David Bowie "Tonight" - Treasure or Trash Episode 6
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- čas přidán 20. 08. 2024
- In 1984, David Bowie released "Tonight", his follow up album to 1983's Let's Dance, his most commercially successful album. He had also been on the worldwide Serious Moonlight tour, his biggest tour ever. "Tonight" is universally considered one of the worst albums Bowie ever released. Is it as bad as they say? Let's give it a look.
I really appreciate how you always dig deep to provide enlightening background information on an album every time you do a “Treasure or Trash” episode. As a longtime Bowie fan, I agree with you regarding the (for the most part) lackluster nature of the albums he released in the 1980s. As for the “Tonight” LP, you’re more positive about it than I am. None of the songs on it do much, if anything, for me, though I find “Blue Jean” a bit infectious. Like you, I especially like the sax playing on it. (I found the Jazzin’ for Blue Jean” video very entertaining. While many rock, pop and rap performers try their hands at acting, David Bowie is one of the very, very few who is damn good at it - IMHO. As the video shows, he is equally adept at playing it straight and being the funny guy.) Like you, I think the three bonus tracks are the best offerings on the album. Unlike you, I don’t think the album is okay. I think it is less than that. But I certainly do not think it is trash.
Thanks for your comments. It is sad when the best tracks are the bonus tracks. I do love Lovin The Alien as well. It is fun going back to an album you haven’t heard in years and realize that… it’s still not very good. Lol.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShowYes, it is fun to go back, and, as you wrote, to realize it’s still not very good. That’s a funny line!
@@ronalaurence4105 yea the good old days are not always so good lol.
I'm not a Bowie fan, never heard this album but I LOVE this series because you discuss in depth albums that nobody else discusses and it's a lot of fun.
Wow. Thanks so much. I really appreciate your input and honesty. It’s hard to know what others will like. I enjoy this series too so glad to know it’s valid to you and hopefully others. Thanks again
Well done, Alan...a very (I hate to use the phrase) fair and balanced review. Personally, I have a hard time being objective with this album, and have no hesitation filing it in the 'trash' category. Or at the very least, "If you think 'Dirty Work' is bad, give this a listen". In all honesty, the album that brought my Bowie obsession to a skidding halt. I mean, I wanted to like it, because I loved so much of David's music prior...but this was clearly the work of someone wanting to get another version of 'Let's Dance' out when the public was still mired in the shimmer of that album and tour. And like you, I don't think "Let's Dance" is anything special of a record, either. However, it had (unlike this) a unified sound and production; a tighter musical style; and a triple shot of three classic singles that not only propelled Bowie to mega-star status globally, but provided much ear and eye-candy to both FM radio and MTV. If ever an artist was MADE for MTV, at least among rock's royal guard, it was Bowie, and by a million miles at that.
I think it's hard not to think of Tonight as basically a blatant attempt to continue the formula that made Let's Dance, and the Serious Moonlight tour, so legendary. And the thing is, it became legendary by accident. From what I've read, I don't think Bowie and Co were expecting the tour to become such a blockbuster--but I think the radio and MTV friendly content, big money from EMI, and very sharp staging by the master himself, blew that thing up as it was being planned. I remember the fervor the tour had, even before the US leg of it began in the summer of '83--the cover of Rolling Stone is one thing, but landing on the cover of Time was something else. And the look of it! David himself was perfect for this--that impossible shock of gorgeous, lemon blonde hair, the tailored pastel suits, the bow-tie and fedora--a stunning look, on an already stunningly gorgeous man. And this, of course, was the template for the entire "New Romantic" style sweeping the UK during those days.
But honestly, the tunes themselves on Let's Dance were pretty forgettable. Even 'China Girl' is marred to me, bookended by that cliched mock-Chinese riff...and I won't bother with the racist overtones hanging over that one, or the "Let's Dance" video--granted, nothing egregious, but certainly a stiff product of their times. But beyond those three songs, the rest of that album was nothing great. And 'Tonight' was a couple of steps down from that, both in songwriting and performance. And it sound like David was attempting to hang onto that persona a little too long.
