Ziggy Stardust [Import] [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Reissue of the soundtrack to Bowie's 1983 film, currently out of print in the U.S. Contains all 16 tracks from Ryko's 1992 reissue, including 'Ziggy Stardust', 'Watch That Man', 'Oh! You Pretty Things' and 'Space Oddity'. 1992 release.

Tracks:

Five Years
Soul Love
Moonage Daydream
Starman
It Ain't Easy
Lady Stardust
Star
Hang On To Yourself
Ziggy Stardust
Suffragette City
Rock 'N' Roll Suicide

Amazon.com essential recording

After flirting with heavy guitar rock ("The Man Who Sold the World") and lighter pop ("Hunky Dory"), Bowie found middle ground on Ziggy Stardust. The creation of the Ziggy Stardust persona would live on well after Bowie shed the alien skin, marking the first rock concept album by a sexually ambiguous, artistically bent musician who confounded critics at every turn. A blend of dramatic strings, swaggering saxophones, jagged guitars, and theatrical arrangements, the album's darker rock numbers like "It Ain't Easy," "Moonage Daydream," "Ziggy Stardust," and the irresistible "Suffragette City," still serve as solid excursions into the future (then and now) of rock. The buoyant "Hang on to Yourself" and the dreamy "Star" offer hints of optimism in Ziggy's bleak world. The dramatic "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" and the image-heavy "Star Man" ("he'd like to come and meet us but thinks he'd blow our minds!") no doubt provided plenty of stage-worthy moments when Ziggy toured in the '70s, but years later they still thrill. Bowie blew our minds! --Lorry Fleming

Customer Reviews:

Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am.......2007-07-07

Now I do like this. But it is not my favorite David Bowie album. Too many so-so songs ("Star"; "Hang Onto Yourself"; "Five Years"); too much campy over-orchestration ("Rock and Roll Suicide"), one total bomb ("It Ain't Easy") - he even recycles the "Sweet Jane" riff on "Starman", which is otherwise very good. Still, it's Ziggy Stardust, man! You know? It's not like there aren't all kinds of excellent songs on this album, because there are a truckload! You know "Moonage Daydream", right? What a guitar solo! And you know "Ziggy Stardust", I assume! The lyrics! The riff! And, again, the guitar solo! "Starman" is pretty good too, though I think Bowie could've written his own riff rather than take one of Lou Reed's. Been spending too much time around Jimmy Page, have you? Continuing on, "Suffragette City" may not be terribly insightful, but it's a Stonesy rocker with a powerful horn section, so I like it. Another two songs I like that you don't often hear too much of are the cathartic "Soul Love" and the groupie-themed rocker "Lady Stardust". Oh yeah, and then there's the concept. The bisexual androgynous alien coming down from space to save everybody's life. It's a bit clunky, but like Tommy I find Ziggy Stardust is more about the music than the concept. And the music's good!

Awesome Bowie.......2007-06-28

This album is still my favorite dating back to 1972.
Bowie was the genius of the 70's.
All serious Bowie fans should add this cd to their collection, this is Bowie at his best,each song could easily be a number 1 hit even today!

Adrian.T.

Ziggy will captivate you!.......2007-06-25

I love David Bowie and could listen to "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust" over-and-over. The poetics of Bowie's lyrics and the phenomenal guitar riffs hold this album together and are what makes it a classic, must have album. This is Bowie at his height of fame and truly captures Bowie's glam rock side of the late 1970s. I could not choose a favorite song from this album because, to me, each song builds off of one another like a good concept album should. From the opening of "Five Years" right to the end "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust" shows the various levels of Bowie's artistic ability.
This is a must have for any serious collection of Bowie and for anyone interested in good, wholesome rock showcasing one of the best artists of the 1970s.

Trip down memory lane.......2007-06-10

I was in a restaurant when I heard this album being played and it really brought back memories. I used to listen to it as a teenager and I knew I'd enjoy listening to it again as an adult. It didn't disappoint! Classic Bowie!

"Wam, Bam thank you Mam!!".......2007-04-24

Wow, rock n roll can be raw, catchy, dramatic, and quite sophisticated. So what is the need for new bands? Whenever people talk about Bowie they tend to speak in terms of him paving the way for a lot of today's music. Although that is true I don't think any new rock band has come close to this album. It's too painful for some people to look at the 1970's for what it truly was: the golden age of Rock N Roll, an age that younger people like myself missed out on and only live through their C.D. collection. It is much more comforting to call the 1970's the springboard for modern rock and ignore the fact that modern rock is passionless, corporate, crap.
This album is basically the essence of rock n roll. The songs are short, catchy, and upbeat. These are all qualities that most so called "modern rock" bands avoid like the plague although it is what rock music has always truly been about. Ziggy Stardust is from an era when quality was just plain expected in an album. You couldn't release an album with 10 crapped out songs and 1 decent single like today's bands (by the way music downloading and IPODs are not helping this problem).
If you love great rock music (real rock music) please do yourself a favor and buy Ziggy Stardust and give your Track Skip button a long deserved rest.

Average customer rating:

Where's the glam? Review of the SACD remaster, not of the album
Quick shipping
Hang On To Yourself!
great cd highly recommended.
A Timeless Classic

Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000AZAUM
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Tracks:

Five Years
Soul Love
Moonage Daydream
Starman
It Ain't Easy
Lady Stardust
Star
Hang On To Yourself
Ziggy Stardust
Suffragette City
Rock & Roll Suicide

Customer Reviews:

Where's the glam? Review of the SACD remaster, not of the album.......2007-07-11

I assume you know this album, so I am reviewing the SACD remaster for you. The sound is lovely, but the mix leaves me wanting more.

The SACD has a clean fresh sound. There is nice seperation between instruments. I previously hadn't heard the viola sound rising up in "Hang on to Yourself" The Sacd highlites the acoustic guitar(s). Particularly the surround mix. It is pretty, but makes it sound like a Bowie album, not a Spider's album. I was hoping for some raw Mick Ronson electric beauty, but he seems so tame in the SACD. The theatric strings on pieces like "Starman" too seem so minimal. They don't pick you up and carry you away as they were intended.

The glam is just not present. It sounds more like the "wandering poet with a guitar approach" The stereo layer is better, but the SACD just doesn't capture the creativity of the album, or the dolled up excitement of the scene.

If you like the early acoustic Bowie, you will love this. If you like those naughty Spiders, forget it.

Quick shipping.......2007-06-14

A great album on a great cd, shipped to me so fast I didn't know what it could be when I opened it...surely not the CD I just ordered!?!?

Hang On To Yourself!.......2007-05-25

From the slow, steady beat of "Five Years" to the lavish, lamentable closing, "Rock & Roll Suicide"; "Ziggy Stardust" has held its own in Rock history. Add the element of SACD (surround sound) and the album takes on a new life. From the acoustical clapping of "Soul Love" to the hard driving guitars of "Suffragette City", this new mix finally and clearly separates all the instruments without isolating them. It is a full band experience as if you were in the studio. The acoustic guitars sound so crisp and clean and Mick Ronson's guitar work sounds like new. Although the album has always suggested "To Be Played At Maximum Volume", the bass and drums are not as highly mixed as the rest. That's a shame, as the beat here is legendary. But, I still can't over-emphasize how great this version sounds, especially after marveling over "Dark Side Of The Moon" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". Hang on to yourself!

great cd highly recommended........2007-02-13

one of the best rock 'n' roll cd of the history.
i think that the few more dollars are worth the hybrid sacd and when you find a compact disc that can play it it's very pleasing.

A Timeless Classic.......2007-01-24

This well produced, quality CD will not disappoint you or tarnish your memories of this timeless classic. Each song deftly draws you in, better than when you first heard it (and probably had no idea of just how really good it all was). This CD brings it all back and more - if there is but one ember of your youth left inside - you know you have to have this CD.

