Your Favourite David Bowie Album Today

I have been a fan of David Bowie since I first heard “Space Oddity” in the late 1960s and I have enjoyed his music since then. Prior to “Space Oddity '' he had been a rhythm and blues singer in David Jones and The Lower Third but changed his name to Bowie to avoid confusion with Davey Jones of The Monkees.

He then went into an Anthony Newley influenced phase producing such aberrations as “The Laughing Gnome” and those songs appear don various budget compilations after he found his real groove with “Space Oddity” . The album is crammed with classic songs although not all were singles material such as the nine minutes of “Cygnet Committee” and the long but gorgeous “Memory of A Free Festival” , but this was the real kick start to a career that unfortunately finished with the semi prophetic “Blackstar” in 2016 just prior to his death.

David Bowie traversed all styles from rock to soul , electronic , folk , he could turn his hand to anything. As well as being a singer and writer, on “Diamond Dogs” (rated by the New Musical Express as one of his greatest album - it’s one of his that I have on vinyl) , he is responsible lead and background vocals, guitars, saxophones, Moog synthesiser, and Mellotron. “Rebel, Rebel” has a stunning guitar riff often referred to as the greatest Rolling Stones song they never wrote. It is a relatively simple riff based around the “D” chord , but that is what makes it so brilliant.

Anyway this week on a morning's walk I decided to put on David Bowie's "Scary Monsters and Super Creeps".

I am still taken in by the dirty production sound on the music, but was almost shocked at the consistency of the songs on it. Almost every song is top notch, with the slightest of dips for "Scream Like A Baby'' which would be a standout song on almost any other album.

Starting with "It's No Game #1" which is an amazing opener, into "Up The Hill Backwards" with it's mutant "Not Fade Away" intro riff, then the triumvirate of singles, the title track , "Ashes To Ashes" and "Fashion",, the "Teenage Wildlife" doesn't let up. "ScreamLike A Baby" is the slightest of lulls before we are hit with "Kingdom Come" (a Tom Verlaine song) and the closing reprise of "It's No Game #2". Absolutely stunning.

Once the album has finished you want to play it again , enjoying and savouring each and every song on the album, and seriously I would be happy having this whole album on repeat.

And here comes the problem with listening to David Bowie albums, and it is not actually a problem.

My friend the comedian John Scott posted on Facebook here his 10 favourite Bowie albums and asked for people's favourite three Bowie albums. I listed my three with the caveat that it would change tomorrow.

Usually I say "Station To Station" or "The Man Who Sold The World" then I would add “Hunky Dory” , “The Next Day” and “Blackstar” but you know my opinion on "Scary Monsters and Super Creeps".

Basically whichever Bowie album you are listening to is your favourite Bowie album.

You never skip songs on a Bowie album, you discover things you haven't heard before, and then want to go back and make sure it was as good as you thought it was, which is a great situation to be in for any artist. I will be playing a lot more David Bowie albums on my walks , along with other artists, but this is sort of focussing on a single album while telling you all of his others are just as good.