Top 200 Bowie Recordings - #1 - Heroes (1 Viewer)

[Anarchy99]

#181 - Placebo (Featuring David Bowie) - Without You I'm Nothing (Without You I'm Nothing - 1999), (Live - 1999)

Bowie was impressed by Placebo's debut album in 1996 and asked the band to open for him on some of his dates on a couple of his tours. The band re-recorded Without You I'm Nothing as a duet with Bowie and that version was released as a single. The band and Bowie also played a cover of T-Rex's 20th Century Boy together at the 1999 Brit Awards (which is actually very good).

 

[Anarchy99]

I am following this thread, and will probably comment more once favorites of mine are featured rather than touching on each one.  Bowie's music tends to be very hit or miss for me, but the good ones are so damn good.

I expect a lot more will be interested closer to the end than the beginning, which is fine. My hope was to attract more people to Bowie or get folks to explore some songs they haven't heard before. But as to your comment, yes, the good songs are really, really good.

 

[Ghost Rider]

I expect a lot more will be interested closer to the end than the beginning, which is fine. My hope was to attract more people to Bowie or get folks to explore some songs they haven't heard before. But as to your comment, yes, the good songs are really, really good.

Rest assured that I will be all over songs featured from Low, Ziggy Stardust and Blackstar. 

 

[Anarchy99]

#180 - Goldie (Featuring David Bowie) - Truth (Saturnz Return - 1998)

Not really sure what Goldie added to this song, as it's Bowie singing and a keyboard with tricked out effects repeated over and over in the background. The vocals are performed well, but it's not much of a song. Including it here to be more completist than anything else.

#179 - Kashmir (Featuring David Bowie) - The Cynic (No Balance Please - 2005)

Kashmir is a band from Denmark that started out named Nirvana . . . and they quickly shifted band names when the other Nirvana took off. They've put out 9 albums (none since 2013). I don't know much about them. The Cynic topped the charts in Denmark (as did thee of their other songs). Given that Bowie was recuperating from his heart attack, not sure how he crossed paths with Kashmir.

#178 - Rustic Overtones (Featuring David Bowie) - Sector Z (¡Viva Nueva! - 2001)
Man Without A Mouth from the same album.

Another case of a band having the same producer as Bowie. Bowie showed up at the same studio as Rustic Overtones did in NYC back in 1999. Not bad luck for an indie band from Portland, Maine. The group has put out 9 albums over the past 25 years and are still active.

#177 - David Bowie & BT - [She Can] Do That (Stealth Soundtrack - 2005)
I'll be honest. I don't know much at all about BT. It appears he is a DJ / electronic musician that has put out a dozen albums, appeared on 16 soundtracks, and collaborated with a boatload of people over the past 30 years. News to me.

#176 - David Bowie With Ricky Gervais - The Little Fat Man With The Pug Nosed Face (Extras - 2007)
More Complete Version

Sadly, this is the last performance Bowie ever gave. (The first link is how it appeared in the TV show.) How or why Bowie would entertain being on a show with Ricky Gervais is beyond mind numbing. But this is what we get for Bowie's last public performance. Maybe something else will surface someday. I would even settle for him singing the Pledge of Allegiance along with an elementary school class over this.

#175 - David Bowie With Nine Inch Nails - Hurt (Live Dissonance Tour DVD - 1995)

Bowie toured with NIN for about 30 shows in the Fall of 1995. Nine Inch Nails opened and stuck around for the first few songs in Bowie's set. Hurt was one of them (along with Hallo Spaceboy, Scary Monsters, Subterraneans, and the NIN song Reptile). Nails front man Trent Reznor worked on The Hearts Filthy Lesson, a song that first appeared in the film Se7en and later on Bowie's album Outside. The sound of Nine Inch Nails, combined with Bowie's latest penchant for industrial music and guitarist Reeves Gabrels set Bowie up for his sound in the mid to late 90's.

EDIT TO ADD: Forgot about this one . . . David Bowie with Massive Attack - Nature Boy (Moulin Rouge Soundtrack - 2001)

 

[Anarchy99]

Here are a few obscure tracks . . .

#174 - Tin Machine - It's Tough (C'est La Vie Ultimate Rare Tracks - 1991)
In going through my collection to compile the list, I forget how many Tin Machine tracks there are that I like. Not sure why this one didn't make the cut for either of their two studio albums. Screaming guitar licks, solid drum beat, token sax solo, what's not to like? Hammerhead is a B side that is also hard to come by.

#173 - David Bowie - How Lucky You Are (Miss Peculiar) (C'est La Vie Ultimate Rare Tracks - 1971)
An outtake from Hunky Dory, a track that has been mostly obscure and unavailable (or in terrible sound quality). There were any number of recordings that Bowie in the early 70's that never made their way onto initial album releases (but thankfully were released on re-releases, anniversary additions, rarity collections, or add-ons on CD singles).

#172 - David Bowie - Bombers (Hunky Dory Expanded Edition - 1971), (Live Best Of The BBC Radio Sessions - 1971)
Not sure why this nugget never made it to an album, or why Bowie didn't perform it other than once or twice. It fits the sound and vibe of Hunky Dory. It was slated to be the first track of Side Two of the album, but for some reason Fill Your Heart took its spot at the last possible second.

#171 - David Bowie - The Supermen (Alternate Version) (Ziggy Stardust Expanded Edition - 1971), (Live in Santa Monica - 1972)
The Supermen was the final track on The Man Who Sold The World album (which featured Rick Wakeman of Yes fame on piano and keyboards). Even though the personnel in his band would remain the same, Bowie decided to re-record the song for his Ziggy Stardust album and transform everyone into the Spiders From Mars. IMO, this version is superior and is more of a rock song with a better mix. For Ziggy Stardust era fans, this will be the first of many tracks from that era.

#170 - David Bowie - Atomica (The Next Day Extra - 2013)
#169 - David Bowie - Plan (The Next Day Extra - 2013)
These two tracks come from the extended version of The Next Day, which at the time was Bowie's first new album in 10 years and his first Top 10 album of new material in the U.S. since Let's Dance in 1983 (30 years). Either one could have slotted in on one of Bowie's mid- to late-70's albums or Scary Monsters. After his hiatus, Bowie certainly came back with a great album. Atomica is the sum of many sounds . . . Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, The Clash, etc. all tied together with Bowie's unique voice. Plan is an instrumental that would have fit on any albums from his Berlin trilogy,

 

[wikkidpissah]

#180 - Goldie (Featuring David Bowie) - Truth (Saturnz Return - 1998)

Not really sure what Goldie added to this song, as it's Bowie singing and a keyboard with tricked out effects repeated over and over in the background. The vocals are performed well, but it's not much of a song. Including it here to be more completist than anything else.

#179 - Kashmir (Featuring David Bowie) - The Cynic (No Balance Please - 2005)

Kashmir is a band from Denmark that started out named Nirvana . . . and they quickly shifted band names when the other Nirvana took off. They've put out 9 albums (none since 2013). I don't know much about them. The Cynic topped the charts in Denmark (as did thee of their other songs). Given that Bowie was recuperating from his heart attack, not sure how he crossed paths with Kashmir.

#178 - Rustic Overtones (Featuring David Bowie) - Sector Z (¡Viva Nueva! - 2001)
Man Without A Mouth from the same album.

Another case of a band having the same producer as Bowie. Bowie showed up at the same studio as Rustic Overtones did in NYC back in 1999. Not bad luck for an indie band from Portland, Maine. The group has put out 9 albums over the past 25 years and are still active.

#177 - David Bowie & BT - [She Can] Do That (Stealth Soundtrack - 2005)
I'll be honest. I don't know much at all about BT. It appears he is a DJ / electronic musician that has put out a dozen albums, appeared on 16 soundtracks, and collaborated with a boatload of people over the past 30 years. News to me.

#176 - David Bowie With Ricky Gervais - The Little Fat Man With The Pug Nosed Face (Extras - 2007)
More Complete Version

Sadly, this is the last performance Bowie ever gave. (The first link is how it appeared in the TV show.) How or why Bowie would entertain being on a show with Ricky Gervais is beyond mind numbing. But this is what we get for Bowie's last public performance. Maybe something else will surface someday. I would even settle for him singing the Pledge of Allegiance along with an elementary school class over this.

