My review is addressed to those who, like myself, occasionally wants to play a CD on a computer (while working, browsing internet and so on). Usually, when you insert an audio CD in the CD-ROM drive of your computer, some application (CD player, Windows Media Player, WinAmp -- depends on what you have and how your computer is configured) starts and disk is played, everyone's happy. Not in the case of "Hunky Dory" and any other CD from the Bowie's digitally remastered "white label" series. For about 15-20 seconds (on my 2GHz, 256MB RAM PC) nothing happens, then the monitor screen goes black for ~5 more seconds, then some lousy flash presentation appears which advertises the advantages of membership at [Bowie's website] -- an internet resource for die-hard Bowie's fans. ... While running, this flash presentation will make you computer (no matter how powerful it is) to slow down considerably and can also cause a crush of operation system, especially when some other applications (like those from wonderful MS Office family) are up and running. You might have expected some promo bonus materials like a couple of video clips, or audio samples from other albums, or (at very least) some David's photos -- you won't get them, all you get is a commercial.
So my question is: what's the point of putting such an "enhancement" on the CD? A plain internet link to [a website] (which, by the way, is printed in bold on the card you find in the CD case) would work equally well, without unnecessary and annoying presentation popping up every time you put the CD into you CD-ROM tray.

That's the only thing I'm not happy about. The music itself is great (5 stars in my opinion), remastering is fairly good, CD and booklet design is ok. And more importantly -- you don't have a choice. If you want to have this album (if you really like Bowie's music, it's a shame not to have it) you've got to buy this release, sorry.


He's Camelian, Comedian, Corinthian and Caricature   December 16, 2000
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

Before he was Ziggy Stardust or the Thin White Duke, David Bowie was "Bowie: the singer-songwriter" and "Hunky Dory" is Bowie at the height of this particular phase in his career. The album is quite diverse in terms of both musical and lyrical content. One song can be a bouncy piano-driven pop song, while the next could be a sombre reflective guitar piece. All the songs are excellent, unlike these one-hit wonder albums that just seem to be cropping up nowadays.

The album kicks off with "Changes" - a fantastic piano ballad in which Bowie urges "you Rock 'n' rollers" to turn and face the strange changes that one has to go through in life. "Oh! You Pretty Things" is another piano-based song, and quite an upbeat and poppy one despite its dark lyrical content - reflecting Bowie's early obsession with the philosophy of Nietzsche ("Homo Sapiens have outgrown their use.....You gotta make way for the Homo Superior"). "Eight Line Poem" is pure poetic beauty, and could happily be read as a poem on its own. "Life On Mars" is, in many people's belief, Bowie's best song. While I don't think it's his very best, it's still a great track, with a sweeping string arrangement courtesy of Mick Ronson (who also plays guitar on the album). "Kooks" is an irresistible acoustic-pop song that Bowie wrote for his (then) baby son Zowie, and it features some memorable lines, in particular "Don't pick fights with the bullies or the cads/ 'Cause I'm not much cop at punching other people's Dads". "Quicksand" is a break from the wit and wackiness of the previous few songs. Bowie picks up his acoustic guitar and goes into reflective mode, telling us that he's "sinking in the quicksand of [his] thoughts". As well as thought-provoking lyrics, the song boasts a lovely melody, making it one offavourite songs on the album. Things get happy again with "Fill Your Heart", a jazzy music-hall number with saxophone by Bowie himself and trumpet by Trevor Bolder (who also plays bass on the album). "Andy Warhol" is a dark, Spanish-sounding folk song about, you guessed it - Andy Warhol. The lyrics are truly bizarre, but it's a great song nevertheless."Song For Bob Dylan" is another song about an important cult figure of the 60's/70's. It's also quite a good folk-rock tune. "Queen Bitch", the album's lone hard-rocker is another winner, with some particularly funny (and biting) lyrics. Musically, this is one of the songs that paved the way for Bowie's next album. The album's sombre closer, the "The Bewlay Brothers", is a musically sparse and eerily moving track, with some rather dark lyrics concerning mental illness, bisexuality and drug abuse. It's another good piece of poetry - the imagery is just striking. Its sinister "Lay me place and bake me Pie" coda sung in both low and high-pitched cockney voices is strangely almost tear-jerking.

Well, there you have it folks. The mature, intelligent lyrics and catchy tunes are bound to get any serious lover of good music hooked. These are the my exact qualities that make "Hunky Dory" one of my favourite albums and truly one of Bowie's best.


