Ok, so I am a HUGE Bowie fan. But I am not really all that familar with other glam rock bands. I also a really enjoyed the movie “Velvet Goldmine” (and I LOVE the soundtrack).
So, that being said I am asking the Teeming Millions to recommend to me some great glam rock artists and albums. Soundtracks, mixes, etc. are also welcome.
Bombs away!
T-Rex: The Slider. This one’s pretty obvious, but it’s great, seminal, ebullient glam.
Roxy Music: Roxy Music and For Your Pleasure. Roxy’s best was their earliest, before Bryan Ferry edged Eno out of the band and let his suave sophisticate persona overpower the original too-many-cooks frenzy.
Be-Bop Deluxe: Axe Victim. Not usually thought of as a glam act, but on this album, at least, Bill Nelson and company wanted to be Ziggy Stardust so bad it hurt.
The AMG page for glam rock is a good starting point.
You glam-rock purists might hate me for this, but I really enjoy R.E.M.'s tribute to the genre, their album Monster. Especially the song “Crush With Eyeliner”.
First stop, Velvet Underground. Their first album, with Nico, is the best America had to offer for Glam.
The '80’s-'00’s British band Pulp is arguably the standard-bearer for whatever “neo-glam” movement can be said to exist (or, at least, existed in the '90’s). I don’t have His 'n Hers or 2001’s We Love Life, so I can’t vouch for those efforts, but I can recommend a couple, This is Hardcore and Different Class as both good and glammish.
Also, a big [thumb?'s]-up for the original cast recording for Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Electrifying glam music for a decidedly glam story.
Another vote here for Roxy Music’s first LP. Check out those photos on the liner notes – yowza! (Lots of great, oft-covered songs, too.)
Bowie got Mott the Hoople to play with glam rock when he produced their “All the Young Dudes” album, though it was just a phase for them – but a good one, since it kept the group going.
There’s also the major glam rock idol who no one wants to talk about any more.
Gary Glitter – due to his child porn conviction
The Sweet, Slade Susie Quattro. I think Queen kind of came up in Glam, but they weren’t considered Glam particularly.
Freddie was glam!!
The Sweet - Desolation Boulevard, with Fox on the Run, Ballroom Blitz and a bunch of other stuff - brilliant album.
T.Rex - Electric Warrior
And I would disagree that the Velvet Underground were glam, but we don’t need to go there right now. I would, however, suggest that the New York Dolls were an important intersection of glam and punk and their first album (of two total) is entirely worth checking out…
Ah yes, the New York Dolls. Kind of the trashy, slutty side to glam. IIRC, Malcolm Maclaren became their manager between first and second albums, long before he put together the Sex Pistols. So more of a cross between glam and pre-punk, to be nitpicky. I remember reading an interview with David Johansen where he mentioned they used to play stickball in their platform shoes. Somehow, that seems more American than apple pie.
But Wordman, why would you disagree about Velvet Underground? Having looked at pictures of Lou Reed at the time, all made up and androgynous, they certainly took to the fashion of the movement, and Bowie covered some of their songs on the Ziggy tour, which is agruably the most important moment in Glam Rock history. So what’s your thoughts on why they don’t belong? I know you said you didn’t want to go there, but I’m quite curious.