Album of the Day

David Bowie had already released two eponymous albums before THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD, but in many ways that 1970 collection marked the emergence of the performer millions around the world came to love. Bowie embraced glam rock here, recruiting guitarist Mick Ronson and drummer Mick Woodmansey, who would soon be part of the Spiders from Mars. Leaving unwashed and somewhat slightly dazed hippie folk behind, such songs as “The Supermen,” “All The Madmen” and the buzzing title track introduce darker themes of alienation and insanity. With producer Tony Visconti at the helm, THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD stands as the first great David Bowie album (and was one of Kurt Cobain’s favorites).