From: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org (loud-fans-digest) To: loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Subject: loud-fans-digest V4 #257 Reply-To: loud-fans@smoe.org Sender: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk loud-fans-digest Sunday, September 19 2004 Volume 04 : Number 257 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [loud-fans] Baby Bowie ["Bradley Skaught" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 18 Sep 2004 09:45:11 -0700 From: "Bradley Skaught" Subject: [loud-fans] Baby Bowie > It's part of his career, first of all (going back to, what, > '66 > or '65...Bradley is I think our resident Bowie expert), '64! > but more > importantly *some* of that stuff is really good. I'm > thinking of "Can't > Stop Thinking About Me" in particular and a few other > tracks on that > Decca compilation. Even further back than that you can find some great stuff. Rhino put out a fantastic collection of the '64-'66 material (Lower Third, The Buzz, etc.) There's a version of blues standard "I Pity The Fool" that has the most mind blowing vocal performance--one of the finest in a career of great vocal performances! And his attempts to be a mod are pretty great, too--"You've Got A Habit Of Leaving" and "Baby Loves The Way" are some of the finest in the genre. It's fun to hear him trying on different styles (the collection features some revealing demos, one of which has him layering vocal harmonies in a Beach Boys style!) > The more > distinctive '60s stuff is not as good as his peak stuff, no >- but > intriguing, quirky, well-written, and to me at least (who, > granted, is a > bit of a '60s freak) stands up in non-time capsule ways. Yeah, the Decca stuff is full of great moments. And the seeds of lyrical brilliance are in evidence. He's basically too ambitious and smart for his own good, but it's easy to see how on track he is towards the the towering accomplishments of the later, classic-era work. > This is probably when Bradley makes his pitch for > Bowie as one of *the* > preeminent songwriters and performers of the rock era > - a position about > which, the more I think about, the more I'm inclined to > agree. Yeah, Hunky Dory is the first album with what I consider fully realized accomplishments. I heard "Changes" on the radio the other day and I always have to stop and listen when that song comes on. Great arrangement, stunning melody and the way those lyrics unfold is just breathtaking. > (NB: if > certain other "immortals" can get away with scads of > truly lame material > - yes, Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. V. Morrison, and Mr. > Wilson, I'm looking at > you - then so can the former Mr. Jones in the early > '80s...and w/the > exception of parts of _Tonight_ (but other parts are > great) and _Never > Let Me Down_, there's almost always been good stuff > even amongst the > dross.) There's almost always a brilliant lyric somewhere. And there's some great lost material in there as well. When I heard they were reissuing the Sound & Vision box I tried to get ahold of someone involved to recommend some great lost tracks for the 80's/90's era, but I failed (and so did they, unfortunately.) I'll just have to do it myself at some point! luv, B God bless Barry Bonds! - --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.752 / Virus Database: 503 - Release Date: 9/3/2004 ------------------------------ End of loud-fans-digest V4 #257 *******************************