Believe it or not - a genius at work.

[The Curmudgeon]

There's not much that's left to be said about David Bowie (the man NME dubbed as "the man who invented good music"). One of the all time greats and musical icons, a man who's body of work could rival any other. Ziggy Stardust, Hunky Dory, Space Oddity, Ashes to Ashes, Fame... faultless, groundbreaking records that still sound effortessly cool and timeless.

And then there's "Love You 'Till Tuesday."

If you've not heard of this, you're in for a treat. Before his first hit single, Space Oddity, Bowie recorded an album that critics would later describe as "the vinyl equivalent of the madwoman in the attic", a bizarre set of often childish songs that are as far removed from his later work as the Backstreet Boys are to Slipknot. You'll have heard of "The Laughing Gnome" (and if not, look out for that too), but you need to see this video.

Bowie as a glam sex God from Mars? I can buy that. Bowie as King of the Goblins? I can buy that too. Bowie as a pouting, ever-so-sexy wannabe pin-up, with a cheeky grin and coquettish eyes to make the ladies melt? Yeah.... never buying that.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5dCcO7Q5sY

I've had the album for years, and part of me kinda loves it but.. damn. To think.. THAT foppish fool would become one of the greatest talents ever.

[trashcanman]

Somehow that does not surprise me. Pop -even bubblegum pop- is a pretty solid base for launching progressively more experimental and complex musical arrangements over a careeer. Particularly if you want people to actually LIKE your songs. Start off with catchy little jingles and then move along to earth-shattering awesomeness.

[The Curmudgeon]

Yeah, thinking about it, I suppose that's what the Beatles did. Start off with "She Loves You, Yeah Yeah Yeah" and turn that into "I am the Walrus." Spot the difference.

Saying that, this stuff Bowie did was a total flop, and he only became famous after the trippy, weird (but awesome) Space Oddity. I guess people were more open minded about music back then.

Off topic, I remember having a long argument with a woman at work years ago about Space Oddity. She assured me it was called "Space Oddyssey", unaware that, you know, that was the joke. She must be right and I must be wrong because she was "around when it was first out." Riiiight. In the end I had to bring in my album to show her. Her response? "Well, he's a queer, anyway." Seriously.

Scratch that "open minded" comment from before.

[trashcanman]

Did you also bring a copy of 2001: A Space Odyssey to clarify? I'm picturing you with Oddity in one hand and Odyssey in the other raising each in turn as you say "See? Odyssey. Oddity."