“Toy” (David Bowie Album) – Songs Ranked

Apart from having the worst album cover I’ve ever seen, David Bowie’s posthumous “Toy” is quite a notable record in his discography. These re-imagined deep cuts are a mixed bag, ranging from forgettable to underrated, but it’s worth a listen for Bowie’s creative ingenuity alone. Shout-out to “The Corn Hazer” for the suggestion!

I’ll only look at the main album, not the remixes and alternative takes that’ve been lumped together with it. Let’s get to ranking!

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Meh

12 – You’ve Got A Habit of Leaving

After a fairly solid album opener, I was disappointed when the second track – “You’ve Got A Habit of Leaving” – devolved into generic rock.

The lyrics are boring, it does nothing musically interesting, and Bowie’s singing / melodies can be obnoxious at points.

11 – Baby Loves That Way

Another song with sub-par lyrics, “Baby Loves That Way” is extremely skippable.

OK

10 – The London Boys

“The London Boys” feels like a “Bowie 1967” song adapted for “hours …”. That’s not a good thing.

It’s quite a boring retrospective of youth, and the instrumentation is noticeably simple.

9 – Hole In The Ground

“Hole In The Ground” threatens to be upbeat and exciting at points, but it never quite gets there.

8 – Let Me Sleep Beside You

I don’t necessarily mind “Let Me Sleep Beside You”, but it feels like the kind of song that would be left on the cutting room floor of a stronger album.

7 – Silly Boy Blue

“Silly Boy Blue” was one of the first songs Bowie wrote in the 60’s, and this modern reimagining doesn’t quite do it justice.

It feels quite over-produced and over-blown compared to most of the other songs on “Toy”, and a lot of its content is cheesy.

Good

6 – I Dig Everything

A solid album opener, “I Dig Everything” is nothing sensational but it has an energy that I can get behind.

5 – Can’t Help Thinking About Me

It may be cheesy and overly 60’s, but “Can’t Help Thinking About Me” is the kind of fun throwaway song I can enjoy on some days.

4 – Toy (Your Turn To Drive)

I wasn’t expecting much from the album closer, so maybe that’s why “Toy (Your Turn To Drive)” surprised me so much.

I love the vocal melodies and exciting instrumentation, and it’s a suitably grand yet understated way to end the record.

3 – Karma Man

“Karma Man” has that perfect blend of 60’s style mixed with modern (ish) production.

The lyrics are some of the strongest on the album, and I feel like this is a song that could have slotted in on some of Bowie’s best early albums.

Great

2 – Conversation Piece

I’m still surprised that “Conversation Piece” didn’t make an official album back in the 60’s.

It has a strong melodic backbone, and a set of lyrics that could compete with any from the early era.

1 – Shadow Man

I love when Bowie leans into the piano in his work, as his voice complements that instrument so beautifully.

“Shadow Man” has his best melodies and vocal delivery on the album, and the mellow production is gorgeous.

Aaaaand that’s my list – not the best album overall, but it has some good tracks here and there. You can check out some of my latest blog posts below: