Play Don't Worry

Where Mick Ronson’s 1974 debut album mixed originally penned rock songs with glammy covers of some of his favorite tunes, 1975’s Play Don’t Worry tips the scales toward the latter. It starts with Ronson’s own “Billy Porter,” a jaunty pop song that plays like an outtake from David Bowie’s Hunky Dory. He follows with a scorching-hot rendition of Pure Prairie League’s “Angel No. 9,” wherein the country-rock twang is replaced with heavy-footed wah-wah guitar and Ronson's vocals, which show less Bowie influence. Fans of The Velvet Underground will want to skip straight to Ronson’s hard-driving take on “White Light/White Heat,” the backing track of which was harvested from Bowie’s Pin Ups sessions. The title track is a groovy number that boasts Ronson’s most versatile guitar work here, seamlessly segueing from acoustic strumming to shimmering glam-rock leads and Thin Lizzy–esque guitarmonies. Ronson also gives Little Richard’s “The Girl Can’t Help It” some gritty distortion. Of the nine bonus tracks, his cover of Bowie’s “Stone Love (Soul Love)” is a particular standout.