I suspect like many on here, following The Dames dramatic exit, I have been reacquainting myself with his legacy. I remain convinced amongst his greatest output is Stage.
I have a CD which I think is a retail version from long ago. It sounds awful. The mix is tinny and does not do justice to the quality of the performance.
Can anyone help me with the best remastered version available, ie.
bin number, reference or whatever?
Many thanks.
The 2005 reissue is the latest edition- a double cd which restored the track listing to its correct running order as performed on the night, adding Alabama Song, Be My Wife and Stay to the original album in the process.
Three songs were still omitted however – Jean Genie, Sufragette City and Rebel Rebel.
Oh wow, thank you for that info Bargepole, those are three songs that I would be happy never to hear again. Might have to get this.
The 2005 remaster is the one to get but those three tracks were never on Stage.
Thank you Mr Bargepole and Mr Tigger – great news and it contains ‘Stay’ from that tour. Great news. Thank you both.
Also available in Zeit! box set with the “Berlin trilogy”.
If you like Stage, I think you may like Live At Nassau Colisseum 76 added as two bonus discs to the 2010 issue of Station To Station. It’s the Alomar/Murray/Davis rhythm section with Tony Kaye on keys and Stacey Heydon on guitar.
Station to Station
Suffragette City
Fame
Word on a Wing
Stay
I’m Waiting for the Man
Queen Bitch
Life on Mars?
Five Years
Panic in Detroit
Changes
TVC 15
Diamond Dogs
Rebel Rebel
The Jean Genie
The original album suffered from the Dame’s perverse decision to arrange all the songs in chronological order. The current edition corrects this, as well as the sound.
Once again, I have three words to say about both this and the Nassau set:
Dennis.
Fucken.
DAVIES.
DAVIS.
even.
Hi Tigger, Thanks for that too – I’ll add it to the list. I posted a few weeks ago that I was never a great Bowie follower, but digging into my CD collection I was surprised just how much of his work I possess.
More surprisingly ( to me) on hearing his stuff again is just how extraordinarily good he was.
‘Kiss you in the rain’ – how beautifully evocative.
I saw the 1978 tour, from which the “Stage” album emerged. £2 in Earls Court, downstairs, and a reasonable spot. A good set list, an odd band (members of Hawkwind and Todd Rundgren’s Utopia delights me, but the hipper folks there must have been nonplussed). A few coloured spotlights added to the mostly “white lights” show during “art decade”. The “Alabama Song” was an inspired cover – he always had exquisite taste. Two things troubled me in the show; a particularly florid “Station to Station” intro which went way beyond the “sonic cathedrals of sound ” of my favourite Bowie album into just bloody annoying guitar wanking; and The Dame’s trousers: high-waisted peg-tops in a rather nasty PVC material which looked like instant thrush for anyone wearing them (yes boys, CAN get thrush).
That was the “Bowie trousers” period. They were advertised in the back of the NME, for the benefit of those discerning folks who wanted to appear to be standing atop two upended zeppelins.
Alongside Jam bowling shoes and genuine bondage trousers. From Afflecks Palace in Manchester I think I secured a pair of ‘Rising Sun’ Japanese flag trousers that were very Clash. Damn where are they now? Gone. Couldn’t wear them of course but would look great framed.
I envy you none the less.
I was listening to the ‘Stage’ intro to Station To Station today, loud, in the car. I was reminded just how singular and generous was his enthusiasm for inventive talent. Yes it’s a noise, but what a noise.
I saw him in ’73 or ’74 as a tender 13 or 14 year old. Fabulous. I saw him again in ’82 or ’83 at Milton Keynes. Theatrical nonsense.