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Best of Bowie | 
| Artist: David Bowie
Label: EMI
Category: Music
List Price: £10.99
Buy Used: £3.18
as of 22/11/2009 06:04 GMT details
You Save: £7.81 (71%)
New (36) Used (29) Collectible (3) from £3.18
Seller: zoverstocks
Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 416
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 4.9 x 0.4
UPC: 724353982126
EAN: 0072435398212
ASIN: B00006J3KT
Release Date: November 4, 2002
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
Disc 1
| • | Space oddity | | • | Man who sold the world | | • | Oh you pretty things | | • | Changes | | • | Life on Mars | | • | Starman | | • | Ziggy Stardust | | • | Suffragette city | | • | John I'm only dancing | | • | Jean genie | | • | Drive in Saturday | | • | Sorrow | | • | Diamond dogs | | • | Rebel rebel | | • | Young Americans (single version) | | • | Fame | | • | Golden years (single version) | | • | TVC15 | | • | Wild is the wind |
Disc 2
| • | Sound and vision | | • | Heroes (single version) | | • | Boys keep swinging | | • | Under pressure | | • | Ashes to ashes (single version) | | • | Fashion (single version) | | • | Scary monsters (and super creeps) (single version) | | • | Let's dance (single version) | | • | China girl (single version) | | • | Modern love (single version) | | • | Blue jean | | • | This is not America | | • | Loving the alien (single version) | | • | Dancing in the street | | • | Absolute beginners (single version) | | • | Jump they say (radio edit) | | • | Hallo spaceboy (Pet Shop Boys remix) | | • | Little wonder (edit) | | • | I'm afraid of Americans (Trent Reznor mix) | | • | Slow burn (radio edit) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Pretty self-explanatory stuff, this, since IBest of Bowie/I collects most of Bowie's hits and a few of his more fetishised songs onto two CDs, rendering previous compilations--notably 1990's IChangesBowie/I--redundant. Of course, it's fantastic. For this is Bowie's pop genius shrink-wrapped: music notable for both its pretension and its accessibility, brimming with unignorable power and bespangled absurdity. Racing through these 39 songs from "Space Oddity" to "Slow Burn" (from 2002's relative return-to-form IHeathen/I), the surprise is how coherent they sound next to each other. For someone so often portrayed as an artistic shape-shifter, it's the consistency of Bowie's vision that's most apparent, how he stamps his identity on every trend he comes across. p Like the Rolling Stones' similarly enjoyable I40 Licks/I, things do get a bit sticky towards the end of Disc Two, though there's mercifully nothing from the two Tin Machine albums. Obsessives should note, too, that the tracklisting of IBest of Bowie/I varies from country to country: the albums have been compiled according to the most popular songs in each territory. Wonder which lucky place got "The Laughing Gnome" included on their version? --IJohn Mulvey/I
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 20
 The hardest task would have been deciding what to leave out September 30, 2004
amboline (York, UK)
35 out of 36 found this review helpful
In general terms, this chock-a-block 2CD compilation does exactly what it says on the tin: compiles the vast majority of the best-known works from the back catalogue of one of the world's most prolific and defiantly original songwriters. Inevitably, not everything can fit on here, and there must have been some hearty arguments in the production room about what to put on and what to leave out. Not everything on this compilation was a hit; but then, not all of Bowie's hits were among his best work, and some representation of the "cult" material is clearly necessary.pCD1 equates more or less to "the legendary years" as we're introduced to Major Tom floating in his tin can, Ziggy Stardust playing guitar, and all the most familiar songs. The order is clearly intended to be chronological, but actually isn't ("Starman" is bizarrely out of sequence), although it holds up well, presenting Bowie's own artistic progression from guitar-strumming troubadour through his mastery of glam rock and electronica. His capacity to straddle genres is abundantly clear by about five tracks in, as is his skill as a chronicler of the changing fashions