Tin Machine. I know it's not for everyone, and some literally hate it, but it grew on me and I fondly remember being in The Slug and Lettuce (a British pub chain) and putting it on the jukebox.
@@L33Reacts There's an overused (but apposite) term for us in the UK; "Bowie Casualties". I was 13 when this came out and already fully invested in St Dave. Golden decade. Matchless. He's UK's weird Elvis, but just leagues better.
For me, "We Are the Dead" is the emotional peak of this brilliant record. There's a tormented despair about it that never really lets up in the rest of the album, despite a certain stylistic disparity (title track "Diamond Dogs" and "Rebel Rebel" are more Rolling Stones or glam-rock, while "Rock “n” Roll with Me" is closer to soul and "1984" more disco-funk, while all the other tracks are darker in a more arty vein). In my opinion, this is one of Bowie's greatest records, in which he foreshadows the soul direction of Young Americans as much as the future experimentation of Low and "Heroes".
I give a slight edge to Sweet Thing, but We Are the Dead comes close. It's also one of the hardest things I've ever tried to sing and play. I don't know if Bowie ever performed it live. It's my favourite Bowie album.
@@delorangeade No, unfortunately Bowie never played "We Are the Dead" live. For one reason or another, he didn't include some of his songs in his live tracklists, including this one (I'm also thinking of "After All", "Lady Stardust", "Lady Grinning Soul", "Win", "Somebody Up There Likes Me", "Subterraneans", "The Secret Life Of Arabia", "Scream Like a Baby", "Because You’re Young"...). Yep, Diamond Dogs is one of my favourite Bowie albums too, tied with "Heroes".
Agree….to me, We Are the Dead, Big Brother, Candidate/Sweet Thing are the songs that align themselves with the dystopian vision that Bowie was going for. 1984 does in name, but it is more a single for radio as is Rebel Rebel.
We Are the Dead is a work of genius in my book, both lyrically and musically. The way the vocals are phrased over the chord changes, is very hard to get right, and in trying to perform the song myself I would forget to breathe in the right places to make it through.
And I always like things about 1984, there are tons of rock albums about 1984, this is one of the best. The book is such a masterpiece, the concept is really attractive and scary at the same time
I really appreciate when you call out a particular instrument, because it is never the one that I noticed at that point, and that makes me listen differently to these records that I thought I knew backwards. Thank you for lending me your ears. ETA: Reading that back, it sounds a bit weird. Such is life.
This whole album is all based on a well known book in britain called 1984 by gorge orwell called 1984 about a future britain written in 1948, as if it were written by william burroughs.
It took decades for it to dawn on me that 1984 is disco. That and Big Brother and Chant are all pretty groovy/funky, suggesting that DB was trying to come up with a new style.
This so takes me back to high-school grad era. Great great creative sonic salad. The controversy with the album cover was, the original showed the dogs "parts". Then they reprinted without that. FYI a copy of the original album with the "Parts" is VERY valuable. Depending on the quality (still in plastic and unused) ... $4000 +
I remember hearing "1984" on the radio in the mid seventies when I was a kid. The violin flourishes and the wah-wah guitar licks over funky bass line evoke the sound of Isaac Hayes "Shaft" and Curtis Mayfield "Don't Worry". I didn't read Nineteen Eighty-Four until 1980 and then I blinked and it was 1984 and Bowie was still riding high off the strength of Let's Dance.
I remember when I was a kid listening to "We are the Dead" on my older sister's album. When David sang "defecating ecstasy" I was puzzled because I didn't know what defecating meant. I went downstairs and asked my mother what defecating meant. She looked at me weird and said, "it's having a bowel movement, why, where did you hear that word?" So I told her, "David Bowie sang about defecating ecstasy". She said, UGH! and shook her head. 😂😂😂
Engaging reaction. Glad you included 'We Are the Dead', which is one of the best tracks on this fabulous album. Just go through Bowie's albums in order. They are all good.
@@jyjjy7 You know, I am NLMD's biggest defender. It was the first CD I ever bought (obviously, it was all vinyl up till then). NLMD has some great tracks, not least of which is the title track; it has never let me down when I listen to it. And you know what? If you just stick Tonight on and go about your business and say, 'hey, I'm just listening to some music here' it is a decent album. I know even Bowie was down on this album, but hey, he claimed The Buddha of Suburbia was his favourite from his own albums. How many agree with that choice?
