Taking Himself Too Seriously David Live Review: 1975

Bowie's Live Set Critique

Published in the US on January 16, 1975, Rolling Stone’s album review of David Live (RCA Victor CPL2-0771) by Tom Nolan offered a highly critical take on Bowie’s first official live album.

Nolan described the double LP as lacking the power of the originals, with a “thin, samey oneness” across the 16 tracks (plus “Knock on Wood”). He criticized the one-dimensional backing, flat mix that highlighted Bowie’s presence at the expense of the band, and Bowie’s “perfunctory, slurred and hurried” vocals. The live setting brought out unfortunate theatrical mannerisms (“heavy breathing”) and a tendency to take himself too seriously, framing songs like “Changes” as Watergate prophecies. Overall, the review saw the album as a disappointing, cursory representation of Bowie’s live energy.

Exact Text from the Review

DAVID LIVE

David Bowie RCA Victor CPL2-0771

by Tom Nolan

Rather than serving as a welcome introduction to or summation of David Bowie's oeuvre, this two-record live album lumps together the several facets of his music into a thin, samey oneness. Any power these 16 originals had ("Knock on Wood" is the 17th cut) can only be guessed at from hearing these cursory versions. The backing is one dimensional, mixed into a flat canvas to highlight Bowie's presence, and despite extended solos the band does not establish an engaging identity. Bowie is centerstage all the way, and the thinness and flaccidity of this outing are in large part due to his often perfunctory, slurred and hurried vocals. Instead of providing for a more intimate performance, the live setting has only brought out Bowie's more unfortunate theatrical mannerisms; any magic these may have worked in person is, on platter, only so much heavy breathing. Bowie also indulges the greater weakness of taking himself too seriously. His rebel anthems aren't strong enough to carry the weight of Social Consciousness he'd sometimes like them to, and when "Changes" is framed like a Watergate prophecy, you figure you're hearing Bowie on the wrong night.

Legacy

This review reflects a mixed early reception to David Live — some critics found it lacking the magic of the stage, though it remains a key document of the 1974 Philly Dogs tour era.

Do you have this Rolling Stone review in your archive? Did David Live live up to the hype for you? Share in the comments!