DAVID BOWIE

DAVID BOWIE
DIAMOND DOGS (1974)
REMASTER
320 KBPS

This is an unusual release, from the morphed David Bowie, who had changed personna again, this time into the Diamond Dog depicted on the cover. This was supposed to be Bowie's concept album, a tribute to George Orwell's politcal commentary and prediction of future events. The opening track, spoken over the orchestrated version of "Bewitched" arranged by Tony Visconti, "Future Legend", ends with Bowie yelling, "This isn't Rock and Roll, this is genocide". The shredding slide introduction of "Diamond Dogs" shows Bowie at his guitar playing best. The band tears through the title song, with top players including Herbie Flowers on bass. Herbie, a frequent sideman, is famous for his playing on "Space Oddity", "Jump Into the Fire" by Nilsson, and "Walk On the Wild Side", to name just a few. Drums are handled by another studio star pair, Aynsley Dunbar, and Tony Newman, while longtime favorite after the departure of Rick Wakeman, Mike Garson handles the keyboard duties. Bowie takes lead guitar on all tracks, except for the scratchy wah wah played by Alan Parker on "1984". Bowie's guitarwork is surprising, with crunchy, scratchy sound dominating the release, after the tasty melodic soaring tones that former sideman Mick Ronson used so effectively. "Sweet Thing" features soaring vocals, great orchestration by Visconti again, with Bowie on a yacking sax on a tune that morphs into "Candidate", before reprising back into "Sweet Thing". It is easy to see the political tone Bowie takes by the end of the first side, with "Rebel Rebel" with it's lyrical repetition, commenting on social decadence and decay. Again, Bowie manages to carry the song with a simplistic, yet unforgettable guitar riff, whose searing tone cuts through. "Rock and Roll With Me", co authored by Bowie and Warren Peace (collaborator G A MacCormack) begins the second side of the original release, which is more consistent with the Orwell's 1984. "We Are the Dead" a direct quote from the book follows, which rolls into "1984", a classic Bowie track, with it's guitar intro. powerful vocals and abrupt ending. "Big Brother" is another obvious Orwell reference, whose end is looped to conclude the disk. In all this is excellent release, whose highs are unbelievable. Some of the tracks are good, not great, but the ones that are on are unforgettable, making this a must own.

1. Future Legend
2. Diamond Dogs
3. Sweet Thing
4. Candidate
5. Sweet Thing (Reprise)
6. Rebel Rebel
7. Rock 'N' Roll With Me
8. We Are The Dead
9. 1984
10. Big Brother
11. Chant Of The Ever Circling Skeletal Family