Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976) cover

Released 10 years ago this September

Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976)

David Bowie · 2016

499 min · 102 tracks · alternative rock · electronic · hard rock

A sprawling anthology of glam rock and soul, layered with experimental production and theatrical narratives.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • theatrical narratives with dramatic flair
  • long, immersive musical explorations
  • cathartic sing-along moments
  • dynamic shifts in emotional tone
  • headphone detail hunting

Maybe skip if you want

  • prefer concise, standalone tracks
  • seek instant gratification

Where this album fits

Themes
dystopian visions· mid-70s identity crisis· blue-eyed soul· theatrical glam rock
Career context
Released in 2016, 'Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976)' compiles a transformative period for David Bowie, following his commercial peak with 'Young Americans' and 'Diamond Dogs'. This collection showcases the evolution of Bowie's sound as he seamlessly blended genres, transitioning from glam rock to more soulful influences, while also reflecting on his artistic identity during the mid-1970s.
Stylistic neighbors
Brian Eno· Roxy Music· Talking Heads
Sounds like this from elsewhere
Avalon by Roxy Music — Shares lush production and theatricality, exploring themes of identity and desire.
Transformer by Lou Reed — Combines glam rock aesthetics with introspective narratives and blue-eyed soul influences.
Another Green World by Brian Eno — Explores experimental soundscapes with a blend of ambient textures and thematic depth.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Future Legend 1:00
  • 2 Diamond Dogs 6:04
  • 3 Sweet Thing 3:39
  • 4 Candidate 2:40
  • 5 Sweet Thing (reprise) 2:32
  • 6 Rebel Rebel 4:34
  • 7 Rock ’n’ Roll With Me 4:02
  • 8 We Are the Dead 5:01
  • 9 1984 3:27
  • 10 Big Brother 3:23
  • 11 Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family 2:06

Disc 2

  • 1 1984 3:21
  • 2 Rebel Rebel 2:40
  • 3 Moonage Daydream 5:07
  • 4 Sweet Thing 8:33
  • 5 Changes 3:34
  • 6 Suffragette City 3:41
  • 7 Aladdin Sane 5:00
  • 8 All the Young Dudes 4:18
  • 9 Cracked Actor 3:25

Disc 3

  • 1 When You Rock ’n’ Roll With Me 4:16
  • 2 Watch That Man 5:04
  • 3 Knock on Wood 3:20
  • 4 Diamond Dogs 6:29
  • 5 Big Brother 4:07
  • 6 Width of a Circle 8:11
  • 7 Jean Genie 5:17

Disc 4

  • 1 1984 3:22
  • 2 Rebel Rebel 2:41
  • 3 Moonage Daydream 5:08
  • 4 Sweet Thing / Candidate / Sweet Thing (reprise) 8:35
  • 5 Changes 3:35
  • 6 Suffragette City 3:42
  • 7 Aladdin Sane 5:02
  • 8 All the Young Dudes 4:14
  • 9 Cracked Actor 3:26
  • 10 Rock ’n’ Roll With Me 4:16
  • 11 Watch That Man 5:05

Disc 5

  • 1 Knock on Wood 3:24
  • 2 Here Today, Gone Tomorrow 3:48
  • 3 Space Oddity 6:26
  • 4 Diamond Dogs 6:26
  • 5 Panic in Detroit 5:39
  • 6 Big Brother 4:10
  • 7 Time 5:23
  • 8 The Width of a Circle 8:10
  • 9 The Jean Genie 5:19
  • 10 Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide 4:46

Disc 6

  • 1 John, I’m Only Dancing (Again) 7:01
  • 2 Somebody Up There Likes Me (alternative Gouster mix) 6:32
  • 3 It’s Gonna Be Me (without strings) 6:30
  • 4 Who Can I Be Now? 4:42
  • 5 Can You Hear Me (alternative early version) 5:24
  • 7 Right (alternative Gouster mix) 4:40

Disc 7

  • 1 Young Americans 5:17
  • 2 Win 4:47
  • 3 Fascination 5:48
  • 4 Right 4:22
  • 5 Somebody Up There Likes Me 6:36
  • 6 Across the Universe 4:33
  • 7 Can You Hear Me 5:08
  • 8 Fame 4:21

Disc 8

  • 1 Station to Station 10:17
  • 2 Golden Years 4:03
  • 3 Word on a Wing 6:04
  • 4 TVC 15 5:35
  • 5 Stay 6:16
  • 6 Wild Is the Wind 6:06

Disc 9

  • 1 Station to Station 10:18
  • 2 Golden Years 4:03
  • 3 Word on a Wing 5:55
  • 4 TVC 15 5:33
  • 5 Stay 6:15
  • 6 Wild Is the Wind 6:07

Disc 10

  • 1 Station to Station 11:52
  • 2 Suffragette City 3:30
  • 3 Fame 4:01
  • 4 Word on a Wing 6:05
  • 5 Stay 7:24
  • 6 Waiting for the Man 6:19
  • 7 Queen Bitch 3:12

Disc 11

  • 1 Life on Mars? 2:13
  • 2 Five Years 5:04
  • 3 Panic in Detroit 6:02
  • 4 Changes 4:10
  • 5 TVC 15 4:57
  • 6 Diamond Dogs 6:38
  • 7 Rebel Rebel 4:06
  • 8 The Jean Genie 7:25

Disc 12

  • 1 Rebel Rebel (original single mix) 4:23
  • 2 Diamond Dogs (Australian single edit) 3:00
  • 3 Rebel Rebel (U.S. single version) 3:00
  • 4 Rock ’n’ Roll With Me (live – promotional single edit) 3:29
  • 5 Panic in Detroit (live) 5:49
  • 6 Young Americans (original single edit) 3:17
  • 7 Fame (original single edit) 3:34
  • 8 Golden Years (single version) 3:29
  • 9 Station to Station (original single edit) 3:41
  • 10 TVC 15 (original single edit) 3:36
  • 11 Stay (original single edit) 3:22
  • 12 Word on a Wing (original single edit) 3:14
  • 13 John, I’m Only Dancing (Again) (1975) (single version) 3:26

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata