I remember when this came out I hated it. My one buddy who owned his own car from whom I always got a ride, told me to shut up, listen to what he wanted to play in his car, or walk. So I listened to this a lot and eventually grasped the value of this music. The guitarwork was seemingly unique and suited to the spaced out nature of the songs and I loved the concept. If you simply look at this CD as a well recorded grouping of songs with a theme which brings them together, it is a good listen. I am still not a diehard Bowie fan and never will be. I have never liked his deliberate chameleonisms and the fact that so much of his talent is contrived showmanship instead of musicianship. Certainly, I feel that Ziggy was his best and is still great to listen to. I have always just forgotten about the crappy bi-sexual nonsense and got off on the rockin tracks for what they are.

It's definately been said about Bowie before, and I'm sure not going to be the last one to say it: but the man's a genius. That genius is fully recognized in the powerful sci-fi scenes and emotions captured in his lyrics. Even as he changes beat, tempo, and the overall feel of the songs from "Five Years" to "It Ain't Easy" to "Hang on to Yourself" to even the song that started it all "Ziggy Stardust" it's just so easy to get lost in the feel of the music.

One of the first Bowie CDs I've purchased, and one of the best buys I've ever made.

Let's see here... a concept album about a space-traveling soul man who tries to save the world with rock `n' roll? A collection of songs that take their cues from Chuck Berry, the Rolling Stones, and Flash Gordon? A drug-addled post 60s journey through rock `n' roll decadence that invites you to "freak out in a moonage daydream?" The ultimate glam rock album, then.

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars is David Bowie's ultimate statement of purpose, a delicious and endlessly engrossing rock `n' roll funhouse mirror. The songs gleefully run the gamut from cocaine-powdered sleaze to hazy, beautiful balladry. Its acoustic and electric, cheap and soulful, decadent and moralistic, nihilistic and emotionally uplifting, comic and tragic, beautiful, hideous, and everything in between. It's the history of rock `n' roll condensed into one irresistible package, an entire universe held together by sheer force of will. It's also a hell of a good time.

Bowie assumes the role of the album's titular character, simultaneously celebrating and mocking the concept's strange extravagance. Just listen to "Lady Stardust," with a beautifully, hilariously self-deprecating lyric soaring over a rafter-shaking white-soul melody. It works as both a tribute to and a satire of rock `n' roll myth, and it works brilliantly on both levels. But there's more to the album than just pastiche. "Moonage Daydream" is poetic, dreamy, and eternally memorable, with an incredible guitar solo thrown in for good measure. "Suffragette City" is a rollicking, ridiculously catchy, utterly irresistible sleaze-fest, and "Starman" is utterly hypnotic. "Five Years" is one of the most gorgeous, nakedly emotional love songs ever written, and "Soul Love" is just plain lovely. "Star" is an absolute sleaze-rock rush, and "Hang On To Yourself" features a classic sing-speak performance, plus a great guitar riff. "Ziggy Stardust" is simply one of the greatest rock songs ever (so, for that matter, are about half of the songs here), a clutch of brilliantly bizarre lyrics and haunting melodies. Great guitars, too. "Rock `n' Roll Suicide" closes the album on a suitably bitter, broken note. I even like the often-maligned cover of "It Ain't Easy," in all of its folk-bluesy goodness.

It's one of the absolute classic rock `n' roll albums, and a great addition to any music collection.

The first 70's Bowie I just added to my collection and was it well worth it.Having owned many of his 80's and 90's stuff,it was time to dig deep to the "Classics" as they are.From beginning to end,just a strong and amazing album.Soul Love,Moonage Dream,Starman,Lady Stardust,Star to Ziggy Stardust and Suffragette City. It is just an amazing album from a Legend.If you are a Bowie fan and ready to dig deep,start off with this one.The others will follow after you buy this one.A solid 5 from me..Raw and amazing!!!!
Buy it now,it is never too late.