#175 - David Bowie With Nine Inch Nails - Hurt (Live Dissonance Tour DVD - 1995)

Bowie toured with NIN for about 30 shows in the Fall of 1995. Nine Inch Nails opened and stuck around for the first few songs in Bowie's set. Hurt was one of them (along with Hallo Spaceboy, Scary Monsters, Subterraneans, and the NIN song Reptile). Nails front man Trent Reznor worked on The Hearts Filthy Lesson, a song that first appeared in the film Se7en and later on Bowie's album Outside. The sound of Nine Inch Nails, combined with Bowie's latest penchant for industrial music and guitarist Reeves Gabrels set Bowie up for his sound in the mid to late 90's.

some tremendous stuff in here. Bowie's covers & collaborations would make a hella Spotify joint

 

[Anarchy99]

Let's bang out some songs with ties to Iggy Pop (and then I have to get some actual work done). Bowie started producing / writing / contributing to Iggy Pop in the early to mid 70's and that started going the opposite direction into the 80's. Bowie played keyboards and toured with Pop in 1977. Bowie and Pop both moved to Berlin and later tried to get clean after going a little off the rails from excessive partying and substance abuse. Pop and Bowie lived together, and Iggy described the experience: "Living in a Berlin apartment with Bowie and his friends was interesting. The big event of the week was Thursday night. Anyone who was still alive and able to crawl to the sofa would watch Starsky & Hutch."

There is said to be a 7 CD set coming out in May covering the Bowie / Iggy Pop years. There is very little out there on what will be included in the box set.

#168 - David Bowie - Tumble And Twirl (Tonight - 1984)
Co-written by Iggy Pop.

#167 - David Bowie - Neighborhood Threat (Tonight - 1984)
Co-written by Iggy Pop . . . His Version: (Lust For Life - 1977)

#166 - David Bowie (With Tina Turner) - Tonight (Tonight - 1984) (Live In Europe - 1984)
Co-written by Iggy Pop . . . His Version (Lust For Life - 1977)

Other songs from Tonight:
Dancing With The Big Boys (Co-written by and featuring Iggy Pop), (Live - 1987)
Don't Look Down  (Originally written and performed by Iggy Pop (New Values - 1979)

By 1987, Bowie was in a bit of a quandary. He became a pop sensation in 1983 with the release of Let's Dance, which he never really wanted to be. He was never a fan of having a mass following or having to play the same popular songs night after night. He was pressured into recording something quickly by his label, as they wanted to keep the gravy train running for as long as possible. His follow up album Tonight was put together quickly, as he had just finished a 100+ show world tour in 1983. The album was recorded in 6-8 weeks and released in the fall of 1984. Some people theorize that Pop was low on money and Bowie recorded a number of Iggy's songs to he could get additional royalty checks.

I may be in the minority, but I liked most of the Tonight album. The three songs I included in the list are worthy inclusions IMO. DB defintely took the songs in a different direction. Bowie was still worn out from his Serious Moonlight tour and didn't tour of his Tonight album. On future tours, he considered Don't Look Down (but it never made it to a set list). He never performed Tonight (a duet with Tina Turner) live on his own tour, but he performed it a couple of times with her on her tour (see link above).

#165 - David Bowie - Sister Midnight (A Reality Tour - 2003) (Rehearsal - 1976)
Co-written by Iggy Pop . . . His Version (The Idiot - 1977)

Bowie performed his version of the song 15-20 times on his 1976 tour, before Pop's version was even released. Then out of the blue he revived the song another 25-30 times on his 2003-04 tour. He even performed it 10 minutes from me in 2004 (when I was not even aware he was going to play until the tickets were already gone). By the end of that month, Bowie would end up never tourning again. 

#164 - David Bowie - Bang Bang (Never Let Me Down - 1987), (Live 1987), (2018 Version)
Original Iggy Pop Version: (Party - 1981)

I did get to see him perform this one on his 1987 Glass Spider tour (the only one he ever played it on). The tour itself was a bit odd. Bowie had this Giant Spider that he played under and apparently there was supposed to be some story that tied the songs together. There were costumes and dancers and a lot of stuff happening on stage that didn't make a lot of sense. Bowie's album sales went from diamond (10 million copies) for Let's Dance, to platinum (1 million copies) for Tonight, to gold (500,000 copies) for Never Let Me Down. That album and tour were mostly overproduced, and Bowie lost a lot of popularity. After that album and tour, Bowie punted and moved on to forming Tin Machine.

#163 - David Bowie - I Wanna Be Your Dog (Glass Spider Tour DVD - 1987)
Original Iggy & The Stooges Version: (The Stooges - 1969)

Bowie played this one 20 or so times on his Glass Spider tour (including the show I went to), sometimes bringing on Charlie Sexton to play guitar. For those that weren't around or don't remember, Sexton had a Top 20 hit with Beats So Lonely as a teen (which was featured at the end of the movie Some Kind of Wonderful). He would later join the short lived group Arc Angels (Living In A Dream, Too Many Ways To Fall) and ended up joining forces with Bob Dylan and becoming part of his band. This version certainly isn't punk . . . it's some sort of cross between pop / synth rock. And yes, that is Peter Frampton in there as well. I can't explain it, but I really like Bowie's version even if it isn't all that similar to the original.

#162 - David Bowie - Lust For Life (Live - 1996)
Co-Written by Iggy Pop . . . His Version (Lust For Life - 1977)

Bowie and Pop write this together in 1977 with Pop the one to end up recording the song. Nearly 20 years later, Bowie pulled this nugget out of mothballs for the European and Asian legs of his 1996 Outside tour. I believe he only played it 25 or so times, and I have no idea what prompted him to wake up one day and say "Hey, here's a song that no one will know, let's play that one instead of Space Oddity!"

 

[Ghost Rider]

Not to go off topic, but while working from home today, I finally gave Aladdin Sane a spin today and enjoyed the heck out of it. I got it a while back and listened once, but it was sort of a background listen and I knew I needed to revisit it.  Really good stuff, especially Side 1.

 

[Anarchy99]

#161 - David Bowie - Footstompin' / I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate (RarestOneBowie - 1974)
Original Version by The Flairs (Single - 1961)

This version is from Bowie's appearance on the #### Cavett show. At this point, DB was heavily under the influence pretty much all the time. Footstompin' was played 15 or 16 times on the Eastern U.S. leg of his Diamond Dog tour. It was said that by the end of tour that Bowie could barely finish the shows suffering from exhaustion and hardcore drug use. The same riff they use in Footstompin' is the basis for the one used in Fame the following year.

Other somewhat odd Bowie cover versions . . .
David Bowie - Almost Grown (BBC Sessions - 1971)
Chuck Berry Original Version: (Single - 1959)
This was the only time Bowie played it.

David Bowie - I Feel So Bad / One Night (C'est La Vie Ultimate Rare Tracks - 2002)
Elvis Presley Versions: (Single - 1961), (Single - 1958)
Bowie and Elvis shared January 8th as a birthday. On the 25th anniversary of Elvis' death, Bowie kicked off his encore in Seattle with these two songs as a tribute to The King. He never played anything else Elvis-related before . . . or after this.

David Bowie - You Got To Have A Job (If You Don't Work You Can't Eat) (Live - 1972)
James Brown Original Version: (James Brown's Original Funky Divas - 1969)

Bowie played this one on back-to-back nights in England in 1972 and then never again. Bowie's version may actually be funkier (and more rocking). The bass is more pronounced than JB's version. Not sure why Bowie thought to play this one on the Ziggy tour . . . it would have fit the profile better on his Philly Soul sound of 1974's Diamond Dogs tour.

 

[Anarchy99]

Some more obscure tracks . . .

