Is Five Years (1969–1973) a good place to start with David Bowie?

Yes, Five Years (1969–1973) is recommended as a starting point for new David Bowie listeners. A sprawling journey through glam rock and art pop, infused with poignant storytelling and experimental soundscapes. Released in 2015, 'Five Years (1969–1973)' is a comprehensive box set that surveys David Bowie's transformative early career. This period marked his rise from a quirky folk musician to a global icon of glam rock, culminating in the release of his landmark album 'Ziggy Stardust' in 1972. The collection encapsulates the evolution of Bowie's artistry during these pivotal years.

Who is Five Years (1969–1973) for?

Five Years (1969–1973) works well if you're into kaleidoscopic sonic exploration, poignant lyrical storytelling and patient unfolding of themes.

How many songs are on Five Years (1969–1973)?

Five Years (1969–1973) has 135 tracks, running approximately 526 minutes.

Five Years (1969–1973)

David Bowie · 2015

526 min · 135 tracks · alternative rock

A sprawling journey through glam rock and art pop, infused with poignant storytelling and experimental soundscapes.

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Top tracks — play these first

→
Space Oddity Start here — This track introduces listeners to Bowie's unique blend of science fiction and introspective songwriting, establishing him as a visionary artist.
→
Changes — As an anthem of transformation, this song captures the essence of Bowie’s artistic evolution and speaks to the broader themes of identity and change.
→
Life on Mars? — Combining surreal imagery with rich orchestration, this track exemplifies Bowie’s ability to weave complex narratives into accessible pop music.
→
Ziggy Stardust — The title track from his breakthrough album, it encapsulates the story of his alter ego and reflects the glam rock era's flamboyance.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

79 /100

Summit

Higher than 99% of albums we've rated

This compilation effectively highlights Bowie's innovative songwriting and production across his early career.

What we noticed

Tracks are sequenced chronologically, allowing listeners to trace the evolution of Bowie's sound and lyrical themes over time.
Several tracks feature unconventional song structures and experimental instrumentation, reflecting the avant-garde influences present in Bowie's early work.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 9/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 9/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 8/10

Defined its genre or moment. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

kaleidoscopic sonic exploration
poignant lyrical storytelling
patient unfolding of themes
late-night introspective sessions
dynamic emotional contrasts

Maybe skip if you

instant gratification seekers
short attention span listeners

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Deep Cut — A comprehensive box set that highlights early works but is not an entry point.
Themes: glam rock theatrics· space-age narratives· cultural transformation· identity exploration
Career context: Released in 2015, 'Five Years (1969–1973)' is a comprehensive box set that surveys David Bowie's transformative early career. This period marked his rise from a quirky folk musician to a global icon of glam rock, culminating in the release of his landmark album 'Ziggy Stardust' in 1972. The collection encapsulates the evolution of Bowie's artistry during these pivotal years.
Stylistic neighbors: Brian Eno· Roxy Music· Talking Heads

New to David Bowie? Find your way in →

Tracklist

Disc 1

1 Space Oddity Start here 5:15
2 Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed 6:53
3 Letter to Hermione 2:36
4 Cygnet Committee 9:35
5 Janine 3:25
6 An Occasional Dream 3:01
7 The Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud 4:51
8 God Knows I’m Good 3:21
9 Memory of a Free Festival 7:11

Disc 2

1 The Width of a Circle 8:08
2 All the Madmen 5:40
3 Black Country Rock 3:36
4 After All 3:55
5 Running Gun Blues 3:15
6 Saviour Machine 4:28
7 She Shook Me Cold 4:16
8 The Man Who Sold the World 3:58
9 The Supermen 3:41

Disc 3

1 Changes 3:35
2 Oh! You Pretty Things 3:12
3 Eight Line Poem 2:55
4 Life on Mars? 3:51
5 Kooks 2:53
6 Quicksand 5:06
7 Fill Your Heart 3:07
8 Andy Warhol 3:56
9 Song for Bob Dylan 4:12
10 Queen Bitch 3:18
11 The Bewlay Brothers 5:24

Disc 4

1 Five Years 4:42
2 Soul Love 3:33
3 Moonage Daydream 4:39
4 Starman 4:14
5 It Ain’t Easy 2:57
6 Lady Stardust 3:21
7 Star 2:47
8 Hang On to Yourself 2:38
9 Ziggy Stardust 3:13
10 Suffragette City 3:25
11 Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide 2:59

