The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

Production notes

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was recorded primarily at Trident Studios in London between November 1971 and February 1972, with Ken Scott serving as co-producer and engineer alongside David Bowie. The album was recorded on a 16-track tape machine, and Scott employed a relatively straightforward approach to capturing the performances of the Spiders from Mars — Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass, and Mick "Woody" Woodmansey on drums. Mick Ronson played a crucial dual role as guitarist and arranger, contributing string and brass arrangements on tracks like "Ziggy Stardust" and "Five Years," which added orchestral depth to the glam rock sound. The production was notably lean and efficient, with most tracks recorded quickly and with relatively few overdubs, giving the album a raw, energetic quality that contrasted with the more layered approach of its predecessor Hunky Dory. Released on June 16, 1972, by RCA Records, the album emerged during the rise of the glam rock movement in Britain and became a landmark concept album, with its production style helping to define the sonic aesthetic of the era.