Happy birthday, David Bowie: Ranking his 20 best albums

During his five-decade career, David Bowie released 26 studio albums as well as seven official live albums plus a host of compilations. His discography has greatly increased in the years since his 2016 death, with archival live sets, box sets, and such scrapped albums as The Gouster and Toy seeing the light of day. It’s a lot to sort through and there are pitfalls: the sparkling swagger of “Blue Jean” continues to convince listeners there may be something else of worth on 1984's terrible Tonight. Here, The A.V. Club has selected 20 records that capture Bowie at his peak, whether he’s honing his craft, striving for a new sound, or mustering the full strength of his artistry.