Average customer rating:

As good as its reputation.
My Favorite Album Of All Time!
Great Idea for a Design! Poor Execution Though! Terrible Sound! What a Shame!
The greatest album ever?
Doesn't add to or detract from the original album

Ziggy Stardust: 30th Anniv (Bonus CD)
David Bowie
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000067CQK
Release Date: 2002-07-16

Tracks:

Five Years
Soul Love
Moonage Daydream
Starman
It Ain't Easy
Lady Stardust
Star
Hang On To Yourself
Ziggy Stardust
Suffragette City
Rock 'N' Roll Suicide

Tracks:

Moonage Daydream (Arnold Corns version)
Hang On To Yourself (Arnold Corns version)
Lady Stardust (Demo)
Ziggy Stardust (Demo)
John, I'm Only Dancing
Velvet Goldmine
Holy Holy
Amsterdam
The Supermen
Round And Round
Sweet Head (Outtake - Take 4)
Moonage Daydream (Alan Moulder Mix)

Amazon.com

Thirty years on, Ziggy Stardust more than holds up, sounds incredibly refreshing, is truly timeless, comes as a revelation, etc., etc. Over the years, much has been made of what a visionary work this is, and it's still fun to marvel at how its themes encapsulate the entire history of rock--including rock-yet-to-come in the forms of punk, and even the deaths of Elvis and Kurt Cobain. Bowie merged rock archetypes from the '50s and '60s with theater to create a brand-new mythology. In that sense, he was sort of Bruce Springsteen in makeup. But beyond that, it's astonishing to hear how great the late, wonderful Mick Ronson's guitar and the Spiders from Mars still sound today. When they sing "Wonderful" behind Bowie on the "Rock 'N' Roll Suicide" finale, they could be referring to this album. This 30th anniversary edition includes a second disc of demos, singles (including the very Berlin cabaret-esque "Arnold Corns" releases), and a few essential outtakes--notably the decadent "Sweet Head"--that haven't been available in nearly a decade. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

As good as its reputation........2006-03-09

"The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" is one of those records generally regarded as stunningly brilliant, critically acclaimed, commercially successful, everything comes together, blah blah.

Of course, in this case, they're pretty much right.

David Bowie was peaking-- he'd explored a number of different styles and suddenly found himself knee-deep in the glam movement with a backing band featuring guitarist Mick Ronson that had been together for several years, and a string of largely unsuccessful but unnervingly daring (and at times brilliant) albums behind him. 'Ziggy Stardust' is a concept album of sorts, about the (for that of better term) rise and fall of a brilliant musician from space named Ziggy Stardust. Remarkably, it's not nearly as goofy as it sounds.

Instead, it ends up being a remarkably well performed and diverse album-- Bowie's vocals have developed a depth and a swagger and an utter lack of fear of styles and in Ronson, he had a lead guitarist capable of matching him in personality. As a songwriter, Bowie had found his niche-- whether it was picking the far corners of exotica ("Soul Love") or embracing the new glam sounds ("Suffragette City"), he was able to pull off something powerful and convincing throughout. The album is pretty much one long highlight, depending on your point of view-- at any given time I find myself in love with impassioned ballad "Five Years", glam masterpiece ("Moonage Daydream") or the hook laden "Ziggy Stardust", but there's not a bad song here, freom the rolling introductory drum beats to Bowie's impassioned screams on "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide".

The reality is, as far as early '70s rock goes, it really doesn't get any better than this. The second disc is nearly as essential-- non-LP tracks (including ecstatic single "John, I'm Only Dancing"), demos, alternate takes... it's all stuff you'll probably want once you fall in loe with the album. Essential listening.

