Jan. 11--Here's a brief rundown of some highlights from David Bowie's recording career:
"Space Oddity" (1969): The visionary title track distinguishes an album steeped in psychedelic-folk. Even in '69, he was a genius at marketing himself. The title song, a tragic alienation epic starring an astronaut, coincided with the Apollo moon landing.
"The Man Who Sold the World" (1970): The singer embraces hard rock, introducing guitarist Mick Ronson and drummer Mick Woodmansey, the core of the Ziggy Stardust band.
"Hunky Dory" (1971): His first masterpiece, with the mission statement "Changes" and the extraterrestrial Sinatra-isms of "Life on Mars?"
"The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" (1972): The song cycle that made Ziggy/David a star. Stardom and dread, androgyny and death, revved-up guitars and tragic ballads.
"Young Americans" (1975): The Thin White Duke in his "plastic soul" phase with a young up-and-comer, Luther Vandross, on backing vocals. Fans danced to the funk of "Fame," even as Bowie sneered, "What's your name?"
"Low" (1977): The beginning of Bowie's extended Berlin residency with Brian Eno, with new sounds -- the Euro-disco of Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer, the German art-rock of Kraftwerk and Harmonia, and punk -- merging and changing shape. Bowie played the bulk of the instruments himself.
"Heroes" (1977): More of-the-moment electronic atmospherics and one timeless pop song in the title track.
"Scary Monsters" (1980): Bowie looks back in anger, with "Ashes to Ashes" resurrecting Major Tom as a burned-out junkie. His last great album for two decades.
"Let's Dance" (1983): Nile Rodgers' production helps Bowie climb the charts with unusually straight-ahead dance pop. The title track ranks as his second and final No. 1 hit.
"ChangesBowie" (1990): A solid overview of Bowie at his most accessible during his most productive era. It includes 18 of his best-known songs spanning 1969-84.
"Heathen" (2002): This reunion with producer Tony Visconti after two decades apart underlines a warm, intimate album in which, as with "Low," Bowie plays most of the instruments.
"The Next Day" (2013): After his 2004 heart attack, Bowie receded from the music business, only to return with this strong reassessment of his various stylistic guises.
"Blackstar" (2016): A rich soundscape merging jazz and some of Bowie's most emotive singing serves as the singer's moving epitaph.
