FROM punning name to maximum make-up and Cockernee accent, Aladdin Sane was chameleon David Bowie at his most glam camp, taken too seriously at the time and yet so kitsch in his futuristic vision.
Recorded during and after an American tour with the Spiders From Mars, it gave Bowie his first British number one in the slipstream of his breakthrough success with 1972's ground-breaking Ziggy Stardust.
The 30th anniversary digital edition thankfully doesn't add unnecessary polish to the guitar-rock swagger and dandy decadence of Changes, The Prettiest Star and The Jean Genie, nor fill out a psychedelic, harsh sound as thin as the painted show-pony himself.
The bonus CD is the real draw with its sax version of John, I'm Only Dancing, the strutting All The Young Dudes, and previously unreleased, vaudevillian American concert versions of Life On Mars and an acoustic Drive-In Saturday. To complete the glam tarting up, the packaging is exemplary: essay, memorabilia, album chronology, new period photos and all.
Updated: 10:58 Thursday, June 19, 2003
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article