The Complete David Bowie | Book Review

Title: The Complete David Bowie (New Edition: Expanded and Updated Sixth Edition)
Author: Nicholas Pegg
Genre: Non-Fiction Music
Length: 736 pages
Publisher: Titan Books 2011

Synopsis:

The biggest edition yet – expanded and updated with 35,000 words of new material

Critically acclaimed in its previous editions, The Complete David Bowie is widely recognized as the foremost source of analysis and information on every facet of Bowie’s career. The A-Z of songs and the day-by-day dateline are the most complete ever published. From the 11-year-old’s skiffle performance at the 18th Bromley Scouts’ Summer Camp in 1958, to the emergence of the legendary lost album Toy in 2011, The Complete David Bowie discusses and dissects every last development in rock’s most fascinating career.

* The Albums – detailed production history and analysis of every album from 1967 to the present day.
* The Songs – hundreds of individual entries reveal the facts and anecdotes behind not just the famous recordings, but also the most obscure of unreleased rarities – from ‘Absolute Beginners’ to ‘Ziggy Stardust’, from ‘Abdulmajid’ to ‘Zion’.
* The Tours – set-lists and histories of every live show.
* The Actor – a complete guide to Bowie’s career on stage and screen.
* Plus – the videos, the BBC radio sessions, the paintings, the Internet and much more.

The career of David Bowie has been one of the most colorful and intriguing in modern rock history. Now, in ‘The Complete David Bowie,’ Nicholas Pegg chronicles the star’s every move–from his first appearance as balladeer Davy Jones in the 60s, and his spectacular, gender-bending debut in the 70s as Ziggy Stardust, which made him an international sensation, to his starring roles in films like ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth’ and his more mature work on albums like ‘Zion.’ This definitive reference also includes a detailed production history and an analysis of all of Bowie’s albums, hundreds of entries with facts and anecdotes about all his songs, including unreleased rarities, and set lists and histories of every live show. Moving beyond his music, the book charts Bowie’s career on stage and screen, his videos, and more.

Review:

I love David Bowie and have done since I was a child so I was really looking forward to taking a look at this book. It is a huge book but that is not a problem if you are a huge David Bowie fan like myself. The first part of the book lists every song written, recorded, covered, produced of played live by David Bowie either by himself or for other artists and all songs are listed in alphabetical order. Every song listed has a little write up about it including dates which album it was one. The second part lists all official albums and again has a write up on each album. The book also lists all live performances, videos, David Bowie the actor and what he has starred in and so much more.

Here is a little excerpt from one of my favourite songs.
Ashes To Ashes – A-Side 8/80 [1]. Album:Scary, Live: Beeb, A Reality Tour, Video: Collection, Best Of Bowie, Live Video: Moonlight, A Reality Tour

Even without its obvious historical interest this is one of the all-time great Bowie tracks. Lush layers of synthesized sound, ska backbeats and funk guitar consolidated all Bowie’s late 1970s experimentation in one classic piece of pop, while David Mallet’s outstanding promo redefined rock video and jump-started the New Romantic movement. “It’s certainly one of the better songs that I’ve ever written,” was Bowie’s considered judgement in 1999. All this, and it;s sequel to ‘Space Oddity’ too.

I have found this book full of interesting information. I hadn’t actually know that David Bowie had so many songs and albums to his name. He is one true legend and everytime I pick the book up it makes me want to listen to his music.

Available to purchase from http://www.titanbooks.com

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