#160 - David Bowie - Looking For A Friend (BBC Sessions - 1971), (Zion Tapes - 1971), (Hunky Dory Outtake - 1971)
Another of the many early 70's Bowie tracks that never made it to an official studio released album. They could easily have collected his non-album tracks he recorded in the early 70's and called it an album and it would have been as good as anything else he put out at the time

#159 - David Bowie - The Laughing Gnome (Single - 1967)
Cover Versions: Ronnie Hilton - 1967, Buster Bloodvessel - 2001 (Techno Version)
Bowie sings with a gnome on this one, which was released as a novelty single in 1967. It's a really odd song. Not surprisingly, the single didn't sell on its initial release. However, it was re-released in 1973 once Bowie had hit the big time with Ziggy Stardust and peaked at #6 on the British charts. Hard to believe that folks into the Ziggy sound would buy this as a single, but yet they did. The Ronnie Hilton version is said to be the first time anyone covered a Bowie song (and of all the songs he wrote or recorded back in the day . . . WHY THIS ONE?!?)

#158 - David Bowie - Silly Boy Blue (Toy - 2001) (Original from David Bowie - 1967)
#157 - David Bowie - You've Got A Habit Of Leaving (Toy - 2001) (Original from Davy Jones & The Lower Third - 1966)
Bowie recorded an album called Toy in 2001 with 14 tracks that included re-recordings of songs of his from the 60's, some unreleased tracks, and a handful of new songs. There has never been an explanation as to why the album wasn't released, but the working theory is that Bowie was on multiple labels across his career, and determining who had rights to which songs and who would get royalties were said to be a logistical (and expensive) problem. The album eventually got leaked and in 2011 went viral on the net. The new songs were either modified and made it onto his 2002 album Heathen (or were used as B-sides). Added these here to try to get something from all his albums.

#156 - David Bowie - Life Is A Circus (Clareville Grove Demos - 1969)
I haven't really kept up with things that have been released since Bowie died, but this is a gem that came out last year. Even though the song is over 50 years old, it would have fit perfectly on Blackstar. Given what else Bowie was writing and recording at the time, this one REALLY doesn't fit. A beautiful duet accompanied only by acoustic guitar. Recorded around the same time as Space Oddity. Definitely worth a listen.

 

[wikkidpissah]

#161 - David Bowie - Footstompin' / I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate (RarestOneBowie - 1974)
Original Version by The Flairs (Single - 1961)

i remember the interview from that show - he coulda had a seizure & nobody woulda noticed

 

[Anarchy99]

A bunch more cover songs (even if people weren't even aware they were cover songs) . . .

#155 - David Bowie - Criminal World (Let's Dance - 1983)
Original Version by Metro: (Metro - 1977)

One of the non-hits from Let's Dance, it took me 30 years to figure out it was a cover. SRV on guitar helps give it a little substance, as the song comes across pretty high gloss.

#154 - David Bowie - Wild Is The Wind: (Station To Station - 1976)
Version by Johnny Mathis: (Single - 1957)
George Michael Version

Another one I had no idea was a cover. Just assumed it was a Bowie original. Apparently it was featured in a movie and then Johnny Mathis recorded it and released it as a single. One of the tracks that showcases Bowie's vocals. This one was hard to rank, as at one point I had it near 100 and other times didn't have it in the Top 200. It really depends on my mood at any given moment.

#153 - David Bowie - I've Been Waiting For You (Heathen - 2002), (Live - 2002), (Live Tin Machine - 1991)
Original Version by Neil Young: (Neil Young - 1968)

Bowie played this one live from 2002-2004. His live version has some decent guitar work in it. I always find it interesting why and how performers pick cover songs to record and play. I don't know of any connection of Bowie to Young. The studio version features Dave Grohl on guitar. Tin Machine took a stab at the song on their 1991 tour on 15 or 16 dates, except Bowie didn't sing it. Not sure why a decade later DB revisited it, but it turned out fine.

#152 - David Bowie - Pablo Picasso (Reality - 2003) (Live - 2003)
Original Version by The Modern Lovers: (The Modern Lovers - 1976)
The Modern Lovers were an indie band out of Boston that started in the early 70's and only released 2 albums (after they had already broken up). To say they were obscure and lesser known to most people would be an understatement. I should add NSFW on these due to the language, but let's be real. How many people are actually at work these days?

#151 - David Bowie - Cactus (Heathen - 2002), (A Reality Tour - 2003)
Original Version by The Pixies (Surfer Rosa - 1988)

Bowie's version is a little more accessible and listenable to the masses. I like his live version a little more, as it is a little more rocking and a little less artificial than the studio version.

Other Covers:
Tin Machine - Debaser (Live - 1992), (Pixies Original Version)
David Bowie - I Know It's Gonna Happen Sometime (Black Tie White Noise - 1993), (Morrissey Original)
David Bowie - Love Missile F1-11 (B Side - 2003), (Sigue Sigue Sputnik Original)
David Bowie - I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spaceship (Heathen - 2002), (Legendary Stardust Cowboy Original)
David Bowie - Kingdom Come (Scary Monsters - 1980), (Tom Verlaine Original)
David Bowie - Nite Flights (Black Tie White Noise - 1993), (The Walker Brothers Original)
David Bowie - I Keep Forgettin' (Tonight - 1984), (Chuck Jackson Original)
Tin Machine - If There Is Something (Live - 1992), (Roxy Music Original)
David Bowie - Knock On Wood (David Live - 1974), (Eddie Floyd Original)
David Bowie - Alabama Song (B-Side - 1980), (Doors Version)
David Bowie - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (David Live - 1974), (Ohio Players Original)
David Bowie - God Only Knows (Tonight - 1984), (Beach Boys Original)
David Bowie & Marianne Faithful - (I Got You Babe - 1973), (Sonny & Cher Original)

PSA: That clip of I Got You Babe is outright scary.

 

[loser]

*

 

[Soulfly3]

The Pixies version of Cactus is a masterpiece.

 

[Anarchy99]

Let's knock off some deeper tracks from the 80's . . .

#150 - David Bowie - Because You're Young (Scary Monsters - 1980)
#149 - David Bowie - It's No Game (Part 1) (Scary Monsters - 1980)

Bowie was in a bit of a quandary as the 70's ended. He had completed his "Berlin Trilogy" of albums (Low - Heroes - Lodger), which were creative high points but did not sell as well as his label (RCA) had hoped for. Scary Monsters proved to be equally creative and sold a little more (in what was to be his last studio album for RCA). The album was recorded in NYC and London and officially listed long-time bandmate Carlos Alomar as lead guitarist. But Robert Fripp appeared on many of the tracks (including It's No Game) and Pete Townsend played guitar on Because You're Young. Scary Monsters (the album) has a very distinct sound and vibe . . . very different to Bowie's other work. For better or worse, Bowie would abandon that sound in favor of a more relatable, pop sound for his new label (EMI) and his next album.

#148 - David Bowie - Without You (Let's Dance - 1983)
#147 - David Bowie - Shake It (Let's Dance - 1983), (Extended Version - 1983)
#146 - David Bowie - Ricochet (Let's Dance - 1983)

Bowie usually changed up his sound and artistic direction, but going from Scary Monsters to Let's Dance was a greater diversion than usual. The album turned out to be the catalyst that put Stevie Ray Vaughan on the map. DB attended the Montreux Jazz festival in 1982 and caught SRV's set. Bowie was mesmerized and had to get Vaughan to join forces. In one of the least surprising comments possible, SRV was said to have no any idea about Bowie and was not aware of what his sound was like. The rest is history. Vaughan would only record Let's Dance and then bailed on the Serious Moonlight tour to grow his own brand as a blues guitarist. SRV adds a lot to the Let's Dance album . . . but the sound is so different to Vaughan's work with Double Trouble that it is hard to think they are the same person.

Let's Dance was the first Bowie album I ever got and started me on the long road to Bowie-ville, and I used to play it over and over again. These three lesser known tracks were staples in my after school chill out sessions while I did homework in high school. Omar Hakim and Tony Thompson both gave the album a dance groove that carried throughout the album (after all, the album is called Let's Dance). Let's Dance went Diamond (10+ million copies sold), far and away his best selling album.

#145 - David Bowie - Underground (Labyrinth Soundtrack - 1986)
Magic Dance
Bowie dabbled as an actor with some hits and misses as results. He starred as the Goblin King in Labyrinth with Jennifer Connolley, a dark fantasy musical, directed by Jim Henson and featuring a bunch of puppets. I haven't seen it since it came out, but it is definitely on the odd side.

#144 - David Bowie - When The Wind Blows (When The Wind Blows Soundtrack - 1986), (Extended Version - 1986)
When The Wind Blows was an animated film about a couple trying to survive a nuclear attack. Roger Waters accounted for most of the soundtrack, but Bowie cut the theme song. Genesis and Squeeze also contributed tracks.

#143 - David Bowie -  '87 And Cry (Never Let Me Down - 1987), (Glass Spider Live - 1987)
One of the few edgier rock songs from Never Let Me Down, an album that started Bowie on the path of heavily produced studio sound and an attempt to be more mainstream to keep sales up. Bowie only performed this one on his Glass Spider tour. Peter Frampton plays lead guitar on this one.

#142 - Tin Machine - Prisoner Of Love (Tin Machine - 1989)
#141 - Tin Machine - I Can't Read (Tin Machine - 1989), (Bowie - I Can't Read '97 version)
#140 - Tin Machine - Tin Machine (Tin Machine - 1989)
Bowie was frustrated by the end of the 80's. His popularity had dropped off, his albums weren't selling, and he felt creatively stifled to try to have to crank out pop hits. As he called it, he was done with his Phil Collins era and wanted to move on to a cleaner, fresher, harder sound. Sick of the heavy synth and over produced sound, Tin Machine was much more a grip and rip it band without overdubs. This was Bowie's first attempt to be a true collaborative band member and just one of the guys. The band featured Reeves Gabrels on lead guitar. Soupy Sales kids played bass and drums (either people will remember comedian Soupy Sales or they won't). Bowie looked at his new band as anti-pop and anti-dance, which was what was selling at the time (at least for other artists). The band recorded 35 songs in 6 weeks (not sure what they did with them all, as they haven't released them all). And people can add Tin Machine to the short list of bands with a trifecta of band / album / song all sharing the same name.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

#154 - David Bowie - Wild Is The Wind: (Station To Station - 1976)
Version by Johnny Mathis: (Single - 1957)
George Michael Version

Another one I had no idea was a cover. Just assumed it was a Bowie original. Apparently it was featured in a movie and then Johnny Mathis recorded it and released it as a single. One of the tracks that showcases Bowie's vocals. This one was hard to rank, as at one point I had it near 100 and other times didn't have it in the Top 200. It really depends on my mood at any given moment.

Wow I never knew this one was a cover either. He certainly makes it his own.

 

[Nigel]

Wow I never knew this one was a cover either. He certainly makes it his own.

Wild is the Wind is top 10 for me, despite it being a cover.

 

[Anarchy99]

Now for some 90's tracks . . .

#139 - Tin Machine - One Shot (Tin Machine II - 1991)
#138 - Tin Machine - You Belong In Rock & Roll (Tin Machine II - 1991)

Bowie ended the 80's by starting up Tin Machine with an amped up rock sound. As Tin Machine was just getting going, the Sound + Vision box set of Bowie material dropped, the greatest hits ChangesBowie album came out, and Fame '90 from Pretty Women all sort of happened. With Bowie's popularity on the rise, he put the brakes on Tin Machine and took to the road on a 112-date greatest hits world tour. The members of Tin Machine were not asked to participate in the mammoth tour, which had multiple stadium dates. The tour was said to be the last time Bowie would be performing his hits and they would be retired. No one really knew what that meant, and as things would play out, it morphed into him not playing shows with only his hits moving forward. After his gigantic tour, his first in 3 years, Bowie then went back to Tin Machine. The second Tin Machine album was good but not as good, and here are a couple of tracks. Things were not the same the second time around, they released one more studio album and a live album and called it a day (although Bowie kept working with guitarist Reeves Gabrels for 5 or 6 more albums).

 

[rockaction]

I just came in here to say that I do belong in rock & roll. Good on Bowie for recognizing that. 

 

[Anarchy99]

#137 - David Bowie - Real Cool World (Songs From The Cool World Soundtrack - 1992)
As the 80's ended, Bowie was quick to turn away from his overly produced pop sound in favor of the harder edge of Tin Machine. His 1990 tour saw him roll out all his hits over a three decade career. Blending all of that . . . THIS was his first offering: another foray into overmodulated, overproduced synth pop. Nile Rodgers of Let's Dance fame was back as producer (and also played guitar on this one). It was the first time drummer Sterling Campbell made an appearance, who would be Bowie's drummer through his next 7 albums and all his remaining tours.

#136 - David Bowie Featuring Al B. Sure! - Black Tie White Noise (Black Tie White Noise - 1993)
Bowie had run into producer Niles Rodgers after one of his Tin Machine shows and the two agreed to join forces again. The intent was to go in a different direction than Let's Dance, and the result was a softer blend of jazz and pop with less emphasis on guitar or rock. For me, this was not DB's finest hour and started me to lose some interest in Bowie. Bowie is said to have wanted Lenny Kravitz for this duet (but he was not available).

#135 - David Bowie Featuring Lenny Kravitz - Buddha Of Suburbia (The Buddha Of Suburbia Soundtrack - 1993)
Bowie got his chance to work with Kravitz later that year, as he played guitar on the title track from the soundtrack for The Buddha Of Suburbia, which was a 4-part series that appeared on the BBC. (I have never seen, not have any idea what that series was about.) Bowie released this album and then quickly had a change of heart. Bowie opted to delete it from his catalog, and It was discontinued and out of circulation for almost 15 years. A lot of the music was programmed, and the performers were not Bowie regulars (save for pianist Mike Garson who appeared on a few tracks).

#134 - David Bowie - Dead Man Walking (Earthling - 1997), (Acoustic Version - 1997)
#133 - David Bowie - Seven Years In Tibet (Earthling - 1997)
I will skip over the 1995 album Outside for now (which predominantly was another less rock, more jazz, more ethereal vibe to it . . . except for a couple songs I will get to later). Earthling saw Bowie start to continue to get more in to electronic music, personified in the album version of Dead Man Walking. The acoustic version goes in a completely different direction (and is way better IMO). Seven Years In Tibet is more similar to some of Bowie's work from the 70's, blending all sorts of effects, quiet and loud sections, and distorted guitar.

#132 - David Bowie With Gail Ann Dorsey - Planet Of Dreams (Long Live Tibet - 1997)
Speaking of Tibet, this was Bowie's contribution to a benefit album for Tibet. It features Gail Ann Dorsey, his bass player that signed on in 1995 and stuck it with him the rest of the way. Even Bowie fans may never have heard this one.

#131 - David Bowie - Fun (Version 4.0) (Remix - 1997)
Not sure what to do or think about songs like this. Over the years, different people have taken stabs at remixing Bowie songs, or in some cases creating songs that didn't really exist. This one sort of falls into that category, as someone apparently took music samples and voice clips of Bowie and made various versions of the "song." Whether they ever made it into the official Bowie catalog is another story.

#130 - David Bowie - Thursday's Child (Hours - 1999), (Rock Version - 1999), (VH-1 Storytellers - 1999)
The lead track to the Hours album, Bowie seemed to have more of a mature sound. Some likened this album to the sound and feel of a Sting album. This track accentuates Bowie's vocals with the music in the background.

 

[Ghost Rider]

#134 - David Bowie - Dead Man Walking (Earthling - 1997), (Acoustic Version - 1997)
#133 - David Bowie - Seven Years In Tibet (Earthling - 1997)
I will skip over the 1995 album Outside for now (which predominantly was another less rock, more jazz, more ethereal vibe to it . . . except for a couple songs I will get to later). Earthling saw Bowie start to continue to get more in to electronic music, personified in the album version of Dead Man Walking. The acoustic version goes in a completely different direction (and is way better IMO). Seven Years In Tibet is more similar to some of Bowie's work from the 70's, blending all sorts of effects, quiet and loud sections, and distorted guitar.

I am a big fan of the studio version of Dead Man Walking, but that acoustic version, which I had never heard before, is very nice as well.

