David Bowie: Live Santa Monica 72' Review

One thing you can always expect from Bowie, is a stunning live performance. This CD captures Bowie at the perfect moment in his career - when Bowie was Ziggy playing with the Spiders from Mars. The setlist for the show was solid, predominantly covering The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars as well as other Bowie classics such as "Space Oddity", "Life on Mars?', and "Jean Jeanie". Bowie also throws two covers into the setlist, the standout song being the Velvet Underground's "I'm Waiting for the Man".

A unique aspect of this CD is the fact that it is a recording of the radio show which transmitted it, so the intro begins with the DJ introducing the show, and concludes announcing to the listeners that the band is coming back out for an encore. Considering it was recorded by a radio station the quality is quite good taking into account when it was performed. Another great characteristic of this live album which far too many live albums remove, is the actual communication with the band and audience. This gives the live album a much more intimate and authentic feel.

When it comes to the music the band rarely alters any of the songs for the live performance and keeps true to the original recordings. However, the standout track must be the epic "The Width of a Circle" where guitarist Mick Ronson shows off his shredding chops. While this album may not be essential to the average Bowie fan it is a nice addition to a big Bowie fans library if they do not already own a bootleg of the show.

Grade: B+