David Bowie - Station to Station

Does my prayer fit in with your scheme of things...

`Station to Station' was yet another transitional album for Bowie in that it bridged the soul/funk of `Young Americans' with the Euro artiness of the `Berlin Period' that closed the decade. While the making of the album may have been hectic and even painful for David, there is no denying that even in his most trying times, the man could produce a work of genius. While `Young Americans' went flat footed on the dance floor, `Station is a triumph, the best since `Aladdin Sane'. Favorites include the haunting confessional "Word on a Wing", a beautiful and quite spiritual song. The title track is a two part epic that never seems as long as its ten minute running time....the return of the Thin White Duke. "Station" the song was seen as a direct ancestor to the Euro-rock of many late seventies - early eighties post-punk bands while "Golden Years" (lead single released the previous year) and "TV15" brought back the funk, although the latter also had very Euro leanings as well. "Stay" was funky too with some excellent hard rock guitar courtesy of frequent collaborator Earl Slick. Through a haze of cocaine in a desolate LA studio, Bowie created another masterwork which has quickly become a favorite, especially from the second half of the `70's....the European cannon is here! May 21, 2008

A must have

Bowie constantly changes his music style and stage shows and he pulls it off every time. It takes a lot of talent and guts to play hard rock one day, disco the next, and still keep most of your fans intact. For me, picking a Bowie disc to play is difficult (because there are so many good ones), but I reach for this one the most. His vocals have a warm emotional tone that can send shivers up your spine, and I think some of his best vocal performances are on this disc, especially on the cover tune "Wild is the Wind". I've never heard the original version, but he nails the vocals on this! All the songs, musicianship, production, on this disc are fantastic, and the piano playing of Roy Bittan deserves special notice. Finally, the creepy saxophone accents on "TVC15", really enhances the song... nice touch. This is a classic, must have disc. May 20, 2008

a bowie classic

This is one of Bowie's more underrated efforts, due to the fact it was recorded in the mid 70's after the glam rock phase had ended, and before the experimental association with Brian Eno.

Some of these songs give off an initial impression of a basic love song quite like Neil Diamond or other similar musicians from the same time period (such as "Word on a Wing" and "Wild is the Wind"). However, there's something truly moving about these songs that will probably take most people a few close listens to really get what makes them so special. I can't really explain it myself, just that they are distinct songs in the long and winding legacy of David Bowie.

The title song has two very different segments attached together, the first one sounding like something Pink Floyd would do (quiet and atmospheric) and the second segment builds in intensity while also showing a bit of sadness in Bowie's vocal delivery. I'm really not sure if that was intentional or not.

"Stay" is a relaxed jam rocker, to put it simply, and "TVC15" predicts the early 80's new wave scene. "Golden Years" was the big hit that everyone knows very well by now.

Yes, a great album in every way. April 13, 2008

Station To Station

David Bowie-Station To Station *****

When David Bowie released Station To Station he was deliberately trying to change the way rock music was played. Once he was done with his (in my opinion, horrible Young American faze) he started to go for more of a Roxy Music sound as opposed to soul and glam rock, which had really been his main stay over his previous albums. With some exception of course.

This was recorded in California in what you could call a cocaine blizzard, as Bowie was so out of his mind on coke that he nearly pushed everyone in his life away and apparantley turned into a real jerk. During the opening lines of the albums title track, 'Station To Station' Bowie refers to himself as the *Thin White Duke* the nick-name and character he would adopt for the next several albums, including his Berlin Trilogy. The albums hit single 'TVC15' can best be described as New Orleans jazz meets George Clinton of P-Funk in a bar. One of his all time best songs. 'Golden Years' is what James Brown would have done if he ever went into space.

Station To Station musically is the very best album that David Bowie ever released. Lyrically it is close as well. As a whole it is not Bowie
s all time best album but it is damn close. Station To Station is a must have in all music collections, simply because it would find a niche in every collection no matter what the style. April 7, 2008

GREATNESS OF BOWIE

One of my favorite Bowie discs, with one of his best tracks in 'Station to Station'. Mixed in with the style of 'Golden Years', the funky 'Stay' with its contagious chorus, the melancholy 'Wild is the Wind' and erratic 'TVC 15', this CD is great! He had a tight band at the time, vocal delivery is excellent and the whole thing comes together nicely. The re master sounds excellent as well. I love this stage of Bowie. Along with Low and Lodger, the late mid-late 70's were very creative for him

Why 4 stars then? - I just hate the fact that there are only 6 tracks. Always have hated that. But all of them are quality. December 12, 2007

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