It was 1972 and there had been nothing to prepare my young mind (then 20) for David Bowie and his Spiders From Mars band. What a different sound with the orchestra and the wild guitar wailing in the background on the first song Five Years to the almost cat-like background vocals on the infectious Soul Love. And then came the words from Bowie "I'm an aligator, I'm a momma poppa comin for you, I'm a space invader, I'll be a rock and rollin bitch for you"! Wow! Now he was getting really spacey. He sang with a very British accent and sang about some way out dude who was not all dude. The invented character of Ziggy became Bowie's alter ego for awhile as he represented the counter-culture movement that Mr. Bowie helped nurture and invent a new category of music which would soon be called "Glam Rock". This is still good rock music by any measure. Long live Ziggy Stardust and his Spiders from Mars! - Ciao

David Bowie was such a great pioneer of glam rock/progressive rock/fantasy rock.
The entire album continues the space theme centering around Ziggy Stardust.
Particularly outstandind is the wonderful disco funk of Suffragette City, the fantastic theme song Ziggy Stardust, the harder rock of Rock 'N' Roll Suicide and most memorable the charming Starman.
But this album, originally released in 1974, is such a work of art in itself, and is a self-contained fantasy story in rock form much like Queen's Queen II released in 1974.

A good friend in college turned me on to this selection. I had previously heard only Bowie's Space Oddity and knew hardly anything about him. Five Years got my attention, Soul Love gave me a taste, Moonage Daydream got me hooked. This is good stuff folks. That summer I went to see him perform the Diamond Dogs concert. He acted out every song (including Space Oddity w/that platform reaching out over the audience). The two young ladies I went with told me it was the best concert they'd every seen. Knowing I had seen and heard something special, I agreed. There are so many classic cuts on this CD, but none affect me more than Rock n Roll Suicide. Desperate times didn't seem so desperate after listening to this track. Although I didn't discover this album until the summer of '74 (thanks Cyndi!), without it I wouldn't have made it through that difficult time in my life. My second most favorite album of all time. If you read my other reviews, you'll know my first.

David Bowie's most consistently enjoyable album. Well, I don't necessarily agree with that, but the majority of people out there will tell you that. "Five Years" is a great well-written song that almost sounds like a glam-rock ballad. Is there even such a thing? Maybe. The title song is spectacular and probably the ultimate glam-rock masterpiece (even though it reminds me of the Paul McCartney song "Band on the Run"). "Starman" isn't related to the Super Mario Brothers starman that makes you invincible for a few seconds, but I sure feel invincible listening to this really neat little song that puts me in a stargazing state of mind.

"Hang on to Yourself" and "Suffragette City" are pre-punk songs. Seriously, they sound punk-ish, and many people believe these songs influenced the punk genre. "It Ain't Easy" always had a wild west vibe to me, but I may be alone on that one. "Moonage Daydream" is just a perfect song for teenagers who like to dance, I think. Really good album, however not really Bowie's best. I don't know what his best album is, but it's probably not this one.

Es difícil definir cual es el mejor disco de Bowie... pero sin lugar a dudas, éste disco, "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust" es una autentica obra maestra. Está llena de temas clasicos del repertorio del duque blanco, y se pasea libremente entre el glam, el rock y la sicodélica. ¡Grande David, Mr. Stardust!

