Hunky Dory

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Hunky Dory · After The Man Who Sold the World, David Bowie was inactive for a time, without a band and with a new manager. He began writing songs, now on piano rather than guitar. In 1971 he recorded the album at Trident Studios in London, with Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass and Mick Woodmansey on drums. Rick Wakeman played piano, shortly before joining Yes. Ken Scott co-produced.

The sound is warmer and more melodic than on the guitar-heavy album before it. Changes is about the compulsion towards artistic renewal. After a tour of America the singer wrote songs for Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan and Lou Reed, and Kooks for his newborn son Duncan. RCA hardly promoted the album, so it sold poorly at first and did not make the charts. After the success of Ziggy Stardust in 1972 there was renewed interest. Now it is regarded as the album on which he found his own voice.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Changes3:37Apple Music ↗
2. 2Oh! You Pretty Things3:12Apple Music ↗
3. 3Eight Line Poem2:55Apple Music ↗
4. 4Life On Mars?3:56Apple Music ↗
5. 5Kooks2:54Apple Music ↗
6. 6Quicksand5:06Apple Music ↗
7. 7Fill Your Heart3:10Apple Music ↗
8. 8Andy Warhol3:55Apple Music ↗
9. 9Song for Bob Dylan4:13Apple Music ↗
10. 10Queen Bitch3:21Apple Music ↗
11. 11The Bewlay Brothers5:30Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