Space Oddity [Enhanced]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This 1969 release features David Bowie's first hit single, "Space Oddity," and sets the tone for the spacey Ziggy Stardust to come. But other than the title track, Space Oddity isn't a glam-rock album. For that phase, one must move ahead to 1970's The Man Who Sold the World. These folk-based tracks largely present Bowie as a surrealist singer-songwriter. The uncharacteristically bitter and sarcastic "Letter to Hermione" is the most impassioned track here, presenting, as it does, the angry side of this master of cool. While still earlier recordings are noted for their Anthony Newley affectations, Space Oddity is where the Bowie myth begins to take shape. --Rob O'Connor --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Space Oddity
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • wonderful melodic pop circa 1969 london
  • Joan's Review of Space Oddity
  • The Sun Machine is coming down, and we're gonna have a party.
  • The Sun Machine is coming down...
  • Great but not phenomanal
 Space Oddity
David Bowie
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. The Man Who Sold the World
  2. Hunky Dory
  3. The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust
  4. Aladdin Sane
  5. Heroes

ASIN: B00001OH7M
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Tracks:

  1. Space Oddity
  2. Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed
  3. (Don't Sit Down)
  4. Letter To Hermione
  5. Cygnet Committee
  6. Janine
  7. An Occasional Dream
  8. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud
  9. God Knows I'm Good
  10. Memory Of A Free Festival

Amazon.com

This 1969 release features David Bowie's first hit single, "Space Oddity," and sets the tone for the spacey Ziggy Stardust to come. But other than the title track, Space Oddity isn't a glam-rock album. For that phase, one must move ahead to 1970's The Man Who Sold the World. These folk-based tracks largely present Bowie as a surrealist singer-songwriter. The uncharacteristically bitter and sarcastic "Letter to Hermione" is the most impassioned track here, presenting, as it does, the angry side of this master of cool. While still earlier recordings are noted for their Anthony Newley affectations, Space Oddity is where the Bowie myth begins to take shape. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars wonderful melodic pop circa 1969 london.......2007-02-28

great melodies & pop hooks throughout & sprinkled generously with twelve string acoustic. kind of an atmospheric feel to it like the moody blues pre 1970 . if only david could have borrowed justin hayward from the moodies in that summer of 69..... oh well :(....david jones actually could sing decently when he wanted to & this release proves that. I guess after this release he never again felt the need to try & sing decently. still amazing to me that someone all of 22 years old could produce such wonderful product

5 out of 5 stars Joan's Review of Space Oddity.......2007-02-08

This is one of David's favorite works of mine. Every song has words that make you think about life and God and what we should and should not be like. The music is inspiring and lifts you up. The songs start out calm and then lift you up.

3 out of 5 stars The Sun Machine is coming down, and we're gonna have a party........2007-01-29

This is David Bowie's first "rock" album, and his second album overall. That first album cast him as a Bob Dylan wannabe, and the less said about it, the better. Recorded several years before the title track became a hit in the U.S., Space Oddity marks the emergence of a different beast, a slippery rock & roll chameleon. Aside from the alien resonance of "Space Oddity", the album flounders amid indistinct writing and playing. The album does have it's moments, especially on "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed", "Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud" and "Memory of a Free Festival"; but Bowie is still trying too hard to emulate Dylan, rather then developing his own style. A decent album, but better things came later from Bowie.

3 out of 5 stars The Sun Machine is coming down..........2006-10-01

Mr. Bowie's sophomore effort is a lot better than most people give credit. Although there are a couple of lame songs (mostly the soft acoustic stuff), a glimpse of greatness can be seen and in some slight cases, that greatness is realized. "Space Oddity" the song has been called out-of-place and may have been better served as a non-lp single, but the song is so great that as an album opener it's a no-brainer. His first real classic, this tale of a lost spaceman may seem to foreshadow Ziggy, but I don't believe that is accurate due to the latter being sci-fi in nature as opposed to the science fact (by 1969 anyway) of "Oddity". Other favorites include "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed", a great acoustic tinged rocker (phallus in pigtails??); "Cygnet Committee", a long number that doesn't really seem that way as the anger in David's voice continues to build to a crescendo; "Janine" a catchy rocker with a great singalong chorus; and last but not least "Memory of a Free Festival" (did Oasis know this song before they did "Champagne Supernova", they are very similar). "Wild-Eyed Boy" I think is slightly overrated being not as memorable as some of the aforementioned tunes, but maybe that's me. I don't get the glam rock references in the other reviews, this has NO GLAM ROCK!(at least in how I would define the term.) As stylistically different from his debut as it would be from succeeding records, 'Space Oddity' is a decided step away from his greatest albums(the next one being his first true masterwork), but it is still an essential piece of work and definitely his first truly serious record.

