I love this so much! i wish they'd released Nassau 76 in raw form like this rather than trying to "fix" it Dennis is wonderful Cracked actor (which i love) was almost like a pick up band but this is a real band and it sounds like it they're gelling beautifully , love the funky coda on sorrow
The only thing that changed between "Cracked Actor" and "I'm Only Dancing" was the rhythm section, although they had many more gigs under their belt by the time of this Detroit show. Still, I think Dennis was a great addition for this particular band (although Greg Errico is no slouch having played with Sly and The Family Stone for so long). I just think "Dancing" is near the end of the tour and the tapes happened to catch them on a good night. They all sound like they are having fun. It's possible that the band could've been more self conscious during "Cracked Actor" knowing they were being filmed? Who knows. There are lots of reasons why a show can vary from one performance to the next.
The best one I've found is the Joe Maloney 15th Nov bootleg. Search on Bowie Station for 1974-11-15 - Music Hall - Boston - Massachusetts - USA - Joe Maloney Master (New 2018 Transfer) Transferred and Presented By Krw co. There's some feedback and there's a horrible wrong saxophone note early on but quality-wise this is easily the best version I've ever found.
I found this one definitely a worth addition to the Bowie live album cannon. The sound was way better than I expected and the band is very on form. Bowie sounds pretty identical to how he did on the Dick Cavett show, very hoarse, but it doesn't take anything away from the performance whatsoever, imo.
I was thinking about that other day - to my ears he doesn't sound quite as hoarse as the Dick Cavett show. As you say, it doesn't take anything away from the performance anyway.
I think one of the interesting things with Bowie’s voice being as hoarse as it is on this is that it really highlights the performative aspects of his vocals and his delivery. I love the energy on this release and as others have said the sound quality is far above what I’d feared - I just wish the piano was in tune.
I finally played this from beginning to end last night, having only played disc one before then. Just magnificent. I don't mind us getting loads of Bowie live albums if they're as good as Santa Monica 72, Nassau '76 and this. I need to get Cracked Actor and Welcome To The Blackout. I've never owned David Live either and only have the original double LP of Stage, so there's a fair bit of Bowie live for me to catch up on and that's just the 70s.
I couldn't get past Side 1 of "I'm Only Dancing", the sound quality sucks. I had much more fun listening to "ChangesNowBowie".
This is a very marginal recording of a terrific performance. Not worth the cost for the vinyl but that’s just me.
I agree with this assessment, it demonstrates the energy level of someone who is giving everything he has over to the performance. It doesn’t detract one bit. The raw feel of his voice adds to the funk. This is a fantastic performance
I'm Only dancing is just a tease for upcoming releases like a boxset with The Complete Young Americans Sessions with many Jam Sessions and Footstompin Studio outtakes
They're all worth your time. I caved and grabbed a 2xLP Soul Tour off Discogs. Should have it next Monday or Tuesday.
It deserves the praise it's getting. I went for CD as I can't really afford the vinyl as well as Blackout and Cracked Actor being out of print on vinyl too. They're quite cheap on CD so I'll be getting those.
That has been your wet dream since you joined here. No signs of it, despite all your false predictions.
I have a sealed vinyl Blackout I could get rid of, but shipping to the UK is insane, unless you're buying a bunch of things at once. The CDs sound good anyway. The same holds true for Cracked Actor.
To be honest I prefer live albums on CD anyway. I can imagine the triple vinyl LPs looking great though. As long as there isn't a vinyl repress it's worth hanging onto it. They're going to be incredibly scarce in a few years.
I'm just happy with the rise of Young Americans and related material in the Bowie canon. Even with the flawed track list, that album and the whole brief soul turn has always been my vote for most underrated Bowie. Spinning this new release over and over with such pleasure