|
Starting Point |
| no production credits | |
| Released on 1977 | |
| no chart information | |
| Find it at GEMM | |
| LC 50007 cover |
N ot the place to start if you’re building a Bowie collection, but then you already knew that, didn’t you? The ten tracks featured here are drawn primarily from the 1967 elpee, Love You Till Tuesday. The remaining three might be considered rare if they didn’t appear on sundry compilations, which they do. (Those three -- “The Laughing Gnome,” “The London Boys,” “Karma Man” -- were electronically reprocessed to simulate stereo for this compilation, whatever that means.) The more I listen to David Bowie’s early recordings, the more I’m reminded how good they were considering his age and inexperience. There is already a dark side evident on songs like “We Are Hungry Men,” “Please Mr. Gravedigger” and “The London Boys.” But the early recordings were mostly cute and appreciably clever (although my desire to punch somebody whenever I hear “The Laughing Gnome” is gnome laughing matter). I purchased this record, which has long since been out of print, at a Crazy Eddie’s in Long Island. Remember Crazy Eddie? It’s amazing how few audio retail chains from the ‘70s survived into the ‘80s and ‘90s. Even stalwarts like Record World soon went the way of the dinosaur, supplanted by the dinosaur-sized chains (Best Buy, etc.). Thus I applaud the actions of smaller chains (Newbury Comics, Strawberries) as they boycott The Rolling Stones in lieu of their exclusive deal with Best Buy. Hiding behind the shield of a lower price to consumers, Best Buy is undermining an American institution. Small record stores are the breeding ground for the musical acolytes of our age; just try asking someone at Best Buy what they recommend for music, and I’ll bet you get a stock answer (i.e., whatever stock they’re pushing that week). All of which has nothing to do with Starting Point, which I seem to have turned into a launching point for my own feelings.
 |
| LC 50007 back cover |
TRACK LISTING
CREDITS
Dek Tearnley -- music director
Ivor Raymonde -- music director
Queens Graphics -- art direction and design
Lucy Kleps -- art coordination
James Spina -- liner notes
return to DAVID BOWIE discography
| REGION | RELEASE DATE | LABEL | MEDIA | ID NUMBER | FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | 1977 | London | LP | LC 50007 |
© 2003 Connolly & Company. All rights reserved.