4 out of 5 stars Great but not phenomanal.......2006-08-11

David Bowies album named for the song Space oddity is one of his greatest. Two songs people stand out in particular. Cygnent Comittie and God knows I'm good. CC is a great song about the down fall of the hippies. The lines like I gave them life I gave them all they draind my very soul dry showshow hippies have no charesmatic leader. God knows I'm Good is a song about theaving from a story. THe other songs are not worth mentioning >>
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Space Oddity
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Space Oddity
    David Bowie
    Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    British FolkBritish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
    Singer-SongwritersSinger-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music
    Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
    Folk RockFolk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
    Progressive RockProgressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
    Psychedelic RockPsychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
    Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. The Man Who Sold the World
    2. Hunky Dory
    3. Aladdin Sane
    4. Pin Ups
    5. Ziggy Stardust

    ASIN: B000KCHWBS
    Release Date: 2007-01-16

    Tracks:

    1. Space Oddity
    2. Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed
    3. (Don't Sit Down)
    4. Letter To Hermione
    5. Cygnet Committee
    6. Janine
    7. An Occasional Dream
    8. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud
    9. God Knows I'm Good
    10. Memory Of A Free Festival

    Album Description

    Manufactured in Japan. CD sits within an exact replica of the original vinyl packaging including the inside sleeve. Packaging includes the Japanese spine sleeve.
    String Quartet Tribute to David Bowie
    Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    • Just say NO THANKS!
    • BOWIE MEETS MOZART??
    		 String Quartet Tribute to David Bowie
    Various Artists
    Manufacturer: Vitamin Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music
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    ASIN: B000069ROJ
    Release Date: 2002-08-13

    Tracks:

    1. Ashes To Ashes
    2. Changes
    3. Space Oddity
    4. The Man Who Sold The World
    5. Ziggy Stardust
    6. Golden Years
    7. Let's Dance
    8. Heroes
    9. Fame
    10. Falling Through Space

    Customer Reviews:

    1 out of 5 stars Just say NO THANKS!.......2003-05-27

    Being an avid Bowie fan and an equally avid classical music fan, how could I resist this cd ? I was extremely disappointed in the sound quality and the musicianship.. it sounded as if the musicians had no style of their own, they were mechanical... The only good thing about this cd is it makes a nice coffee table coaster.

    5 out of 5 stars BOWIE MEETS MOZART??.......2002-11-13

    O.K., so I know these quartet tributes are not everybody's idea of a great "tribute", but I love these things. I have several, and this one stands up with the better ones. Obviously, it makes little or no sense to have CD's dedicated to some of these artists( I mean, Matchbox 20?.........Oh well) The Bowie stands up with the Tommy and the Floyd discs as something I could see myself going out to see. I've always taken some of this music very seriously, and it feels good to hear it presented in this format. Not for everybody, but then what really is?
    Rick Wakeman - Criminal Record
    Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    • Conjugal release
    		 Rick Wakeman - Criminal Record

    Manufacturer: Hip-O Select
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Progressive RockProgressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B000BQL85Y

    Product Description

    Rick Wakeman first came to the publics eye performing with David Bowie on the Space Oddity album in 1969; he subsequently joined the British prog-folk band Strawbs the following year. He stayed with that band for two albums (Just A Collection Of Antiques And Curios and From The Witchwood), and was recruited by the more rock-oriented band Yes. Wakemans debut with that band, Fragile, is generally considered to be one of the great prog-rock albums of all time. By his own estimation, he has appeared on over 2000 tracks by artists as diverse as Black Sabbath, Elton John and Lou Reed. The six tracks on Rick Wakemans 1977 album, Criminal Record, share a common theme: transgression. From the comparatively obscure (Birdman Of Alcatraz) to the infamous (Judas Iscariot), Wakeman employs his keyboard wizardry to devastating effect. As with earlier solo works such as The Six Wives Of Henry VIII and King Arthur, Wakeman uses a central theme as a springboard to give flight to his musical fantasia. Packaged in original LP artwork reconfigured to an oversized heavy board minijacket wrapped with an iridescent stock, includes a translucent sleeve to protect the CD, Criminal Record also comes with a four-colour 9-inch by 9-inch mini-poster. It is a numbered limited edition, with each copy individually foil-stamped.

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars Conjugal release.......2006-04-07

    Statue of Justice/Crime of Passion/Chamber of Horrors/Birdman of Alcatraz/The Breathalyser/Judas Iscariot
    Originally released fall 1977 on A&M (I have the LP). Only a thousand or two of this CD have been pressed. Apart from some spoken word and a large Swiss choir chanting on "Judas Iscariot", this is another instrumental release. This was recorded in Switzerland, where Rick was living as a tax dodge at the time. "White Rock" had been released earlier that year. There was no solo album in 1978. Rick was also back in Yes (second of five times!; Chris Squire and Alan White cameo here). A woman found at a local pub was brought in to scream at the end of "Chamber of Horrors".
    Space Oddity
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Augmented Oddity
    		 Space Oddity
    David Bowie
    Manufacturer: Ryko
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
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    1. Heroes

    ASIN: B000LXKLHI

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Augmented Oddity.......2007-07-07

    Although not as consistently great as THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD, SPACE ODDITY is still one of David Bowie's best efforts. The RYKODISC version includes three bonus tracks plus a snippet that was excised from the 1972 album. "Don't Sit Down"'s reinclusion really adds nothing to this set. The other tracks however, "Conversation Piece," and both sides of a 1970 single are quite excellent.

    I recently listened to this album again, after almost 30 years. The song "Cygnet Committee" still gives me goosebumps when it reaches its Bolero-like crescendo and Bowie practically screams "I want to live" over and over. The title track will never get tiring for me, nor will "An Occasional Dream" or "Memory of a Free Festival." This one is definitely worth owning, and for Bowie fans, essential.

    (Points off for an unreadable lyric sheet-- although I did like the photos on it.)

    PROGRAM LIST
    (5:14) Space Oddity
    (6:10) Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed
    (0:39) Don't Sit Down
    (2:30) Letter To Hermione
    (9:30) Cygnet Committee
    (3:19) Janine
    (2:56) An Occasional Dream
    (4:47) Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud
    (3:16) God Knows I'm Good
    (7:07) Memory of a Free Festival

    BONUS TRACKS:
    (3:05) Conversation Piece (1970 'B' side of "Prettiest Star")
    (3:59) Memory of a Free Festival Part 1 **
    (3:31) Memory of a Free Festival Part 2 **

    ** 1970 single version. First appearance of Mick Ronson on a David Bowie record
    Space Oddity - Withdrawn
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Space Oddity - Withdrawn
      David Bowie
      Manufacturer: Rca
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
      Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B000HF12JG

      Product Description

      CD release of the 1969 Space Oddity album. Rare German import.
      Space Oddity
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Space Oddity
        David Bowie
        Manufacturer: Toshiba EMI
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        British FolkBritish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
        Singer-SongwritersSinger-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music
        Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
        Folk RockFolk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
        Progressive RockProgressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
        Psychedelic RockPsychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
        Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
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        2. The Man Who Sold the World

        ASIN: B000KJTLCY
        Release Date: 2007-01-22

        Tracks:

        1. Space Oddity
        2. Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed
        3. (Don't Sit Down) [Instrumental]
        4. Letter to Hermione
        5. Cygnet Committee
        6. Janine
        7. Occasional Dream
        8. Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud
        9. God Knows I'm Good
        10. Memory of a Free Festival

        Album Description

        Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a mini LP sleeve featuring the original album artwork. Originally released in 1969 as Man Of Words Man Of Music but then reissued in 1972 under the title Space Oddity, this was Bowie's first real commercial breakthrough with the title track becoming his first worldwide hit. 10 tracks. EMI. 2007.

        Album Details

        Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.
        Bowie: A Classical Tribute (CD)
        Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
        • Excellent Album
        		 Bowie: A Classical Tribute (CD)

        Manufacturer: Classic Rock Legends
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music
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        1. Oh You Pretty Things: The Songs of David Bowie

        ASIN: B0002NRRZG
        Release Date: 2004-10-05

        Tracks:

        1. Space Oddity
        2. Oh You Pretty Things
        3. Life On Mars
        4. Changes
        5. Starman
        6. John I'm Only Dancing
        7. Jean Genie
        8. Rebel, Rebel
        9. Young Americans
        10. Ashes To Ashes
        11. Let's Dance

        Product Description

        1. Space Oddity
        2. Oh You Pretty Things
        3. Life On Mars
        4. Changes
        5. Starman
        6. John I'm Only Dancing
        7. Jean Genie
        8. Rebel, Rebel
        9. Young Americans
        10. Ashes To Ashes
        11. Let's Dance

        Format: CD

        Customer Reviews:

        4 out of 5 stars Excellent Album.......2005-06-24

        I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this album. Good arrangements, well performed. I would recommend this album to all fans of Bowie and also to those not as familiar with his tunes. Bowies' music sounds amazing whether played on delicate violins or rocking out with guitars. Well worth it!
        Space Oddity
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          		Space Oddity
          David Bowie
          Manufacturer: EMI
          ProductGroup: Music
          Binding: Audio CD

          GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
          Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
          ASIN: B000064TUM
          Essential Best Of 1969 - 1974
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            		Essential Best Of 1969 - 1974

            Manufacturer: EMI - Capitol Entertainment
            ProductGroup: Music
            Binding: Audio CD

            GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
            Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
            ASIN: B000CSZIFW

            Product Description

            Essential David Bowie, Best Of 1969-1974. Limited Edition 1998. 20 Tracks.

            Music:

            1. Splat
            2. Stacked Up!
            3. Story of
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            8. The Birth of Emmanuel
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            10. The Colour and the Shape

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