A Classic Album Set

When I heard David Bowie's: David Live at the Tower Philadelphia, I was disappointed by the quality of the music and the album set in general. Most of the time the band was off and it reflected poorly.
After that experience I almost didn't buy David Bowie's Stage album but now I am glad I did.
Since it was a differenct band I decided to give it a try and I was very happy with the results.
The band is in great form, especially with rhythm guitarist Carlos Alomar as musicial director.
[Alomar co-wrote Bowie's first #1 U.S. hit...you remember the one: 'Fame'].
So, it is of little surprise to this music conessieur, that he would put together such a great live performance.
Alomar's great attention to detail, his funky rock riffs and the addition of Adrian Belew gives this album a unique and stylish sound.
Belew's lead on "Heroes" is a classic and his presence is felt throughout the entire album.
The blending of the guitars with the violin [played by Simon House of Hawkwind fame]and the thunderous piano of Sean Mayes, adds an almost chaotic feeling to such songs as "Blackout" and "Beauty And The Beast".
Add what is referred to by many as Bowie's best rhythm section, Dennis Davis, George Murray [and Carlos Alomar] and you have all of the ingredients for an amazing live performance.
Being backed by a band of all-stars, David Bowie delivers his vocals with power and authority and with the exception of a missed line or two, the songs come off without a hitch.

Stage Is One Of The Very Best Live Recordings Ever!

This was recorded in Philadelphia, PA in April 1978. I was very, very lucky to attend these shows! I was just a kid then, but I still clearly remember that Bowie was just so incredibly AWESOME! His voice was so dynamic and so strong! Heroes was #1, the whole band was so tight, the entire audience was totally into it all the way, and the whole show was just so totally excellent in so many ways! By far, THE very best concert I have ever seen period - no doubt about it. And I have seen so many. So very many.

In addition to Bowie's incredible vocals, dancing, mime, keyboards (he also played a small harp!) on those nights, I'll never forget Adrian Belew's awesome lead guitar performances. He kept racing around the stage behind Bowie, doing Chuck Berry style duckwalks, wild spins, running back and forth while playing these absolutely amazing lead riffs which just tore the house down! I remember how no one knew who he was at that time, but we soon found out after that as he went on to work with The Talking Heads, Robert Fripp, King Crimson, Bill Buford, Stanley Clark, Stewart Copeland, Jean-Michel Jarre, Laurie Anderson and the list goes on and on. For sure, Mr. Adrian Belew is, indeed, one of the very, very best guitarists this world has ever seen.

Also, IMHO, 'Stage' marks a very significant turning point in time when Bowie went from a freaked-out, cult-like lead singer and moved on to become a world-wide major legend in the history of rock music. It also marks a time when rock music went from straight up, in your face 'hard rock' to a more mainstream type of music which many, many grew to accept and still enjoy today.

I highly recommend purchasing a copy of this CD as soon as possible. It is getting harder to find and really is one of the very best live recordings ever made! Five stars is not enough to rate this - should be more like ten or twenty! Get it NOW!

The 1978 tour

This live album of Bowie's 1978 tour draws heavily on the Ziggy Stardust songs. Other albums that feature are Station To Station, Young Americans, Low and Heroes plus there's the obscure Alabama Song. It is a pity that great songs like Young Americans, Golden Years, Sound And Vision and Word On A Wing are not included here, since I would have loved to hear them live. These versions are more uptempo than the studio originals and less polished, but there's enough electricity in the air. My favourite performances are Five Years, Station To Station, Fame. Breaking Glass and Heroes. The live performances throw an entirely different perspective on these well loved songs. However I recommend this album only to devoted Bowie fans. The live versions are best appreciated when the listener is already familiar with the originals.