The Idiot

When I first quickly listened to The Idiot, my first impression was that it isn't very punk at all, seems low on energy, few ideas, and quickly made. My opinion has improved every year, Iggy was post punk while punk was just taking off elsewhere. It is a very unique album, actually punk in that Iggy and Bowie didn't care about making a normal rock record, certainly didn't care about making a commercial hit record, an antithetical way to start Iggy's solo career. The Idiot is unaffected pop, a rock record that doesn't give a **** about what you think a rock record should sound like, no aspirations except to make an Iggy Pop record. The Idiot directly or indirectly inspired hundreds of bands. The London live show on the 2nd disc is a classic solid full show, with a great track list. As some have complained it is an amateur bootleg recording with inferior sound, but it is still worth getting, I prefer this to TV Eye Live. No rock posturing, just straight forward Iggy. No banter except Iggy matter of fact introducing "Tonight" as about his dead girlfriend. The set finishes strong especially with a great epic version of "China Girl" with Bowie on keyboards.

Both "Lust For Life" & "The Idiot" comprise what can be classified as the essential Iggy Pop solo output. If I were to expand on these two albums, I would include "New Values," "Soldier," and "Party." Although both of the aforementioned albums where recorded with the exact same personnel, featuring none other than David Bowie at the helm, to say the two albums sound completely unalike is a tremendous understatement. One could imagine there being several gradations in between the two, in fact enough to span a decent career run for any other act. I think that this is part of the genius of the venture. However, it is more than likely the product of a change environment, and 'new' stimuli. Whereas "Lust for Life" is positive, upbeat, and even life affirming, "The Idiot" is all smoke filled rooms, and deep nicotine stained melancholy. It manages to convey with its moody atmospherics, what it would have been like to live in Berlin before the wall came down. A place at the end of time, comprised of seedy nightclubs, 24-hour burlesques, and a proliferation of brothels to while away the hours in.

What is there not to love about Iggy's and Bowie's collaboration on The Idiot (and also on Lust for Life, which was also released in 1979). A few of the songs on this album were recorded by Bowie with different lyrics on his album Lodger. For instance, Bowie used the same music as in Sister Midnight for the song Red Money. But I definitely prefer Sister Midnight. It has such a genuine, raw, desperate sound to it. In Red Money, Bowie sounds like he is faking it -- using his amazing vocal abilities to try to duplicate the desperate undertone, but not succeeding. And of course, Bowie recorded China Girl for Let's Dance. In my opinion, each version has its strengths. I think Bowie's version fits in well with the rest of Let's Dance, and I think Iggy's and Bowie's version fits in very well with the rest of The Idiot. But I would say The Idiot is altogether better than Bowie's albums from the late 1970s, although I truly enjoy those albums. Same for Lust for Life.

The first Iggy solo album that was produced by David Bowie, its more electronic sounding than the more guitar based Lust for Life. Yet it still has a punk attitude. Highlights include “Nightclubbing”, “Sisiter Midnight “, “Funtime”, and the original recording of “China Girl”. The second disc is a live show from 1977 in London. Though the performance is fiery, the sound quality is not the best (the liner notes do say this).

Not here to write a review about the songs, because if you're here you probably already know, anyway there's plenty of professional reviews out there. This is a review about the 2017 Virgin vinyl release. I have not heard the 4 Men With Beards pressing, but I've done exhaustive research, and the consensus wasI'd good. The Virgin release is a remaster from the analog tapes, and so far I have to say it sounds as good or better than I've ever heard the album. The vinyl is silent, no pops or cracks. If you're looking for a vinyl copy of this record, this is the one.

A disconcertingly intelligent record, for all its primitive beats and apparently simple emotions. But there's sophistication and depth here in the performances, and the writing - Iggy seemed to try to be but was and is (at least when not obliterated) no dum dum boy. Plus, it has the original versions of "China Girl" and "Sister Midnight" and "Nightclubbing". A companion piece to *Lust for Life*.