By the time he did those goofball 'Glass Spider' shows of 1987, it was clearly one too many bites of the same apple--maybe two or three. I recall Peter Frampton (who was his guitarist for that tour) commenting that David was himself a little leery of continuing this formula, and asked him why he was doing it. And David responded, 'Because I think it's expected of me.'...not words you'd expect from that artist. And I cannot recall the exact source of that quote, but it's something that I've always remembered, as most of us thought he was just going through the motions by the time '87 came around.
So, in short, yeah, its safe to classify that one safely in the all time Turkey Column!
Anthony this has to be one of the greatest comments ever. First I so agree with you. Second you really brought me back to that time. Amazing memories you rekindled. I wasn’t a big fan of the Let’s Dance album back then. Though I loved Modern Love and Cat People is incredible to me. Even to this day. I used to have the Ricochet Vhs. And also the Serious Moonlight concert vhs which I really liked. I have it on dvd now but haven’t watched in decades. I did think that movie video of Jazzin for Blue Jean was pretty cool. I have that Glass Spider live box with Dvd and CDs. I’m a big Frampton fan and Bowie kind of saved his career at that time but that show didn’t do much for me. Though been decades as well since I’ve seen it. Oh. Well great memories you stirred up. I do think Absolute Beginners and This is not America are incredible.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Thanks Alan...though I'm not sure what is so noteworthy about my comments. And yes, I too watched the Serious Moonlight concert film incessantly--in fact, my mother became a Bowie fan because of it. I never bought it on DVD...and finding it now seems to be a tough one. I assume it's out of print? If only because every version I see is in PAL format, and more expensive than any concert DVD should be. At the time, I thought the Blue Jean video was great, both the long and short format--again, David was made for those kinds of films. And he was very productive in motion pictures at this time--both The Hunger and Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (I saw neither of them) predated the release of Let's Dance, with Labyrinth following thereafter. As for Absolute Beginners? I barely gave it a listen, as my Bowie obsession, as I said, skidded to a halt by then--and I had it with those way too pretty New Romantics, and their wide shoulder padded suit coats, and Bryan Ferry pompadours.
@@anthonyaswe4174 Oh you have to listen to the song Absolute Beginners and This Is Not America - pretty much the only reason why I'll listen to the remastered reissue of Tonight because they added those two songs on it. Fantastic tracks. The movie Absolute Beginners is terrible I think. I saw The Hunger - thought was ok - the rest I didn't see either.
I will go back and listen to both…the only real listen I ever gave to This is Not America was over the closing credits of that movie-which wanted to be a Great Movie, but it ended up being a confusing one to me-for the most part. I mean, I just did not think the film established what the motivation for these young men was-that being, what made them want to cuddle with the Soviets.
Getting back to David, wasn’t it interesting that, following the Glass Spider fiasco, he reemerged a couple of years later with Tin Machine-a purposeful breakaway from the whole serious moonlight thing-and an act regularly lampooned as one of the worst bands ever-often with great glee, no less.
@@anthonyaswe4174 Yes, he definitely tried to "re-set". The idea that it was a "band" and he was just a "member", and the fans should strictly look at it that way, was, to me, naive. With that said - I don't think those albums are bad. But on the other hand, I don't listen to them much. But it did the job to "re-set" him and move forward.
Serious Moonlight Tour saw it at Hampton Coleseum. One of the best shows I've ever seen.
No doubt - amazing tour - incredible set list. Great band.
Yeah Absolute Beginners is a great song and soundtrack.
Truly one of my favorite Bowie tracks of all time. Far superior to anything else on the album.
I'd give "Loving the Alien" a top billing on this album with Absolute Beginners.
@@-smokem Great track - best original song on the original album.
