Playlist 09.01.12

I first heard 'The Prettiest Star' on Bowie's 'Aladin Sane' album in 1973. That particular record was all chaos and paranoia, the pressure of taking his Ziggy Stardust creation across America. Mick Ronson played glam guitar with assurance and actually, 'The Prettiest Star' was rather sane in this context. I heard people say that the song was about Marc Bolan, a tribute from one glitter-streaked contender to another. But others have maintained that this was David's siren call to his future wife Angie.

There is a 1970 version of the track that features Marc on guitar. It's a very different version, and both artists were still working out their slant on a new decade. Bolan is decent, but without the zipgun swagger. Bowie lacks the intrigue that would become so essential to his act. Still, it sounded well on the radio and it was a nice way to celebrate Dame David's 65th birthday.

BBC Radio Ulster, 92-95 FM

Online: www.bbc.co.uk/radioulster

Blog: https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/stuartbailie/

Mondays, ten - midnight

David Bowie - Young Americans (EMI)

Larry Williams - Slow Down ( )

The Jane Bradfords - Last Stop (white) Stephen Foster - profile

The Big Pink - Rubbernecking (4ad)

Dodgy - What Became Of you (Strike Back)

Vagabonds - We Gave Up (white)

Karen Dalton - How Did The Feeling Feel To You (Megaphone)

CW Stoneking - The Love Me Or Die (King Hokum)

Plush - Greyhound Bus Station (Broken Horse)

The Jane Bradfords - Until The End (white)

David Bowie - The Prettiest Star (EMI)

The Diamonds - Little Darling (Mercury)

Our Krypton Son - Catalonian Love Song (STA)

The Triffids - New Year's Greetings (Island)

Mara Carlyle - The Devil And Me (Ancient & Modern)

Dodgy - Only A Heartbeat (Strike Back)

Mahalia Jackson - Move On Up A Little Higher (Metro)

Bap Kennedy - Please Return To Jesus (white)

Leonard Cohen - The Darkness (Sony)

Rachel Sermanni - Beathe Easy (white)

Tindersticks - Slippin Shoes (City Slang)

Emma Russack - He Was My Family (white)

Portico Quartet - Spinner (Real World)