Sierra,

Ever hear of Cybernauts? They're not active right now, but it's a Bowie tribute band with 2 guys from Def Leppard (singer, lead guitar) and original Spiders from Mars members.

I have their CD and love it.

http://www.defleppard.com/cybernauts/home.html

this 2 disc CD is a good start... amazon no longer carries it but there is a track list and cover image here and apparently some used copies... also a Wiki link on that CD...

'The Singles 1969 to 1993'... GREAT way to start... the US release...

Link...
Wiki Link...

Guys, regarding Ziggy Stardust.....should I get

"Ziggy Stardust [HYBRID SACD] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [ENHANCED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]"


......*or*....


"The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [ENHANCED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]"

neither.

either search for the rykodisc version on half.com or ebay, or purchase this 2-disc set:

http://www.amazon.com/Ziggy-Stardust...3869923&sr=1-3

Bowie is my all-time favorite musical artist. I've seen him five times live and own all of his albums (including his pre-Space Oddity self-titled album and the soundtrack to Labyrinth) several times over, including vinyl, several CD issues, DVD-Audio, and SACD versions. I own the Rykodisc and EMI Sound + Vision box sets. I bought The Linguini Incident on laserdisc just because Bowie was in it. You get the idea.

Anyway, my suggestion is to start with Hunky Dory, then get each successive album through Let's Dance (Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans, Station to Station, Low, "Heroes", Lodger, Scary Monsters are the ones in between) after you have thoroughly digested the album you're currently on.

The other thing I can recommend is getting the EMI "Best of 1969-1974" disc. It focuses on a narrow enough time period that it can get in the big hits (Space Oddity, Rebel Rebel, Ziggy Stardust) with the bigger fan favorite album tracks (Life On Mars?, The Jean Genie, Oh! You Pretty Things) and some excellent rarities (original demo of All The Young Dudes which makes the Mott The Hoople version look like a cheap cash-in, the saxophone version of John, I'm Only Dancing that is superior to the single version, and the single version of The Prettiest Star with T. Rex's Marc Bolan on guitar). This is the first Bowie CD I got, and you can see what it did for me. There's not a single bad track on it, and if you like what you hear, than you can get into the full albums with some idea where you're going, and it will allow you to flow into the post-glam albums easily.

Anyway, that's my two cents worth of advice. Bowie really is one of the landmark artists of the 20th century, and the more of his music you discover, the more sides of him you see. I hope you enjoy.

The answer is yes, without a doubt. There is no reason you should not be into Bowie.

I started with the Best Of Bowie single disc edition. I mainly got that for "Heroes" and Changes and the other hits like those. I only scratched the surface at that point. I'm glad I dug deeper. Bowie will open doors for you my friend.

My first full album was Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) and the second was Low. At that point I had to have all of them, well at least everything up until the 80s.

I have everything legitimately released from 1969 to 1980; in my opinion, that's all you really need from Bowie.

Just about everything Bowie did during that 11 year period is great, with the exception of Young Americans and Diamond Dogs. Of course Diamond Dogs is redeemed by having the great Rebel Rebel. There's not much redeeming Young Americans.

I suggest you start with Hunky Dory and go up until Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps). Hunky Dory is where Bowie really found a sound.

If you get super into Bowie, I suggest getting the early 90s Rykodisc versions of the albums. The new remasters scrap the bonus tracks. Of course, you could do like me and buy the new remasters and hunt down and purchase all the Rykodisc versions as you find them. If nothing else you at least have to have the Ryko versions of Ziggy Stardust and Scary Monsters... for the amazing bonus tracks on those albums. Crystal Japan and Sweet Head are absolute must-haves.

So, yes, get into Bowie...

Happy hunting!

I'm listening to Bowie now.

Don't completely disregard his recent stuff. Heathen is one of his best albums, IMO.

I suppose it's a sign of getting old, but frankly I'm amazed that someone astute enough to find their way to a music forum isn't familiar with Bowie's work. One of the four or five quintessential artists in rock history, again, IMO.

I agree. Great album.

Diamond Dogs would be in my top 5. (though it's tough to narrow it down to five...his discography is nothing short of brilliant)

Aladdin Sane
Station to Station
Low
Diamond Dogs
Young Americans

While I would personally skip the 80s Bowie, I think you do a great disservice to yourself if you don't get albums like Black Tie White Noise, Heathen, and Reality (and if you are into drum & bass, 1st Outside and Earthling).

In fact, Reality is quite possibly my favourite Bowie album at the moment.

I couldn't agree more. All of those basically rank as my favorites, but Lodger, while having some good stuff on it, just seems like lesser material. I have tried to get into it and just haven't ever fully warmed to it.

Personally, i think Lodger is the best of the Berlin albums. Aside from the amazing singles trilogy of DJ, Boys Keep Swinging, and Look Back In Anger (all with groundbreaking videos), the other songs have these amazing textures and are pretty compositionally complex.

see, i won't argue what's pretty much accepted: LOW is amazing.

i enjoy Lodger a ton, because it's so damn wacky. repetition, red money, DJ, it's like bowie is on the biggest trip of his life. it's totally loose, ridiculous, and fun. BUT, out of the "trilogy", the album is less cohesive or overall interesting.

for some reason, i can't enjoy the instrumentals on Heroes that much, so it's my least fav of the three.

while i'm at it, my fav order (and recommended purchase order) of bowie's albums:

Hunky Dory
Scar Monsters (And Super Creeps)
Ziggy Stardust
Low
Aladdin Sane
Lodger
Heathen
The Man Who Sold The World
Station To Station
Young Americans
"Heroes"
Stage
Reality
Outside
Earthling
Hours

Maybe I'm alone in my love for Lodger, but I really think it's the perfect synthesis of Bowie's most avant garde experiments and his penchant for writing a memorable tune. Although my all time favorite Bowie album always was and will be Station To Station. The title track is my favorite Bowie song, and every song on there is amazing. Throw in his cover of "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City" cut at the same time and you have an unbeatable set.