1001 Albums Summary

History has been kind to this album and what was driving Bowie at the time. Some of the castoffs deserved to be on the album, and it might have been a more cohesive record, but with Fame it probably wouldn’t have sold as well.

The playing is superb, the mix of Latin, jazz and rock was trailblazing, and it is amazing that out of this hybrid two songs found their way to pop chart success. That said, I’m not generally a jam band fan, and too much of this blends into one continuous song for me. Respect for the musicianship, just not one I can see reaching for.

Like a Little Ricard greatest hits album, until you realize there’s a Volume 2! This record is raw rock and roll, played with exuberance, and it’s frantic, raucous, sexy, boisterous, and everything a great rock and roll album should be.