Bowie's Best: Discontinued, Alt Tracks, 2014 Single, Collectible, Lazarus, 1979 Remaster-Surprising Insight David Bowie's legacy is a mosaic of reinvention, and his discography reflects that-yet even among the iconic, there are curiosities that whisper stories of evolving tastes and archival quirks. Take Best of Bowie, the 1990 compilation that became a cornerstone of his oeuvre, its tracklist a time capsule of hits like Heroes and Let's Dance. But then there's the discontinued Legacy: The Very Best of David Bowie, a later attempt to curate his greatest works, now a prized relic for collectors. For those craving alternate tracklisting, the Best of Set with Alternate Tracklisting offers a bold rearrangement, stitching together lesser-known gems and studio outtakes that reveal Bowie's experimental side. Meanwhile, The Singles 1969 to 1993 is a sprawling, no-frills anthology, its 200+ tracks a testament to his commercial brilliance-but its lack of editorial flair might leave some wanting more. The 2014 single Lazarus, with its haunting, reimagined cover art and synth-driven melancholy, stands as a bridge between Bowie's past and future, a track that feels both timeless and avant-garde. And then there's the 1979 remaster of Lodger (wait, Lodger was actually released in 1980-it's a neat error, but one that underscores the ever-shifting sands of Bowie's catalog). What's fascinating is how these products, from lavish 2014 reissues to out-of-print compilations, showcase not just his music, but the cultural forces that shaped its reception. The collectible value of certain editions-like the rare 1979 remastered vinyl or hyped-up "nothing has changed" reissues-hints at Bowie's enduring enigma: a man who never stopped evolving, yet remains endlessly readable. In the end, Bowie's Best isn't just about the songs but the stories they tell-of artistry, obscurity, and the delicate dance between homage and reinvention.