Vulgar and unpleasant album from the tiresome Bowie in his alien-comes-down-to-Earth-as-a-rock-star guise. Why he NEEDS alter-ego's at all is a mystery, perhaps it's to fool us into thinking he's more interesting than he actually is, or not blame him when things are wrong. Some hope.
Anyway, TRAFOZSATSFM is a dreary, humourless excursion. Dull as dishwater with a subtle-as-concrete premise; Messianic traveler descends, and is distraught to find our civilization is on it's last legs. We're all to blame, and we're about to take the last ride on self-destruction highway. Fair enough. So what's he gonna do about it?
Well, he's going to play some of the coarsest, stupidest, badly dated songs you can think of, in ludicrous make-up and a clown costume. The planet's saved! Go Ziggy!!
I suppose what really irks me here, is the fact that this is almost reverentially over-praised, with little or no dissention. No sane voice of reason pulling it up, and having a second look. It's accepted-as-fact that it's a work of unencroachable genius, despite the fact it's got no guts or soul, or anything that would make you warm to it. Anything that makes you remember it fondly, mark a time in your life by it.
I can already hear the screams of outrage and disbelief as this `great work' is dismantled (and that's the easy bit, a slight glance past the hyperbole and it falls apart), but I kid you not. This is some of the most clapped out, weary music that exists in the world, and in that sense, it's no wonder Bowie needs to hide behind a `persona' to present it.
Despite all the bombast and show, Ziggy's not that interesting (either!), it's as if someone's decided to construct him loosely, in the shadow of Bowie's own psyche, of a perception. And he's delighted to go along with it, myth establishing and ego massaging as he goes. Cue that false, aloof, but-not-so-aloof-that-you-don't-buy-my-records, grin.
Concepts like this should be done with a flourish, with a smile, with a lightness of touch. Laugh-a-minute-Dave uses a mallet.
He should prefix the closing (excruciating!) `Rock n Roll Suicide' with a Mike Yarwood style "and this is me", just to reassure us, let us know it is just a lark, a druggie blast, and not to take it too seriously.
No chance. Deadly Duke Dave plays this severe grey charade to a grim death, and that's why the album dies one.

Now I do like this. But it is not my favorite David Bowie album. Too many so-so songs ("Star"; "Hang Onto Yourself"; "Five Years"); too much campy over-orchestration ("Rock and Roll Suicide"), one total bomb ("It Ain't Easy") - he even recycles the "Sweet Jane" riff on "Starman", which is otherwise very good. Still, it's Ziggy Stardust, man! You know? It's not like there aren't all kinds of excellent songs on this album, because there are a truckload! You know "Moonage Daydream", right? What a guitar solo! And you know "Ziggy Stardust", I assume! The lyrics! The riff! And, again, the guitar solo! "Starman" is pretty good too, though I think Bowie could've written his own riff rather than take one of Lou Reed's. Been spending too much time around Jimmy Page, have you? Continuing on, "Suffragette City" may not be terribly insightful, but it's a Stonesy rocker with a powerful horn section, so I like it. Another two songs I like that you don't often hear too much of are the cathartic "Soul Love" and the groupie-themed rocker "Lady Stardust". Oh yeah, and then there's the concept. The bisexual androgynous alien coming down from space to save everybody's life. It's a bit clunky, but like Tommy I find Ziggy Stardust is more about the music than the concept. And the music's good!

This album is still my favorite dating back to 1972.
Bowie was the genius of the 70's.
All serious Bowie fans should add this cd to their collection, this is Bowie at his best,each song could easily be a number 1 hit even today!

Adrian.T.

I love David Bowie and could listen to "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust" over-and-over. The poetics of Bowie's lyrics and the phenomenal guitar riffs hold this album together and are what makes it a classic, must have album. This is Bowie at his height of fame and truly captures Bowie's glam rock side of the late 1970s. I could not choose a favorite song from this album because, to me, each song builds off of one another like a good concept album should. From the opening of "Five Years" right to the end "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust" shows the various levels of Bowie's artistic ability.
This is a must have for any serious collection of Bowie and for anyone interested in good, wholesome rock showcasing one of the best artists of the 1970s.

I was in a restaurant when I heard this album being played and it really brought back memories. I used to listen to it as a teenager and I knew I'd enjoy listening to it again as an adult. It didn't disappoint! Classic Bowie!

Wow, rock n roll can be raw, catchy, dramatic, and quite sophisticated. So what is the need for new bands? Whenever people talk about Bowie they tend to speak in terms of him paving the way for a lot of today's music. Although that is true I don't think any new rock band has come close to this album. It's too painful for some people to look at the 1970's for what it truly was: the golden age of Rock N Roll, an age that younger people like myself missed out on and only live through their C.D. collection. It is much more comforting to call the 1970's the springboard for modern rock and ignore the fact that modern rock is passionless, corporate, crap.
This album is basically the essence of rock n roll. The songs are short, catchy, and upbeat. These are all qualities that most so called "modern rock" bands avoid like the plague although it is what rock music has always truly been about. Ziggy Stardust is from an era when quality was just plain expected in an album. You couldn't release an album with 10 crapped out songs and 1 decent single like today's bands (by the way music downloading and IPODs are not helping this problem).
If you love great rock music (real rock music) please do yourself a favor and buy Ziggy Stardust and give your Track Skip button a long deserved rest.