I'd describe this album as speculatively haunting because it speculates about a possible future opening with Halloween Jack singing from the too of a dilapidated skyscraper to a haunted conclusion as if we've all been through this before like time circling around. This is one of those albums that the more you want to listen to it the more you want to listen to it
As you said, Lee, you can't go wrong with Bowie. As a big shuffle-play enthusiast, I honestly think it makes the most sense to tackle the rest of his album catalog by picking their titles out of a hat to determine which will be next, and next, and so on, rather than a fan-favorite or chronological approach.
Doing them chronologically suits me fine, which is why I recommend going back to do Space Oddity before Young Americans. Also the 1964 single Liza Jane released as Davie Jones and The King Bees, when he was just 17, is worth checking out.
"We are the dead," he said. "We are the dead," echoed Julia dutifully. "You are the dead," said an iron voice behind them. Actual lines from the novel. '1984'.
I hope you keep going with Bowie’s catalog. On Station to Station he picks up my favourite Bowie rhythm section: Dennis Davis and George Murray, who he uses throughout the Berlin trilogy. The drumming on Lodger is some of my favourite.
I think this is Bowie's last great album until Let's Dance. I'm not saying there wasn't great songs on the next few albums, but as far as the whole album, this is it for awhile, imo.
That list seems wrong?? Bowie played and recorded most of this album himself and brought in musicians to fill in at points. Great album and great to hear your reaction x
"We are the dead," he said. "We are the dead," echoed Julia dutifully. "You are the dead," said an iron voice behind them. Actual lines from the novel. '1984'.
David Bowie stole Adrian Belew from Frank Zappa. Thus the song YO MAMA (Sheik Yur Bootie) was born. The song is telling Adrian to run to David so he can take care of him. PS: Adrian performed in the tune YO MAMA, knowing it was about himself.
You need to get Dunbar more. If being Frank Zappa's MOST recorded drummer weren't enough--which SHOULD BE enough for any drummer to hear--then, being the first guy David Bowie turned to to replace Mick Woodmansey should close the case. Oh, and he was also the original Journey drummer, as well as manning the drum seat for Jefferson Starship hits (Jane and others), John Mayall, Whitesnake, Jeff Beck--need I go on?! Check out his work--particularly with Zappa--and you'll get why he was GENIUS!
To each their own, but the arc of DD/Live/YA is difficult for me to have much interest in returning to - especially since the "Spiders/Visconti" and "Station/Berlin" periods are so wonderful, in comparison.
I anxiously awaited this album and got it first day it was released- let’s put it this way - probably the least listened to of all of them. Some interesting stuff and I tried really hard because you won’t find a bigger Bowie fan
What are we doing next by Bowie? Let me know!
Do 'Low' next. So completely different!
The Live album followed this one and it’s really good.
Outside.1
Pin Ups! Often overlooked Bowie classic.
Tin Machine. I know it's not for everyone, and some literally hate it, but it grew on me and I fondly remember being in The Slug and Lettuce (a British pub chain) and putting it on the jukebox.
Bowie fucked up half a generation of kids' minds in the 70s. I'm proud to be one of them........
I love it lol he broke everyone that needed it. People just don’t get it.
@@L33Reacts There's an overused (but apposite) term for us in the UK; "Bowie Casualties". I was 13 when this came out and already fully invested in St Dave.
Golden decade. Matchless. He's UK's weird Elvis, but just leagues better.
For me, "We Are the Dead" is the emotional peak of this brilliant record. There's a tormented despair about it that never really lets up in the rest of the album, despite a certain stylistic disparity (title track "Diamond Dogs" and "Rebel Rebel" are more Rolling Stones or glam-rock, while "Rock “n” Roll with Me" is closer to soul and "1984" more disco-funk, while all the other tracks are darker in a more arty vein). In my opinion, this is one of Bowie's greatest records, in which he foreshadows the soul direction of Young Americans as much as the future experimentation of Low and "Heroes".
I give a slight edge to Sweet Thing, but We Are the Dead comes close. It's also one of the hardest things I've ever tried to sing and play. I don't know if Bowie ever performed it live. It's my favourite Bowie album.
