Posts Tagged ‘classic rock’
Lou Reed, David Bowie, Mick Ronson
In the car in Detroit we were listening to Transformer. It’s part of music, part of the experience that sometimes an album or a song catches you off-guard. Something you’ve heard before but never really heard. Or maybe it’s just been awhile.
I have the expanded edition CD that has early demos of Lou playing ‘Hangin Round’ and ‘Perfect Day’ on his acoustic. You can hear the foundation of what would later become more embodied songs with flesh, hair and makeup strapped across the chord changes’ rib cage and beating heart.
This is one of Bowie’s first producing efforts (for someone other than himself at least) and he partners with his longtime collaborator, prodigal genius and arranger Mick Ronson to create a musical space at once utterly familiar and totally unique. Something about the era (and Lou himself) allows a musical palette that might seem cloying or kitsch on another artist. It’s a beautiful costume, at times feminine. But always retaining Lou’s own masculinity strong and sly. Through the vocal delivery and romantic lyrics, the seedy underbelly of 1970’s downtown is captured lovingly, and with a hint of nostalgia.
It’s almost jazz.
Tags: classic rock, lou reed, music review
