Diamond Dogs (Half-Speed Master)

by David Bowie

Overview

David Bowie fired the Spiders from Mars shortly after the release of Pin Ups, but he didn't completely leave the Ziggy Stardust persona behind. Diamond Dogs suffers precisely because of this -- he doesn't know how to move forward. Originally conceived as a concept album based on George Orwell's 1984, Diamond Dogs evolved into another one of Bowie's paranoid future nightmares. Throughout the album, there are hints that he's tired of the Ziggy formula, particularly in the disco underpinning of "Candidate" and his cut-and-paste lyrics. However, it's not enough to make Diamond Dogs a step forward, and without Mick Ronson to lead the band, the rockers are too stiff to make an impact. Ironically, the one exception is one of Bowie's very best songs -- the tight, sexy "Rebel Rebel." The song doesn't have much to do with the theme, and the ones he does throw in to further the story usually fall flat. Diamond Dogs isn't a total waste, with "1984," "Candidate," and "Diamond Dogs" all offering some sort of pleasure, but it is the first record since Space Oddity where Bowie's reach exceeds his grasp. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	05/24/2024
Label:	Rhino / Parlophone
UPC:	5054197816437
Rank:	28557

Album Credits

Performance Credits

David Bowie   Primary Artist,Drums,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Mellotron,Saxophone,Percussion,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Synthesizer,Guitar (Bass),Guitar Effects,Sax (Baritone),Vocals (Background)
Mike Garson   Guest Artist,Piano,Keyboards,Mellotron,Harpsichord,Moog Synthesizer
Trevor Bolder   Guitar (Bass)
Sterling Campbell   Drums
Aynsley Dunbar   Drums
Tony Visconti   Strings,Keyboards,Vocals (Background),Bass,Guitar
Gail Ann Dorsey   Vocals (Background)
David Torn   Guitar
Ron Wood   Guitar
Catherine Russell   Vocals (Background)
Mark Plati   Bass,Guitar
Gerry Leonard   Guitar
Mac Cormack   Vocals (Background)
Mick Ronson   Piano,Guitar,Strings,Vocals (Background)
Alan Parker   Guitar
Herbie Flowers   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Ken Fordham   Sax (Baritone)
Earl Slick   Guitar
Tony Newman   Drums

Technical Credits

Nigel Reeve   Mastering,Mastering Engineer,Remastering Engineer
Tony Visconti   Arranger,Engineer,Producer,Mastering,Mixing Engineer,Mixing
Brandon Mason   Engineer
Warren Peace   Composer
Peter Mew   Mastering,Mastering Engineer,Remastering Engineer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Mario McNulty   Engineer
Emily Lazar   Mastering Engineer,Mastering
Bruce Springsteen   Composer
David Bowie   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Ray Staff   Mastering
Ken Scott   Producer,Mixing Engineer
Keith Harwood   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer