The best versions for each David Bowie album?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Haristar, Jul 10, 2017.

  1. MicSmith

    MicSmith Forum Resident

    Although I knew most of Bowie's '69-'80 work having borrowed a friend's vinyl collection and taped them when I was a student, Scary Monsters aside, which I won in a competition, it wasn't until the Ryko/EMI reissues that I decided to buy them. By then the RCA CD releases were long out of print and if I remember this correctly, it was reported that Bowie wanted it that way because of them not coming from approved masters - Bowie experts please correct me on this. So the Rykos were my introduction to these albums proper, ignoring my SM vinyl and tapes of everything from Ziggy to Lodger. For that reason I never hear the deficiencies in the Rykos that get reported on here and I love most of the bonus cuts. I was gutted though when it dawned on me that Holy Holy wasn't the real deal! Having bought most of his catalogue several times since (the Anniversary sets and box sets in the main) I'm not that desperate to own the RCAs to be fair and therefore will never offer any opinion on them other than what I recall being reported on them at the time they dried up around '87.

    I don't have the '99 remasters except for HD which I picked up for £3, mainly because I was happy with what I had and they contained nothing new (and in most cases less than the Ryko editions) and again with at least 2 or 3 copies of almost every album in his catalogue I don't have the inclination to track these down to offer an opinion on them. I suppose the people that really don't care for them had bought earlier pressings on vinyl and CD and I can understand them saying negative things about them if they didn't equal or surpass what they already have. I feel the same about music that I first heard on vinyl and which subsequent remasters come nowhere near to matching. So I readily take those opinions on board

    I like the look of the recent boxes and Heroes and Low aside I don't have that big an issue with the sound of them so they tend to be the copies I play these days. However I understand some minor editing faults affect one or two of them so in time I may revert back to earlier versions. I'm still waiting for my replacement Heroes disc as I assume most others are?

    Interesting thread and thanks in particular for Karmaman for his input.
     
  2. zenarrow

    zenarrow Forum Resident

    Location:
    Wyoming
    It just gets so dang confusing at times with the 1E/2E 6E/4E first uk pressings for me anyhow. Mainman credits etc.

    Probably wrong info I quoted, but I just want a really good sounding copy of Ziggy.

    Price isn't too much of an issue, really.
     
  3. Solace

    Solace Forum Resident

    Location:
    Brussels, Belgium
    2012 remaster, also used on the 2015 Five Years vinyl set. Much lauded here and as near as damn it to a UK original (according to many on this forum). Mine sounds lovely.
     
  4. zenarrow

    zenarrow Forum Resident

    Location:
    Wyoming
    Sweet now I might have all the reasons to buy the box set. Thanks
     
  5. Buggyhair

    Buggyhair Forum Resident

    Location:
    Ann Arbor, MI
    I had that Glastonbury Fayre set, mint and complete. It is one of many LPs that I regret selling. Wish I still had it.
     
  6. NightGoatToCairo

    NightGoatToCairo Forum Resident

    Location:
    .
    Just downloaded the original version from iTunes. Never heard it before. It's different enough to warrant a mention. What I can't find is the Mayor Of Sunset Strip version of All The Madmen for download anywhere. The actual CD comp goes for silly money on Amazon and Discogs. Is this also a different mix?
     
  7. footprintsinthesand

    footprintsinthesand Reasons to be cheerful part 1

    Location:
    Dutch mountains
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  8. NightGoatToCairo

    NightGoatToCairo Forum Resident

    Location:
    .
  9. footprintsinthesand

    footprintsinthesand Reasons to be cheerful part 1

    Location:
    Dutch mountains
    Sure, still probably better sound than most recent picture discs
     
  10. NightGoatToCairo

    NightGoatToCairo Forum Resident

    Location:
    .
    Didn't buy those... I still don't have a copy of Blackout - Live, from the last release. I've not had a turntable since 1991! I have bought a few vinyl albums in the last 5 years so need to pull my finger out and pick one up.
     
