The emperor will now have to get himself another new suit of clothes.

A bit uncharitable, or what!? Though I remember at the time some of the music papers were very sniffy about him: 'musical magpie, no original ideas of his own, etc etc' (they gave another hugely talented figure, Brian Eno, short shrift too). The outfits and image revamps were not just 'window dressing', but a key part of his artistry and almost as influential subsequently as the music itself. But on musical grounds alone his work stands high - 'Life On Mars', are you seriously trying to tell us that is the work of an unclothed emperor??

I'm surprised that 'Hunky Dory' doesn't figure higher in the lists you lot have offered. Some of his best work on that, though I loved the louder stuff too. Perhaps you're all too young - HD was the soundtrack to many a party when I was in my late teens.