 

[Anarchy99]

Whittling away at the list to get to the Top 100 (when things should get more interesting) . . . so a few from the 2000's:

#129 - David Bowie - Sunday (Heathen - 2002), (A Reality Tour - 2003))
#128 - David Bowie Everyone Says "Hi" (Heathen - 2002), (Live - 2002)
The issue I have for most Bowie efforts from the mid-80's on is that the songs are enjoyable but not necessarily memorable. They are good songs, they are easy to listen to, but if I am going to listen to Bowie, realistically, I am not going to reach for Heathen very often (if at all). To me, these two songs fit that category. If I happen to get them on shuffle play, I won't skip over them, but I won't ever go looking for them. Sunday has some nice guitar effects and an ethereal, trippy feel to it.

#127 - David Bowie - Days (Reality - 2003), (A Reality Tour - 2003)
A beautiful song and one of Bowie's better late career ballads, although it doesn't sound like a typical DB song. It sounds like a number of other artists could have written and recorded it.

#126 - David Bowie - Love Is Lost (The Next Day - 2013), (Remix - 2013)
#125 - David Bowie - Where Are We Now? (The Next Day - 2013)
#124 - David Bowie - Valentine's Day (The Next Day - 2013)
After a 10 year hiatus, The Next Day fell out of the sky. Many people felt Bowie had retired, as he had been mostly inactive since pulling out of his 2004 part way through his 2004 tour with health concerns. A true group effort, 23 people musicians appear on the album. There are different versions of the album with 23 total songs . . . enough to have made it a double album. I would take this album out of anything Bowie did since Let's Dance. IMO, it's superior to Blackstar and would have been the perfect album to bow out on (not that I'm complaining Blackstar would show up later).

I included three songs here that in the order they appear on the album. I could probably include 10 of the 23 tracks on the list if I had room. Where Are We Now? was the first (and last) Top 10 single in the UK for Bowie . . . his first Top 10 song there in 20 years.

#123 - David Bowie -  'Tis A Pity She Was A Whore (Blackstar - 2016), (Single Version - 2016)
I know a lot of people went gaga over Blackstar, but I was so bummed at the time when Bowie died that I had a hard time listening to it for a long time. Like other fans, I got swept up in the Bowie resurgence at the time, but I mostly listened to his older stuff. Between The Next Day and Blackstar, it makes you wonder what Bowie had been doing for over a decade and what we missed out on had he stayed active.

 

[Anarchy99]

Chipping away at some earlier tracks . . .

#122 - David Bowie With The Lower Third - Can't Help Thinking About Me (Live - 1999), (Single - 1966)
Bowie took awhile to find himself in the 60's. His original single features a traditional 60's pop sound. After spending 30+ years in a virtual closet, he blew the dust off and played it for his VH-1 Storytellers appearance in 1999. He would play it live 10 more times that tour, a much more energetic and fleshed out version than the original. It sounds like the song fell right out of an Austin Powers movie.

#121 - David Bowie - Memory Of A Free Festival (David Bowie - 1969)
This was the second self-titled Bowie album. The first one was a bunch of sixties pop ditties that bore no resemblance to DB's future work. This album featured Space Oddity, which was released as a single and hit the Top 5 in the UK the first time around. Fresh off of that success from out of the blue success, Memory Of A Free Festival was the follow up single . . . and only sold a few hundred copies. But Mick Ronson's rambling fret work is heard throughout the 7 minute song (which was spilt into two for the single).

#120 - David Bowie - All The Madmen - (The Man Who Sold The World - 1970), (Live - 1987)
One of Bowie's songs about insanity, it was released as a single in Europe 3 years later. Bowie played it a couple of time . . . and then made it a staple on his 1987 tour. That was the only tour where he played the song.

#119 - David Bowie - Lady Grinning Soul (Aladdin Sane - 1973)
One of Bowie's cabaret songs, this seems like it could have been in a Broadway musical. Some people have compared it to a James Bond theme song. Featuring the rolling piano of Mike Garson.

#118 - David Bowie - Sweet Thing / Candidate (Diamond Dogs - 1974)
Bowie abruptly parted ways with the Spiders From Mars in 1973 (including guitarist Mick Ronson). Who would Bowie tab as his new lead guitarist? Some new hot shot? Someone else in the London club scene? The answer was . . . himself. Bowie played lead guitar on the entire Diamond Dogs album, and I must say, he does an excellent job. When it came time to tour, he tabbed 22-year-old New Yorker Earl Slick to take over lead guitar duties. Bowie alternates from strong vocals, to slick guitar licks (pardon the pun), to saxophone, to synthesizer on this one.

#117 - David Bowie - It's Gonna Be Me (Unreleased - 1974), (Live - 1974)
Bowie goes soul / R&B on this one . . . another track that did not make it to a studio album the first go round. It would end up on an expanded edition of Young Americans in 1991. Unlike anything else Bowie recorded, this seemed like it could have been a hit single given the type of songs that were popular at the time. The song made it to Bowie's live set for his 1974 tour.

#116 - David Bowie - Speed Of Life (Low - 1977), (Live - 1978)
#115 - David Bowie - What In The World (Low - 1977), (Live - 1983)
Bowie moved from Philly Soul to his Thin White Duke personna and then to his Berlin phase with Low. Speed Of Life is an instrumental that kicks off the album and sends the tone for Bowie's sound for the next few Bowie albums. For those that are into Bowie instrumentals, he released an album of all instrumetals in 2001 called All Saints. What In The World was a mainstay on his '78 and '83 tours and made a handful of appearnaces in 1995 and 2002 as well.

#114 - David Bowie - Blackout (Heroes - 1977), (Live - 1978)
The Heroes album continued what Low had started. A cacophony of sounds, overmodulation, and distortion that featured Robert Fripp on guitar with an assist from Brian Eno on guitar treatments.

#113 - David Bowie - Red Sails (Lodger - 1979), (Live - 1983)
Maybe this one is too high on the list, but I remember it being a fun song to see when I saw the live show in 1983. He only played it on one leg of the tour, so I guess I should feel special that I got to see / hear it live.

 

[Anarchy99]

Late push today to get halfway through . . .

#112 - David Bowie - Lightning Frightening (The Man Who Sold The World Expanded Edition - 1971)
Bowie had aspirations to become Ziggy early on, and at one point formed a band called Arnold Corns to serve as his alter eager. This was recorded in one of their sessions and later appeared on a re-release of The Man Who Sold The World. The first time they recorded together they yielded Lady Stardust and Moonage Daydream, which were later reworked for the ZS&TSFM's album.

#111 - David Bowie - Wild Eyed Boy From Free Cloud (David Bowie - 1969)
This song had a single version, an appearance on DB's first album, and a reworking for his second self-titled release. It is said that this was the first appearance of Mick Ronson on lead guitar (even though he does not receive official credit on the song). Guitarist Tim Renwick also plays electric guitar. He would go on to tour as a band member with Roger Waters, Eric Clapton, and Pink Floyd. I am guessing there aren't many songs on this list with a harp, but this would be one of them.

#110 - David Bowie - Sons Of The Silent Age (Heroes - 1977)
In the you-learn-something-new-everyday category, I was not aware that the Heroes album was improvised in the studio . . . except for Sons Of The Silent Age. It was the only song already written for the album. Bowie is back at it playing saxophone again, and the song is full of textures and layers. The mixing on his mid- to late- 70's albums are terrific. Another bang up job by producer Tony Visconti.

#109 - David Bowie - Kooks (Hunky Dory - 1971), (Live BBC - 1971)
A tough one for me to rank. Sometimes I think it is pure pop genius . . . other times it strikes me as a long-haired hippy track from the early 70's. The song was written just a few days after Bowie's son was born. The BBC recording was actual performed the song was recorded in a studio for Hunky Dory.

#108 - David Bowie - Seven (Hours - 1999), (Live - 1999), (Beck Mix 1), (Beck Mix 2), (Marius De Vries Mix)
A similar acoustic vibe (with string accompaniment), which after several forays into techo, seemed like a welcome change. The remixes all take the song in a different direction.

#107 - David Bowie - Survive (Hours - 1999), (VH-1 Storytellers - 1999)
Another song from Hours, the first complete album by a major artist available to download over the Internet. Similar in style to Seven, Gabrels performance on Storytellars was the final time he appeared with Bowie, on stage or in the studio.

