Review The Shel Talmy Recordings: interesting to hear a searching Bowie, not yet the genius

In 1964, a seventeen-year-old David Bowie made his television debut under the name Davie Jones. As the frontman of the Manish Boys, he gained public attention not for his music, but as an advocate for long-haired men. This early period of his career is highlighted by the release of The Shel Talmy Recordings, which features music recorded in 1965. The album captures a young artist still searching for his musical identity, producing primitive beat music and rhythm and blues heavily inspired by contemporaries like The Who and The Kinks.

The producer Shel Talmy, who previously worked with those successful bands, collaborated with Bowie during these sessions, though the resulting output lacked the artistic impact of his later work. The collection offers a fascinating historical glimpse into Bowie's evolution before he officially adopted his iconic stage name to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees. Ultimately, while the album serves as a nostalgic look at his formative years, it remains a secondary entry in his vast discography, predating his breakthrough hit Space Oddity by several years.