Best Ever Albums

Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 07:07:45 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 12/15/2025 12:07

just concluded the discussion about the album. Very positive feedback from everyone.

I'll be posting our January discussion album separately.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to post here

Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:26:23 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 12/12/2025 09:26

So that's the last of my posts on the tracks of the album and my listening group meets next Monday.

Would be happy to hear anyone's final thoughts on the album and thanks to all of those who have contributed to the thread,

Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:25:00 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 12/12/2025 09:25

Lady Grinning Soul

Great piano intro. Overall, I really like this track. Quirky. Different and great vocals, in fact, maybe the best vocals on the whole of Aladdin Sane.

I read that the piece has been compared to a James Bond theme and I totally get that.

A recording that, for me, had gone rather under the radar so very glad too have heard it now.

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Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 05:39:50 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 12/10/2025 10:39

The Jean Genie

Probably the most easily recognisable track on the album for the casual listener and my favourite track on the album.
#
A rather Velvet Undergroundy track, I love the riff running through the track, I read that it was “most probably inspired by French singer Jacques Dutronc's La Fille du Père Noël”. I can see that. Great track so I’ve included it as well below.

There’s also the comparison with Blockbuster by The Sweet so……..

All great tracks by the way

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Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Mon, 8 Dec 2025 10:06:15 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 12/08/2025 15:06

Let’s Spend The Night Together

I’m afraid, this is not a patch on the original. This glam rock version doesn’t do anything for me doesn’t add anything to the song, in fact I think that it detracts from the overall song.

I’ve read one critic say that this was "the unprecedented feat of beating the Stones on one of their own songs" I Simply cannot agree with that assessment. I found the track really rather unsatisfying.

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Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Sun, 7 Dec 2025 07:10:33 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 12/07/2025 12:10

MadhattanJack wrote:

HERESY! 🫵

Honestly though, Ronson was just a better guitar player. His playing on the album version is significantly more expressive and tight with the rhythm section, even if he doesn't change the part all that much.

For comparison, here's the single version:

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Totally agree about Ronson being the better guitarist. Really, there's no comparison between the two. I just found his playing here not to be at the same level as on some other tracks on the album. To be clear. I think that Ronson is a genius and up there with the best guitarist of all time.

Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

MadhattanJack — Fri, 5 Dec 2025 16:37:22 GMT

Author: MadhattanJack

Posted: 12/05/2025 21:37

Johnnyo wrote:

All a little lacklustre for me

Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Fri, 5 Dec 2025 06:17:07 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 12/05/2025 11:17

The Prettiest Star

To be honest, this track leaves me a bit cold. It’s not bad, it’s just got no standout moments for me.

As many if not most tracks on the album it Has a nice, in this case, laid back guitar solo from Mick although on this occasion, it’s a “copy” of Marc Bolans guitar solo on the original recording.

All a little lacklustre for me

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Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Wed, 3 Dec 2025 05:02:22 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 12/03/2025 10:02

Time

I’m not a huge fan of the cabaret / music hall (or Burlesque vamp as one critic described it) opening but I get it and it does work well for dramatic effect.

The track is dominated by Mike Garsons piano, but Mick does have some great guitar moments here although they are, for the most part, a little in the background.

Got to say, I like it, but don’t love this track but I think that it fits into the album rather well.

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Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Tue, 2 Dec 2025 03:57:31 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 12/02/2025 08:57

Cracked Actor

Another great, feedback laden guitar intro from Mick Ronson. This is Bowie encompassing his Glam Rock persona.

It’s been written that this is a straight Lou Reed rip off. I’m not sure about that but there are certainly Lou Reed influences in the music.

Overall, a good track.

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Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

albummaster — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 06:33:34 GMT

Author: albummaster

Posted: 11/30/2025 11:33

MadhattanJack wrote:

I suspect that's because the "Panic in Detroit people" are more like me, in that they almost never rate individual tracks. It's mostly the "Jean Genie People" who do that.

It's probably my second-favorite song on the LP (behind the title track). One thing that might be worth mentioning is that Bowie didn't use a lot of female backup singers on his albums, because he'd record demos of everything and then not want to deviate from them (a lot of solo artists who perform mostly their own stuff are like that). So, he'd have to be cajoled by his producers into having backup singers, and for Aladdin Sane he had two of the best in the business, Juanita Franklin and Linda Lewis, who had a huge positive impact on this track and "Watch That Man," but hardly any others. It's similar to the situation with Heathen, when he had (or at least had access to) Kristeen Young, who was making her own album in the same studio with the same producer (Tony Visconti) at the same time. But despite her being one of the finest female singers alive, and right there in the same studio, Bowie had her do almost no backup vocals at all, just some piano. Though juyst as an aside, he did also record a duet with her called "Saviour" for her album (Breasticles), but I might not even have noticed that if it hadn't been for this thread, since of course I never, ever use the internet to look up words like "breasticles." Or "saviour," for that matter. Because, you know, I prefer the American spellings.