Yes it has song & dance elements that are not really soulful and fluid but filled with repititious structure and forced. But it is a great comment on Plastic Rock and the overall theme of self indulgence leading to destruction. The playing, arrangements, drama and so on for this record is super high and it is the one that deserves to get Bowie out of the Gay icon category of always being placed with "SIr" Elton next to any and every Rock star- a tactic that is even done at the Planitarium shows of Classic Rock when John and Bowie aren't on the bill- and onto the greatest albums of all time list. This is not the equvalent of going to the Hard Rock Cafe and the videos are Freddy Mercury with his hairy chest singing Champions and the waiter belting it out at decibel 10 at the same time. Yes we get that the man was one of the gay entries into Rock music. Why don't they show the best live performances, and cool clips of movies that have a rock spirit and vintage cool clips in general. Madonna's boot is not the essence of Hard Rock. Anyway back to Bowie. The rest of Bowie like "Golden Years" is largely duff- albeit "Heroes" and "Changes" as well as a few others while flamboyant and poserish are both pretty decent numbers. They favor structure instead of fluidness but they are well done. "Fame" is real annoying to me. Ziggy however is the one complete work that is a true evergreen. A must buy for Rock fans and fans of good music in general.

Probably the most overrated performer of all times, Mr. Bowie is a perfect mystery. While there are moments when his genius clearly shines through (Life on Mars, Space Oddity, All the Madmen, Kooks, notably The Man who sold the World and few more)it remains a pretty frustrating thing to like him overall.I saw him live couple years ago and he really pulled the crowd's strings, undeniably an incredible showman. What about Ziggy Srardust then? A classic rock and roll album topped with Bowie's characteristic juicy English eccentricity.That's all fine, but why should everybody go raving mad about it?I'm utterly perplexed.At the time of its release much more talented bands like Led Zeppelin and The Who were in full swing, Queen were just starting to gain prominence, but people still paid much more attention to the thin white duke.Oh well, must have been his make up...

In the fall of 1972, while I was still listening to The Eagles, Leon Russel, and Carole King, along came David Bowie and "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust". I had never heard anything like this album before, or since. Ziggy Stardust fell to earth right into the faces of all those hippy songwriters and folk-rock singers with a brand new sound full of subtle and not so subtle sexual innuendo. David Bowie started Glamour Rock before there was even a term for it. I just knew this music was way ahead of it's time and very cool to listen to. Many albums have two hits or so and the rest filler songs. The Rise and Fall Of Ziggy Stardust is all great. The only odd song is "It ain't easy" and that one just didn't make the final cut of Bowie's previous "Hunky Dory" album. The jazz-to-ballad-to-throbbing-rock was/is an icredible listen. Mick Ronson's guitar snarls, stings, bites, and even when in the background, sharply nibbles away. David Bowies's singular voice is often accompanied by strange and haunting background vocals by the "Spiders from Mars". Add strings, synthesizer, and other sounds I can't identify and the music sometimes starts drifitng into dreamlike space. Then the steady line of the base guitar keeps most of the songs centered while other cuts must be riveted back down to earth by the strong, often pounding piano work. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust is an incredidle album. After almost thirty-five years, this one is still my favorite David Bowie album, and in my opinion, his masterpiece.

Bowie is one of those artists that I have had a love hate relationship with over the years. When he is good, he is very good, but he has also put out a significant amount of lousy material as well. "Stardust", of course is one of his all time classics and really one of the all time classic albums of the 70's period. Every song here is a winner showing Bowie at his best. The Ziggy character is probably Bowie's most enduring, and the concept works well for the most part. Several huge hits came from this album that has become classic rock staples including "Suffragette City" and the title track. More great stuff can be found throughout the album, "Five Years", "Starman", "It Ain't Easy", "Star", "Hang On To Yourself" and the album closer "Rock N Roll Suicide" are all great tunes. Guitarist Mick Ronson was one of Bowie's best writing collaborators and his influence is all over "Stardust". If you only own one Bowie album, this would be the one to get.

