Ah, you betcha! Queen Bitch is hands down my favorite Bowie song ever! I love the way he opens the song by scatting the guitar riff vocally, then the acoustic playing said riff, then the electric. It's just fantastic, and never has a tastier riff been played on a Les Paul. You mention the guitar not being double-tracked, but two separate riffs playing at the same time, it also sounds like he's doing the same thing with the vocals on the chorus. The live clip is great - love the proto-Ziggy. This song is also used to good effect in "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" over the end credits. I love that fucking song! I have the Ryko version of Hunky Dory, and agree with you about "Bombers," too. Thanks for another great episode, Hollis.
Such a killer song! I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t like Queen Bitch. And I loved the use of Bowie’s songs in The Life Aquatic-both the originals and what Seu George did with them. Thanks for the kind words; so glad you enjoyed the episode!
Wow! Anthony Newley! I never would of thought of comparing David Bowie to Anthony Newley but it is so spot on! I had the pleasure of seeing David Bowie on Broadway in The Elephant Man. I was in high school at the time and I was a huge Bowie fan. It was amazing to see Bowie transform himself into the disfigured John Merrick with no makeup at all. He was underrated as an actor and brilliant as a musician. Thanks to your 50th Anniversary special, I’m going to put some Hunky Dory tunes on my playlist. Merry Christmas!!
So happy to have put the album back on your radar! I really envy you seeing that production of the Elephant Man. I remember when it was going on, and it sounded like the perfect thing for David to do. I totally agree he was super underrated as an actor. He needn’t do anything and he simply radiates personality on screen. Thanks for the comment!
An excellent review, you clearly know your stuff. Hunky dory is my third favourite Bowie album, behind Ziggy Stardust and Low. Whilst I agree that Fill Your Heart is the weakest song, Eight Line Poem has always been one of my favourites, I just love the lyrics and the beautiful guitar parts. There is so much variety on this album and yet it coalesces into a magnificent unified whole.
Thanks so much, Edmund! Glad you enjoyed the episode. I will say that guitar work on Eight Line Poem is beautiful. There really is great variety on this LP, and the disparate parts shouldn't work, yet somehow they do. It is a unified whole as you say. I love how each song on Hunky Dory sort of points to moods of future albums; each with their own style. But on Hunky Dory we don't have to choose just one; there's a song for every mood. Just one more reason Bowie was a genius.
Wow what a great album! I have to admit that when listening to the vinyl, I find the first side to be a masterpiece while the second half not as amazing, but it's still very good
That's so funny you feel that way, because I enjoy the songs on side one a lot, but side two (EXCEPT for Fill Your Heart) is my favorite. I love the ragged aggression of side two. But it just speaks to Bowie's brilliance that the whole album has something for everyone.
I swear you're stalking me Hollis. I just posted Modern Lovers a couple days ago in response to a Pablo Picasso reference. Btw, you mislinked Bombers, it's going to Queen Bitch instead (not that I minded listening to such a great tune again). Speaking of Queen Bitch, I love me some Eddie Cochran, I can't believe I never noticed the similarity to the Three Steps to Heaven riff.
I'm not stalking you; you just have good taste! Thanks for the heads up on Bombers; It's been fixed. And don't kick yourself for not catching the Cochran riff. All truly talented artists steal in a way that isn't obvious.
@@PopCultureGraveyard Yea, the timing is just freaky though. If I was a "woo" kind of person I would swear that people's brainwaves link up on some level or some such shit.
I saw David play Quicksand live with just a 12 string guitar in a 'small for bowie ' student venue , alas he spoiled the reverie by then blasting through his 'earthman drum & base era set ' .. Still a lifetime memory though .. Aladdin Sane Is still my go-to LP . I blame imagery on the double gatefold sleeve had on a pre teen kid ... Everyone forgets Hunky Dory was a critical hit but commercial 'flop' on release RCA didn't think it was worth the budget to promote. It took a post Starman/Ziggy re release mid 72 where it actually achieved a higher UK LP chart position than Stardust. Life On Mars had to wait a further 12 months for a top 5 UK single release
I envy you that memory, Martin! But it wouldn't have been Bowie if he hadn't "spoiled" things with a hard left turn, and I respect him for that. He never did let his audience get too comfortable. Aladdin Sane is genius for sure. And you're so right; the success of the Ziggy album was the rising tide that lifted all boats. That's the only reason Hunky Dory--and for that matter, TMWSTW and "Space Oddity"--ended up making money. In retrospect the Man Who Sold The World bootleggers probably made more money on that LP than Mercury ever did. What an amazing catalog of albums David had. Thanks for the comment!
@@PopCultureGraveyard tbh the set list that night (23 July 97) was amazing and I was deaf for three days afterwards as we stood too close to the (too big for the venue ) PA to get the closest view of the stage . Amazingly there's a fan video of the concert and we actually sung Quicksand to David whilst he played guitar. I'll drop the link below th-cam.com/video/441YO0-dCjE/w-d-xo.html
Fantastic tribute, I followed every link and was amazed… thank you!
