David Bowie - The First Five Decades

[winston]

David Jones....(not Davy Jones mind you) has been called a few names in his lifetime. They range from David Bowie to "Ziggy Stardust", (his glam rock period) and "The Thin White Duke".

David Bowie has had his moments in the spotlight and some of them have shone as brilliant as the sun. He is without a doubt one of the most instantly recognizable voices in the business. His bands are always packed with exceptional levels of talent and he has attracted some of the world’s best musicians and artists to appear on record with him. He has covered a very broad spectrum of taste and styles, such as his duet with Bing Crosby, and his recording work with the unparalleled Stevie Ray Vaughan. SRV of course played on his Lets Dance album, together they produced not one but three giant hit singles, China Girl, Modern Love and of course Lets Dance.

He is one of the few artists that have successfully navigated the 60's into and through the 70's and on to the 80's and 90's. As the millennium approached he charted a course that once again put him on top. By February 8, 2006, he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Apart from loving his music and perhaps to a fault, for I see no wrong in his various diversions through the genres that he has assailed and claimed as his own, to me David is a study of what a performer should perhaps do to stay on top of his game. Unfortunately his apparent unlimited stamina did finally fail him and in 2004 he has was forced to recover from an angioplasty procedure for a blocked major artery.

That has only slowed him down a bit and today the 61 year old performer is still on top of his game. In 2003, a report in the Sunday Express named Bowie as the second-richest entertainer in the UK (behind Sir Paul McCartney), with an estimated fortune of £510 million.

Notice that I did not speak to his talent as a musician, as a songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger, and audio engineer. Yes, David is all these things and he excels at them all.

Some of the world's leading behavioral experts point their students towards learning from the winners in their chosen field. If a musician, an actor. a producer a singer or an audio engineer were to model their success and were to emulate the "take no prisoners" approach of David Bowie I believe that they would likely succeed. Especially if they drive themselves hard to the finish line like he has consistently done.

What are your thoughts on this artist? What makes him tick?

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

I may have to return...I want to say so much about this guy, but don't have the time. For now, suffice it to say that I feel he is an absolute giant (despite his actual size) and my admiration and respect for him is off the charts. I used to cover a lot of his songs as a solo artist, which really surprised people. He's also a hell of a good actor.

There's a pic somewhere of him holding a Rickenbacker...I will search...

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

I can't find the pic I was talking about, so let's settle for a 4001 behind him.

[winston]

Thanks Mark,

I am looking forward to reading more comments from you when you get more time. There's not too many Bowie fans here it would seem?

[captsandwich]

In the early 80's, I was convinced he had 'sold out' with the Let's Dance / Modern Love thing. But then he got back to making some really good ground breaking music. He has a knack for finding interesting musicians to work with.

[scotty]

Hi guys im going to keep this kinda short.Right firstly i really like bowie for many things but the one that amazes me is his chameleon like facade.This Feature in his life could have been his success.Being able to constantly change to adapt to life and music has coursed him through many a successful record career.In many other titles in his life D B has shined and has the midas touch whatever he touched.Actor, singer producer talented songwriter as Brian has commented on, also the swine married a Super model.Key moments for me are D B on the dick cavett show Young American im sure everyones seen this but swich on and enjoy again oh also Ive fallen in love with the first verse songwriting at its zenith.Finally loving this transitional appearance by D B

They pulled in just behind the fridge
He laid her down - he frowns
"Gee my life's a funny thing
Am I still too young"
He kissed then and there
She took his ring, took his babies
It took him minutes, took her nowhere
Heaven knows she'd've taken anything

[bitzerguy]

Excellent article on David Bowie, Brian. I am a HUGE fan, and have been since I first heard him in early high school (1972). He is one of three artists/bands that I have a complete audio collection on. His ability to balance commercial releases with truly innovative stylings has always amazed me. Yet even when tilting at commercial, even pop releases, he is able to maintain his identity. You know it is David Bowie.

