Just a heads-up but I’ve a new batch of my Bowie pods all set to go and today I uploaded my encounter with former The Area guitarist, Mod memoirist (and one time Home Secretary) Alan Johnson, in which he reminisces about the old days and Hunky Dory. As well as hearing about why Hunky Dory is his go-to Bowie album, we repeatedly revisit his love of the HJH (and his rather original assumption that DB didn’t much care for the Fabs), as well finding out what his all time favourite LP is (not Bowie or The Beatles) and there’s an acappella rendition of the song he wrote when his first son was born.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/2-alan-johnson-on-hunky-dory/id1355073030?i=1000453490316
Tiggerlion says
Welcome back! Where have you been? So many great Bowie albums yet to discuss. I’m so looking forward to this.
pawsforthought says
Great podcast series. Glad it’s back.
dai says
Excellent. Didn’t listen yet but I always thought Bowie didn’t have much time for McCartney.
Tiggerlion says
Yes. He was star-struck by Lennon in 1975, leading him to ruin the Young Americans LP, though he did get a cracking single out if it.
dai says
Yes, Across the Universe is one of the worst things he ever did, up there (down there?) with God Only Knows on Tonight. Anyway, look forward to the podcast. Hopefully you have a bath planned within the next few weeks @Tiggerlion
Mike_H says
I suspect he was persuaded (= obliged) to have a Lennon/McCartney song on the album as a quid-pro-quo for Lennon’s participation on Fame.
Moose the Mooche says
Nope. Bowie was recording ATU, invited Lennon to participate and Fame resulted from subsequent mucking about in the studio.
While I’m here, DB started Oh! You Pretty Things as a tribute to Martha My Dear… seems odd to do a tribute to a song by someone you don’t like, but hey… he’s not around now so we can say what we like. There’s no record of him saying anything nice about fluffy kittens, so he clearly hated them – the monster.
Mak says
I recall Mc Cartney saying they went on a ski holiday togther unless he was referring to Bowies coke habit
Mike_H says
Both Bowie and Lennon were pretty out-of-control around that time. Bowie was hoovering up the ol’ marching powder like there was no tomorrow and Lennon had run off with May Pang and was boozing it up hard with Harry Nilsson. Putting Across The Universe on his album probably seemed like a really amazing idea, in those circumstances.
The reason I speculated earlier that it was an obligation foisted upon Bowie was because, not long before then, Lennon had been obliged to record some Chuck Berry songs (on Rock & Roll) to avoid a costly plagiarism suit for Come Together nicking wholesale from Berry’s You Can’t Catch Me.
Neela says
Lennon had big hits with both Fame (also Bowie´s first American number one) and Whatever Gets You Thru The Night (Lennon´s first American solo number one). Both terrible songs, to my ears. And I say this as a fan of Lennon, Bowie and Elton.
Oh, and lovely podding, @Slotbadger!
Tiggerlion says
Funnily enough, I love both those singles. Fame owes a lot to Carlos Alomar. The band is essentially the Station To Station one. It’s a track that fits better on that album and is brilliant off-kilter funk. Whatever is just fun (without the ‘k’). Very catchy.
deramdaze says
If the Sainted Dave didn’t like McCartney, it’s out with “McCartney,” “The Esher Demos” and “Past Masters Volume 1” this afternoon … I’ll go and get them now … all done.
Please be sure to keep me informed of this development.
Seriously, I need to know.
Moose the Mooche says
This approach can open up all kinds of new possibilities. The other week I was for the first time actively considering going to the ballet, partly because I know it’s the kind of thing gammons hate.
deramdaze says
You’re right.
Not so much Bowie (although, whilst not necessarily avoiding everyone who the Sainted might have reckoned, I ALWAYS avoid everyone who reckons the Sainted), but whatever Madonna, John Lydon or Morrissey reckon … I’m outta here. They like it = it’s shite.
However, it is the mantra “What would Liam/Noel Gallagher do/think/listen to/watch” that most informs my doing/thinking/listening to/watching.
Believe me, it works.
Gary says
I’ve always admired true Christians’ “What would JC do?” way of thinking. Mostly, of course, she would book a two-week holiday in the Algarve.
Moose the Mooche says
It’s just occurred to me that Macca and DB are united in one thing : believing Little Richard to be the pinnacle of music.
Seeing him again on Beeb Four on Friday I’m inclined to agree with them.
deramdaze says
Wasn’t here a story, told by the Sainted (he knew his place, how could Paul possibly remember?), where the two of them were backstage at a ceremony of some sort, and they were comparing their chart positions in an issue of Guinness Book of Hit Singles?
Awkward.
“Cab for the Sainted.”
Ainsley says
Slotbadger, don’t take this the wrong way as I love the podcast (all of them) but any chance you could invest some of the millions you obviously make from them in a couple of microphones so you and your guests sound a bit less as if you’re recording from the next room along.
Moose the Mooche says
Dude, it’s minimalist.
Ainsley says
Pardon?
slotbadger says
ainsley I hear you loud and clear, unlike listeners to the podcast. I am still a klutz when it comes to recording podcasts and in this case, more so as I was trying out a new mic I had bought off amazon for pennies and well, you can hear the result. Also, yer man Johnson kept tapping and jogging the table while speaking accounting for the irritating thuds and bumps you hear. But – I HAVE now got a sexy new mic interface and a lovely new microphone to put into it, so I can say, as long as I don’t bugger up too badly, forthcoming editions will sound, you know – not tooo bad… 😉
Moose the Mooche says
Can we not have a brickwalled loudness-wars remastered version?
slotbadger says
Yup Giles Martin is on it right now – plus the extra outtakes, studio bantz and the unused orchestral overdubs
Moose the Mooche says
….and the bit where AJ yells “I’ve got blisters on my Public Sector Borrowing Requirement!!”
Twang says
Happy to help @slotbadger. PM me!
fentonsteve says
I’m going to listen to it at half-speed. Everything sounds better half-speed mastered.
Ainsley says
Ok, so now I feel guilty. Not too bad will do for me