#106 - David Bowie - I'll Take You There (The Next Day Extra - 2013)
One of the bonus tracks that did not appear on the initial release of The Next Day. This one was co-written by guitarist Gerry Leonard, who first started working with Bowie on the Toy album in 2001 and hung around until 2013's The Next Day.

#105  - David Bowie - Rock 'N' Roll With Me (Diamond Dogs - 1974)
Described as a power ballad, this one is said to feature the debut of Earl Slick into the House of Bowie. The song apparently was inspired by the likes of Fats Domino, Little Richard, and Lean On Me by Bill Withers.

#104 - David Bowie - Dirty Boys (The Next Day - 2013)
A battle between syncopated rhythm, saxophone, and running guitar in the background. The song features world renowned bassist Tony Levin (of Peter Gabriel and King Crimson fame). I was running out of spots, and this one could easily have gone to How Does The Grass Grow? or [You Will] Set The World On Fire off the same album. The whole album is very good.

#103 - David Bowie - Battle For Britain (The Letter) (Earthling - 1997), (A Reality Tour - 2003)
A quasi techno song (more so on the album version), this is the type of sound that sticks in my memory with regard to late 90's Bowie and his collaboration with Reeves Gabrels. I will say that Gabrels did bring a fresh perspective to some of Bowie's classic songs throughout his time touring with DB (more on those later).

#102 - David Bowie - Reality (Reality - 2003), (A Reality Tour - 2003)
An up tempo number for DB from the mostly disappointing Reality disc. This one features both Gerry Leonard and Earl Slick on guitar.  The Reality Tour was something compared to some of Bowie's other outings. He played 110 dates to over a million people, but unlike other tours, Bowie opened up his catalog to a rotation of 65 songs (more than double of the songs prepared for a tour). The download of the live album contains 32 of them.

#101 - David Bowie - Time (Aladdin Sane - 1973), (Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture - 1973), (Live - 1974), (Live - 1987)
I am a sucker for anything Ziggy (so almost by default I like the motion picture version. A lot depends on my mood, as at times this one is sometime a little to theatrical for me. So it could be Top 50 sometimes and near 150 the next. Hopefully I didn't offend too many people by listing their fave in the bottom half of the list.

 

[Anarchy99]

#100 - David Bowie - Black Country Rock (The Man Who Sold The World - 1970)
Covers: Norman Ball, Big Drill Car, Claws Of Paradise, T. Tex Edwards, Matt K. Shrugg, Cary Grace, Guppyboy, Lynn Conover, Picture Day, Princes Of The Sun

Bowie went for a T-Rex / Marc Bolan sound on this one. The music was all written when they went into the studio to record it. The lyrics were mostly done but far from settled. They started recording the song before the lyrics were finalized, and Bowie ad libbed them to get the song completed. 

 

[Anarchy99]

#99 - David Bowie - Jump They Say (Rock Mix) - (Black Tie White Noise Bonus Track - 1993), (Album Version), (Live - 1996), (Leftfield Mix), (Brothers In Rhythm Remix)
Covers: Neighbour, Studio Union, The Remote Viewers, Death To The Legion, Red Appendix, Bec Johnson, Files On The Square Egg

The extra guitar track in the Rock Mix makes all the difference to me. The original is a little too slick and a little too antiseptic for my taste. As I mentioned earlier, I am not a huge fan of Black Tie White Noise. The look, the feel, the presentation, the song writing, the production, the mix, the whole package never did much for me.

 

[Anarchy99]

#98 - David Bowie - Joe The Lion (Heroes - 1977), (Live - 1995)
Covers: Momus, Average Group, Eargasmic Phantastic, Number One Cup, Simonbath, Sons Of The Silent Age, Mercedes Ferrer

The Heroes album had great layering of guitars, and Joe The Lion is the perfect example. From the opening, there's three layers of guitar work that carries through the entire song. The song was performed live 25 times on select legs of his 1983 and 1995 tours

 

[Anarchy99]

#97 - David Bowie - New Killer Star (Reality - 2003), (A Reality Tour - 2003)
Covers: Los Morgan, Echo Bowie, Homogenized Terrestrials, New Thumper, Blow Up, 8-Bit Arcade, Fiona De Wilde
The lead track and first single from the Reality album, the song is thought to be about NYC post 9/11. Earl Slick takes the lead on guitar on this one with an assist from Gerry Leonard. The album cracked the Top 3 in the UK (one of 34 of his albums to crack the British Top 10) and just cracked the Top 30 albums in the U.S. While the album did ok, no singles charted on either side of the Atlantic.

 

[Anarchy99]

#96 - David Bowie - Little Wonder (Earthling - 1997), (Live - 2000), (Stripped Version), (Ambient Junior Mix, (Junior Vasquez Club Mix), (Danny Saber Dance Mix)
Covers: Run Toto Run, portBOWIE, SOnance HOtel, Roy Orbit, Legend Of Red Ghost, Grace db, Idiots Loop, Bowie Reloaded
Another of the industrial / techno Bowie offerings from the late 90's and early 00's. Not sure why remixing Bowie songs from that era became such a big thing, but there are at least 6 or 8 of them for this one. I added a few.  It was a regular feature on his 1997 tour (but not many performances after).

 

[Anarchy99]

#95 - David Bowie - The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell (Hours - 1999), (Live - 1999), (Stigmata Movie Version)
Covers: AGHIAZMA, The Jennifers, Uma
Let's go back to back on effects laden tracks. This one was featured in the Omikron The Nomad Soul videogame, as well as in the film Stigmata. Definitely a song with some giddy up. Reeves Gabrels plays the blistering guitar. Bowie plays a mean tambourine. This apparently is the music video for the song, but for some reason it was pulled at the last minute and was not released officially.

 

[rockaction]

#95 - David Bowie - The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell

Raw Power and Bowie-era Stooges say hello.

Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell...

 

[Anarchy99]

#94 - David Bowie - Be My Wife (Low - 1977), (Live - 1978), (Live - 1990), (Live - 2002), (A Reality Tour - 2003)
Covers: Boo Hewerdine, Rockin' Chair, Corridor, Richard Walters, Fla Mingo, The Wiles, Halomaker, Max Lorentz, Simian Ghost, Merlin

A song rumored to be about John Lennon and Yoko Ono. After 17 charting hits in the UK, Be My Wife failed to chart. Bowie loved the song and played it on many of his tours, frequently saying in the intro that it was one of his favorites.

 

[Anarchy99]

#93 - David Bowie - Sweet Head (Ziggy Stardust Expanded Edition - 1972)
Covers: Full Spectrum Domino, Vita & The Vicious, Jake Taenzler , Duouble Plow
Another of the many songs recorded for Ziggy Stardust that didn't make the cut. (Like I said several times already, they could make an album just from those tracks). A simple Ronson riff, a catchy chorus, and overall a song that deserved a much better fate. Bowie only played it live once (in 1972). Odds are the title and subject matter made the song too risque for a wider release.

 

[Anarchy99]

#92 - Tin Machine - Baby Universal (Tin Machine II - 1991), (Live - 1992), (Extended Version), (Bowie 1997 Studio Version), (Bowie Live 1996 Version)
Covers: TMS Bowie, Kontrast, Judybats, Gene The Pig
One of only two Tin Machine songs that made it to the Bowie live repertoire once the band went belly up (the other being I Can't Read, which was #141 on the list). The studio version of Baby Universal is enjoyable, but their live version was super high energy. Since I KNOW we all have time for a story . . .

Back in the day, a friend of mine snagged a 4 pack of tickets from our college radio station to go see Tin Machine in a club. Twist me arm. We asked a couple of our friends if they wanted to go. One was a moderate Bowie fan and the other was more of a casual fan "but knew his big hits." So off we went, the four horsemen of the apocalypse. 

We got there early (no seats, standing only) and got right up front leaning against the front of the stage just a little off to the side. The friend that got us the tickets was in heaven. He likes loud distorted music, and Tin Machine fit the bill to a T. One friend was enjoying the show, even though he didn't know a lot of the songs and was having fun anyway.