This is a perfect album...and I am not even a big Bowie fan! Sonically, production wise, musically, the arrangements, the pacing as well as the strength of the songs...this is a brilliant work.

Every song is famous so I cannot give you a highlight. Every song is different yet great. "Five years Ago" is a great opening number and "Rock and Roll Suicide is a perfect closer to the album

This is not a singles cd but rather should be listened to from start to finish. This is on par with "Dark Side of the Moon", "Led Zeppelin II" or any other great album from the era.

David Bowie's fifth LP transformed him into (duh) a rock 'n roll star. There was much promise of him becoming one with his third CD, The Man Who Sold the World. However, he then backed up a bit - in terms of volume, not quality - with the unbelievably masterful Hunky Dory, a mosaic of rock, pop, folk, psychedelia, and whatever else was in arm's reach. On The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders From Mars, Bowie's flair for the dramatic became a full-blown obsession. While uptempo hard rock once again formed the core of the record, gentle acoustic numbers and genuine pop was not neglected. The result was what may or may not be his greatest record, but it is certainly his definitive one, ie, it is the one that best defines him.

And yeah, it is a concept album of sorts. Part of me wants to say wooptie doo, but the fact is that Bowie meant for this to tell the story of a futuristic space-age rock star (one surely not too far removed from Jimi Hendrix). In doing so, he created the most indelible of his many images. While they don't really dampen the overall quaility of the disc, a few of the songs - "Soul Love", "It Ain't Easy", "Suffragette City" - seem to interrupt the flow of the narrative a bit. Other than that, the story holds together quite well, from the portentous opener "Five Years" to the curtain-closing "Rock 'N Roll Suicide". Along the way, we witness Ziggy's arrival ("Starman"), his earthly revelation ("Lady Stardust"), his dreams of stardom ("Star"), and the realization of it ("Ziggy Stardust").

On this CD, Bowie eschews folk and psychedelia, but covers all the other rock bases. As on all of Bowie's early records, Mick Ronson's guitar is the co-headliner. "Starman" and "Star" are strong, singalong pop songs. "Lady Stardust" and "Rock 'N Roll Suicide" are largely acoustic numbers with sprinkles of bombast. "Ziggy Stardust" and "Suffragette City" are headbanging rockers, while "Hang Onto To Yourself" suggests that Bowie and Ronson had the idea for punk rock guitar a few years before The Ramones did. (Plus, Ziggy's spikey orange hair seems to have beaten Johnny Rotten to the punch.)

Ziggy Stardust is a masterful blend of style and substance. It is the great songs, above anything, that make it such a brilliant record, and David Bowie's best in the minds of many. But one should not belittle the value of the Ziggy character. After all, Ziggy is the image most likely to pop into one's mind when s/he thinks of David Bowie. By creating Ziggy Stardust, Bowie literally brought his songs to life - on record and stage -with camp and circumstance. (The 1990 Rykodisc edition of this CD is worth seeking out for its valuable bonus tracks. These include the essential glam-rockers "Velvet Goldmine", the uber-rare "Sweet Head", and the superb "John, I'm Only Dancing". Also included are straight acoustic versions of "Ziggy Stardust" and "Lady Stardust", the poignancy of which are brought into full relief by bare-bones presentation.)

Bowie has staying power. His art, genius, humor, talent shine through in this collection. Rock and Roll Suicide may have saved my life 30 years ago. I am grateful for the joy he has shared through his music and voice.

I feel that this particular album by David Bowie, would have to be his finest. Not only can he combine silly lyrics and a strange idea into a great album, but he does it great. Some Favorites would be Starman, Ziggy Stardust, Five Years, Soul Love, and Sufferagette City. This is Bowie in his prime people, so understand that this is a great buy for any fan of Rock or Pop.

~^*Sam^*~

David Bowie changed my life. He might change yours! This album is esstenial to rock music. To me, Daivd Bowie is kinda like Jesus. But one who rocks and who doesn't have too many rules.