🤣 I think some tracks as well lend themselves to being played loud and through a decent sound system and this is one of them.

Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 04:59:43 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 11/30/2025 09:59

Although this thread is no where near over yet, I Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all your input so far. Really interesting points of view. My next track post coming soon

Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 04:57:12 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 11/30/2025 09:57

MadhattanJack wrote:

I suspect that's because the "Panic in Detroit people" are more like me, in that they almost never rate individual tracks. It's mostly the "Jean Genie People" who do that. 🫠

It's probably my second-favorite song on the LP (behind the title track). One thing that might be worth mentioning is that Bowie didn't use a lot of female backup singers on his albums, because he'd record demos of everything and then not want to deviate from them (a lot of solo artists who perform mostly their own stuff are like that). So, he'd have to be cajoled by his producers into having backup singers, and for Aladdin Sane he had two of the best in the business, Juanita Franklin and Linda Lewis, who had a huge positive impact on this track and "Watch That Man," but hardly any others. It's similar to the situation with Heathen, when he had (or at least had access to) Kristeen Young, who was making her own album in the same studio with the same producer (Tony Visconti) at the same time. But despite her being one of the finest female singers alive, and right there in the same studio, Bowie had her do almost no backup vocals at all, just some piano. Though juyst as an aside, he did also record a duet with her called "Saviour" for her album (Breasticles), but I might not even have noticed that if it hadn't been for this thread, since of course I never, ever use the internet to look up words like "breasticles." Or "saviour," for that matter. Because, you know, I prefer the American spellings.

I've heard that said a lot about Bowie and I get it. It's your "baby" and your probably rather precious about it's sound. Most things though are better in collaboration so glad that he acquiesced in the end.

Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

MadhattanJack — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:59:53 GMT

Author: MadhattanJack

Posted: 11/29/2025 23:59

albummaster wrote:

Quite enjoy Panic in Detroit, one of my favs on the album (but definitely a minority view looking at stats).

Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

albummaster — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 16:02:42 GMT

Author: albummaster

Posted: 11/29/2025 21:02

Quite enjoy Panic in Detroit, one of my favs on the album (but definitely a minority view looking at stats). Played this earlier through a semi-decent sound system (following along to this thread in the background), and just now on my laptop to remind me of it and amazed at how different the sonic experience was. Love the rhythm, bassline and vocals on this.

Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 06:03:07 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 11/29/2025 11:03

Panic In Detroit

Great, almost bluesy guitar intro from Mick Ronson but after that the track really doesn’t grab me. It’s a decent track but a little non-descript for me.

I’ll be honest, I really don’t have anymore to add about this track. Leaves me rather cold TBH

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Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 07:54:27 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 11/28/2025 12:54

Drive-In Saturday

Has a bit of a live recording feel to the track. Very much A classic sounding Bowie track and I really like it. I remember hearing this on its release and really loving the sound. That hasn’t changed over the years and it’s still one of Bowie’s finest compositions.

This is arguably the best track on the album.

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Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 04:11:02 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 11/27/2025 09:11

pedro1976 wrote:

love it
Bowie was just - different class.

think my top 10 would be
1. Station to Station - numero uno in my overall top 100 no less!
2. Hunky Dory
3. Ziggy
4. Let's Dance (Yeah, really!)
5. Young Americans
6. Heathen
7. Low
8. The Next Day
9. Heroes
10. Diamond Dogs
Honorable Mention - Blackstar

I'm with you on let's Dance. I think that both the track and the album are great.

I'm with you on pretty much the whole list although, now that I'm giving Aladdin Sane more of a chance, I'm rather loving it.

Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

Johnnyo — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 04:09:15 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 11/27/2025 09:09

Aladdin Sane (1913–1938–197?)

I find this a hard track to define and I love it. Very experimental heading into discordant jazz piano as the centre piece of the song. I’ve heard the piano piece described as being a kin to Cecil Taylor, which I completely get.

It’s a very dramatic piece of work throughout. I wish that I could write more but I find it very hard to quantity the track, which is a good thing. Maybe it defines description. Maybe others on here can do better

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Re: Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)

pedro1976 — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:44:06 GMT

Author: pedro1976

Posted: 11/26/2025 19:44

love it
Bowie was just - different class.

think my top 10 would be
1. Station to Station - numero uno in my overall top 100 no less!
2. Hunky Dory
3. Ziggy
4. Let's Dance (Yeah, really!)
5. Young Americans
6. Heathen
7. Low
8. The Next Day
9. Heroes
10. Diamond Dogs
Honorable Mention - Blackstar