Forum: Singles vs. Albums and the Power of Hunky Dory

A great man once said "Greatest hits albums are for housewives and little girls." I completely agree and think the same thing can be said of DIY collections as well. In this day of digital downloads with pick and choose playlists, the single rules again. I'm sure there are plenty of people who take an artist they like, browse their albums on the internet and download only the songs they know and love. However, there is a vital part of music appreciation that is dying with this practice-- the record, the LP, the album. The true test of an artist.

Take an artist like David Bowie. You can go through his albums and pick out the songs you recognize, songs you can hear anytime by turning on the old FM in your Toyota Corolla. However, to truly experience the artistry and honest-to-god genius of Bowie and to understand and appreciate his evolution you must explore him album by album.

You couldn't pick and choose a few select scenes from the Godfather and pretend to know and appreciate the film. You have to absorb it in its entirety and ride the wave to be strongly affected by it's ending and thus prepared to take in the sequal. Why should an album be treated any differently than a film?

So let's go back to David Bowie. If you own a collected hits CD, throw it out. If you only have a couple singles in your iTunes, delete them. Then get yourself a copy of Hunky Dory, 40 minutes of alone time, and listen. It's one of those albums that has you increasing the volume with each song as it builds on itself one tune after another, not realizing how loud you actually got until you enter the car later or change it to another song.

Songs you would never hear on a Greatest Hits album, songs like "The Bewlay Brothers," "Quicksand," and "Oh You Pretty Things" will quickly become your favorites. More importantly you get a slice of time from an album, a lyrical through-line, a musical theme that gives you a richer listen. Even hits like "Changes" and "Life on Mars" will take on new meaning in the context of the album, giving them an importance that is lost on the radio or with single play.

Better yet, it leaves you wanting to explore more. Where did he go after this? What came before? Did he ever revisit this sound? You'll buy more albums, you'll find more gems, and after about 6 or 7 albums you just might begin to understand the power of "a body of work."

ODDS & ENDS

• The official David Bowie website-- bowieNet, if you please.
• Look at the sweet movies Bowie's been in.
• I found this badass site, savethealbum.com, after I wrote this post.