I LOVE this album and think its both Bowie's best and essential to any record collection.

Sparing you the track-by-track run down, I just want to add my two favorite parts of this classic disc:

1) "Five Years"
This track is NEVER played on the radio but is so absolutely masterful it will blow your mind. The entire song is one long creschendo, and at its climax is the most soul-sucking, gut-wrenching rock-and-roll scream ever recorded. The lyrics - about reactions to the announcement that the world will come to an end in five years - are incredibly original and evocative ("My brain hurt like a warehouse it had no room to spare. I had to cram so many things to store everything in there.", "I thought I saw you in an ice cream parlor drinking milkshakes cold and long.", "The newsguy wept and told us, earth was really dying. He cried so much his face was wet. Then I knew he was not lying". Put this track on repeat and drink it in.

2. The *transition* between "Soul Love" and "Moonage Daydream".
Afficianados of this album know that on the back of the album cover are the famous words "TO BE PLAYED AT MAXIMUM VOLUME". A cool rock-and-roll packaging trick to be sure, HOWEVER - I've not seen anyone write about one of the REASONS behind this directive.
"Soul Love" is a very slow-tempo, meandering and relatively mellow track which, as it progresses, lulls you into a kind of a trance. The pacing is very steady, and toward the end of the song you can tell that it will end in a very long fade-out, and you expect this to happen along with the usual silence between tracks. INSTEAD, what you are treated to is the THURDEROUS opening riff of "Moonage Daydream" - probably the loudest sound on the entire album!!! That monster riff and the immortal words "I'M AN ALLIGATOR, I'M A MOMMA-PAPPA COMING FOR YOU!" - when played at MAXIMUM VOLUME - will surprise and scare the living ---- out of you! THAT is why the album cover exhorts you to play it at maximum volume!

David Bowie has always been ahead of his time and this release is no exception. Bowie's sexual ambiguity and song-themes are still being challenged by lesser-artists and pundits, but has anyone else stepped up to the plate in the last 30 years? It Ain't Easy... Nope, not even today. I can but imagine how it must have been for young David in his early days. Maybe the whole Ziggy persona was the only way anyone would have given him a chance? I digress, I believe Ziggy was the epitome of what Bowie's stood for all of these years.

The songs. The lyrics. The story. The concept. They're all beautiful. All great. But more, the musicianship of the "Spiders from Mars" is beyond their time as well. The Beatles flirted with touchy subjects in the 60s after first becoming "teen idols," but has anyone really taken it to such a level that Bowie has attempted?

Listnening to this album.. it's hard to think of it in the context of the early 70s. It is tinged with elements from the 50s, 60s, 80s and most surprisingly, elements that I believe have yet to come to fruition.

David Bowie has always seemed a bit spacey, but even today he seems ahead of his time.

Along with Electric Warrior, this album defined Glam Rock. Buy it now. Its amazing. Try to find the Rykodisc version though.

Of all the Bowie albums,,,ehhh...cd's out, and all the different obsessions and variances in his music and art; of all the hidden messages and obscure references; of all the melodies and dance rhythms, back beat, up beat, down beat...THIS IS THE PLACE TO START, the Essential Bowie.
First time listeners of David Bowie should really look no further than Ziggy Stardust. Lit or sober, high or grounded, this is pure genius. Everything after, is everything else.

i've loved this album ever since i was in high school and that was a loooooonnnnng time ago. this is classic david bowie.. wham bam..thank you maam

This is a must own album for any fan of classic rock. This to me is one of Bowie's best. I liked them all right up to and including "Diamond Dogs". This is my fourth favorite album after the first three Queen albums.

