David Bowie Live Santa Monica '72 (2 Lp's)

Personnel: David Bowie (vocals, guitar); Mick Ronson (guitar, bass, background vocals); Mike Garson (keyboards); Trevor Bolder (bass); Mick "Woody" Woodmansey (drums). Recorded live at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California on October 20, 1972. Only available in bootleg versions before this 2008 EMI release, LIVE SANTA MONICA '72 presents David Bowie in full glam-rock grandeur completely inhabiting his outlandish Ziggy Stardust persona as he leads his Spiders from Mars through a fierce set that draws heavily from HUNKY DORY and, not surprisingly, THE RISE & FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST. In addition to cherry-picking many of the finest tunes from Bowie's early era (most notably a thunderous extended version of "The Width of a Circle"), the set also finds the erstwhile Davy Jones covering Jacques Brel (a wistful take on "My Death" that nods to key Bowie influence Scott Walker) and the Velvet Underground (a faithful version of "Waiting for the Man"). Easily one of the best Bowie concert albums available, LIVE SANTA MONICA '72 is ideal for Ziggy acolytes and glam disciples.

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Pop