It seems hard to believe, given the career full of revolutionary and hugely influential stylistic shifts that followed, that this superb record was only David Bowie's fourth. Yet HUNKY DORY ranks alongside ZIGGY STARDUST, LOW, and SCARY MONSTERS as one of Bowie's finest and most consistent albums. Ironically, it is one of the artist's least rock-oriented efforts, bearing little relation to what came before or after in his discography. Instead, HUNKY DORY covers a wide range of styles from operatic pop ("Life on Mars?") to low-key folk ("Quicksand") to English music hall ditties ("Kooks").
There are standout tracks, most notably the glam-rock anthem "Oh, You Pretty Things!" and the chugging, life-affirming "Changes," which went on to become one of Bowie's all-time signature songs. But HUNKY DORY is solid from beginning to end, thanks to the fine musicians, Bowie's excellent songwriting, and the artist's now-mature sense of performance. These qualities fold such wild cards as the tongue-in-cheek celebrity send-up "Andy Warhol," the psychedelic folk of "The Bewlay Brothers," and exuberant jam of "Queen Bitch," the album's only overt rocker, neatly into the deck, making for the first of Bowie's truly indisputable masterpieces.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (12/11/03, p.120) - Ranked #107 in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time" - "[W]ith a new pop sound that seems just as modern today as it was then."
Rolling Stone (1/6/72, pp.63-64) - "...HUNKY DORY not only represents Bowie's most engaging album musically, but also finds him once more writing literally enough to let the listener examine his ideas comfortably..."
Q (1/03, p.64) - Included in Q Magazine's "100 Greatest Albums Ever"
NME (Magazine) (10/2/93, p.29) - Ranked #38 in NME's list of the 'Greatest Albums Of All Time.'
NME (Magazine) (9/18/93, p.19) - Ranked #12 in NME's list of The Greatest Albums Of The '70s.
Format:
Compact Disc
Country:
USA
UPC:
0724352189908
Studio/Live:
Studio
Release Date:
9 September, 1999
Guest Artist:
Mick Ronson; Rick Wakeman
Tracks
1. Changes
2. Oh! You Pretty Things
3. Eight Line Poem
4. Life On Mars
5. Kooks
6. Quicksand
7. Fill Your Heart
8. Andy Warhol
9. Song For Bob Dylan
10. Queen Bitch
11. The Bewlay Brothers
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Reviews
5.0
out of 5 based on
3
reviews.
– Customer review on 28/11/2006
David Bowie isn't just for older people; it's for younger ones too! I am 14 years old and I love this album. All the songs are catchy and you can listen to them for hours without getting bored. Bowie has done a great job on this album!
5.0
out of 5 based on
3
reviews.
– Customer review on 01/09/2006
the first album by david bowie that could really be considered a classic. an album with some great songs like kooks, life on mars, quick sand and queen bitch. this is the album that came before the rock that was ziggy stardust and its a very special album and one worth a listen at the very least.
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