Comprised of cuts recorded for the BBC between the years of 1967 and 1972, this collection covers everything from Bowie's early and lesser-known orchestrated songs like “Karma Man” and “Silly Boy Blue” to the certified hits of “Ziggy Stardust” and “Changes”. Any fan interested in hearing a year by year (live studio recorded) progression of Bowie's early sound won't want to miss out on this release. The first few tracks on disc one hint at the shape-shifting, gender-bending rock god and later “Thin White Duke” David would become. Bowie's distinctive voice registers along with the fantastical lyrics and tight backing bands that vary greatly from session to session .
The recordings are so very civil and English what with all the casual David Peel introductions proceeding a number of the strongest jams that you soon might find yourself fancying a spot of tea and a tin of biscuits topped with marmalade. “The Width Of A Circle” cuts through the sitting room coziness, however, and allows the band to navigate around a thumping guitar groove and touch on a few basic rhythms Bowie would recycle to great effect on numerous ensuing hits. Not expected to have the polish of a fully-fleshed album, these cuts more display the musicianship of the players and their respective abilities to work with a singular artist in front of an appreciative studio audience.
It's amazing to me how attracted Bowie was to the long-winded and strangely worded ballad. “Cyget Committee” clocks in at just over eight minutes of raucous acoustic strumming and heartfelt vocal projection. “Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed” has a more electric gravitas but still pales in comparison behind the gutsy “It Ain't Easy” that pumps along with explosive bass and drum interludes only slightly maligned by a backing vocalist taking lead duties despite Bowie's front man status. It wasn't until Bowie teamed up with guitarist Mick Ronson that his sound really took hold and the familiar ballads were further juiced with more potent licks and slickly executed six-string embellishments.
The second disc exemplifies this noticeable collaboration immediately with “Hang On To Yourself”, “Five Years” and Lou Reed's Velvet Underground gem “I'm Waiting For The Man” that Bowie restrains himself on beautifully, allowing the simple groove and lyrical impact to carry the weight of the tune until he digs in big around the second verse and again at the guitar-heavy coda. As if there were any doubt, Bowie further affirms his love of VU's dirty ditties by covering the propulsive “White Light/White Heat”, unafraid to add his own mid-song words: White light make me sound like Lou Reed/White heat gonna fill my every need. Is it any wonder Bowie and Mick Ronson produced Reed's classic “Transformer” the same year these gems first hit the airwaves in '72?
The sessions and top-notch tunes keep coming with remarkably played favorites like “Hang On To Yourself”, the always dramatic “Space Oddity”, “Rock 'n' Roll Suicide” and “Suffragette City”. Nicky Graham tickles the ivories on a faster paced take of “Oh! You Pretty Things” as Bowie concentrates on the quickened tempo with his signature harmonious yowls.
Although the music on this compilation was first heard over thirty years ago by a radio audience eager to soak up the vibrant English rock sound, Bowie pushed the audio envelope from the start with ambitious arrangements, exotic instrumentation, literally cosmic subject matter and enough iconic imagery to make his ever-evolving persona a constant source of interest. Among his contemporaries (drop your tiara, Sir Elton, and hang up your leather pants, Lou), only Paul McCartney can really boast a continuously challenging catalog of work that still sounds fresh after three decades of play. Let's face it, David Bowie still looks good today and even his newest stuff is miles above the majority of what passes as formidable rock 'n' roll. “Bowie At The Beep” gives immediate access to his formative work and further proves with historical context that this guy had some serious chops to begin with. Elvis may have been the king not too long ago, but David still continues to rule. |