In a career spanning six decades, few artists in the history of popular music have amassed a back catalogue as enduring, extensive or eclectic as David Bowie.

Whether performing as himself or under one of his many guises, from Ziggy Stardust, to The Thin White Duke, or even Jareth the Goblin King, Bowie struck a balance between experimentation and mainstream sensibility that set him apart from his contemporaries.

One of the key themes throughout Bowie's career was his constant evolution. From trend setter to musical chameleon, Bowie was able to adapt and thrive in the glam rock infused seventies, the New Romantic movement of the eighties, and the industrial electronic sound of the nineties.

Bowie was a true artist in every sense of the word. His final album, Blackstar, dominated by musings on his own mortality, was released a day before his death in January 2016.

As a solo artist, he has released an astonishing 25 studio albums. This can prove to be an intimidating barrier of entry for those looking to immerse themselves in Bowie's music, leaving many to settle for a compilation or a selection of his especially lauded albums.

The majority of the tracks listed here will not feature in a greatest hits collection. However, it is often the lesser known offerings that truly illustrate the majesty of Bowie's output, and deserve to be heard as much as his timeless classics.