David Bowie/David Bowie With the Pat Metheny Group/David Bowie and Mick Jagger/David Bowie and Bing Crosby

David Bowie has proven to be, over the last 40 years, one of the true innovators in pop music. Way before Madonna adapted her look to her music (or vice versa), Bowie--born David Jones but electing to change his name so that he was not confused with Davy Jones of the Monkees--morphed into different characters to take him, physically, where his music was taking him.

Bowie even did this in the 1980s, when he was at his commercial peak. Turning off many of his long-time fans, Bowie opted for the pop music direction, and he had numerous radio-ready hits in the 1980s as he became welcomed into the mainstream with his neat, suited, tailored look.

These singles reflect the best of that period, including his No. 1 hit, "Let's Dance." I kind of like his sequel to "Space Oddity," "Ashes to Ashes" myself, although it only bubbled under the Hot 100.

And who could forget David Bowie dueting with Bing Crosby with the "Little Drummer Boy"? This has become a holiday staple, even though it never charted in America.

Some of Bowie's American picture sleeves are quite innovative, offering posters and gatefold covers.

David Bowie - Ashes To Ashes.mp3
David Bowie - It's No Game (Part 1).mp3