I had a promo copy of that record back in the day when I worked in a record store but that's long gone and I never replaced it with a CD. I never listened to it that much anyway but I did really like Blue Jean, and I have that one on one of his compilations. The 80's Bowie for me was not his best period.
Must’ve been great working in a record store. Agree that 80s Bowie is not amongst my favorite either.
I got the 3 cd Bowie set and it is very good the first disc starts with his original bands and the music that was out at that time it's the David Jones period. As it gets into each track it gets better and better. It came on 2 cd but I am glad I went for the 3 cd set. I did listen to that set a lot driving around Detroit and the Suburbs and became my soundtrack of Detroit.
I think you're talking about the Nothing Has Changed 3 CD set. That is a great one. Interesting that it runs chronologically backwards - starting from recent to old. There's a ton of Bowie compilations and there all pretty great in their own way - but that one really is comprehensive.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow yeah it is the Nothing Has Changed. Still unpacking got my DVD collection sorted and on the shelves but my CDs are on the media shelves and not yet in order. Plus I have 14 milk crates filled with CDs but when I am done my stereo will be set up and everything will be easy to find. I do have a special storage spot for Miles Davis and David Bowie because I don't have all their stuff. There are a bunch of Bowie boxed sets and live stuff I don't own. Plus I got to finish getting the rest of Miles and they keep putting out stuff of his as well.
@@richardsteele3272 14 milk crates - wow - that's a lot of CD's. But it will be fun getting the collection sorted out.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I have thousands of CDs and I will keep collecting them, but at the same time I buy albums, boxed sets once and a while and other music related items. My album collection is growing pretty good I am so glad that they came back and I see no reason that CDs and Albums cannot coexist and be beneficial to the fans, the music industry and the Artists that don't make much through streaming and they need physical items to sell and have to tour to make money. I am a strong supporter of the music industry and I want to see my bands live and buy their merchandise and their CDs and Albums. Music moves me more than anything and I love discovering something new or something that is old but new to me. Luckily I have a little disposable income to still collect. I know people that are on CZcams that buy music everyday and multiples and I wish I could. I could easily spend 2 million on music I have a music wish list when it is done and caught up will be between 200,000 to 250,000 titles. This is a wish list, not a I am planning on buying list, I have priority things that I want. I even have a hardback book titled "1001 albums you must hear before you die". I add new titles everyday and once I get my apartment done I will start adding everything in my Excell file. It already has 49,000 titles on that file. There is so much music out there and I am very eclectic with my music. I see you are a big collector as well, some people on Facebook have the hugest collection that make my collection look small.
Absolute beginners is possibly my favorite Bowie or at least top 5.
Yes. Such an amazing track.
I love that Trilogy of albums. Bowie's stab at 80s pop.
Well it definitely was his stab at 80's pop and it worked (commercially) magnificently. He was commercially bigger than ever, although Tonight and Never Let Me Down, were artistic disappointments to many of his longtime fans - but commercially Let's Dance - his biggest ever.
Whaddayou kiddin me? Total Treasure! I twirl and I tumble, pal!
Glad you love it. To me with all the covers etc, seems like Bowie was so busy with the worldwide success of Let's Dance and the massive Serious Moonlight tour, that he accepted putting out Tonight as the followup a year later due to record company pressure, even though he really didn't have the material ready. I could be wrong, but seems a logical guess. But glad you love it. I do listen to it more than Let's Dance, but really that's not saying much.
A very accurate review, it's part of Bowie's 'meh' period for me.
Thanks so much. Really appreciate it
Ps This is a reply to a previous video Too much Blood by the stones. Yes what a great song man I have too agree..on so many levels.. you should do a whole show just on that song..
I’m not sure if you’re joking. But if you’re serious I’m with you. I love Too Much Blood and it’s video. Since few people know the song don’t think too many people would check out a video on it. I did do a video on Undercover album though
I thought it was a pretty poor effort. Blue Jean and the title track are not bad. I have it in my collection but seldom play it. I actually really like Never Let Me Down, which followed Tonight.