Ah, you betcha! Queen Bitch is hands down my favorite Bowie song ever! I love the way he opens the song by scatting the guitar riff vocally, then the acoustic playing said riff, then the electric. It's just fantastic, and never has a tastier riff been played on a Les Paul. You mention the guitar not being double-tracked, but two separate riffs playing at the same time, it also sounds like he's doing the same thing with the vocals on the chorus. The live clip is great - love the proto-Ziggy. This song is also used to good effect in "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" over the end credits. I love that fucking song! I have the Ryko version of Hunky Dory, and agree with you about "Bombers," too. Thanks for another great episode, Hollis.
Such a killer song! I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t like Queen Bitch. And I loved the use of Bowie’s songs in The Life Aquatic-both the originals and what Seu George did with them. Thanks for the kind words; so glad you enjoyed the episode!
Wow! Anthony Newley! I never would of thought of comparing David Bowie to Anthony Newley but it is so spot on! I had the pleasure of seeing David Bowie on Broadway in The Elephant Man. I was in high school at the time and I was a huge Bowie fan. It was amazing to see Bowie transform himself into the disfigured John Merrick with no makeup at all. He was underrated as an actor and brilliant as a musician. Thanks to your 50th Anniversary special, I’m going to put some Hunky Dory tunes on my playlist. Merry Christmas!!
So happy to have put the album back on your radar! I really envy you seeing that production of the Elephant Man. I remember when it was going on, and it sounded like the perfect thing for David to do. I totally agree he was super underrated as an actor. He needn’t do anything and he simply radiates personality on screen. Thanks for the comment!
Great review. Your music taste is impeccable.
Thank you, my friend!
Good timing, I just scored a really nice original copy. One of my favorites
Well done! This is definitely an album that’s worth paying up for an original.
An excellent review, you clearly know your stuff. Hunky dory is my third favourite Bowie album, behind Ziggy Stardust and Low. Whilst I agree that Fill Your Heart is the weakest song, Eight Line Poem has always been one of my favourites, I just love the lyrics and the beautiful guitar parts. There is so much variety on this album and yet it coalesces into a magnificent unified whole.
Thanks so much, Edmund! Glad you enjoyed the episode. I will say that guitar work on Eight Line Poem is beautiful. There really is great variety on this LP, and the disparate parts shouldn't work, yet somehow they do. It is a unified whole as you say. I love how each song on Hunky Dory sort of points to moods of future albums; each with their own style. But on Hunky Dory we don't have to choose just one; there's a song for every mood. Just one more reason Bowie was a genius.
Great stuff, as always.
Thank you, Max! Happy you enjoyed it. And I’m so glad your shout-out happened in such a cool episode!
Wow what a great album! I have to admit that when listening to the vinyl, I find the first side to be a masterpiece while the second half not as amazing, but it's still very good
That's so funny you feel that way, because I enjoy the songs on side one a lot, but side two (EXCEPT for Fill Your Heart) is my favorite. I love the ragged aggression of side two. But it just speaks to Bowie's brilliance that the whole album has something for everyone.
Andy Warhol not liking David Bowie's tribute proves he actually was a robot.
Haha! No wonder Andy was always so comfortable in a factory!
I swear you're stalking me Hollis. I just posted Modern Lovers a couple days ago in response to a Pablo Picasso reference. Btw, you mislinked Bombers, it's going to Queen Bitch instead (not that I minded listening to such a great tune again). Speaking of Queen Bitch, I love me some Eddie Cochran, I can't believe I never noticed the similarity to the Three Steps to Heaven riff.
I'm not stalking you; you just have good taste! Thanks for the heads up on Bombers; It's been fixed. And don't kick yourself for not catching the Cochran riff. All truly talented artists steal in a way that isn't obvious.
@@PopCultureGraveyard Yea, the timing is just freaky though. If I was a "woo" kind of person I would swear that people's brainwaves link up on some level or some such shit.
I saw David play Quicksand live with just a 12 string guitar in a 'small for bowie ' student venue , alas he spoiled the reverie by then blasting through his 'earthman drum & base era set ' .. Still a lifetime memory though ..
Aladdin Sane Is still my go-to LP . I blame imagery on the double gatefold sleeve had on a pre teen kid ...
Everyone forgets Hunky Dory was a critical hit but commercial 'flop' on release RCA didn't think it was worth the budget to promote. It took a post Starman/Ziggy re release mid 72 where it actually achieved a higher UK LP chart position than Stardust. Life On Mars had to wait a further 12 months for a top 5 UK single release
I envy you that memory, Martin! But it wouldn't have been Bowie if he hadn't "spoiled" things with a hard left turn, and I respect him for that. He never did let his audience get too comfortable. Aladdin Sane is genius for sure. And you're so right; the success of the Ziggy album was the rising tide that lifted all boats. That's the only reason Hunky Dory--and for that matter, TMWSTW and "Space Oddity"--ended up making money. In retrospect the Man Who Sold The World bootleggers probably made more money on that LP than Mercury ever did. What an amazing catalog of albums David had. Thanks for the comment!
@@PopCultureGraveyard tbh the set list that night (23 July 97) was amazing and I was deaf for three days afterwards as we stood too close to the (too big for the venue ) PA to get the closest view of the stage . Amazingly there's a fan video of the concert and we actually sung Quicksand to David whilst he played guitar. I'll drop the link below th-cam.com/video/441YO0-dCjE/w-d-xo.html
wow - too many cut in and outs. Took away from what you were trying to communicate.