David Bowie: Live Santa Monica ‘72

Ever since David Bowie’s first live U.S. radio broadcast hit the airwaves, it’s remained a highlight of both his discography and the bootleg circuit, appearing in convoluted editions such as double vinyl, gold disc with keychain, CD plus 7-inch, and even in an engraved wooden box. But this CD marks its first legitimate release on a major label. Recorded midway through his first ever U.S. tour, this concert finds Bowie and band (or rather Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars) to be tight, high on their own mythos, and crackling with energy; even when Bowie strips things to just himself and guitarist Mick Ronson on acoustic, they perform electrifying takes on “Space Oddity” and “Andy Warhol.” From the furious opener “Hang On To Yourself” through Hunky Dory classics and singles like “John, I’m Only Dancing,” they cast an incandescent glow the exact ruby hue as Ziggy’s mullet.