@@delorangeade No, unfortunately Bowie never played "We Are the Dead" live. For one reason or another, he didn't include some of his songs in his live tracklists, including this one (I'm also thinking of "After All", "Lady Stardust", "Lady Grinning Soul", "Win", "Somebody Up There Likes Me", "Subterraneans", "The Secret Life Of Arabia", "Scream Like a Baby", "Because You’re Young"...). Yep, Diamond Dogs is one of my favourite Bowie albums too, tied with "Heroes".
Very good comment.
@@davidcopson5800 Thank you !
Agree….to me, We Are the Dead, Big Brother, Candidate/Sweet Thing are the songs that align themselves with the dystopian vision that Bowie was going for. 1984 does in name, but it is more a single for radio as is Rebel Rebel.
Regardless of how long I listen to Bowie. 46 years plus! ,The man's full of surprises
This album is awesome
I like the mystery atmosphere of it
We Are the Dead is a work of genius in my book, both lyrically and musically. The way the vocals are phrased over the chord changes, is very hard to get right, and in trying to perform the song myself I would forget to breathe in the right places to make it through.
No one writes music like Bowie.
This album is so awesome 😍
50 years being.
You must listen to David Live in it's entirety. Perfection
Enjoy Bowie ... always different
Big Brother... such a hidden gem!
And I always like things about 1984, there are tons of rock albums about 1984, this is one of the best. The book is such a masterpiece, the concept is really attractive and scary at the same time
“We are the Dead” is a very direct reference to the book 1984
Always loved Station to Station.
Epic album amongst many
All songs are at the paramount level.
1984 is a classic.
I really appreciate when you call out a particular instrument, because it is never the one that I noticed at that point, and that makes me listen differently to these records that I thought I knew backwards.
Thank you for lending me your ears.
ETA: Reading that back, it sounds a bit weird. Such is life.
I have never liked Diamond Dogs but it if fascinating to hear other people's opinions of it; glad to see that it brings pleasure to so many.
Very much enjoying the Bowie catalogue that I missed. Thanks Lee.
DAVID LIVE!!! 🥹 pleeeze
Absolute gold!
This whole album is all based on a well known book in britain called 1984 by gorge orwell called 1984 about a future britain written in 1948, as if it were written by william burroughs.
Yes, quite a few albums based on 1984. I have albums by Rick Wakeman, Anthony Philips and Phil Manzanera (Listen Now).
@@lemming9984 didnt Eurythmics do the soundtrack to the movie as well.
We Are the Dead is my least favorite on DD as well, though it definitely captures the scene from the novel. DD is defo my favorite Bowie album.
It took decades for it to dawn on me that 1984 is disco. That and Big Brother and Chant are all pretty groovy/funky, suggesting that DB was trying to come up with a new style.
This so takes me back to high-school grad era. Great great creative sonic salad. The controversy with the album cover was, the original showed the dogs "parts". Then they reprinted without that. FYI a copy of the original album with the "Parts" is VERY valuable. Depending on the quality (still in plastic and unused) ... $4000 +
I remember hearing "1984" on the radio in the mid seventies when I was a kid. The violin flourishes and the wah-wah guitar licks over funky bass line evoke the sound of Isaac Hayes "Shaft" and Curtis Mayfield "Don't Worry". I didn't read Nineteen Eighty-Four until 1980 and then I blinked and it was 1984 and Bowie was still riding high off the strength of Let's Dance.
Even more like Papa was A Rolling Stone ....which Lee has also just reviewed.
I remember when I was a kid listening to "We are the Dead" on my older sister's album. When David sang "defecating ecstasy" I was puzzled because I didn't know what defecating meant. I went downstairs and asked my mother what defecating meant. She looked at me weird and said, "it's having a bowel movement, why, where did you hear that word?" So I told her, "David Bowie sang about defecating ecstasy". She said, UGH! and shook her head. 😂😂😂
Engaging reaction. Glad you included 'We Are the Dead', which is one of the best tracks on this fabulous album. Just go through Bowie's albums in order. They are all good.
Never Let Me Down?
@@jyjjy7 You know, I am NLMD's biggest defender. It was the first CD I ever bought (obviously, it was all vinyl up till then). NLMD has some great tracks, not least of which is the title track; it has never let me down when I listen to it. And you know what? If you just stick Tonight on and go about your business and say, 'hey, I'm just listening to some music here' it is a decent album. I know even Bowie was down on this album, but hey, he claimed The Buddha of Suburbia was his favourite from his own albums. How many agree with that choice?