The band had just finished playing Baby Universal . . . it was loud, it was distorted, it was supercharged, and it was phenomenal. And then it happened. David Bowie, the man, the myth, the living legend sauntered over AND STARTED TALKING TO US. Looking down at us from three feet away, he asked if we liked that version and if it was rocking enough.

Friend #1 looked giddy as a school girl and was pretty much drooling, the moment too much for him, and he was incapable of speaking. Friend #2 nodded approvingly. I screamed it was awesome. Bowie followed up and asked if we were having a good time. And then to my shock, horror, and dismay, friend #3 opened his big, fat mouth and screamed . . . "THESE SONGS ALL F_________ SUCK! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO PLAY YOUR OLD SONGS!!!!!!" Bowie explained they weren't playing any of his solo material.

At that point I was embarrassed and quickly getting annoyed. Friend #3 . . . the one who wasn't even that big of a Bowie fan . . . was now getting all the face time with the artist formerly known as Ziggy Stardust. Bowie asked him if he liked The Pixies. Friend #3 said they were all right. Bowie then said maybe he would like the next song better (and they launched into their version of Debaser).

The legal system invented a term called JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE, and Friend #3 really pushed the limit to see if that defense would have held up in court. Rarely do I want to punch a friend smack dab in the face, but it was really hard not beating the snot out of him right then and there. We'll never know, but I will always think the courts would have seen things my way. So my memory of a magic moment interacting with an all-time music legend will forever be tainted by my dumba$$ friend.

That will do it for today. I will post a few more songs tomorrow if I have time (not that a ton of people have been following along).

 

[Anarchy99]

#91 - David Bowie - Watch That Man (Aladdin Sane - 1973), (Live - 1973), (David Live - 1974)
Covers: Reverend Alabaster, Lulu, Mark Williams, Cybernauts, The Fur Ones, Roky Moon and BOLT!, DeafboyOne Bowie, Clone, Glamarama, Christian Lipski, Professor Nomad Undercover
The first song from the Aladdin Sane album. The album itself has gotten mixed reviews over the years for being too rushed in an attempt cash in on the popularity of Ziggy Stardust. Some feel it was recorded too fast, given a sloppy mix, and hastily thrown together. This track in particular gets dinged for either having muffled vocals or the instruments being mixed too loud. Some people also say it was written and recorded to sound like the Rolling Stones.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Watch That Man is a great tune. Should be much higher.

 

[Anarchy99]

Watch That Man is a great tune. Should be much higher.

We are quickly approaching a point where those that prefer certain eras, styles, or Bowie personas will think some of the song rankings will be way off. There will have to be some collateral damage as there can't be 80 songs in the Top 20. C'est la vie.

 

[Ghost Rider]

We are quickly approaching a point where those that prefer certain eras, styles, or Bowie personas will think some of the song rankings will be way off. There will have to be some collateral damage as there can't be 80 songs in the Top 20. C'est la vie.

I get it. 

Some can knock Aladdin Sane all they want, while it's not as great as Ziggy Stardust, it's still a damn fine follow-up, and almost every song is worthy (the Stones cover is the only one I can do without).

 

[Anarchy99]

#90 - David Bowie And Mick Jagger - Dancing In The Street (Single - 1985), (Live Prince's Trust - 1986)
Speaking of The Stones, might as well get this one out of the way. The initial plan for Live Aid was to have Bowie and Jagger do a duet . . . with one performing in London and the other in Philadelphia. But that would have been a logistical nightmare with a delay in the broadcast and overseas transmittal. The workaround was prerecording the performance and have them lip sync, which neither one wanted to do. 

Instead, they opted to record something together in the studio. Bowie was recording songs in London at that point, so Jagger flew in and they recorded and mixed the song and shot the video in a total of 13 hours. The single hit #1 in the UK and #7 in the U.S. Rolling Stone readers voted it the 8th best collaboration of all-time in 2011. That being said, I always found their version to be a bit underwhelming. Maybe it had to do with me being in a Van Halen phase and this version seemed tame without EVH. The live version has quite a band backing them up, including Paul McCartney, Elton John, Mark Knopfler, Bryan Adams, Eric Clapton, and Phil Collins.

On a side note, Bowie and Jagger have long been rumored to have been more than friends (NTTAWWT). Inquiring minds can research for themselves if anyone is interested.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

#90 - David Bowie And Mick Jagger - Dancing In The Street (Single - 1985), (Live Prince's Trust - 1986)
Speaking of The Stones, might as well get this one out of the way. The initial plan for Live Aid was to have Bowie and Jagger do a duet . . . with one performing in London and the other in Philadelphia. But that would have been a logistical nightmare with a delay in the broadcast and overseas transmittal. The workaround was prerecording the performance and have them lip sync, which neither one wanted to do. 

Instead, they opted to record something together in the studio. Bowie was recording songs in London at that point, so Jagger flew in and they recorded and mixed the song and shot the video in a total of 13 hours. The single hit #1 in the UK and #7 in the U.S. Rolling Stone readers voted it the 8th best collaboration of all-time in 2011. That being said, I always found their version to be a bit underwhelming. Maybe it had to do with me being in a Van Halen phase and this version seemed tame without EVH. The live version has quite a band backing them up, including Paul McCartney, Elton John, Mark Knopfler, Bryan Adams, Eric Clapton, and Phil Collins.

On a side note, Bowie and Jagger have long been rumored to have been more than friends (NTTAWWT). Inquiring minds can research for themselves if anyone is interested.

I'm a huge fan of both Mick and Bowie but this version of the song is embarrassingly bad.

 

[Anarchy99]

#89 - David Bowie - Up The Hill Backwards (Scary Monsters - 1980), (Demo - 1980), (Live - 1987)
Covers: Cog Nomen, Paul, Del Griffiths, Panaromic Voices, Zuza, Daylight Savings and Loan, Foreign Technology
The Scary Monsters album is said to have a lot of overtones and lyrics about DB dealing with getting divorced. I'll have to take people's word on that one. It was the 4th single off the album.

The live version is how the shows on the 1987 world tour kicked off each night. Carlos Alomar is the one shredding to get things started. I just remember getting impatient waiting for the show to start (there was no opener). The lights went out and then we all got an earful of screaming guitar. Then a bunch of dancers in costume came up. The whole thing was very surreal. Bowie played Up The Hill Backwards on his 150+ dates on the tour and then never again.

I saw the show at the Hartford Civic Center. I went and looked back, man was that a year to see some shows. I was a hardcore concert goer back then. Here's a partial list of who came around in that venue in 1987: Billy Joel, Genesis, Grateful Dead, Bon Jovi, Deep Purple, Huey Lewis, U2, Bryan Adams, Duran Duran, Heart, Roger Waters, Whitesnake, Motley Crue, CSNY, Def Leppard, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Boston, Rush, John Mellencamp, and Yes. Back when you could get into a concert for $15-20. It was a great time to be young and insane.

 

[Anarchy99]

#88 - David Bowie - Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy Stardust Expanded - 1972)
Covers: Candice B. Fair, kpurocks, Alueyste, Luis Yepes, Norman Ball, Billboard Masters, Sweet Wine, Sophya Baccini's Aradia, Globelamp
Another initially unreleased track intended for Ziggy Stardust. Recorded in 1971, this one got pulled from the album in favor of Starman. It ended up being a B Side in 1975. Bowie never performed it live.

 

[Anarchy99]

#87 - David Bowie - Warzawa (Low - 1977), (Live - 1978), (Live - 2002)
Covers: Geir Sundstøl, Donny McCaslin, Dylan Howe, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Philip Glass, Oni Sakti, Gary Kibler
A beautiful Bowie / Eno (mostly) instrumental collaboration, Bowie kicked off his 1978 shows with it. The album version is essentially a duet between those two. Given all the other loud, dissonant, guitar driven songs Bowie developed in the mid 70's, this type of song really shows how diverse a catalog DB had. For those into ambient music and electronica, Brian Eno has his own expansive catalog to delve into.
 

