January 26, 1974 David Bowie Rebel Rebel Love Me Tender Melody Maker Reviews

Single of the week: there is NO! single of the week

DAVID BOWIE: "Rebel Rebel" (RCA). For some time now, Bowie has been hanging out with Jagger and, Christ Al- mighty, does it show on this premeditated re-write of the entire "Satisfaction" formula. Nothing has been left out it's all here. Starting with the single note guitar riff repeated throughout with infectious monotony right up until the semi- improvised vocal tags that lead into the fade out. Seemingly, the only explanation for such a "lift" is Bowie didn't want to risk covering a Stones hit for Pin-Ups preferring as he's done to up-date the contents, matter and notation of their biggest- ever hit. The very same tempo of the original Stone-age strutter has also been retained in- tact as Bowie pouts out the collision course subjects of trans-sexual teens and out- raged parenthood. Always the best stuff with which to sell re- cords. Obviously the record must be a mark of deep admiration from one artist to another (it couldn't be anything else) cause the similarity is just too darn close for comfort. An extremely safe release to keep the cash registers and the customers satisfied until his next major move.

MICK RONSON: Love Me Tender" (RCA). First the teacher now the pupil. It takes a man with hair on his chest, a length of rubber hose down his pants and an insatiable hunger for stardom to have the sphericals to take one of Presley's finest ballads as a means to launch an international solo career. And there was a momento matter how brief when Ronno almost pulled it off. Spider Man Mick does dis- play some nice ideas, but some- how he can't seem to string them together as neatly and with the same panache as his ex-guv'ner. Surprising when you think how closely they both worked in the studio. For in- stance, the climaxes often come too late and at one crucial moment, not at all. For the grand slam finale, he should have been causing the walls of the Chateau to fall in on him, but it just don't happen. And this isn't helped by a sound mix that tends to obliterate his octave- jumping voice in favour of some very tasty guitar licks. Another pin-up from Bowie - Ronno plays Presley

DANA GILLESPIE: "Weren't Born A Man" (RCA). Hi there, all you kooks jumpin' in and out of the bushes in the twilight zone, this is Radio Station SKUZ and this week's little walk on the wild side comes from those very same people who brought you Delicious David, that wasted little rascal Lou Reed, his friend and her's Wayne County, the precocious Iggy Pop and now the statues- que Miss Dana Gillespie as she pants 'n' purrs her Lesbian love song complete with lyrics like: "You love like a woman, but you walk like a Sailor", prior to bemoaning the title "it's so sad you weren't born a man". Yer darn tootin' Toosie, who wants to get-it-on with some chick with a tatooed chest, bandy legs, a parrot on her shoulder, and smelling of rum.