@@davidcopson5800 It's biggest defender went from good in OP to decent in reply. I rest my case, but I will say I do like the title track as well.
I'd describe this album as speculatively haunting because it speculates about a possible future opening with Halloween Jack singing from the too of a dilapidated skyscraper to a haunted conclusion as if we've all been through this before like time circling around. This is one of those albums that the more you want to listen to it the more you want to listen to it
As you said, Lee, you can't go wrong with Bowie. As a big shuffle-play enthusiast, I honestly think it makes the most sense to tackle the rest of his album catalog by picking their titles out of a hat to determine which will be next, and next, and so on, rather than a fan-favorite or chronological approach.
The instrument you asked about was a Mellotron on the trumpet setting spitting out those notes
I was 16 in 1974...what an album!!!!😮😮😮😮
we are the dead it's such a sexy sounding song I've always loved it great reaction
Doing them chronologically suits me fine, which is why I recommend going back to do Space Oddity before Young Americans. Also the 1964 single Liza Jane released as Davie Jones and The King Bees, when he was just 17, is worth checking out.
There’s a rare version of 1984 mixed with another rarity, Dodo that is worth checking out.
"We are the dead," he said.
"We are the dead," echoed Julia dutifully.
"You are the dead," said an iron voice behind them.
Actual lines from the novel. '1984'.
I love the live version of this.
Just watched him embrace Tina Turner singing, The Best,.. he sounded a lot happier.hope he is now 🌠
. There's grief here. 1984
I hope you keep going with Bowie’s catalog. On Station to Station he picks up my favourite Bowie rhythm section: Dennis Davis and George Murray, who he uses throughout the Berlin trilogy. The drumming on Lodger is some of my favourite.
Low or Heroes!! Has to be the Berlin period next
Scary monsters should be next. Absolute classic
Just when you thought DD was over...
For me we are the dead is the best track on this album. However it does take a few listens to really appreciate it
I think this is Bowie's last great album until Let's Dance. I'm not saying there wasn't great songs on the next few albums, but as far as the whole album, this is it for awhile, imo.
That list seems wrong?? Bowie played and recorded most of this album himself and brought in musicians to fill in at points. Great album and great to hear your reaction x
You should read 1984. It puts this album and our current times into context.
"We are the dead," he said.
"We are the dead," echoed Julia dutifully.
"You are the dead," said an iron voice behind them.
Actual lines from the novel. '1984'.
This album is mellotron heaven.
Absolutely gotta be Space Oddity! Why wouldn't it be?
Have always loved 1984!!
The other two not so much
We are the dead sounds like something from Blackstar...
This all makes a bit more sense if you've read 1984, but it's still magnificent either way!
Not a bad song among them.
I is not a big fan of him but this song and some more i like
David Bowie stole Adrian Belew from Frank Zappa. Thus the song YO MAMA (Sheik Yur Bootie) was born. The song is telling Adrian to run to David so he can take care of him. PS: Adrian performed in the tune YO MAMA, knowing it was about himself.
There's footage somewhere of Tommy Mars explaining the story of Yo Mama and how its about him, Tomas Martinez from Nicaragua.
An album about Totalitarism,our ...too,the last song are the People applauding tfe hangman....A Masterpiece.Even Now.
You need to get Dunbar more. If being Frank Zappa's MOST recorded drummer weren't enough--which SHOULD BE enough for any drummer to hear--then, being the first guy David Bowie turned to to replace Mick Woodmansey should close the case. Oh, and he was also the original Journey drummer, as well as manning the drum seat for Jefferson Starship hits (Jane and others), John Mayall, Whitesnake, Jeff Beck--need I go on?! Check out his work--particularly with Zappa--and you'll get why he was GENIUS!
To each their own, but the arc of DD/Live/YA is difficult for me to have much interest in returning to - especially since the "Spiders/Visconti" and "Station/Berlin" periods are so wonderful, in comparison.
I anxiously awaited this album and got it first day it was released- let’s put it this way - probably the least listened to of all of them. Some interesting stuff and I tried really hard because you won’t find a bigger Bowie fan
Have you looked at the entire Diamond Dogs gatefold cover yet? You might see what freaked out the Orwell estate.
Pin Ups next.
Nah..haha.
Space Oddity too.
@@enriquealvarezgonzalez6391 Yeah, from me.
Not my favorite Bowie album, although there are some individual songs on it that are great.
Brilliant album. Not a bad track on it.