David Bowie, Low, Heroes and Lodger (RCA-1977/79)
For me the best time in this mans career was in the 1970s. Album after album for me was fantastic and always sold well. But there were three albums that didn't sell as much due to the style of music contained on the album. Going from Art rock, experimental rock, krautrock, electronic, ambient and even pop over these three albums is just too much for many listeners. But time really should have changed your ears and tuned them into liking this music now.
For me "Low" is the easiest to get into, more electronic pop than anything. Ok you will not be able to start up the karaoke but there is music to move to here. "Sound And Vision" is a stand out track here on side one where as the second side really takes you on Bowie's trip through giving up cocaine. Brian Eno is a guest on the second side and this is where it really takes on the electronic synth style called krautrock. At the time it was totally new to most people as they had never heard the likes of Kraftwerk. Co produced with Tony Visconti he was a big part in the sound on the whole album and with Eno they labored more in the creative side than given credit.
The previous release in "Station to Station" was a big inspiration to the change in sound. As it was to be used for a film soundtrack this helped give Bowie some freedom in the writing of the album. That album has been given much praise from many bands in the area around punk in the 70s as it was capturing so much more than the typical AOR style that is always promoted by the labels.
Quickly the same year "Heroes" came out and with a similar sound but recorded in a more of an improvised way. Many first takes were used and again the album really can't be put into anything he done before. "Beauty and the Beast" provided a top 40 hit in the UK (only just at 39) the album was loved by music fans but really done nothing in America. Again the flip side provided a change from the other with "Sense of Doubt" and "Neuköln" being instrumentals and using that ambient style from his previous album. The album is less negative than the first as Bowie had moved to Berlin proper and recorded the whole album there.
With the first two albums having a kind of bi polar feel to them for most people you could easily love the first side and well... respect the second? But in 1979 "Lodger" may well be the one you like best. It is a far more straight forward release, that is in comparison to the other two. Still very much in an experimental style the album does not seem to suffer from any of his drug problems and at the time he was back to great writing. As with any good album travel is featured and tracks like "African Night Flight" and "Fantastic Voyage" get you thinking of booking a ticket abroad to get where he heard the influences for yourself.
The second side has tracks poking fun at our own culture. "Repetition" could be talking about other styles of music or even every day life, same job, same bus trip to work. And a top ten hit in the UK with "Boys Keep Swinging" gave this album much needed attention. Lyrics like "When you're a boy, other boys check you out" really shows he is thinking out loud and asking questions on gender, the video near the end had himself dressed in drag as three backing singers. In America the lead single was "Look Back in Anger" as the previous song was not considered due to the gender diverse topic that the song and video possess. This track was a nice rock track with some great guitar work from Carlos Alomar who provides guitar to tracks over all three albums.
As these albums were being recorded the music world was changing from punk to post punk and new wave bands all making it big. All challenging people to take on more diverse music. As his next album in "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" coming out in 1980 he needed to sell well and did all thanks to the build up of the three albums before as the fans of those were again buying more great new music.
The three albums here were all but ignored by America and as each came out even got less attention in the UK. After this was three massive selling albums. They were simply just out too early I feel. But saying that you really would not have sold much more even in the 80s I think. Many bands and artists owe a big thank you to these albums as they really did open the door. May take a few listens but they really are his best work.
Twitter: 29xthefun
