Space Oddity/Hunky Dory/the Man Who Sold the World [Box set]

'Space Oddity' has the classic hit of the same name (naturally) plus gorgeous tracks like 'Janine', 'Wide Eyed Boy From Free Cloud', a curious 1984-esque vision of the 'Cygnet Committee' and the far-out 'Memory of a Free Festival'. Admittedly its more Neil Young than Lou Reed but just like the old Crazy Horse himself it's still satisfyingly rockin' in a folky way.

TMWSTW is Bowie stepping into the glam ROCK ring and how! Old Ronno is on board and - along with 'Aladdin Sane' 3 years later - Bowie proves he can rock out full-metal stylee as well as anything the Zeps or the Sabs could muster. From the blistering opener 'The Width of A Circle' all the way to 'The Supermen' and encompassing brilliant Burroughsian-paranoid songs such as 'All The Madman' (perhaps Bowie's first proclamation of his sexuality?? Discuss) and the always magnificent title track, this is one heavy mother! Oh and Bowie's in a lovely frock on the cover.

'Hunky Dory' is the album that most non-Bowie fans rate as their 2nd favourite after Ziggy. Now, that's not slating it as it's a great album but he did produce other fantastic albums after Ziggy which ALWAYS get ignored (e.g. 'Aladdin Sane' & 'Station To Station' to name two). Anyway, here you can see Bowie the superstar was on well his way as finally he marries his rockier side to the proper singer-songwriter side. Classics are a plenty here: 'Changes', 'Life on Mars' (which almost became a Sinatra song), 'Queen Bitch' (another nod to his sexuality), 'Oh You Pretty Things' (Peter Noone has nothing on this version) and the wonderful flattering tribute to 'Andy Warhol'. A glorious timeless album.

Bowie may have messed up in the 1980s and released some poor albums which put off many casual fans who had one or two albums (including Ziggy). For those in this disposition all you need is this to remind you why people like me and gaggles of critics with good taste love the man. Or, alternatively, if want to see how Ziggy began 'making love to his ego' you can do no better than this nicely put together set. And PLEASE avoid anything from his Anthony Newley phase for goodness sake!!

The first disc is Space Oddity, which includes the hit and some charming items like Memory Of A Free Festival. The songs aren't that great and the sound hovers uncomfortably between folk and rock.

The second disc is the great Hunky Dory, an album of stunning diversity and vision. There are the tributes to Andy Warhol and Lou Reed, plus the magnificent Life On Mars and the catchy Changes, and the sound included proper rock and authentic folkie acoustic numbers.

The third disc is his heavy metal album with Mick Ronson and Tony Visconti. It is a dark work with some outstanding songs like the title track, All The Madmen, Black Country Rock, Width Of A Circle and The Supermen.

Hunky Dory is the best by far and provides most of the memorable songs. I recommend this set only to Bowie completists, not the newbie. It provides a fascinating look at the development of his career from the Tony Newly/Music Hall phase to the world of rock.