Hi JP - that sound that you called a synth where the pitch slides up is a stylophone - a 60s novelty instrument - a sort of organ which instead of a keyboard is played by touching a stylus to a metal keypad. The stylophone was also featured notably on 'Space Oddity'.
The Stylophone was widely advertised by the now disgraced Rolf Harris. I remember having one when i was a kid. Quite fun but when the batteries ran out i couldn’t be bothered to replace them. No idea what happened to it 🤔
One of my favorite tracks from this one. This showed his unique innovative creativity more than much of what's here. Moody, haunting, deep, unsettling.
A superb song from a brilliant album. It lacks the heaviness of the other tracks but it is, as you say, dark and mysterious. Bowie's vocal flexibility has always been incredible. Please continue to the end of this album. Because the tracks on side two are so strong it is my second favourite Bowie album. Great reaction and analysis as always.
You know, during the "After All" line, that's not a synth, Bowie is using a stylophone, the same Stylophone he used in "Space Oddity", Ralph Mace plays the rest of the synths on this. You know, David's half brother Terry Jones had a big impact on David, Terry suffered from Schizophrenia and was already institutionalized by this period, some of the songs on this album comment on mental illness, again, a few songs from "Hunky Dory" touch on the same issues.
What a great strange carnival ride.......when he sings about the description of the people, it almost sounds like an alien presence - a bit like "Oh, You Pretty Things".
The darker "After All" is the only song I really love from The Man Who Sold the World (although the title track and "The Width of a Circle" are pretty good in their own right). It's also one of my favourite tracks from Bowie's discography, but unfortunately never played live.
Overlooked track from an overlooked album (maybe just his 6th best of the seventies?) but it's this sort of material which underlines Bowie's genius. Strange, inventive and very listenable. Still not sure about the Anthony Newleyisms though.
Ah, and Nick Cave has a song similar. Can't remember the name, right now. Edit: "Loverman" I heard and recorded on a cassette from the Bizarre festival performance in 1996. Lost the cassette, not the memory of it. What a great concert. Saw it then, think live, by the TV.
Bowie wanted this song to end the album but the record label resequenced everything cause they're so smart. 😂 Bowie's tracklist is out there if you're interested.
My thoughts exactly. I have really wanted to like David Bowie's music but no matter how many times I've tried, I find myself a little disappointed with too much of it. While, at times, there are tracks like this, that catch my attention, sprinkled here and there.
Now ths? Yes, this is much more like what I always imagined David Bowie's output to be... mysterious and strange with a hint of underlying dark humour. I guess my impression came from the sort of persona he always seemed to project around him (and probably what other people had built up, too). But when I ever checked out his albums (from whatever era), I often found far too much just 'normal' pop/rock music of that particular time, tiresome to listen to and hardly matching up to the persona I'd (mistakenly?) taken too much notice of.
Haunting and beautiful. A highlight of the album, for sure.
It sounds like a dry run for Bewlay Brothers on Hunky Dory. Quite haunting.
Hi JP - that sound that you called a synth where the pitch slides up is a stylophone - a 60s novelty instrument - a sort of organ which instead of a keyboard is played by touching a stylus to a metal keypad. The stylophone was also featured notably on 'Space Oddity'.
I got one for Christmas when I was a kid. They were cheap, maybe only about $20 or so.
The Stylophone was widely advertised by the now disgraced Rolf Harris. I remember having one when i was a kid. Quite fun but when the batteries ran out i couldn’t be bothered to replace them. No idea what happened to it 🤔
The German band Can sometimes used a Stylophone on stage.
One of my favorite tracks from this one. This showed his unique innovative creativity more than much of what's here. Moody, haunting, deep, unsettling.
Another early masterpiece. There's already the type of creativity that will explode with Ziggy and then in Berlin.
There was no one like him and never will be. What a mind he had!
A superb song from a brilliant album. It lacks the heaviness of the other tracks but it is, as you say, dark and mysterious. Bowie's vocal flexibility has always been incredible. Please continue to the end of this album. Because the tracks on side two are so strong it is my second favourite Bowie album. Great reaction and analysis as always.
As a young lad.. This album left a big impression on me.. I ues to sing every word...
Thank you for continuing this, I can't wait until you hit side two!
You know, during the "After All" line, that's not a synth, Bowie is using a stylophone, the same Stylophone he used in "Space Oddity", Ralph Mace plays the rest of the synths on this.
You know, David's half brother Terry Jones had a big impact on David, Terry suffered from Schizophrenia and was already institutionalized by this period, some of the songs on this album comment on mental illness, again, a few songs from "Hunky Dory" touch on the same issues.
Looking out for side two!
I've never took much notice of this song before, but listening again here I realise you're right - it's great!! Cheers JP!!
Ty ES!
Bowie ❤
Is it as good as Vanelli though? 🤔
@@Owlstretchingtime78 hahahahahaha
What a great strange carnival ride.......when he sings about the description of the people, it almost sounds like an alien presence - a bit like "Oh, You Pretty Things".
A carnival in he'll maybe.
The darker "After All" is the only song I really love from The Man Who Sold the World (although the title track and "The Width of a Circle" are pretty good in their own right). It's also one of my favourite tracks from Bowie's discography, but unfortunately never played live.
Sounds like a warm-up for Diamond Dogs.
Overlooked track from an overlooked album (maybe just his 6th best of the seventies?) but it's this sort of material which underlines Bowie's genius. Strange, inventive and very listenable. Still not sure about the Anthony Newleyisms though.
Charles Dickens feel with the middle A
Ah, and Nick Cave has a song similar. Can't remember the name, right now. Edit: "Loverman"
I heard and recorded on a cassette from the Bizarre festival performance in 1996. Lost the cassette, not the memory of it. What a great concert. Saw it then, think live, by the TV.
Every song on this record is better than the song before it. It's so damn amazing.
Love to see you react to "Saviour machine"and "The supermen"!!!
Shared with Tony. See if he has any thoughts to add.
Love it.
Bowie wanted this song to end the album but the record label resequenced everything cause they're so smart. 😂 Bowie's tracklist is out there if you're interested.
Label also changed the album title from 'The Metrobolist'
OH BI JINGO
It's psychedelic enough. For Bowie. It stands out. For me, not a particular fan of David Bowie.
My thoughts exactly.
I have really wanted to like David Bowie's music but no matter how many times I've tried, I find myself a little disappointed with too much of it. While, at times, there are tracks like this, that catch my attention, sprinkled here and there.
✌️&❤🎃
Now ths? Yes, this is much more like what I always imagined David Bowie's output to be... mysterious and strange with a hint of underlying dark humour.
I guess my impression came from the sort of persona he always seemed to project around him (and probably what other people had built up, too). But when I ever checked out his albums (from whatever era), I often found far too much just 'normal' pop/rock music of that particular time, tiresome to listen to and hardly matching up to the persona I'd (mistakenly?) taken too much notice of.