I thought Never Let Me Down was a definite improvement, though still very spotty. They did a complete remix of Never Let Me Down which I must get. Love Time Will Crawl - classic.
That was some good falling stuff 🤣. I'm sorry we won't get to hear your wife singing Yes.... unless we are driving in a car with her. I love most Bowie, but I never listen to this album. I saw him twice. The first time was at the Warehouse for the Ziggy Stardust tour. The last time, was his last tour before his heart attack. This album is not trash, but it isn't that good either like you said. Maybe this segment should be called Treasure, Average, Or Trash🤣
Wow you saw the Ziggy Stardust tour. That's amazing. I never met anyone who saw that. I first discovered Bowie on Diamond Dogs, but unfortunately didn't see that tour. Ziggy must have been incredible. I have the concert movie and live album. I like the title "Treasure or Trash", but the reality is virtually none of the albums are treasure or trash, like you said. I mean if you like the artists, there's always something decent on them. Though there's a few I good do that truly are trash. Maybe I'll eventually get to them. I would trash The Who's Endless Wire for instance. Also there's a Blondie album called Ghosts of Download I would trash.
Iggy liked tonight a lot. Royalties
lol - absolutely - he especially loved Bowie's version of China Girl - probably set him up for life...or a long time.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I like Bowie he’s my favorite solo artist Tonight is a very good decent Bowie album I’m not saying it’s great let’s dance was good not great I like old Bowie of the 70’s Ziggy Stardust Aladdin Sane Station to Station hunky dory the man who sold the world Low
@@mikebarooshian7255 thanks. Yea Bowies got so much great stuff. What a career. Tonight is definitely not a highlight but not trash either.
I never could get into it.I think it was to much for the mainstream and I'm more of a prog guy or like the Stones where they tell the system to shove it.I like alot of Bowie's stuff but some of it from the 80's just are hard to get into for me
As another viewer said - that trilogy of albums was his stab at 80's pop. The production is seriously dated now, but even back then I wasn't a big fan of it. And I'm a big Bowie fan in general.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I got to see him in '79 but it was just as much a thrill seeing the people that showed up lol
@@thomaswery3087 lol. True. But also great that you saw him.
Hi Alan - another fun video! You are way too kind to DB here. In my opinion Let's Dance & Never Let Me Down are even worse than Tonight. "Loving The Alien" is the only great song from these 3 original albums. Agree, that some of the soundtrack songs you mention are much better, strangely enough. (And then the Tin Machine period didn't make things any better, I believe)
Thanks so much. Lol. Yea really not a strong period. I didn’t even go into tin machine. But like you said certainly didn’t make it any better.
Arne.. you can't diss Bowie man like that.. cmon..I'm pretty sure you can't and never did write a song before ever..
@@glendepietro1521 you know I’m a huge Bowie fan and own all his albums. But not all his albums are great. And these are far from great. Well at least to me. And many others. But if you love them that’s awesome. but if everything is great then nothing is great
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow i don't believe Arne is a Bowie fan at all.. there fore shouldn't be critical .. my opinion.. Bowie is not from earth so you got to be careful what you say.
@@glendepietro1521 who’s Arne? I thought you meant me. Lol.
Bowie lost me in the 80s. Even when the songs were good the production was...well so 80s.
Yea, I'm not a fan of that 80's production, but it was of it's time and it effected most artists at that time.
Booooooo.. the 80s rocked
@@glendepietro1521 ok. Seriously. Do you really think Tonight and Never Let Me down and Tin Machine is prime Bowie. Classic Timeless Bowie. If so. Ok but we have a difference of opinion. I’m glad I have them. But their ok at best. To me
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow well back then it was either the Thompson twins or bowie.. sooooo
@@glendepietro1521 lol - not for me. I've never owned any Thompson Twin albums. U2, REM - they were 80's too.