  11. NightGoatToCairo

    NightGoatToCairo Forum Resident

    Location:
    .
    Just checked Nicholas Pegg's 'The Complete David Bowie'*; same as the album version segued with live acoustic version. *Brilliant book.
     
  12. footprintsinthesand

    footprintsinthesand Reasons to be cheerful part 1

    Location:
    Dutch mountains
    Same here, did however reconnect my old turntable with a preamp late last year and after a few minutes of speed adjustments it played like the last time I used it (early 90's).
     
  13. karmaman

    karmaman Forum Resident

    the acoustic section is in abysmal quality, a hand-held tape recording. definitely not worth paying for.
     
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  14. Mikewest

    Mikewest Forum Resident

    Location:
    London
    Yes , I am impressed by the 2 you mention, Hunky Dory and Diamond Dogs, just as good as the original RCA pressings , I can't remember Ziggy sounding as good and Aladdin Sane was a notch below the original,but also impressed with Low & Heroes.
     
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  15. bobcat

    bobcat Forum Resident

    Location:
    London, UK
    Which mastering was used for the 2CD 30th anniversary editions? (Ziggy, Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs)

    For the albums (disc one) is it the 1999 ones or unique masterings for these editions?

    And for the bonus tracks?

    Same question for the 2007 Young Americans.
     
    JoeWild likes this.
  16. Thelele

    Thelele Forum Resident

    Location:
    Berlin
    1969 - Space Oddity [RCA PD84813]
    1970 - The Man Who Sold the World [RCA PD84654]
    1971 - Hunky Dory [RCA PD84623 or VINYL: RCA INTS 5064]
    1972 - Ziggy Stardust [VINYL: RCA AYL1-3843 or MFSL 1-064]
    1973 - Aladdin Sane [RCA PD83890]
    1973 - Pin Ups [RCA PD84653]
    1974 - Diamond Dogs [RCA PCD1-5076]
    1975 - Young Americans [RCA PCD1-0998]
    1976 - Station to Station [RCA PCD1-1327]
    1977-01 - Low [RCA PCD1-2030]
    1977-10 - ''Heroes'' [RCA PCD1-2522]
    1978 - Stage [RCA PD89002]
    1979 - Lodger [RCA PD84234]
    1980 - Scary Monsters [RCA PCD1-3647]

    Accept no substitutes! Swap "Young Americans" title track with the one from ChangesOneBowie (JP), boost Station to Station by ~6dB, boost the right channel of Low by ~3dB, and you will have the definitive collection.
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2018
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  17. David del Toro

    David del Toro Forum Resident

    Oh man this forum made listening to music both a blessing and a curse. Sometimes i wonder what would have happened if i took the blue pill.
     
  18. ellingtonic

    ellingtonic Forum Resident

    For Hunky Dory hunt down the EMI 100 vinyl. Your wallet will hate me, but your ears will love it.
     
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  19. bobcat

    bobcat Forum Resident

    Location:
    London, UK
    BUMP!

    Which mastering was used for the 2CD 30th anniversary editions? (Ziggy, Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs)

    For the albums (disc one) is it the 1999 ones or unique masterings for these editions?

    And for the bonus tracks?

    Same question for the 2007 Young Americans.
     
  20. David del Toro

    David del Toro Forum Resident

    What masters do the 2009 Japan SHM discs use? Ziggy sounds pretty good! Still iffy on Hunky Dory though. Are they the 1999 masters?
     
  21. Tim Bexter

    Tim Bexter Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Korea
    Aladdin sane and Ziggy are 2003 Remaster on SHM-CD Mini Vinyl
     
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  22. GyroSE

    GyroSE Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sweden
    I agree. It's truly a killer soundwise....but very expensive if you want to get one today.
     
    Solace likes this.
  23. karmaman

    karmaman Forum Resident

    Ziggy - 2002 (new), Aladdin Sane - 2003 (new), Diamond Dogs - 1999 (old). Young Americans was a new master.
     
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  24. bobcat

    bobcat Forum Resident

    Location:
    London, UK
    Many thanks for that very valuable information!
     
  25. David del Toro

    David del Toro Forum Resident

    Is everything else from 1999?
     

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