Recorded from
Bowie
's first live American broadcast, this October 20, 1972 concert is a good choice for those who found themselves left cold by the awkward soul and the absence of
Mick Ronson
on
David Live
. Coming on the heels of the release of
Ziggy Stardust
,
is captured here at the height of his creative powers. He gives a nod to the influence of
Lou Reed
with a fine
"Waiting For The Man,"
and the live renditions of
"Jean Genie"
and
"Rock and Roll Suicide"
surpass the studio versions, thanks in no small part to the inimitable
.
"Life on Mars?"
and other tunes off
Hunky Dory
can be a bit disappointing, though, without original keyboardist
Rick Wakeman
, who was now busy becoming a star with
Yes
. But this is only a minor qualm; the
Spiders
band is wonderfully aggressive, all the more because live performance was perhaps the true home for its glam theatrics. ~ Paul Collins