I happen to like this "double record" that came out during Bowie's Diamond Dogs Tour. If you're looking for some live 70's Bowie, this is it - although if the shows had been filmed, you'd really get to witness the "glam" of a glam rock show. The tour was Bowie’s most ambitious to date (he certainly was a start by now) and featured a giant set designed to evoke “Hunger Cityâ€, the post-apocalyptic setting for the Diamond Dogs. Musically, there are a lot of classic Bowie hits, plus a good array of album tracks through Diamond Dogs. The music obviously showcased Bowie’s most recent studio album at the time, Diamond Dogs and included a number of favorites from the 1972-73 Ziggy and Alladin Sane tours and concluded with Ziggy’s funeral song, "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide"
I have been listening to the various versions of this album for 30+ years and know every nuance, musical cue, lyric and sound emitted from the audience. In 2005, another re-release was made. Producer Tony Visconti oversaw the remastering of this version and returned the recording to the show's original order and included previously unreleased material. While Visconti and Bowie had worked together previously, the two later split and remained split for many years to come. However, for this show, Visconti was due to be there for the recordings, but was held up in New York….or so the story goes.
In the remastered version, the one-dimensional sound is gone and Bowie actually sounds like he is in front of the band. Ahhh, technology. The stereo separation is pronounced and the individual instruments and backing vocals are clearly recognizable. Of special note - Space Oddity was finally able to be included on the CD due to technology that did not exist back in 1974. During the show, Bowie was suspended high above the arena and sung the into radio mic disguised as a telephone as he fell to the stage on a cherry picker. The quality was so bad it could not be included on the original album. Also, if you’re interested, the new liner notes by Visconti and Bowie are fantastic and include a complete list of Bowie’s 1974 concerts.
For some trivia – Bowie has always been known among the musician circles as a bit “cheap†when it came to paying his musicians. Interestingly, The Tower Philadelphia shows on July 14 and 15 were almost cancelled at the last moment when Bowie's band (which included jazz great David Sanborn), after hearing the news that the shows were to be recorded for an album, refused to play without an increased fee in line with the normal recording rates. Bowie typically paid $150.00 per band member. He relented and increased the fee to $5,000.00.
Posted by jbcardinale on 2007-03-12 14:51:30 +0000
Wow, thanks Chopper, I didn't think this was worth re-visiting. I always liked his versions of "Knock On Wood" and "All The Young Dudes". I can remember I bought this record when it came out at The Harvard Coop, a major investment as I had no job. When I had listened to listen to it way too many times, I traded it for "Physical Graffiti" with a friend... oh, no ...
Posted by G lib on 2007-03-12 15:14:25 +0000
<i>During the show, Bowie was suspended high above the arena and sung the into radio mic disguised as a telephone as he fell to the stage on a cherry picker.</i>
DAMN!
Thanks for your take, Chopper. It's always really interesting always to hear your perspective about the albums and all of the trivia/backstory you have to offer.
Posted by Chopper on 2007-03-13 11:12:45 +0000
My pleasure G lib. I have been a Bowie fan since I was about 8 years old. I was obsessed as a kid and through my teens and twenties. I will continue to write my blurbs each week as long as they are interesting to some. And as Bowie used to write when he signed autographs during the Diamond Dogs era...."Love on ya!"
Posted by pamsterdam on 2007-03-13 11:54:28 +0000
I definitely also find your contributions very interesting and entertaining to read, Chopper. Thank you.
Posted by Epoisses on 2007-03-16 05:07:37 +0000
After a bunch of listens, I gotta say that this shit is way more boring than the studio versions. Next!
I have been listening to the various versions of this album for 30+ years and know every nuance, musical cue, lyric and sound emitted from the audience. In 2005, another re-release was made. Producer Tony Visconti oversaw the remastering of this version and returned the recording to the show's original order and included previously unreleased material. While Visconti and Bowie had worked together previously, the two later split and remained split for many years to come. However, for this show, Visconti was due to be there for the recordings, but was held up in New York….or so the story goes.
In the remastered version, the one-dimensional sound is gone and Bowie actually sounds like he is in front of the band. Ahhh, technology. The stereo separation is pronounced and the individual instruments and backing vocals are clearly recognizable. Of special note - Space Oddity was finally able to be included on the CD due to technology that did not exist back in 1974. During the show, Bowie was suspended high above the arena and sung the into radio mic disguised as a telephone as he fell to the stage on a cherry picker. The quality was so bad it could not be included on the original album. Also, if you’re interested, the new liner notes by Visconti and Bowie are fantastic and include a complete list of Bowie’s 1974 concerts.
For some trivia – Bowie has always been known among the musician circles as a bit “cheap†when it came to paying his musicians. Interestingly, The Tower Philadelphia shows on July 14 and 15 were almost cancelled at the last moment when Bowie's band (which included jazz great David Sanborn), after hearing the news that the shows were to be recorded for an album, refused to play without an increased fee in line with the normal recording rates. Bowie typically paid $150.00 per band member. He relented and increased the fee to $5,000.00.
DAMN!
Thanks for your take, Chopper. It's always really interesting always to hear your perspective about the albums and all of the trivia/backstory you have to offer.