 

[Anarchy99]

#86 - David Bowie - I Can't Give Everything Away (Blackstar - 2016)
Covers: Nine Inch Nails, Aladdin Insane, Seb Wesson, Mandy Cook, SKYES, Vinzenz Stergin, Snakeskin, Evan Ziporyn, Berlin Heart
A song with elements from a lot of Bowie's career, there's segments that sound like his late pop-80's sound, snippets of harmonica that could be from Low, saxophone similar to Young Americans, guitar work that comes to the forefront like on Heroes or Scary Monsters, and overall an airy and superbly mixed song. This was one of his final songs, as he was essentially a dead man walking at this point. The NIN version includes vocals from Bowie to make for an eerie duet. Bowie was one of Trent Reznor's idols.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

#89 - David Bowie - Up The Hill Backwards (Scary Monsters - 1980), (Demo - 1980), (Live - 1987)
The live version is how the shows on the 1987 world tour kicked off each night. Carlos Alomar is the one shredding to get things started. I just remember getting impatient waiting for the show to start (there was no opener). The lights went out and then we all got an earful of screaming guitar. Then a bunch of dancers in costume came up. The whole thing was very surreal. Bowie played Up The Hill Backwards on his 150+ dates on the tour and then never again.

I saws him on that tour at Giants Stadium and he did have two opening acts: Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam and Squeeze. Bowie's set started the same way, including the "SHUT UP".

 

[Anarchy99]

I saws him on that tour at Giants Stadium and he did have two opening acts: Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam and Squeeze. Bowie's set started the same way, including the "SHUT UP".

When I saw him it was in an arena. Apparently they had an issue that the giant spider wouldn't fit in most arenas, so they had to redesign a smaller one for smaller venues. I remember reading somewhere that there were numerous technical issues and glitches along the way. At the time, IIRC, it was the largest touring set for a musical act (not sure if it still is considered that now). It was also very expensive to be moving / assembling / breaking down two different sets, especially in cities with only one show. That may have played into there being no opener(s) for the show that I saw. Pepsi was a sponsor, and the tour was supposed to continue to places like Russia and South America into 1988. But those dates never materialized, and the tour stopped a little abruptly after 8 months on the road.

But since you mentioned opening acts, there were others besides the ones you mentioned, and those varied depending upon the leg of the tour and the countries involved. Others included Duran Duran, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Iggy Pop, Big Country, The Cult, Erasure, The Stranglers, Nina Hagen, and The Eurythmics.

 

[Anarchy99]

#85 - David Bowie - The Width Of A Circle (The Man Who Sold The World - 1970), (Live - 1972), (Full Version - 1972), (David Live - 1974)
The live version from the 1972 tour was the show stopping number in a set with pretty much all show stopping numbers. The first live version I listed has the video to go along with the music. Many years later, they would release the full 15-minute version of the song. Fifteen minutes of Mick Ronson abusing a guitar? Yes, please. The song resurfaced for the 1974 with Earl Slick taking over for Ronson. It's still very good and well perfromed . . . but it's not the off the chains Ronson version.

I considered ranking this one way higher, but there are so many better known songs still to get to. However, it still is both a very long song and not all that melodic. Still a great song, but it's not a song people are going to listen to everyday.

 

[Anarchy99]

#84 - David Bowie - Word On A Wing (Station To Station - 1976), (Live - 1976), (Live - 1999)
Covers: Knox Bronson, Ruby Weapon, Eric & Jeff Clayton, The Mountain Goats, Jack McKeever, Abe Maneri, 
The Thin White Duke at his coke-fueled best lyrically and vocally. Bowie at one point said that he was so impacted by being in the film The Man Who Fell To Earth that he had a spiritual rebirth, which was reflected in his development of Word On A Wing. The song was regularly performed on the various legs of his 1976 tour. It came to life again for 7 performances in 1999.

 

[Anarchy99]

Let's take one song from each of the Berlin trilogy albums.

#83 - David Bowie - Beauty And The Beast (Heroes - 1977), (Extended Version - 1977), (Live - 1978)
Covers: Pyrosonics, portBOWIE, гр.Дифференс, Scrote, Showroomdummies, Deliverance

Another song that sounds just like Bowie but doesn't sound like his other songs. It features Robert Fripp on guitar, who has said he walked into the studio cold and recorded the guitar on this track in one take. It was released as a single, the follow up to Heroes, and did very little in terms of charts and sales. Bowie performed it on his 1978 tour and never again.

#82 - David Bowie - Look Back In Anger (Lodger - 1979), (1988 version), (Live - 1983), (Live - 1996), (Live - 2002), (Live - 1988), (Live - 1995)
Covers: Eric Clayton, Shearwater, Enrique Bunbury, The Fabulous Mercenaries, Donny McCaslin Quartet, Waltari, Jonathan Snipes, Swans Of Avon, Tender Fury
The last of 4 singles off of the Lodger album . . . AKA as the one from the 70's I hardly ever listen to. Look, there's nothing wrong with the album. It's just not one I would seek out over any of the other ones from the decade. If that makes it underrated, so be it. Bowie played this one live for almost 30 years (with a 10+ year break in the middle), starting in 1983 and ending in 2002. He played it a total of 200 times. The 1988 performance I linked is said to be the first ever appearance of DB with Reeves Gabrels.

#81 - David Bowie - Always Crashing In The Same Car (Low - 1977), (Live - 1997), (Live Acoustic - 1997), (Live - 1999), (Live - 2000), (Live - 2002), (Live - 2004)
Covers: Blocksy, Bluvertigo, Lauren Napier, Philippe Jaroussky, Mondegreen, Hollowblue, Ultramar, Motoboy, Chairlift, King Black Acid, Yummy Fur, Steve Salas, Danny Michel, Id Guiness, Plastic FanTastics, Fletcher Harrington, Cristin Milioti, Disappears, Clifford Slapper, 
Said to be about a real life experience, in which Bowie felt that a drug dealer had ripped him off. As the story goes, Bowie was so peeved at the guy that he intentionally drove his Mercedes into the drug dealer's car as payback. Ricky Gardiner provides the guitar solo at the end. Another one of the headscratchers as far as live performances go. Recorded in 1977 . . . and first performed in 1997. But then played on every tour thereafter.

 

[Anarchy99]

#80 - Tin Machine - Baby Can Dance (Tin Machine - 1989), (Live - 1989)
Probably ranked too high, but I do like the distorted background guitar noise from Gabrels. The backdrop sounds similar to Innuendo by Queen.

#79 - David Bowie - Andy Warhol (Hunky Dory - 1971), (Live - 1972), (Live - 1995),(Live - 1996), (Acoustic - 1997)
Covers: Stone Temple Pilots, Simple Minds, Gerry Leonard, Dana Gillespie, Laundromaths, Lady Besery's Garden, Temporary Hero, Redunzl, Kissin Kippers Fishin Club, Ghost Transmission, Treepeople, Serafin, Dorian Wood, Robert Keene, New Riot Act, Love Outside Andromeda, Zzzang Tumb, Tubalcain, Caecilie Norby
It's just Bowie and Ronson on this one from Hunky Dory. Andy Warhol was a childhood icon and inspiration to Bowie. Before the album came out, Bowie sent a copy to Warhol and Bowie also went to perform the song in person. Warhol did not provide an opinion and Bowie said he never could tell if Warhol liked the performance or not. Bowie played it while touring in 1972, 1995, 1996, and 1997. All of the versions I linked are all quite different.

#78 - David Bowie - Aladdin Sane (1913–1938–197?) (Aladdin Sane - 1973), (Live - 1974), (Live - 1996), (Acoustic - 1996), (Live - 1997)
Covers: Tenn Jinn, Adam Rudegeair, Pierrejean Gaucher, El Guillermazzo, Mark Stanley, Adam Minkoff's Vaalbara, Federica Zammarchi
A jazzy version with some rolling piano from Mike Garson. Garson first tried the solo in a blues style, then with a Latin twist. Bowie was not a fan and asked for an avant-garde jazz solo instead. The piano solo on the album was completely improvised and recorded in one take. Rolling Stone described the song as "hothouse orientalism, jagged, dissonant and daring, yet also wistful and backward-looking." The dates in the title were said to be a reference to a potential third world war. Bowie performed it live in 73/74/96/97.