David Bowie's ZIGGY STARDUST album is his best. Why, you ask? Well for one reason, it's one of the best albums of all time. Second, it has spawned a cult phenomenon. Third, Ziggy Stardust is one of rock and roll's best creations. Lastly, the album is timeless. Millions of people across the globe can relate to the album. They can also relate with each other because this album has changed their life.
Ziggy Stardust was recorded at Trident Studios during late 1971 to early 1972. It was produced by Ken Scott. The album cover is known to millions. I personally think this is the best album cover of all time. Although, his Aladdin Sane album cover is a runner up! The photos for the album were shot by Brian Ward. Most of the album's inspiration was from the 1971 film, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. Bowie has said the gatefold was a sort of homage if you will to the film.
Ziggy Stardust was originally released on RCA records on June 6th, 1972. I call this the day music came alive! It went to No. 5 in the UK charts and No. 75 in America. Yet still, it is very popular in America. Huh? Confusing. But anyway, this album is pure genius and every music lover should own it.

The Songs:

1. Five Years (5/5) Ah, the opener. Not one of Bowie's popular tracks, but a key track. It explains the world problems before Ziggy Stardust steps in.
2. Soul Love (5/5) A nice little track. Love the saxophone. It's basically about different kinds of love.
3. Moonage Daydream (5/5) I LOVE THIS DAMN SONG! Best track on the album. The birth of Ziggy!
4. Starman (5/5) A nice little poppish song. Ziggy gets contact with young teens and learns the earth going to end. He wants to save the earth, but he thinks his impact will be severe.
5. It Ain't Easy (3.5/5) Ugh, i hate this song. Oviously the worst track on the album. But it fits with the whole concept. It's about how it ain't easy being famous.
6. Lady Stardust (5/5) Beautiful song. I think it's about Marc Bolan. The details for the song fit who it's about. =)
7. Star (5/5) Another good song. Hell they are all good. The song explains what being a star is about.
8. Hang On To Yourself (5/5) A nice, quick song. It's basically about Ziggy trying to hang on to himself because of his fame.
9. Ziggy Stardust (5/5) THE WHOLE ALBUM IS SUMMED UP IN THIS TRACK. The 1st really known song from this album to the US public.
10. Suffergate City (5/5) Another hit from the album. Its about how woman are looked at by men and men think they are just objects for lust.
11. Rock N Roll Suicide (5/5) The death of Ziggy Stardust.

Clasic hard rock from Bowie. This was when he was at his best. An album for all rock fans

"The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" is one of those records generally regarded as stunningly brilliant, critically acclaimed, commercially successful, everything comes together, blah blah.

Of course, in this case, they're pretty much right.

David Bowie was peaking-- he'd explored a number of different styles and suddenly found himself knee-deep in the glam movement with a backing band featuring guitarist Mick Ronson that had been together for several years, and a string of largely unsuccessful but unnervingly daring (and at times brilliant) albums behind him. 'Ziggy Stardust' is a concept album of sorts, about the (for that of better term) rise and fall of a brilliant musician from space named Ziggy Stardust. Remarkably, it's not nearly as goofy as it sounds.

Instead, it ends up being a remarkably well performed and diverse album-- Bowie's vocals have developed a depth and a swagger and an utter lack of fear of styles and in Ronson, he had a lead guitarist capable of matching him in personality. As a songwriter, Bowie had found his niche-- whether it was picking the far corners of exotica ("Soul Love") or embracing the new glam sounds ("Suffragette City"), he was able to pull off something powerful and convincing throughout. The album is pretty much one long highlight, depending on your point of view-- at any given time I find myself in love with impassioned ballad "Five Years", glam masterpiece ("Moonage Daydream") or the hook laden "Ziggy Stardust", but there's not a bad song here, freom the rolling introductory drum beats to Bowie's impassioned screams on "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide".

The reality is, as far as early '70s rock goes, it really doesn't get any better than this (although getting the 2CD edition with a disc full of bonus tracks helps). Essential listening.

David Bowie is perhaps one of pop's best artists. He's basically the male Madonna. Not a slut (ha ha), but able to go on with the trends that are happening every decade. But one difference is that Bowie's music actually is better than Madonna. But enough about her, but David Bowie's 1972 album (which we all know) is his best album. It established him as a mainstream muscian.
Ziggy Stardust, is one of the best concept albums ever recorded. The story is easy to understand and the songs are all great. Ziggy Stardust was released in the UK in July 1972. I believe it was released in August 1972 here in America, but I'm not sure. The whole Ziggy persona is possibly one of Bowie's best creations.
If not for this album, Bowie would not be the mainstream artist he is today. So do yourself a favor and get this album. It changed by my life and probably any one elese who bought this album. Cheers! Alex (A David Bowie Fan)
p.s. ALADDIN SANE IS JUST AS GOOD, BUY THAT TOO!

