THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD (EMI)Those who weren't quite quick enough to snap up the hastily deleted RCA Records CD releases of these three pre-Ziggy LPs have had an unexpectedly long wait for them to reappear in CD format. But, like Major Tom, here they come circling into view once more, remastered by Rykodisc Records and, as if to compensate for the delay, each boasting bonus tracks.

....There's a further source of annoyance too. You may be convinced that the underrated hefty-metal Man Who Sold The World LP ends dramatically with the dying cry of The Supermen. Oh no it doesn't, for The Supermen's last gasp is immediately succeeded here by a completely incongruous slide-acoustic-harmonica-saxophone dribble called Lightning Frightening (recorded in Summer 1970), the Holy Holy single and pre-Ziggy versions of Moonage Daydream and Hang On To Yourself (first released under the name Arnold Corns).

....Each time, then, the extra tracks come as undesirable adjuncts, serving only to spoil the listening experience. Far better, surely, to have bumped the lot of them, along with the handful of contemporary tracks that remain unheard (including a 1970 song to David Bowie's recalcitrant old car, Rupert The Riley), on to a special Rarities CD and left the original tracks to stand alone. It would mean minutes lopped off the playing time, sure, but sometimes more doesn't necessarily mean better.
Q Rating: ****

One sure sign of having "made it" is the immediate re-release of product that had been previously relegated to department store bargain bins. So as Bowie's star ascends in the west we see the rebirth of "The Man Who Sold the World" new label, new graphics but the same darkly brooding magical music. Such songs as "The Width of a Circle," "Saviour Machine" and "The Supermen" do quite a bit of talking indeed.