Aladdin Sane

in the 70s every other cover he did is the worst song on the album

I'd rank "Across the Universe" over "Fascination" or "Right".

The cover of “The Electrician” is fine

"Nite Flights"? I made a post elsewhere describing how Bowie changed one chord in his version and completely modified the balance between the song's verse and chorus.

Diamond Dogs is a crazy attempt to touch all the bases at once; he's trying to uphold his rock 'n' roll and glam "roots", but also do cabaret, soul, prog, funk, sci-fi, apocalypse, Krautrock, etc.

His version "Across the Universe" is the worst cover of any song by anybody, let alone by David Bowie.

otm

IIRC he had Visconti cut out two good songs to make room for "Across the Universe" and "Fame" too. (I think "Fame" by itself could have been shoehorned in without sacrificing any songs - wish they had done that.)

my favorite one on here is the title track, what a performance by mike garson. i do laugh to myself a little during the part of his solo where he interpolates "tequila" by the champs.

His version "Across the Universe" is the worst cover of any song by anybody, let alone by David Bowie.

― Doodles Diamond (Tom D.), Thursday, June 23, 2022 4:07 PM (twenty-six minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

otm

― in places all over the world, real stuff be happening (voodoo chili)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnu61JbAVvQ

i.e. both of you are wrong

"wild is the wind" excepted, its funny how bowie was so good but seemed to have almost a uniquely difficult time recording a half-decent version of anyone else's song. he could only be bowie.

His version "Across the Universe" is the worst cover of any song by anybody, let alone by David Bowie.

― Doodles Diamond (Tom D.)

this to the power of ...

The first couple of minutes of the title track are my favourite Bowie stuff ever.

I agree "God Only Knows" is his worst cover. I also know I'm alone in enjoying his "Across the Universe".

No!

The guitars sound fab.

xxxp yes yes I meant “Nite Flights” ugh

If it counts, I’d argue “Tonight” is his worst cover

what i'd like to know is how we feel about "fill your heart"

Maybe it would be easier to list the good covers? Not necessarily better but ones we enjoy.

"Sorrow," "Kingdom Come," the Velvets stuff done live, "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday," "China Girl" (if that counts), "Cactus," "I've Been Waiting for You," "Pablo Picasso"...

I actually quite like Fill Your Heart but it's still probably the worst song on the album, or second tier at least. It's also pretty much the same as the Biff Rose original.

For me, Sorrow and Wild is the Wind are the only standout Bowie covers. The rest don't add much, or anything at all, to the Bowie oeuvre.

I love Lets Spend the Night Together! I didn’t realize most aren’t that fond of it. It sounds unhinged in just the right way, overloaded and horny.

I think it works in the context of the album, plus I love the “DO IT” part with mick ronson’s motorcycle revving

god, "wild is the wind" is SUCH a slog. the three-minute single edit is plenty

I love Lets Spend the Night Together! I didn’t realize most aren’t that fond of it. It sounds unhinged in just the right way, overloaded and horny.

I agree. I’d argue that there’s a worse Stones cover on Diamond Dogs (I have no love for “Rebel Rebel” except that it’s on the radio often and I like to be reminded of Bowie)

I always forget that “The Jean Genie” is on this. I love that song

otm re "Rebel Rebel"

I must have missed this, Bowie covered 'The Electrician'? Where can I find that?

It's corrected, they meant "Nite Flights."

But Bowie wrote a song so similar to Scott Walker that the estate might've sued:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02BXbobS_mY

I love "Rebel Rebel," one of the first Bowie singles I instantly fell in love with before I really knew who he was. But it also feels wedged into Diamond Dogs rather than something organically conceived with the rest of the album. It's probably more appropriate for Aladdin Sane but it was recorded (or written?) too late for that to happen.

"Diamond Dogs" the song seems much more of a Stones pastiche than "Rebel Rebel".

I slag on Diamond Dogs a lot but isn't it the first album since early days that Bowie made without Ronson? If so, I gotta cut it some more slack

Bowie wrote a song so similar to Scott Walker

afaic, one of Scott Walker's greatest achievements was proxy-teaching Bowie his latter-day technique. Bowie from Buddha onward is like... my favourite singer. I prefer Bowie-doing-Walker to Walker-doing-Walker, oftentimes; Walker tends to get a little too Phantom Of The Opera at times

xp I believe so. That's one reason I mentioned "1984/Dodo" which was early enough to be recorded with Ronson. You get rid of "Dodo" and it's more or less the same song and arrangement as what's on the album, but Ronson's guitar part was also my favorite and that's completely gone.

One of my favourite things is Scott Walker wishing Bowie a happy 50th birthday and Bowie starts crying

I mean, it's famous, but here it is in case anybody missed it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V01oQ_BsX00