of the age, from glam rock ("You Pretty Things" and "Life on Mars") through the androgynous disco era ("John, I'm Only Dancing") to punk ("Rebel Rebel"). The first half of the CD contains all-time greats as well as some less familiar classics ("Drive-In Saturday" is my personal favourite). Personally, I find everything after "Diamond Dogs" a bit painful to listen to; "Fame" and "Golden Years" may be classics of their kind but they do represent Bowie in the throes of his musical wanderlust, and the quality of the melodies and the poignancy of the lyrics take a back seat. The last few tracks are, frankly, a let-down, and not a patch on "Space Oddity" or "Life on Mars".pCD2 redeems all that, picking up at the tail end of the 70s with the glorious instrumental of "Sound and Vision". "Heroes", following it, is over-familiar now thanks to car adverts and too much Radio 2 airplay, but gives a foretaste of what was to lie in store in the 1980s. There may be fewer all-time greats on CD2 ("Ashes to Ashes", "China Girl" and "Let's Dance" being pre-eminent), but a more melodic Bowie is showcased here: still an auditory experimenter, as shown in the deranged Mockney vocals of "Scary Monsters" and the thumping cacophony of "Little Wonder", but one with a deeply soulful side, best exemplified in the glorious "Absolute Beginners". This is also the collaborative Bowie, appearing here with Queen ("Under Pressure"), Mick Jagger ("Dancing in the Street") and the Pet Shop Boys ("Hallo Spaceboy"), tracks more usually omitted from traditional compilations. The late 80s are ignored altogether, and the selection of more recent tracks seems rather arbitrary, with only "Hallo Spaceboy" really seeming to work to justify its inclusion; consequently, CD2 also seems to end on a weak note. But so much brilliance has gone before that it's hard to complain, really!pIt's unlikely that any listener will like *every* track on this CD. Bowie's musical repertoire was so wide-ranging that he will never please all the people all the time. Everyone will have their own ideas about what should have been left off (for me most of the "Fame"-era stuff could have happily been ditched) and what should have been included, but wasn't (I'd have had "Time Will Crawl" and "Never Let Me Down", not to mention "The Laughing Gnome"...). Perhaps that's the strength of this collection. Listen and decide for yourself!
Box Sets Go Double CD...It Works! December 1, 2002
Martin A Hogan (San Francisco, CA. (Hercules))
25 out of 26 found this review helpful
Over a decade ago, every major artist (and some minors) produced a box set. Now the trend is a double "best of" CD (Bowie, Rolling Stones, Bee Gees, Fleetwood Mac...) This is not bad, but severely limits the tracks to the biggest hits, and even then leaves out some gems. pBowie's selections sticks to the singles and if you never bought "ChangesOne" or "ChangesTwo" or "The Singles", then this is your best choice. "All The Young Dudes" is a nice surprise here, but where is "Strangers When We Meet" or "Starman"? See what I mean? Plus, what are the tracks on the bonus CD that was originally available? That was a major selling point, if I only knew what was included. Regardless, this is the best of Bowie and you can't really complain too much. Liner notes - Okay.
A Brilliant Introduction November 4, 2002
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
This is a brilliant introduction to Bowie's music - if you don't already own a compilation of his music, this is the one to get! From Space Oddity, through Ziggy Stardust, Hereos, Ashes to Ashes, Lets Dance (in fact all of his career apart from the terrible "Never Let Me Down" and "Tin Machine" albums) to this years "Slow burn", most of his classics are here. Of special interest are his collaborations, "Under Pressure" the (intentionally?) humourous "Dancing in the street", the mellow "This is not America", and "Hello Spaeboy" with Pet Shop Boys.pIf there are any criticisms they would be that the track list is very similar to 1993's "The single collection2, so long term fans may not see the need to purchase these songs again, and personally I would have chosen "Everyone Says Hi" rather than "Slowburn" from Heathen. Howver this is a great introduction for Bowie initiates, and a great present for anyone!
