David Bowie

David Bowie - VHI Storytellers (CD 1) - 2009 - EMI

VH1's sadly short-lived series Storytellers was ideal for an old charmer like David Bowie, giving him an intimate platform to spin stories both old and new. When he appeared on the show on August 23, 1999, he was a few months away from releasing Hours..., an album where he comfortably came to terms with his past, so it fits that he's looking back fondly here, telling stories about the Mannish Boys and Iggy Pop, sliding the new tunes "Thursday's Child" and "Seven" in between "Life on Mars?" and "Drive-In Saturday," plus "Can't Help Thinking About Me," a single he released with the Lower Third in 1965. These are all good, relaxed, unplugged readings, but the chief attraction of VH1 Storytellers is, appropriately enough, those stories Bowie tells, as they not only offer a glimpse into the creation of these songs, they do what great stories should do: they entertain. [VH1 Storytellers is available as a CD/DVD package, with the CD containing a mere eight songs and the DVD containing a full program of 12 tunes, adding "Always Crashing in the Same Car" and Tin Machine's "I Can't Read" into the mix.] Stephen Thomas Erlewine © 2010 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wnfwxzr0ldke

Recorded live at Manhattan Center Studios, New York, on 23-08-99 as part of the VH1 Storytellers series, to promote his 'Hours' album, this concert is remembered by Bowie fans as a highlight of VHI's Storytellers series. There is great banter with the audience, and the musicianship is superb.The album was released as a CD/DVD featuring the original televised performance of eight songs, plus an additional four songs that were taped, but were not featured during the original air date. The DVD bonus tracks are "Survive", " I Can't Read", "Always Crashing in the Same Car", and "If I'm Dreaming My Life", none of which are included on this post. If you are not familiar with Bowie's live act, this album is a great introduction to the rock superstar. It also takes a fresh look at a legend for the diehard Bowie fan. The album is VHR by A.O.O.F.C. Give David Bowie's fabulous classic "Aladdin Sane" album a listen. Read the great man's bio @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1 Life on Mars? - David Bowie
2 Conversation/Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
3 Thursday's Child - David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels
4 Can't Help Thinking About Me - David Bowie, The Lower Third
5 China Girl - David Bowie, Iggy Pop
6 Seven - David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels
7 Drive-In Saturday - David Bowie
8 Word on a Wing - David Bowie

MUSICIANS

David Bowie - Guitar, Vocals
Mark Plati, Reeves Gabrels - Guitar
Gail Ann Dorsey - Bass, Vocals
Mike Garson - Piano, Keyboards
Sterling Campbell - Percussion, Drums
Holly Palmer, Lani Groves - Vocals (bckgr)
Ray Davies - Inspiration