Iggy Pop - The Idiot (1977)

**METALPRIEST** · 09-07-2010, 05:57 AM

Iggy Pop made two albums with David Bowie in 1977. This was the first album and I remember getting it and being blown away. Me and my good friend Danny would play this over and over and over. Laughing,rocking,trying to break it down and figure it out.

It was also at the beginning of such Bowie works as Low and Heroes and the sound, one can hear, is the same direction that Bowie was heading.

Iggy had once described this record as a cross between Kraftwerk and James Brown, but hell, to this day I don't know how to describe it to most people. I like my share of odd music...and this is one odd record that has been an inspiration to me all my life..and an album I regarded pretty high when I was in an alternative band for a while.

Many feel that the lyrics were written by Iggy and the music was written by David,however this is not true in the case of tracks like Dum Dum Boys and Sister Midnight.

Speaking of the Dum Dum Boys...this is one of my favorite tracks off the album and by Iggy Pop period. China Girl, Bowies HUGE 1983 hit made it's first appearance on the Idiot, and some feel that this version is the TRUE version of the song. I have to tell you that while I love Bowies version, I love the Iggy Pop version much much more. Though there may be many who disagree. That's ok.

Iggy did not feel that this album represented his style but has influenced the electronic punk scene like no other. If you're looking for something fun, interesting, odd, quirky and all around entertaining...I highly recommend this album.

Go get it on CD....it will not disappoint.

Now onto the music!!!

ALL ABOARD FOR FUNTIME!!

SIDE ONE

**METALPRIEST** · 09-07-2010, 05:59 AM

SIDE TWO

**Soot and Stars** · 09-07-2010, 06:04 AM

Your on a role tonight MP! Here's a fun fact about:

Nightclubbing

It inspired this:

NIN-Closer

**METALPRIEST** · 09-07-2010, 06:05 AM

Now I'll leave you with a couple of live performances!!

Dum Dum Boys LIVE 1981

Iggy & Bowie! Funtime!!

**METALPRIEST** · 09-07-2010, 06:06 AM

WOW!! Yeah Soot!! Good Fact!!

rtbuck · 09-07-2010, 10:52 AM

Wow! Great review MP! I always seen Iggy in Rock Scene & Creem magazines back in the 70's & wanted no part of him. He seemed to strange to me so I never had any desire to check him out (Man, did I change after a few years...the stranger the better for me!). Anyway, I was drinking at a friends place around '80/'81 & on the same day we ate the Suzi Quatro record I discovered Iggy (& Lou Reed). My friend had a pretty extensive record collection & I spotted 'Lust for Life', 'Metallic KO' & 'Live TV Eye'. I said to my friend "IGGY POP???" & he played the Lust for Life album. Wow, I didn't know what to think as the music was nothing like Kiss, Aerosmith, Nugent, or even the Ramones. The production sounded awful to me & on that vinyl copy & he sounded like he was singing into a garbage can but their was something about it that peaked my interest. I thought as bad as the Metallic KO album was, it was hilarious with Iggy agitating the crowd & his classic version of "Louie Louie". 'Live TV Eye' was the same as the other 2 with crappy sound but one song on that album really stood out..."Fun Time" ("Hey Baby we like your Lips...Hey Baby we like your pants!!)

My friend offered to tape the records for me on cassette but I wanted the records so I bought them & was an Iggy Freak ever since! The Idiot was next for me & it is an unbelievable record. "Dum Dum Boys" (Iggy's kind of tribute to his ex band the Stooges) is probably my favorite tune on the album along with "Funtime". MP,once again...GREAT JOB

**METALPRIEST** · 09-07-2010, 02:23 PM

Thanks Bucky!! I have that Rock Scene around here too!! You always jog the old memory and take me back man!! You have the most rockin' Iggy Pop thread in the punk forum as well!!

Death on Credit · 09-07-2010, 02:40 PM

Great review, MP.

Honestly, I've never cared much for the album, too mellow for the Iggy that I know and love (I actually don't really like any of his solo stuff except Lust for Life, though). Your review makes me want to bust it out and give it another listen, though.

A couple of interesting factoids about the album:
- It was named after a novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky, one of my favorite writers. I actually got into him because of the Iggy connection. Frankly, I doubt that the old conservative Russian would approve of the wild, shirtless heathen using the title of one of his books for an album of music that did not celebrate Christ at the end of every song.
- Ian Curtis of Joy Division was listening to The Idiot when he hung himself.

**METALPRIEST** · 09-08-2010, 12:50 AM

I knew of Dostoevsky but not the Ian Curtis connection.

Wow..sad but cool trivia.

rtbuck · 09-08-2010, 06:15 AM

On Iggy's American Caesar album he did another version of "Louie Louie" & added Dostoevsky in it. He sings:

"A fine little girl waiting for me but I'm as bent as Dostoevsky"