David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

David Bowie's "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars," released on June 16, 1972, stands as a seminal glam rock concept album.

Produced by Bowie and Ken Scott under RCA Records, the album spans 38 minutes and 37 seconds, blending glam rock, art rock, and proto-punk. Recorded at Trident Studios in London from November 1971 to February 1972, the album features Bowie alongside the Spiders from Mars: Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder, and Mick "Woody" Woodmansey.

The record follows Ziggy Stardust, an androgynous alien rock star who comes to a dying Earth with a message of hope but ultimately succumbs to fame and self-destruction. Bowie drew inspiration from figures like Vince Taylor and Iggy Pop, science fiction works such as A Clockwork Orange, and Japanese kabuki theater. Themes include alienation, fame, apocalypse, gender fluidity, and the mythology of rock stardom, capturing the early 1970s' cultural blend of hedonism and existential dread.

The album's 11 tracks include highlights like "Five Years," a ballad foretelling Earth's doom; "Moonage Daydream," which introduces Ziggy’s persona; and "Starman," a hopeful hit single inspired by "Over the Rainbow." It also features a bluesy cover of Ron Davies’ "It Ain’t Easy," the only non-Bowie composition.