My all time favorite recordings have to be the early years with Mick Ronson on guitar. While all his productions are true audio magic, this period was rockgasmic. True ear pleasure. His work with SRV, Freddie Mercury, and Bing Crosby are also standouts to me, among a super stellar repertoire that few artists could ever hope to achieve.

His attention to every detail, at every show or endeavour are nothing short of amazing. Here in Montreal, the Olympic Stadium is notorious for the worst sound at concerts. Nothing sounds remotely good in this place. Until the Glass Spider tour showed up, the best sound generaly acclaimed for the venue was Pink Floyd Animals. I was there, it wasn't noteworthy in the least. Then Glass Spider rolled into town. I wish I knew the story behind it, but Bowie's sound was spectacular. Where no other band could go, he insisted and it got done. It seems every live show of his I have seen has been recording quality sound. Even his live albums had great tone and sound.

Fantastic artist, performer, engineer, producer, actor. Wow.

[winston]

Dean,

Your story about his behind the scenes attention to getting a great sound is just a further example of his "take no prisoners" approach to producing great music at any cost. He is a consumate perfectionist. Every move every appearance is carefully thought through and I am reasonably sure practised and choreographed. No one can be that consistent without working very hard at their craft.

I'll say it again because it is worth repeating, (even if some of you are not a fan of his music) his overall approach to success in the music business is a model case study and one that is worth taking a fraction of your time to delve into.

[alanz]

Truly a creative genius and as far as I'm concerned a very intellectually and financially astute man as well. A rare combination in a business where most of the participants are talentless idiots and is why he is such a stand-out.

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

In the early 80's, I was convinced he had 'sold out' with the Let's Dance / Modern Love thing. But then he got back to making some really good ground breaking music. He has a knack for finding interesting musicians to work with.

Hope you don't still feel that way about "Let's Dance"...I understand the feeling. Thing is, nothing else sounds like this album. So although it was a huge smash with mass appeal, it was also yet another brave foray into uncharted waters.

To sell out would mean compromising your artistic integrity for the sake of making a buck...man, I just don't see that with this album. He certainly did make a buck on this one...but I don't think it was seen as a shoe-in at first. He'd been out of the game for a few years. Some very bizarre choices that all happened to work. Recorded ultra fast...used Nile Rodgers, which raised a lot of eyebrows...utilized a little known dude called Stevie Ray Vaughn for the lead guitar (very weird in retrospect)...

Bowie lived the legacy left by The Beatles: Keep Changing. Nowadays this sort of behavior is shunned by the industry...it wants to know exactly who and what each act is, no surprises. After all, how can you market an act that keeps eluding its fan base?

Makes me very sad sometimes... However, the age of the internet and of digital recording also opens up new vistas for the independent artist. All any serious recording artist really needs now to make a living is some internet savvy and 10,000 fans. That gives me hope.

[ric330]

Great piece Brian,
Really sums up his talent in few words.
Really enjoyed the follow ups and that clip was great Scotty.

This song is brilliant has always been a favorite of mine.
Great song and a story to tell......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnLv1kh_cuc

And then this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muMcWMKP ... re=related

So many great tunes and arrangements.

And David the Actor...check out this trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT_xpFZe ... re=related

[shamustwin]

I totally dressed in the "Ziggy" style.

But enough about last night....

[kenposurf]

All Bowie's incarnations rock...though I'm partial to the Thin White Duke/Serious Moonlight. I remember the 9/11 benifit show for the NY firefights ...he came out alone w/some sort of tiny piano and knelt down and did "Heroes" as a solo...monster version...

[tamborineman]

Love Bowie, let's keep this going! I almost missed it.

[winston]

No Worries Hank,

We are talking about an artist who has beaten the odds and has made solid contributions to music in every decade since he first appeared on the scene. There is a whole plethora of anecdotes, stories and information at our fingertips that can be dredged up and brought to light.