For punk-presaging impact and shapeshifting socio-cultural resonance, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars felt like the first truly significant rock album of the seismic 70s, precipitating David Bowie manifesting as the first modern superstar.
It’s taken 52 years for the album to get its box set, and the glittering gold mine of previously unheard song doodles, demos and out-takes doesn’t disappoint. From February 1971’s hotel-room sketch So Long 60s prototyping Moonage Daydream, to Starman’s landmark Top Of The Pops performance 18 months later, this five-CD and Blu-ray disc set feels more like a heavyweight set of bonus tracks (29 previously unreleased) than the standard reissue plus out-takes. The album itself is only on Blu-ray, removing its climax for erm, older fans not familiar with that format. That triumph goes to Starman, complete with TOTP backing track.