SoNgS:

1. Five Years (5/5) One of the best album openers EVER! Such a sad story and it explains what is about to come.
2. Soul Love (5/5) Some song about different kinds of love. The saxophone is excellent and the just the whole song!
3. Moonage Daydream (5/5) MY FAVORITE SONG. This song is the shizit! Freak out! No need to, this song is awesome. =]
4. Starman (5/5) Not nessicarly the best track on the album, but a good song noneless.
5. It Ain't Easy (2/5) God I hate this song, but it's not the worst song ever, right?
6. Lady Stardust (5/5) Great song. I wonder if it is really about Marc Bolan because it gives pretty good detail about him.
7. Star (5/5) The classics just keep on comin'.
8. Hang On To Yourself (5/5) I first heard this song on the final Ziggy concert dvd, this version is better.
9. Ziggy Stardust (5/5) THE SHI* MY FRIENDS. The whole album is like summed up with the song. Love this, everyone should know this song.
10. Suffergate City (5/5) Another classic song everyone should know!
11. Rock N Roll Suicide (5/5) The best album closer about Ziggy's death. Love it!!

David Bowie's fifth studio album entitled The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars was released in June of 1972.
By 1972, David Bowie's first four albums(his self-titled debut from 1967, 1969's Space Oddity, 1970's The man Who Sold the World and 1971's Hunky dory) were not successful commercially but Bowie gained a cult but loyal following. However, all of that changed with the release of Ziggy Stardust.
The album tells the story of a space rock star's ascent to superstardom and his subsequent fall. Also, at the time of Ziggy's release, David Bowie(in a stroke of genius) announed he was bisexual(which of course turned out to be a hoax but in the end, his star would rise not only in the UK but worldwide).
We begin the album with Five Years, a great piano driven song. Bowie gives a pleading vocal performance about the end of the world drawing near. The orchestral background and whirlwind finish is classic. We follow with the glammy but catchy Soul Love with excellent guitar work from the late Mick Ronson and a great saxophone interlude from Bowie(whom is a more than capable saxophonist). Next is arguably the album's best track Moonage Daydream which is a spacey sounding song that rocks in great style. Epic, moody choruses contrasted by punchy verses make this song great and Mick Ronsons futuristic sounding exit solo is amazing(if you don't think so, watch the Ziggy Stardust at Hammersmith DVD for proof). Next was the album's first single Starman which was another great, catchy song with a space theme. It Ain't Easy ends the first half and whilst a good song, it was the only track Bowie did not write but nevertheless, a great song.
Lady Stardust opens the album's second half and is a great glam rocker with a great piano melody carrying the song. Next is Star which is another great song. Hang On To Yourself is next and is a great rocker which would become the opening number of the Ziggy and Aladdin Sane tours. Next is the album's title track if you will, Ziggy Stardust in which Bowie tells the story of the rise and fall of the rock n' roll star; and is a rock radio staple today on album rock and classic rock stations. Next is arguably, the album's other famous track Suffragette City. A classic glam sounding song with a driving riff and a really cool chorus and before the ending, Bowie uttered the immortal lines "Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am". The album closes on a more mellow and darker note on Rock n' Roll Suicide. Lyrically brilliant, this acoustic starting song builds to an amazing finale before finishing with the grand sound of a string orchestra.
Upon its 1972 release, Ziggy Stardust became David Bowie's breakthrough he had been hoping for hitting #5 in the UK and #75 in the US and this album is arguably Bowie's classic hour though some say it was Scary Monsters or Aladdin Sane or Diamond Dogs.
In the 1990s, Rykodisc re-released the album with better sound and some bonus tracks(which are now on the 30th anniversary edition) and then again in 1999 by Virgin/EMI with a superb remaster and finally in 2002 with a bonus CD of outtakes and unreleased tracks.
Recommended!