Adventures in blogging: Something misplaced, something found

Yesterday, I posted what I thought was a light, mildly humorous piece about misplaced Bowie songs—songs that seemed, to me, to be out of place on their respective albums. (Click HERE if you missed it). I wasn’t expecting it to become the post that, so far, has received the most written feedback since I launched this blog in 2018.

The comments didn’t appear on the blog itself. I usually promote posts on social media, and that’s where the feedback rolls in. And boy, did I get comments! Many readers understood the tone and added their own choices of misplaced songs or made jokes of one form or another. But, as expected, some were not pleased. This type of post always stirs up a bit of frustration. Probably the most frequent critique was that “Aladdin Sane” is not out of place on Aladdin Sane! Another thread of anger was the idea that—even jokingly—I might question Bowie’s judgment, particularly regarding what songs to include on his albums. A few even lamented my supposed ignorance: “Some people just don’t know how Bowie worked! He liked to include a teaser of what was coming next” or something similar (which I actually mentioned in the second sentence).

For me, the most interesting part was that the post generated so much feedback in the first place.

Here are a few sample comments from Facebook (I can do another post with more from other social media, if anyone is interested), in no particular order. I’ve omitted the commentators’ names:

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It amazes me how people don’t read about how Bowie worked.
It’s documented he would end albums or include small glimpses into his future ART on second sides of albums.
Secret Life of Arabia is probably the best example.
A glimpse into the next piece of Art, in this Case Lodger.
Shake it on Let’s Dance could have easily been on Tonight.
Rock and roll with me on Dogs is a peak at what’s coming with Young Americans.
It’s all deliberate cause Bowie is playing 3 D chess while most other artists are playing tic tac dough.
As for ‘It ain’t easy’
It basically came down to Easy vs Sweet Head.
An amazing b side track from Ziggy.
But Sweet Head was a bit too much…
And it’s not a double meaning song it’s exactly what you think it is. So they played it safe with EASY.
I love the Queen Bitch assertion that it made Hunky Dory a rock album.
What is this dude 27…
Bob Dylan Albums, Eagles albums, the Band AMERICA albums were considered rock albums in the early seventies even though they have very little distorted electric guitars.
Bowie albums were meticulously put together by Bowie.
There are no MISPLACED TRACKS…
Every song had a place on a whatever album it was on.
It’s not like today where artists just throw everything on playlists and just give it a title.
And that’s the album.
An Album’s songs and placement used to be as important as the music itself.
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I agree with “It Ain’t Easy” and, to a lesser extent, “Strangers When We Meet” I don’t with Aladdin Sane. Hunky Dory wouldn’t be same without Queen Bitch, but it could do without Fill Your Heart.
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Agree with Rebel Rebel considerably more than Rock and Roll With Me I have to say!
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Agree about Across the Universe. Presumably Who Can I Be Now? Or It’s Gonna Be Me were dropped to accommodate it, which makes little sense, to me anyway
Gemini Spacecraft on Heathen when Conversation Piece and Shadowman were already knocking about.
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I love all these songs ♡
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Across the universe – Young Americans
Silly boy blue – David Bowie
Red Money – Lodger
Cat People – Let’s Dance
I keep forgettin’ – Tonight
I know it’s gonna happen some day – Black Tie
I’m afraid of Americans – Earthling
The pretty things are going to hell – ‘hours…’
Try Some Buy Some – Reality
How does your grass grow – The Next Day
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That’s actually a pretty good list for once , I’d guess written by a proper fan
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I certainly agree with Across the Universe, It Ain’t Easy and Bring Me the Disco King, but Aladdin Sane does not “kickoff” the album. That would be Watch That Man.
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I always thought, somewhat ironically, that Space Oddity was misplaced.
The rest of the album was folk-influenced.
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Alladin Sane misplaced on an album called…..Alladin Sane.

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Interesting list. I can see where the author’s coming from but on most I’d have a ‘yes, but…’ to argue it. I’ll give just one though – in 1984 (the book) the relationship between Julia and Winston is a significant element so I associate ‘Rock and Roll with Me’ with that thematically, particularly when followed by the bleak acceptance of ‘We are the Dead’
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In my opinion the least interesting songs on Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane are the three covers: Fill Your Heart, It Ain’t Easy and Let’s Spend The Night Together. Anyone who thinks the track Aladdin Sane is misplaced on the album Aladdin Sane has probably misunderstood what was interesting about Bowie (IMO his ability to innovate and transcend the bounds of genre) and is evidently somewhat dismissive of the artistic vision of the person who wrote and performed the stuff in the first place.
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I totally agree with his opinion of Across the Universe .
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The only suggestion I really agree with is Across The Universe, it was a pretty pointless cover. And Reality was shit so they’re all out of place.
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Some odd choices there…how would Aladdin Sane sound without the title track?!
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They’re not out of place at all. They just show “something” of the next album. D.B. lived in the future, the present time was already passing into another time.
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The wonderful Secret Life of Arabia could’ve been on Lodger.
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The very fact that the songs were chosen for the albums they appeared on, makes it an appropriate choice
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The only one I think sticks out like a sore thumb is Be My Wife on Low.
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totally agree with “it Aint easy” and “Across the Universe”. i find both tracks unlistenable. The only reason “Across he universe” was included was that RCA were panicking that the album would bomb and wanted some lennon stardust to boost sales.
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I agree with number 1, “It ain’t easy” was the first one that came to mind. And I understand the inclusion of “Queen bitch”. It’s different from all the others on “Hunky Dory”. Just like the hard-rocking “The pretty things are going to hell” is different from all the others on “hours…”, but this one isn’t on the list. And I would also have mentioned “Up the hill backwards” on “Scary Monsters”.
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Across the universe – Young Americans
Silly boy blue – David Bowie
Red Money – Lodger
Cat People – Let’s Dance
I keep forgettin’ – Tonight
I know it’s gonna happen some day – Black Tie
I’m afraid of Americans – Earthling
The pretty things are going to hell – ‘hours…’
Try Some Buy Some – Reality
How does your grass grow – The Next Day
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Rebel rebel on DD for me. I hate it!
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I agree with 1,3,7,9
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Under Pressure doesn’t belong on “Hot Space” at all!
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Couldn’t agree more with It Ain’t Easy – has never felt like it fits since the first listen.
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Velvet Goldmine
Would have made a Great Side One if Ziggy finisher instead of ‘It Ain’t Easy’
We would have got It aint easy later like we got Goldmine !!!!!!!!
John I’m only Dancing (Sax Version)
Would have been Great last track Side One
Of Aladdin—–
Cracked Actor after Prettiest Star.
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I have no problem with any of those songs on the classic ‘70s albums, and most of them i have a hard time imagining them without the songs. It Ain’t Easy always seemed like a kinda entracte or palate cleanser between side 1 & 2 of Ziggy; the Velvets tribute/pastiche nature of QB fits perfectly alongside the Warhol and Dylan songs; R&R With Me I see as the doomed lovers in the 1984 context; and Aladdin Sane is central to that album. Across The Universe is non-essential for sure, but I don’t think it’s terrible or jarring either.
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The genius knew exactly what he was doing. If mere mortals can’t understand what it was it’s okay .
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Fly, could have been on Lodger
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Queen Bitch -> Ziggy (although I love it being on HD).