Early On (1964-1966) Rhino records 1992.
MUSICIANS: .
There were tons of musicians playing on these many tracks from many of Bowies first groups. To list them would be exaustive and ultimatley invaluable.
OVERALL: For years and years all of Bowies early material had been scattered across a large number of unworthwhile and sometimes hard to find compilations. Then Rhino released this, a well compiled and documented disc from Bowie's most unknown and underappriceated period,with the added adittion of 5 previously unreleasd demos. While not up to par by Bowie standards,this is a delightful set of some very catchy and well executed 60's pop and rock, and all throughout the album Bowie shows his already uncanny ability to write a great song. Some songs could have even been a hit, had it not been for bad promotion. GRADE: B+ All songs are written by David Bowie unless otherwise noted.
1.Liza Jane (Trad Arr. Les Conn) 2:18
His first single ever (and the only to be produced by Les Conn), this stomper is very much in the Rolling Stones/Pretty Things vein. Bowies voice is barely recognizable, almost sounding like a cross between Mick Jaggar and John Lennon. The horn section is very punchy,which gives it a nice flavour. Grade: B+ 2.Louie Louie Go Home (Revere/ Lindsay) 2:12
This is a cover of an old Paul Revere And The Raiders song. Good 60's pop. Grade:B
3.I Pity The Fool (Malone) 2:08
Another very good cover, this time of a song popularized by Bobby Bland. A nice ogran carries this one,though it is somewhat ordinary. Grade: B
4.Take My Tip 2:15
On his first original song ever put on record Bowie gives out a great jazz rocker with nice instrumentation. It was the B side of I Pity The Fool. Grade: A
5.That's Where My Heart Is 2:28
This is the first of the 5 previously unreleased demos that are all in bad sound quality. This one is a good haunting ballad, yet the guitar is so low that it is barely audible at spots. Also there are scraches from the 78 rpm acetate from where this was taken. But the song is good. Grade: B+
6.I Want My Baby Back 2:39
A Beatlesque tune with sime nice harmonies. Just a guitar accompaniment, but it's a hot electric rhythm. Sound quality is unexeptional, to say the least. Grade:B-
7.Bars of the County Jail 2:06
This is a very fun sing a long, with a funny Western type story about being framed for murder. I've always liked it, but it is nonetheless not up there with his best. Grade:B
8.You've Got A Habit Of Leaving 2:31
The first of a pair of gem singles from the period, You've Got A Habit Of Leaving is a great 60's pop/rocker. The guitar just rocks, though the melody and lyrics are rather lightweight. Grade:A-
9.Baby Loves That Way 3:03
A song that very much souds like Hermans Hermits. Done vey well,though, it's a nice ditty with weak lyrics. Grade:B+
10.I'll Follow You 2:02
The third of the previously unreleased acetates, this one has a whole band backing him. Sound quality again is poor, but the song is ok and if it would have gotten past the demo stages it just might had been a hit! Grade:B
11.Glad I've Got Nobody 2:32
Pretty identical to the previous song, although this probably would have been a B side. Grade:B-
12.Can't Help Thinking About Me 2:47
Now it really gets good,this song is a gem(and so is the B side). An overlooked song in the Bowie cannon, this one suffers only from semi-weak lyrics,although I've never minded them. Bowie has recently dusted this one off and performed it for his appearance on VH1 Storytellers. And deservidly so. Grade:A+
13.And I Say To Myself 2:29
Another superb track, And I Say To Myself has a great melody and lyrics. One of my favorite 'lost singles'. Grade:A+
14.Do Anything You Say 2:31
The last 2 singles on this collection all sound different from the others, less comercial I guess. They almost sound like 'filler' and not 'singles'. This is rather uninteresting. Grade:B
15.Good Morning Girl 2:13
A great jump blues number, played with great fevor. Grade:B+
16.I Dig Everything 2:44
A nice organ lick carries this different sounding pop tune. Grade:B
17.I'm Not Losing Sleep 2:52
Probably the best of the 4 this is still a boring song with even weaker lyrics,but there was so much worse to come.......