My Favorite Album Of All Time!.......2005-12-29

I never realized, until a few days ago, "This album is amazing. I haven't gave it enough credit. It's just genius." These words are true. No song on here is bad, except for IT AIN'T EASY. All the rest are just genius. Bowie's ZIGGY STARDUST is probably the best rock creation of all time. This should be the #1 album of all time. I would have loved to live in this era & see all of the Ziggy shows. Buy this album, it's f**king genius!
Songs:
1. Five Years 5/5 (Great Opener, Starts with a bang!!)
2. Soul Love 5/5 (Always my favorite song, love the sax)
3. Moonage Daydream 5/5 (Guitar)
4. Starman 5/5 (The classic song everyone knows)
5. It Ain't Easy 1/5 (Ugghhhhhhhh)
6. Lady Stardust 5/5 (Beautiful song about Marc Bolan)
7. Star 5/5 (One word, AWESOME!)
8. Hang On To Yourself 5/5 (Is it about masturbation?)
9. Ziggy Stardust 5/5 (Funny song)
10. Suffergate City 5/5 (Another classic song)
11. Rock 'N' Roll Suicide 5/5 (The best ending to an album, BRAVO, BRAVO!)
Buy this album! Alex (a bowie fan)

Great Idea for a Design! Poor Execution Though! Terrible Sound! What a Shame!.......2005-11-16

Not only is Ziggy Stardust among the best rock albums ever made and a work of art to last the ages it is also one of my desert-island discs.

I actually am not too bothered about there being 2 discs and I actually wouldn't mind paying a bit more for a well-designed and well-packaged overall cd. Although I like the overall design concept of a booklet the way it's done here, they totally screwed up when they tried to execute the plan.

Firstly, they have to redo this with more hardy cardboard or paper as it's really easy to tear this package apart. I'm actually afraid to read the liner notes for fear the whole thing will fall apart. Secondly, they have to make it easier to remove the cds without scratching them. Otherwise, the liner notes in booklet form is actually quite good.

Now for the really bad news: they have to do a MUCH, MUCH, MUCH BETTER job of remastering the first disc. The first track starts out very soft and actually sounds muddy with each passing track until it reaches the tour de force and my favourite track, "Ziggy Stardust" where it sounds like it could actually have been remastered before ending with a whimper. What a shame and to actually call this a 30th anniversary edition!

Ironically, the 2nd disc is much more interesting and actually some of the tracks sound like they had been really well remastered. So what if you can get some of the tracks on the Ryko Disc version which I fortunately also own, the other tracks are quite good and it was nice to hear Bowie do a version of the old Chuck Berry standard, "Reelin' and Rockin'".

Perhaps they should have let the guy who remastered disc 2 do disc 1 as well. Actually, the Ryko disc version which isn't advertised as a remastered disc sounds a whole lot better than disc 1. Perhaps they should have designed a more robust packaging and let Ryko do the cds.

I'd really like to see them try again with my above suggestions. Of all the "sins" they've done, surely the mediocre quality of disc 1, the main course, has to be the most mortal. What a shame!

The greatest album ever?.......2005-08-15

Could The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars be the very best album of all time. Does the legendary album live up to all the extravagent hype, or does the album just fall short at the finish line? Well I personaly think Ziggy Stardust is one of the top three albums of all time along with Aerosmith's Get Your Wings, and The Rolling Stones' Exile On Main Street. Released in 1972 David Bowie created a spaceage creature who fell to earth with his band and became the biggest rock star the world had ever seen, bigger then Elvis and The Beatles. Ziggy Stardust takes you on an apocalyptic journey through exactly what the title suggests, the rise and fall of him and his amazing band. The album also shows what an ego-maniac Bowie was in the 1970's as been quoted as saying, "Thats truly what I though was going to happen to me!"

