1966-1968 Deram Anthology [Best of]

 

 

Create your own review

Recorded in 1966, this strange album displays Bowie's seeds of genius. The dark subject matter is presented in a type of music hall feel that is unconventional even now, three decades later. The wide variety of themes are often set to noteworthy tunes, whilst the inclusion of an early version of Space Oddity and the charming song The Laughing Gnome make the album a must for Bowie completists.

Tracks like Maid Of Bond Street, London Boys and Join The Gang deal with Bowie's youth in swinging London, whilst She's Got My Medals examines gender roles. The ominous We Are Hungry Men depicts a totalitarian nightmare where population control is carried out by cannibalism, amongst other things. Then there's Please Mr Gravedigger, about infanticide, and Little Bombardier, about child abuse. Bowie also explores the innocence of childhood in songs like This Is A Happy Land, Uncle Arthur and Come And Buy My Toys. Let Me Sleep Beside You and When Live My Dream are songs of yearning, quiet moving and memorable.

In a way, Bowie returned to this style of song on 1973's futuristic cabaret Aladdin Sane, albeit with more contemporary instruments and arrangements. That was also the year in which the re-released Laughing Gnome made the top ten in the UK. The music is remarkable and unusual but could find no audience in the psychedelic late sixties when rock legends were made. Those Bowie fans that have assimilated all his transformations down the years might find this an interesting collection, but it often still sounds weird. How great that Bowie persevered to make some of the most compelling music of the 1970s and 1980s. The roots of his genius are certainly evident here.

Recorded in 1966, this strange album displays Bowie's seeds of genius. The dark subject matter is presented in a type of music hall feel that is unconventional even now, three decades later. The wide variety of themes are often set to noteworthy tunes, whilst the inclusion of an early version of Space Oddity and the charming song The Laughing Gnome make the album a must for Bowie completists.

Tracks like Maid Of Bond Street, London Boys and Join The Gang deal with Bowie's youth in swinging London, whilst She's Got My Medals examines gender roles. The ominous We Are Hungry Men depicts a totalitarian nightmare where population control is carried out by cannibalism, amongst other things. Then there's Please Mr Gravedigger, about infanticide, and Little Bombardier, about child abuse. Bowie also explores the innocence of childhood in songs like This Is A Happy Land, Uncle Arthur and Come And Buy My Toys. Let Me Sleep Beside You and When Live My Dream are songs of yearning, quiet moving and memorable.

In a way, Bowie returned to this style of song on 1973's futuristic cabaret Aladdinsane, albeit with more contemporary instruments and arrangements. That was also the year in which the re-released Laughing Gnome made the top ten in the UK. The music is remarkable and unusual but could find no audience in the psychedelic late sixties when rock legends were made. Those Bowie fans who have assimilated all his transformations down the years might find this an interesting collection, but it often still sounds weird. How great that Bowie persevered to make some of the most compelling music of the 1970s and 1980s. The roots of his genius are certainly evident here.

beautiful amazing unique album by the young david bowie before he became a star. i recomend this to any bowie fan / its an essential if you want to know more or see the young david bowie's artistic and original sound before he became popular. be prepared , it is alot diffrent than his 70s- today music but you have to be open minded about it, give it a chance. When i first heard it i was suprised but the album will grow on you and the more you listen to it the more appreciative of it you will be. The first song on the album is rubber band , it is very diffrent and has horns and sounds a bit theatrical but i like it and it is one of the good songs on the album, 2nd song is london boys-great song, tells story about boy leaving home and trying to fit in and find his place and his experiences, maybe based on bowies experience-the third song is the laughing gnome, its cute and has a gnome voice singing with bowie in the chorus and tells a story about how he befriends a gnome, fourth song - gospel according to tony day had a strong 60's sound / haunting /slow paced- another good song- fifth song is uncle arthur is a fun catchy song/has a unique sound to it. sixth song is buy me a coat- this song has beautiful lyrics and bowie sings it well. 7th song is a slightly diffrent version of rubberband. Love you till tuesday is the 8th song and is a playful side of bowie- its a nice song. There is a happy land is the 9th song and is pretty good tells a story about children and imagination and things. The 10th song we are hungry men is upbeat then goes into a powerful chorus - talking about a messiah and its a good song with a message, the 11th song is when i live my dream and talks about his dream and is pretty good, 12th song little bombarder- not one of my favorites, 13th song is silly boy blue, ok song - not one of my favorites, 14rth song is come and buy my toys- has lots of imagination to it and is a good song, 15th song is join the gang- so so song, 16 is she got medals which is pretty good-17th song is maid of bond street- charming song/another good song- 18th song ( if you can call it a song ) its more of bowie doing a dialogue storytelling and walking during a rainstorm and telling the story of a gravedigger- 19th song is another version of love you till tuesday- 20th song is did you ever have a dream - i dont like this one- 21st song is karma man and is ok, 22nd song is let me sleep beside you (not to good), the next 4 songs are so so and the last song the 27th song on the ALBUM is one of the real HIGHLIGHTS- its a very early and maybe first recording of Space Oddity which gives me chills when i hear it. It is brilliant and the old sound to it makes it even better and just the sheer brilliance of his ideas so early in his career and his ability to write these great songs are amazing. Overall this album is worth every penny and should be in any bowie fans collection. Highly Recomended.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 5 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Side of Bowie
Bowie has always been characterized as a chameleon so no one should be surprised that this phase of Bowie's career doesn't sound like Ziggy, the Thin White Duke or any of the... Read more

Published on Dec 15 2003 by Sparkie1111

4.0 out of 5 stars Looking for that hard-to-find early Bowie stuff?
In the seventies, David Bowie became one of the most populat musicians in the world. His style fused a number of musical genres (classic rock, alternative rock, pop, etc. Read more

Published on Oct 22 2003 by Taylor X

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 5 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!