From: mark@markrae.co.uk Subject: Re: David Bowie? --- In e-Prog@y..., Matt Dunlop <> wrote: > Hi, I've been lurking for a couple of weeks now, but > just need to jump out to ask a question about some of > the recent "top 20's" being posted. It seems that a > lot of you put David Bowie somewhere in your lists. I > am unfamiliar with his work, so could someone point me > towards an album that I could check out to get > acquainted. Is his work at all prog? Bowie's work is not "prog" in the sense of 23-minute pieces made up of several parts, mellotron choirs and bass pedals, but it is most certainly progressive in the true sense of the word inasmuch as he constantly pushed the boundaries and progressed away from contemporary trends. Check out any of his albums from the 70s, but especially Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust. Don't expect King Crimson or Yes, though, not even on the albums which feature Rick Wakeman :-)
From: izyrp@odn.de Subject: Re: Re: David Bowie? mark@markrae.co.uk wrote: > --- In e-Prog@y..., Matt Dunlop <> wrote: > > Hi, I've been lurking for a couple of weeks now, but > > just need to jump out to ask a question about some of > > the recent "top 20's" being posted. It seems that a > > lot of you put David Bowie somewhere in your lists. I > > am unfamiliar with his work, so could someone point me > > towards an album that I could check out to get > > acquainted. Is his work at all prog? Closest thing Bowie comes to King Crimson (well, sometimes 80s Crimso maybe) are obviously his soloalbums featuring Robert Fripp (Scary Monsters, Heroes), Adrian Belew (Lodger) or Eno (Low). They all came out between 1977-1980 and are among Bowie's best IMO. But no, even closer to Crimso he came with his 80/90s band Tin Machine, they recorded 2 great studio albums.
From: Errol Allahverdi <> Subject: Re: David Bowie? One of Bowie's earliest songs, 'A Space Oddity', was the most appealing of his work in the prog rock circles back in those days. It was sort of a pop tune, strangely enough. The prog appeal came from the use of the mellotron (I believe it was Rick Wakeman), and the subject material, as well as the production. But, Bowie is no prog rock artist. He is pop, big time.
From: David Eric Shur <> Subject: Re: Re: David Bowie? Mark Rae wrote about David Bowie: > it is most certainly progressive in the true sense of the word inasmuch as he > constantly pushed the boundaries and progressed away from > contemporary trends. Check out any of his albums from the 70s, but > especially Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust. Don't expect King Crimson > or Yes, though, not even on the albums which feature Rick Wakeman :-) I agree with Mark's synopsis. The only reason Bowie was labeled progressive in the early days was due to his producer Tony Visconti, who used Rick Wakeman for studio work. Wakeman added much to Bowie's early albums, and other Vertigo artists such as Magna Carta, an English Folk Rock group, such as the original Strawbs, who enlisted Wakeman at the time. Bowie, always pop oriented, was attempting to find popularity, and tried several different approaches, like the early cabaret material, the folky sound, the metal sound (The Man Who Sold The World has some incredible music, wonderful jamming between guitarist Mick Ronson and Visconti on bass) and everything else pre Ziggy Stardust. You might wish to start with a good compilation, see what you like, and work backwards. Happy listening.
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