Excellent Value and Totally 'BoWILDERING' November 18, 2002
Mr Paul Savory (Wrexham, UK)
20 out of 22 found this review helpful
This is an awesome collection and at an excellent price. However, this for me is not the Best Of Bowie as there are no classic album tracks. I have been listening to Bowie's albums since 'Scary Monsters...' back in 1980. I own more than 20 Bowie albums now and although this set only features versions of singles that can easily be found on CD this set is compulsive listening. This 2CD set is mainly aimed at the casual listener as Bowie fans should already have this selection. This, however, will not deter some of us from buying. pFrom 1969's awesome 'Space Oddity' (a track which has not dated at all) through folk and the glam rock era and early disco sound on to the colder, more desolate 1976 to 1980 period. It's a hot and bouncing 1983 'Let's Dance' and this is where a lot of you would have come in. Then just 10 tracks to some up the last 18 years. pThe AMAZON review is spot on with its comparison to the Rolling Stones and indeed with its entire review. If you are still unsure whether to get this set or another Bowie compilation then consider this: the cost, this is a bargain.pVolumes and books galore have been written about Bowie but at the end of the day it's his music which I love. But like any loyal Bowie fan we know when to avoid his poorer effort. Of which there aren't any here. pBut has with all compilations the truly best tracks are not included. 'Up The Hill Backwards' (from Scary Monsters is my all time favourite single. It was this one song which put me on the road following Bowie. 'Cat People' (original (not the Let's Dance version) is also missed. It has not been an easy road as I am at heart a rock fan so 'Tonight' and 'Never Let Me Down' are difficult albums but still contain masterpieces.pSo for a more indepth look at the songs. Track/Disc to save room. 2/1 from a heavy metal style album of the same name this lovely song is a classic and has been covered by Lulu and also Nirvana. 3,4,5/1 from Hunky Dory a more accoustic blend with Rick Wakeman on piano. 6,7,8/1 each a true glam classic from '...Ziggy Stardust...' ; just turn up the volume for each. More glam with 9,10,11/1. 12/1 is a cover version of The Merseys 60's hit but is right to be included as it beautiful. 13,14/1 come from the Diamond Dogs, a superb album which features rock, soul and funk to create a cold, dark impression of George Orwell's novel "1984". 15,16/1 come from Bowie's disco album 'Young Americans' ...Now its 2 from the majestic 'Stationtostation'. This albums title track is a must for all Bowie fans but here we make do with 17,18, 19/1. Bowie, himself, said he sings like himself (as opposed to using a guise) on 19/1, a delightful cover version of a song sung by Johnny Mathis. p1,2,3/2 are from 1977/9 when Bowie worked with Brian Eno (former Roxy Music synth player) to create Low and Heroes, 2 of the most chilling albums of all time and Lodger which is a very interesting album. 4/2 is Queen with David Bowie and it went to No. 1. No surprise. But what a corker of a song. 5,6,7/2 are classics from Scary Monsters. 5/2 continues rom 1/1. You can hear the nightcub sound mixed in with rock Fashion and just downright horror in 7/2. 8,9,10/2 you know these. 11,2 for me is the weakest link, goodbye. 12/2 is a joint effort with Pat Matheny and although features a nice vocal the song is to quiet and goes nowhere. 13/2 is not a return to 1/1 but discribes the struggle between clashing faiths, Christianity and Islam (Bowie had not met Iman at this point). What were you doing on the 13/7/85. I was watching Bowie and Jagger dancing in the docklands where they made a special video for Live Aid. It was so popular it was released on single and it made No. 1 (I think). 15/2 comes from the film Absolute Beginners. Great song, the 12" is superb, great video but a strange film. 16/2 is also a great song if somewhat confusing to follow..... 17/2 The Pet Shop Boys remixed this track for the better. Its original cut appeared on '1.Outslde' a story album which was meant to be 1 of 4. Thank goodness the other three have not appeared yet. 18, 19 /2 are from Earthling and are great songs. The remixed 19/2 is menacing and creates that wonderful dark tension so common to Bowie's 70 work. 20/2 completes the line up. A good solid song but as yet we are to see if Heathen becomes a classic Bowie album.pSo to finish. Get the DVD version instead and enjoy Bowie in sound and vision.brThanx for reading this long essay.
One of the best compilation albums ever. November 20, 2006
Penolope Pitstop (Surrey, UK)
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
I am ashamed to say that up until now I wasn't really a David Bowie fan. I was a bit young for the Ziggy Stardust era and apart from Lets Dance and Modern Love I wasn't aware of his past accomplishments. However I am a fan now.
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br /This man is brilliant, I recognised the majority of the songs on this album, but what surprised me is that I never knew they were written and sung by David Bowie.
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br /The diversity of his music is sublime. From bluesy Jean Genie to the sexy but sleazy John I'm only dancing, to the wonderful Life on Mars. This album has everything for everybody. I have played this album over and over again and still, I am not bored.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 20
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