David Live was recorded in 1974. Live. That is about all I know about the background....wait a minute...it reached #2 in the UK and #8 in the US

http://www.teenagewildlife.com/Albums/DL/Title.html

and it has apparently been gutted and re-released as an abridged version in Holland and various other countries (thank you Google!) Also, it is said that Bowie can not bring himself to listen to it or look at the cover (Thank you thevoid99!)

----------------------Brief Overview-----------------------

Apparently this didn't sound very good when it was first released (thanks again to thevoid99). I believe it must have been remastered because the sound quality is quite clear for the most part and the production is better than on the early Bowie studio tracks that I am familiar with. The ensemble playing is tight, Earl Slick is a guitar god, and Bowie does a great job (sort of scratchy but in tune and emotional). Half of the songs simply do not do much for me.

-----------------The best and worst tracks-----------------

1984

Begins with a-tonal clarinet and piano. Am I listening to Arnold Schoenberg? (the king of atonal composers in the beginning of the 20th century) Me-likey! Funky guitar part, sensual singing by Bowie. Of course, 1984 has come and gone and things didn't turn out so bad. May have been a frightening concept at the time? Lots of horns (David Sanborn plays on this) and what-not, great arrangement (Michael Kamen helped with the arranging), cool song.

Rebel Rebel

You have heard this song. If not, think of Bang a Gong with an even more "most excellent" guitar riff but repeated to the point of exhaustion. Its alright.

Moonage Daydream

My favorite song on the disc. Moves along at a drugged out tempo, minor key with an occasional "glorious" major moment thrown in there. The track ends with one of the best Earl Slick guitar solos ever, and he has been known to kick out some high-octane licks. The live version has much clearer production than the studio recording.

Sweet Thing

Far too long at 8:48, and the song doesn't go enough different places to justify the length. Very slow, kind of sappy, not much to this one. Raunchy, attitude laden Slick solos again but it really does not matter.

Boys! Boys! It's a sweet thing!

Changes

I prefer this version to the one on "Changesbowie" (the only other Bowie CD that I own). One of Bowie's greatest hits! The other members of the last gigging band I was in used to pick on me by singing "Tom may change me, but I can't change Tom" (I was a bit of a dictator, but they could barely play their instruments at the start) I mention it so you can sing those lines to someone named Tom if you wish. It's actually "Time may change me, but I can't trace time" in case you were wondering. Half jazz, half pop, mixed together with two cups of sugar and stirred well.

Suffragette City

If you have ever heard "Under My Wheels" by Alice Cooper you will know that this is a pale imitation of that song. Really! It's a good tune nonetheless, although I have always been embarrassed by the "wham, bam, thank you ma'am" part. Prominent horn section, manic mood.

All The Young Dudes

The way Bowie sings this reminds me of "I'm Comin' Home" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which may not have ever come out if not for Bowie. I prefer Mott the Hoople's version, but this one ain't bad.

Cracked Actor

A funny little mondegreen here: I used to think the chorus was "Crack Baby Crack! Show me your rear!" but it's actually "show me you're real" I sort of like my lyrics better, it goes well with the later line "Suck baby Suck! Give me your head!" More of the Philadelphia horn sound on this song.

Rock 'N' Roll With Me

One of the best slow-dance tunes I have heard. It has a 1950s feeling and a wonderful simple melody that I love to sing along with. The lyrics are not amazing or anything: "When you rock and roll with me, nowhere else I'd rather be" but they work in the context. If I ever get married, I will choose this song over "Wonderful Tonight" (which I have heard at too many weddings).

Rock 'N' Roll Suicide

Another 1950s nostalgia feeling to the music at the beginning but with a Bowie twist this time. Singing about cigarettes and other things I can't really make out ("boy, you're wonderful" I know he says that). Seems a theatrical thingy, perhaps the protagonist commits suicide at the end? The music leads me to believe that (gets wilder as it goes on)

-------------------------THE REST--------------------------

All of the rest of the songs are decent, good time, glam, boogie-woogie rock 'n' roll but short on singable, memorable melodies. Big Brother and Aladdinsane are both nearly worthy of talking about, but both songs are sort of incoherent.

So, why do I own this album? It's a nostalgia thing: first Bowie CD (actually tape) that I ever heard. When I saw it in a budget bin for ten bucks six or seven years ago I felt a compulsive urge to buy it. As David Live costs twenty something dollars, is hard to find, and there are better live Bowie albums available, I do not recommend it. Our resident Bowie expert, thevoid99, has told me:

I prefer the BBC Sessions collection since it's the best and available collection of Bowie live.

If only I had met him six or seven years ago...

3 stars out of 5

All the tracks

Disc One

1984
Rebel Rebel
Moonage Daydream
Sweet Thing
Changes
Suffragette City
Aladdin Sane
All The Young Dudes
Cracked Actor
Rock 'N' Roll With Me
Watch That Man

Disc Two

Knock on Wood
Diamond Dogs
Big Brother
Width of A Circle
Jean Genie
Rock 'N' Roll Suicide
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
Time

Recommended: No