Bowie's Undisputed Masterpiece   June 6, 2005
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

Hunky Dory (1971.), David Bowie's fourth studio album

David Bowie is arguably one of the greatest solo artists of all time and his unique alternative style (notice the omission of the word 'pop') is timeless and has deservedly won him loads of fans from generation to generation. Bowie has changed his style from album to album and has produced music in loads of different styles whilst still maintaining his distinctive sound. 'Hunky Dory', Bowie's fourth studio album, released in 1971 is one of the greatest chapters in his career and is definitely one of his most powerful releases.

'Hunky Dory' is the second album in what I would describe as Bowie's classic run of five albums from 'Man Who Sold the World' to 'Diamond Dogs' when he was at his very best. 'Hunky Dory' though is one of his most unique releases. Bowie was not yet into his famous Ziggy Stardust glam rock period but neither is this album as strongly guitar based as its predecessor 'Man Who Sold the World'. 'Hunky Dory' instead is much more acoustic based with lots of piano thrown in but most of all is an album of unbelievable songwriting - songs don't come much better than those on this album. The album is really well structured as well - each side of the original LP has happy/upbeat songs for the most part but finishes off with a darker, emotive and more powerful song ('Quicksand' and 'Bewlay Brothers'). Bowie's backing group are also excellent on this album. Rick Wakeman's jazzy piano playing is there practically throughout and really characterises the album. Mick Ronson plays some great guitar solos on the album especially in 'Life on Mars'. Bowie's accomplished and often overlooked saxophone playing is also top notch on this album.

David Bowie's album collection has undergone a number of remasters since CD's became commonplace about 20 years ago. Recently an enhanced CD version of 'Hunky Dory' was released. Obviously the sound quality is great but the version lacks any bonus tracks, which incidentally can be found on the 1991 remaster. The latter is the version I would recommend. It still has excellent sound quality and also has demo versions of 'Quicksand' and 'Bewlay Brothers' as well as an album outtake 'Bombers' and an alternative version of 'The Supermen' from 'The Man Who Sold the World' album.

Eventhough this masterpiece yielded a fair-share of singles, this album is not pop in my opinion but instead is a great serving of alternative, extremely listenable music. 'Changes', one of Bowie's well known songs starts the album. An excellent song, its got a classic chorus with loads of piano play. 'oh You Pretty Things' is a great follow up - brilliant for a sing along with another catchy chorus. It runs very cleverly into 'Eight Line Poem' which is a more reflective songs with somem rather bluesy guitar playing from Mick Ronson. 'Life On Mars?' is next up and this one truly one of Bowie's great songs. The lyrics are some of the best I've heard and Mick Ronson's closing solo is out of this world - listen out for the phone ringing at the end of the track! 'Kooks' is an upbeat acoustic track which Bowie wrote for his son, Zowy Bowie. Then we come to 'Quicksand', in my opinion the best track on the album. Its got an amazingly calming start before building into a powerful, heartfelt song - the chorus is really moving. A song about losing direction in life, this is one of Bowie's greatest songs.

What was side two of the LP kicks off with a happy sing along 'Fill Your Heart', a great track, although it is the weakest track on this great album - ironically Bowie didn't write this one! 'Andy Warhol' follows this; this strong acoustic jam is excellent. The goofing around in the studio at the start is a hillarious, where Bowie keeps correcting the sound engineer's pronunciation of 'Warhol'. 'Song For Bob Dylan' is a tribute to one of Bowie's great influences and is followed by 'Queen Bitch', the most rocking track on the album, Ronson's guitar work on this track is first rate. 'The Bewlay Brothers' is an unbelievably potent finish to the album. I'm amazed how many reviewers of this album overlook the greatness of this track. I've never heard a track like it. It's mostly acoustic based and is Bowie's telling story of his own brother's lifelong mental troubles. The warped sounding voice at the end of the album is really freaky and it makes your blood run cold but its a remarkable finish to an amazing album.

The 'Hunky Dory' album captures David Bowie on one of the high points of his career. I'm not sure if I'd call it his best album but its up there with his finest efforts and this album is sure to stand the test of time. I'd recommend this album to anyone who likes a unique alternative style of music or to any fan of David Bowie, although there isn't such such a thing as a Bowie fan who doesn't own this masterpiece!