David Bowie: Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars motion picture soundtrack

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * * )

While the true Bowieophile may go straight to the DVD of the 1973 in-concert movie from which this 30th anniversary reissue double CD is taken, it's still an exciting near-timeless live album complete with Ziggy's famous retirement speech.

And it's an intriguing time capsule of Bowie's first blast of success before he largely rejected guitar-powered rock'n'roll for music of a higher brow and better haircut.

The tracks here are also a testament to Spider's guitarist, the late Mick Ronson who is a fiery muscular presence throughout, even if the 15-minute work-out Width of a Circle still overstays its welcome. But the revved-up versions of the likes of Ziggy Stardust, Moonage Daydream, Changes and Suffragette City, make this a worthwhile addition to any Bowie collection.


(Label: EMI)