The Man Who Sold the World David Bowie

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CD - Enhanced

  • Release Date: 09/28/1999
  • Original Release: 1970
  • Sales Rank: 40,992
  • Label: VIRGIN RECORDS US
  • UPC: 724352190102

Listener Rating: (8 ratings)

Detailed Rating: "Essential" See All

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  • Overview
  • Tracks
  • Editorial Reviews
  • Customer Reviews
  • Details & Credits
Track List
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The Man Who Sold the World

1LISTENThe Width of a Circle 8:08
2LISTENAll the Madmen 5:40
3LISTENBlack Country Rock 3:36
4LISTENAfter All 3:55
5LISTENRunning Gun Blues 3:15
6LISTENSaviour Machine 4:28
7LISTENShe Shook Me Cold 4:16
8LISTENThe Man Who Sold the World 3:59
9LISTENThe Supermen 3:40

About this Artist

Editorial Reviews

Even though it contained no hits, The Man Who Sold the World, for most intents and purposes, is the beginning of David Bowie's classic period. Working with guitarist Mick Ronson and producer Tony Visconti for the first time, Bowie developed a tight, twisted heavy guitar rock that appears simple on the surface but sounds more gnarled upon each listen. The mix is off-center, with the fuzz-bass dominating the compressed, razor-thin guitars and Bowie's strangled, affected voice. The sound of The Man Who Sold the World is odd, but the music is bizarre itself, with Bowie's bizarre, paranoid futuristic tales melded to Ronson's riffing and the band's relentless attack. Musically, there isn't much innovation on The Man Who Sold the World -- it is almost all hard blues-rock or psychedelic folk-rock -- but there's an unsettling edge to the band's performance, which makes the record one of Bowie's best albums. [Rykodisc's 1990 CD reissue includes four bonus tracks, including the previously unreleased "Lightning Frightening," and the single "Holy Holy," and both sides of the 1971 "Arnold Corns" single, "Moonage Daydream" and "Hang On to Yourself," which are early and inferior versions of songs that would later appear on Ziggy Stardust.] Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Almost classicby JohnQ

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July 30, 2009: All the songs here are good and the album holds together well, just slightly below classic.

I'm Sold!!!by Anonymous

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March 14, 2007: Like its predecessor Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold the World is often unfairly overlooked in light of Bowie's later output. But, as with his debut, one should listen to this record on its own terms. Whereas Space Oddity foreshadowed Bowie's future talent as a songwriter, The Man Who Sold the World foreshadows Bowie as performer. Not that the songwriting is neglected. One listen to "Width of A Circle," "All the Madmen," "After All" or the title track proves that Bowie has matured significantly as a songwriter from his debut. But, on the Man Who Sold the World, Bowie began to emerge as the showman who would create unforgettable characters as Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke. Many of the tracks on this album became staples of his early live shows, especially "Width of a Circle" and the title track. The cover also foreshadows his role as the king of early 70s glam rock as he is posing in a dress. His fascination with existentialism and nihilism, explored so effectively on Space Oddity, continues on this album as especially heard on "All the Madmen" and "After All." His future fascination with Nietzschean style fascism can also be heard here: on "Saviour Machine," a tighter, darker rewrite of "Cygnet Committee" from Space Oddity and on "The Supermen." Give this early Bowie classic a spin before you check out Hunky Dory or Ziggy Stardust. It all begins here and on Space Oddity.

This review was written about the CD Special Edition edition.


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