Bowie's Greatest Trilogy?
 

A lot has been made of the Berlin Trilogy, but what really are Bowie's greatest 3 consecutive records? He had the great output in the 70's, so there's a lot to choose from and many reasons for doing so. I'm of the opinion that Hunky Dory/Ziggy/Alladdin Sane is his greatest trilogy, with Aladdin being one of his most under-rated, most maligned and misunderstood albums. The Spiders are so tight and the avant-garde sax and piano flourishes make it not only a glam, but art rock masterpiece.

I agree with Hunky Dory/Ziggy/Alladdin Sane, the first being my favorite.

I don't know if i'd call them a trilogy.

Aladdin Sane sounds nothing like the 2 albums before it. It has more in common with Diamond Dogs than either of those 2.

where's Diamond Dogs/Young Americans/Station to Station?

either way all three are damn good. i'm fond of his Berlin-era work as well, but i feel like a lot of people might exaggerate the effect Eno had upon Bowie's work.

Me three.

All of them.

DD was the beginning of the end for Ziggy, and Bowie did drop the Spiders on that disc. It's a great album, but it moved him towards soul music, whereas I view Aladdin as a rocking version of Hunky Dory.

Young Americans is a superb album, but I reckon it could've been better. Some of the songs Bowie left off that album are among his best.

As for my favourite trilogy, it's probably the Heroes-Lodger-Scary Monsters one (I'd stick Low in there as well if it was allowed).

If we're going for best run of 3 albums i'd go Station To Station / Low / Heroes

I'm with you on those three, especially Station to Station.

Station to Station was recorded in Hollywood at the height of Bowie's cocaine addiction. There is a strong kraut-rock influence, making it radically different from Young Americans, but I wouldn't but it in the Berlin period, which would be Low/Heros/The Lodger. Here Bowie attempted to clean up his drug addiction, and began his collaboration with Eno and pursuit of movie soundtrack music. Another brilliant transformation of the artist.

I'd have to go Hunky/Ziggy/Aladdin as well even though Hunk Dory rates a lot lower on my scale than for some.

Seconded. Regarding Hunky Dory I mean. Great album and that, but there's a little too much filler on it for me to call it a classic.

I like every song but i'm not sure it would make my top 5.

Personally I don't really like Song For Bob Dylan or Andy Warhol (the latter was vastly improved on live), but I like the rest of them. I'll probably just give it another spin now...

The worst bit is easily the whole WARHUL skit so you do have a point.

I'd choose Hunky Dory over Ziggy Stardust anyday.

Exactly! This is how it should have been done instead :D;


The only thing I've got against Ziggy Stardust is the pretty flat production values, if that makes any sense. It's another example of an album which is massively improved by live performance.

I have nothing against Ziggy at all, maybe nostalgia has something to do with it since it was the first i got by him but i can't fault that album at all. Easily the best of his glam period too and some of his best singles.

I would lessen the praise it gets if albums like Station to Station got more in an instant though.

The only song on Hunky Dory which is borderline for me is Fill Your Heart because it's kinda kitschy. But I love the diversity on that record. Ziggy is more uniform in style, Aladdin is just a wild ride all over the place. Station to Station may be his best, even if he doesn't remember it.

hey man, whos this bowie guy?

I will have to be cliched and go for the Berlin works but choose Station To Station as the first instead of Lodger at the end. I really am not that big into his Ziggy/Aladdin Sane era. It's about time someone did a Bowie review thread as there is so much back story to many of his albums. It would be a great read.

Interesting idea that. Through spending years on one of his fan forums and reading a few biographies I could probably do that myself at some point. It'd be more of a read if we had other members chipping in with reviews of their own as well - I know there are a lot more fans of his on these boards than who's posted in this thread.

This is really difficult because Bowie has so many incredibly strong releases. Like jackhammer, I'm going to have to go with Station to Station followed by the two true Berlin albums Low and Heroes.

Music doesn't get much better than this.

Although I am a fan my knowledge is nowhere sufficent enough to warrant me starting a thread. But the idea of reviews from all over the forum is damn cool! I'm stealing that idea!

Everyone picks an album and reviews it? Nice idea but will it work for the lesser known albums?

Yeah we can double up on reviews if we have to. Threads open. Get your choices in now!

I think his glam era with albums such as Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust etc, Aladdin Sane and Hunky Dory are quissential Bowie and an integral part of early 70`s music. Unbelievably though, this was surpassed by the Berlin trilogy (Low, Heroes and Lodger) where he collaborated with Brian Eno in an electronica, ambient, art rock phase. Still to this day, I believe that "Low" is one of the best albums ever recorded.