Just got a copy of the 2017 remaster on vinyl. Sounds amazing and is a nice flat disc. Description says 120 gram vinyl which initially made me a little weary but it feels nice and solid. There was one scuff on none of the sides but didn't effect the sound. For the price this is a steal. I'm going to be picking up the Lust for Life because of the quality.

Prompt service, EXCELLENT QUALITY and time sent/arrival.

De mis álbumes favoritos de Iggy Pop, salido de la mancuerna Pop-Bowie. Es un estilo completamente diferente al que nos tiene acostumbrados. El álbum llegó en perfectas condiciones.

In effetti questo disco non poteva nascere se non dal glaciale pensiero mitteleuropeo di Bowie di stanza a Berlino con la sua trilogia berlinese, il selvaggio Iggy viene salvato dall'amico David che gli confeziona un album su misura e diventa un classico. Quaranta minuti di inferno in bianco e nero, nel quale pare di respirare nel gelo, producendo anelli di vapore, in quella che è una notte qualunque girando per locali. Lo spirito di Ian Curtis aleggia inquieto su queste note sinistre. Il vinile è registrato benissimo.

Nachdem sich The Stooges nach 3 Albumveröffentlichungen aufgelöst hatten – ihre als heute revolutionär geltenden Sounds und wilden Bühnenshows waren einst nicht massenpublikumstauglich – und Iggy Pop in einer Nervenheilanstalt sein exzessives Rockstarleben auskuriert hatte, nahm ihn David Bowie unter seine Fittiche, der ihn ermutigte, ein Solo-Album aufzunehmen. „The Idiot“ entstand 1976/77 in Berlin (das damals geteilt war) und gilt trotz seines mäßigen Erfolgs als eine der wichtigsten Platten der 1970er-Jahre. Iggy Pop – The Godfather Of Punk – präsentiert seine Songs – sichtlich von Bowie beeinflusst – im Art-/Industrial-Rock-Korsett und schafft von Beginn weg eine ganz besondere Atmosphäre, die durchaus mit der Energie einer Punk-Platte vergleichbar ist, wenngleich die Tracks selber eher experimenteller, teils sogar progressiver Natur sind. Besonders „Sister Midnight“ macht Eindruck und bleibt im Kopf, sobald man es gehört hat. „China Girl“ sollte David Bowie 1983 noch einmal in poppigerer Variante veröffentlichen, wodurch es schließlich zum Hit wurde. Das episch angelegte „Dum Dum Boys“ lädt mit seiner ausgeklügelten Dynamik zum Eintauchen ein und ist bis heute einer der stärksten Titel, die Iggy Pop je aufgenommen hat. Obwohl der große kommerzielle Erfolg ausblieb, ist „The Idiot“ sehr einflussreich auf Musikschaffende jener Dekade gewesen. Ian Curtis, der viel zu früh verstorbene Sänger von Joy Division, soll sich u.a. sehr beeindruckt gezeigt haben, aber auch Iggy Pops damaliger Förderer – David Bowie – dürfte sich, abgesehen vom später wiederausgegrabenen „China Girl“, ein bisschen was für seine bald folgenden Alben hier abgeschaut haben: Der Toningenieur Tony Visconti produzierte kurz darauf Bowies Meisterwerk „Low“. Die Studiomusiker Carlos Alomar, Phil Palmer und George Murray, die an „The Idiot“ mitgewirkt hatten, wurden für „Low“ und „Heroes” engagiert. Für dieses Album sollte man sich Zeit nehmen, um es vollends genießen zu können. Es zahlt sich aus! Anspieltipps: - Sister Midnight - China Girl - Dum Dum Boys Mein Urteil: +++++ Prädikat: MEILENSTEIN

Edição de grande qualidade. Excelente primeiro disco solo do artista.

It sounded (and looked great). I can't compare the sound to the original vinyl because I've never heard it, but this sounded great and there's a neat picture of the album cover on one side of the record.