David Bowie – ChangesOneBowie

I agree with most of the other reviews. Sounds compressed and lacks life and depth. I’m definitely getting an early press

Can anyone confirm if clear copies are still being pressed? ie if you buy a recently pressed copy do you still have a relative 50/50 chance of either colour?

If you're going to go with a single LP Bowie anthology, you'd be hard-pressed to find one more solid than CHANGESONEBOWIE, originally released in 1976 and compiled by the man himself. Most of the albums he put out during the period this compilation covers (1970-76) are regarded as classics, but this is still a great collection of hits, a time capsule of Bowie as a contemporary pop star, not the revered figure he became over the decades. This 1984 pressing is acceptable, the drums seem a bit muffled on a couple of the songs on side one, otherwise it sounds pretty good. My copy plays nice and clean with occasional faint surface noise.

I like the album but I got a really bad copy of this which is really noisy, purchased from HMV bricks and mortar and I never got to return it in time. Easily one of my worst sounding records and not even an US clean could improve it.

This is by no means an "audiophile" issue. Sound is a little compressed and lifeless. But decent for casual listeners. Vinyl came in pristine condition packed well. But no comparison to the original or the songs on good original pressings. Passed this to a 14 year old vinyl newbie. I think, that is where it belongs. I became to snobby and have enough Bowie in my collection to keep this.

I guess I got lucky... mine's super flat and quiet. The mix is very pleasing with good details and placement.

Lackluster sound but got new at Target for 6 bucks so who am I to complain

Of all the vanguards of rock music, David Bowie has weathered the storm and retained his eminence amidst the usual peaks and valleys of fame. Stars of Bowie's magnitude and calibre survive simply because their timeless legacy recycles itself in the popular consciousness, by way of reappraisal, or through other artists and their artistry. In the epochal year of '72, when his greatness was realized with "Ziggy Stardust", the rocky road to that point was overlooked. Suddenly taken in by the marked traits of his zany new persona, unsophisticated young fans heralded the first of many comebacks in Bowie's illustrious career. As the decades passed, so too did musical tastes and fair-weather fans, many responding increasingly less positively to his decidedly uncommercial incarnations and innovations. Bowie stood his ground, willing to draw in other audiences who would embrace his newfound professionalism and propensity for experimentation. In the wake of his death, a poignant swansong album was released to mark the occasion and the obligatory reissue campaign was initiated. Bowie's renowned glam-rock/plastic-soul output remains largely ubiquitous, though his remastered canon, widely distributed through streaming sites and so on, does not include a definitive live show with satisfactory video quality. Implausible and inexcusable. Anyhow, whatever the obstacle with publishing his live material, locating a focussed recap of those aforementioned golden years - a must for casual listeners averse to collecting entire discographies - is thankfully not so much of an insurmountable task, though not effortless unless one regularly purchases second-hand CDs. Of all the options, the standout among the lot is unquestionably "ChangesOne", specifically the 1984 CD reissue. Chronicling the singer-songwriter's acoustic-leaning beginnings, the Ziggy-centric Visconti chapter that gave us a litany of classic rock singles and finally the funk-tinged pop period of '76, "ChangesOne" may not give the full picture, but by virtue of how well it hangs together, with each song complimenting its predecessor and giving listeners an indication of the depth of his body of work, it is impossible to dismiss it as a spare, outmoded cash-grab. Sometimes less is more, and despite being superseded by infinitely more thorough compilations and anthologies since its original release, this particular platter beats them all if the primary requirement is a riveting sample of Bowie's remarkable sound and vision.

RATING: 5/5

My copy is translucent brown when held to the light.

Just noticed that this is translucent vinyl.
Holding up to light.