The album opens with the beautiful 'Five Years' which is truly one of the best songs David Bowie ever composed. The wonderfull lyrics and perfectly complamenting piano tell the story of Ziggy being and outcast on his home planet of Mars and him knowing that he was something special. Next is the saxaphone heavy 'Soul Love' which is another nice ballad with a great chorus that is sure to have you singing along, this song is about how even though Ziggy knew he would become the biggest rock star in the world he was still a person searching for love and exceptence. 'Moonage Daydream' is quite possabley the best song David Bowie ever recorded. This is one of those songs where every little detail came together perfectly creating something so special and fantastic that words themselfs can't begin to describe. I mean where would you start, the powerful vocals and production, The amazing lyrics, or how about that legendary guitar solo that Mick Ronson plays at the end of the song. All who have hear this song know what I am taking about and those who havent should do themselfs a favor and pick this up for 'Moonage Daydream' alone! The next song was David Bowies biggest hit to this point, 'Starman' is a beautiful ballad about the people on earth who knew Ziggy was coming and the song is not one you can really describe it's one that has to be listened to, to be fully appreciated. 'It Aint Easy' is a cover song that unless you had heard the original you wouldnt know it was a cover. Bowie takes this song and makes it all his own, and takes the chorus to a whole new world. 'Lady Stardust' is a beautiful ballad from the point of view of who else, Lady Stardust, Ziggy's wife. It tells of how she first saw the band perform and how she fell in love with Ziggy. The next two songs 'Star' and 'Hang On To Yourself' seem to be the blue-print for late 1970's punk, proving once againt the Bowie was ahead of his time and is post-modern in all the terms glory. 'Ziggy Stardust' the title track shows the demise of the band as Ziggy over indulges in drugs and booze. The title track is one of rocks most legendary songs, as it is still played on the radio today some 30 years later. The legendary 'Suffragett City' is next with it's classic guitar riff and "hey-man" lyrics. This song as well as many of the other on the album is still to this day played on the radio. This song shows how Ziggy went solo only to find he was nothing with out the band and he becomes a brok burn-out. The last song on the album aside from being one of Bowie most heartfelt and best songs is also the perfect end to the legendary album. 'Rock N' Roll Suicide' ends the story with Ziggy killing his carear as well as himself. This song is a mini-epic in all the terms glory, it starts with a beautiful acoustic start and slowly builds to a hard rocker and leaves you wanting more.

Disc to of this cd is out takes and tracks that were recorded for the album but were never used all of the demos and outtakes are nice but it's amazing to see how Bowie went from that to what he put on the album. 'John, I'm Only Dancing' was a Bowie single and is concidered a Bowie classic. 'Velvet Goldmine' is a great Bowie song and I dont knwo why it was left off the album it is just as good as all the other songs. 'Holy Holy' and Amsterdamn are both very good songs that also could have been on the album. 'The Supermen' here isnt as good as the one on The Man Who Sold The World. 'Round And Round' is a great Chuck Berry cover. 'Sweet Head' is just pure amazing, there is no other way to say it just amazing!

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars is with out a doubt one of the all time greatest rock and roll and pop albums of all time, do yourself a favor and pick up this amazing classic!

Doesn't add to or detract from the original album.......2005-05-18

I give this edition the same "score" as I do the original album. I think the extra disc neither adds to nor detracts from the presentation of the original.

I do wish that "Sweet Head" had made the original cut. It is so much rawer than anything that wound up on the album (not that ...Ziggy Stardust... was ever intended to be raw).

Holy Holy is also quite pleasing and contains an unmistakable, dramatic Bowie chord sequence.

Average customer rating:

The Singles 1969 - 1993
David Bowie
Manufacturer: Rykodisc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000N2KMIK

Product Description

Tracks are:

Disc 1

1. Space Oddity
2. Changes
3. Starman
4. Ziggy Stardust
5. Suffragette City
6. John, I'm only dancing
7. The Jean Genie
8. Drive in Saturday
9. Life on Mars?
10. Sorrow
11. Rebel Rebel
12. Rock & Roll Suicide
13. Diamond dogs
14. Knock on Wood
15. Young Americans
16. Fame
17. Golden Years
18. TVC 15
19. Sound & Vision
20. Beauty & The Beast