournal.com]

Oh, my head! The swelling! It hurrrrrrrrrts...

[wasabi-poptart.livejournal.com]

Start with The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust.

From there, Hunky Dory.

[(Anonymous)]

I don't know if it's a good place to start but my favorite Bowie album is a lost little number he put out in the late 90's called Outside -- a concept album that was supposed to be a trilogy which sadly never happened -- Outside didn't make much splash with the general public which is fine by me. Hello Spaceboy, from said album, always makes me dance.

From the LJer formerly known as Illtonic.