Product Description
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A Reality Tour was the highest- grossing global tour of
2004 and one of the most critically accled tours of Bowie’s
career. With its iconic cover image of denim-clad David Bowie
wielding his vintage black-and-white Supro Dual-Tone electric
guitar, A Reality Tour Live has emerged as the definitive career
overview.
The 33 songs that he ultimately chose for this release weave
through virtually every phase of his life, dating back to the
title tune of his 1971 LP, The Man Who Sold The World. Also
includes massive hits such as "Rebel Rebel", "Life On Mars",
"Ashes To Ashes", "Heroes" and "Ziggy Stardust" as well as three
previously unreleased tracks that were performed on the night,
but were originally omitted from the DVD.
Review
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“David Bowie’s greatest hits live!” reads the sticker on
the attractive packaging of this newly released, but recorded
back in 2003, two-CD set. And nobody’s going to be complaining
that the promise isn’t delivered, as Bowie – backed by a solid
yet flexible band that hits each peak with precision – runs
through elegant renditions of his most-pervasive successes. Under
Pressure, Rebel Rebel, Ashes to Ashes, Ziggy Stardust, All the
Young Dudes: all present and correct.
Like R.E.M.’s recent Live at the Olympia set, A Reality Tour was
recorded in Dublin; the crew must come cheap. That, or fans in
the Irish capital are simply unbeatable. The latter argument for
the location is supported somewhat by the accompanying
credits: after listing the various musical contributors, the
emotionally charged audiences at the Point Depot” are
acknowledged. And there’s no doubt those in attendance make
themselves heard, though such is the high-quality mixing work on
this release that their vociferous appreciation is kept at a
distance until such a time as a roar is absolutely key.
The crowd is stirred into its most feverous state when the bona
fide classics are aired – the aforementioned, as well as the
likes of 1975’s Fame, old favourite The Man Who Sold the World,
and Five Years, the opener on 1972’s certifiable collection
cornerstone The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders
From Mars. But comparably lesser-known selections are received
well, too. Battle for Britain (The Letter), which takes
clangourous industrial rock on a fly-by of drum‘n’bass, convulses
to a singular beat; long-in-limbo effort Bring Me the Disco King,
finally released on 2003’s Reality (his last studio album), is
down-tempo jazz with tangible nostalgia in its lyrics; and
Heathen (The Rays) shows that Bowie could still pen disarmingly
direct, affecting pop of a very individual inclination 30-plus
years after he started.
With 33 tracks stretching well over two hours, A Reality Tour
isn’t exactly suited to single-sitting listening. It’s also far
from a genuine greatest hits collection, though it certainly does
feature a number of Bowie’s most-loved songs. But it is a great
document of one of the world’s most inspirational
artists – and performers – proving that age can’t quench the
man’s desire to create, communicate and, ultimately, entertain. A
maverick talent whose place in the pop annals was assured long
ago, Bowie’s continuing hunger sets a fabulous example for the
up-and-coming could-be-‘Heroes’ crowd. --Mike Diver
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