Disc 5

1 Watch That Man 4:30
2 Aladdin Sane (1913–1938–197?) 5:08
3 Drive‐In Saturday 4:31
4 Panic in Detroit 4:27
5 Cracked Actor 3:01
6 Time 5:14
7 The Prettiest Star 3:31
8 Let’s Spend the Night Together 3:10
9 The Jean Genie 4:07
10 Lady Grinning Soul 3:53

Disc 6

1 Rosalyn 2:21
2 Here Comes the Night 3:08
3 I Wish You Would 2:47
4 See Emily Play 4:12
5 Everything’s All Right 2:27
6 I Can’t Explain 2:13
7 Friday on My Mind 2:55
8 Sorrow 2:53
9 Don’t Bring Me Down 2:06
10 Shapes of Things 2:53
11 Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere 3:11
12 Where Have All the Good Times Gone 2:44

Disc 7

1 Introduction 0:15
2 Hang On to Yourself 2:47
3 Ziggy Stardust 3:23
4 Changes 3:32
5 The Supermen 2:56
6 Life on Mars? 3:28
7 Five Years 4:32
8 Space Oddity Start here 5:22
9 Andy Warhol 3:57
10 My Death 5:57
11 The Width of a Circle 10:39
12 Queen Bitch 3:00
13 Moonage Daydream 4:38
14 John, I’m Only Dancing 3:36
15 Waiting for the Man 5:45
16 The Jean Genie 4:02
17 Suffragette City 4:25
18 Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide 3:17

Disc 8

1 Introduction 1:06
2 Hang On to Yourself 2:55
3 Ziggy Stardust 3:19
4 Watch That Man 4:14
5 Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud 3:15
6 All the Young Dudes 1:38
7 Oh! You Pretty Things 1:46
8 Moonage Daydream 6:25
9 Changes 3:36
10 Space Oddity Start here 5:05
11 My Death 7:21

Disc 9

1 Introduction 1:02
2 Cracked Actor 3:03
3 Time 5:31
4 Width of a Circle 15:45
5 Let’s Spend the Night Together 3:02
6 Suffragette City 4:32
7 White Light/White Heat 4:01
8 Farewell Speech 0:39
9 Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide 5:17

Disc 10

1 Five Years 4:43
2 Soul Love 3:33
3 Moonage Daydream 4:39
4 Starman 4:10
5 It Ain’t Easy 2:59
6 Lady Stardust 3:21
7 Star 2:46
8 Hang On to Yourself 2:38
9 Ziggy Stardust 3:13
10 Suffragette City 3:25
11 Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide 2:58

Disc 11

1 Space Oddity (original UK mono single edit) 4:42
2 Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud (original UK mono single version) 4:52
3 Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola 5:06
4 The Prettiest Star (original mono single version) 3:13
5 Conversation Piece (mono version) 3:07
6 Memory of a Free Festival, Part 1 4:03
7 Memory of a Free Festival, Part 2 3:34
8 All the Madmen (mono single edit) 3:15
9 Janine (mono version) 3:23
10 Holy Holy (original mono single version) 3:13
11 Moonage Daydream (single version) 3:53
12 Hang On to Yourself (single version) 2:52

Disc 12

1 Changes (mono single version) 3:39
2 Andy Warhol (mono single version) 3:07
3 Starman (original single mix) 4:17
4 John, I’m Only Dancing (original single version) 2:47
5 The Jean Genie (original single mix) 4:08
6 Drive‐In Saturday (German single edit) 4:03
7 Round and Round 2:42
8 John, I’m Only Dancing (sax version) 2:45
9 Time (U.S. single edit) 3:43
10 Amsterdam 3:27
11 Holy Holy (Spiders version) 2:18
12 Velvet Goldmine 3:10

What to play next

Listen next

Blackstar

2016

Continues the experimental soundscapes and deep storytelling from Five Years.

Go back to

Nothing Has Changed

2014

Sets the stage with a curated overview of Bowie's diverse styles leading into Five Years.

Full David Bowie discography Where to start with David Bowie Artists like David Bowie

alternative rock hard rock

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Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata