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David Bowie — Station To Station
Album: Station to Station
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1027









Released: 1976
Length: 7:34
Plays (last 30 days): 0
The return of the Thin White Duke
Throwing darts in lovers' eyes
Here are we, one magical moment, such is the stuff
From where dreams are woven
Bending sound, dredging the ocean, lost in my circle
Here am I, flashing no colour
Tall in this room overlooking the ocean

Here are we, one magical movement from Kether to Malkhuth
There are you, you drive like a demon from station to station
The return of the Thin White Duke, throwing darts in lovers' eyes
The return of the Thin White Duke, throwing darts in lovers' eyes
The return of the Thin White Duke, making sure white stains

Once there were mountains on mountains
And once there were sunbirds to soar with
And once I could never be down
Got to keep searching and searching
Oh, what will I be believing and who will connect me with love?
Wonderful, wonder who, wonder when
Have you sought fortune, evasive and shy?
Drink to the men who protect you and I
Drink, drink, drain your glass, raise your glass high

TWO TIMES:
It's not the side-effects of the cocaine
I'm thinking that it must be love
It's too late - to be grateful
It's too late - to be late again
It's too late - to be hateful
The european cannon is here

I must be only one in a million
I won't let the day pass without her
It's too late - to be grateful
It's too late - to be late again
It's too late - to be hateful
The european cannon is here

Should I believe that I've been stricken?
Does my face show some kind of glow?
It's too late - to be grateful
It's too late - to be late again
It's too late - to be hateful
The european cannon is here, yes it's here
It's too late

It's too late, it's too late, it's too late, it's too late
The european cannon is here
Comments (159)add comment
 unclehud wrote:

Oh ye of very limited horizons, on a global scale this is not even slightly weird.  

Lyrics are coherent, piano boogies with the rhythm guitar faded into the background and super-duper  melodic bass riffs all over.  I'm hearing it on the Rock Mix, and it's appropriate for this stream.  I vote 9!

Yeah, this is hardly weird for Bowie. Some of his stuff from his Berlin years in the 70s is still too much. 
 thurstonvirginia wrote:

Only 6.6?? Thas gotta be moved on up!!! 


Made it a nine now
 Jeffrey_Mishik wrote:

too weird for me


Oh ye of very limited horizons, on a global scale this is not even slightly weird.  

Lyrics are coherent, piano boogies with the rhythm guitar faded into the background and super-duper  melodic bass riffs all over.  I'm hearing it on the Rock Mix, and it's appropriate for this stream.  I vote 9!
 thurstonvirginia wrote:

Only 6.6?? Thas gotta be moved on up!!! 


FWIW made it an 8
Only 6.6?? Thas gotta be moved on up!!! 
too weird for me
About 10 years ago, it was this album, and really this title track, that got me liking Bowie more than I had previously.  I'm at a 9 now with a +1.
Surprised at the seemingly low Avg rating at 6.5...what gives?

LLRP!!
I absolutely love his Wikipedia smile.
6.5 on the ratings? Such a great song from an iconic figurešŸ¤”
3 top notch songs in one from one of my all time heroes in music. 
This was issued during the disco years and a welcome contribution to the music world. 
GroƟartige Nummer....
EXCELLENT!!!
The production/recording was far ahead of its time...the drums sound suberb
Great track. Great artist. RIP
Thank you for everything, David. 
Much to theatrical for me.
I must have heard this track over a thousand times and it NEVER fails to leave me feeling better - Bowie has no equal.
 mmoyer wrote:
There is an amazing, amazing live version of this song on the Sound + Vision box set.

Which I used to have, the original 1989 release on clear audiofile clear vinyl...ach I wish I still had that.
Beat me to it....I was just gonna mention that live version.  Love it!
 



There is an amazing, amazing live version of this song on the Sound + Vision box set.

Which I used to have, the original 1989 release on clear audiofile clear vinyl...ach I wish I still had that.
seems to keep droning on & on..
Oh I so agree with you dkw, I was a 16 year old when I saw this tour and he was just too cool.  Next time I saw him was in a baseball stadium for the glass spider tour I think it was, over ten years later, and it was not good.

 
dkwalika wrote:
TVC15 is even better. This tour was off-the-charts good.

He was just a bit messed up here: "side effects of the cocaine"

 


At this time in his life, he said that he lived on "red peppers, cocaine and milk".<1>
Wow!  I have a splitting headache now.  Thanks, Bowie.
 ick wrote:
I often think Bowie's genius is in his ability to manipulate the minds of those easily influenced by pop culture. 
 
I object to the misuse of the word think in this sentence
 Rooney wrote:
Yes Virginia, there is a hell.
 
Lighten up Francis. {#Bananapiano}


I often think Bowie's genius is in his ability to manipulate the minds of those easily influenced by pop culture. 
The return of the Thin White Duke
throwing darts
in lovers' eyes

I love this incarnation of Bowie.

He is like the coolest cat on the planet.

It's too late — to be hateful.
 macpeck wrote:
Truly bad...
 
Not one of his best, IMO. After N repetitions of "It's too late" I had to mute to remove the irritation, which is likely a first for me, to mute a Bowie number. Still, the essence of being an experimental artist is that you'll often put stuff out which hurts the ears of many listeners. Kudos to yer man for being inventive and innovative.

Truly bad...
 WayUpNorth wrote:
Wow, many of these hateful comments seem so provincial — I really can't see why this particular piece is so polarizing ? {#Stupid}
 
I love it but, let's be honest, I think Bowie's actually trying to be polarizing! When he wanted to hit the Top 40, he wrote "Golden Years"!
TVC15 is even better. This tour was off-the-charts good.

He was just a bit messed up here: "side effects of the cocaine"

Yes Virginia, there is a hell.  {#Puke}{#Fire}

City traffic is music to some people's ears.


Horrendous.
This is a solid song - don't understand the negative comments. Backlash against his (relatively) new stuff?

 Genius  {#Bananapiano}


You just continue to torture us with this don't you?
Bowie Live: awsemone stuff....  
{#Clap}
Not Bowie's best but way ahead of his contemporaries all the same.  Guess it didn't translate accross the pond.....
 sharkey wrote:
F..ing shit. How did that improve ur life? Are u now happier? Such a f....g amazing experience. I'm impressed
White shirt - black pants - reddish hair. F.....g wonderful dreck.
 
Sorry that the whole art/performance/creativity aspect is lost to you.........

 WayUpNorth wrote:
Wow, many of these hateful comments seem so provincial — I really can't see why this particular piece is so polarizing ? {#Stupid}
 
Please ignore the unwashed.  They know not what they cry for.  They just cry.

 Rickvee wrote:
This song is pure greatness. Bowie was a genius.
 
Absolutely. (so glad Bill ignores the whiners)


Thanks Bill for reminding me of what a fantastic song this is! => 10
 EssexTex wrote:
Ahhh and then he sings...and it's decent speeds....ends up sounding like ABBa.
 
Must be the side effects of the cocaine....

Ahhh and then he sings...and it's decent speeds....ends up sounding like ABBa.
What boring music!
YES, YES YES!!!!   LOVE IT
Wow, many of these hateful comments seem so provincial — I really can't see why this particular piece is so polarizing ? {#Stupid}
I really dig this!

I love that it's not a straight forward song... it's got variety and interest.

I don't listen to this album much... I'll have to put it on again.

{#Cowboy}I was going to go on a critical rant about how I dislike this song... I'm not alone though. I see other's comments have covered things pretty well.......so I'll save my breath.


Ah yes!  Syncopated, broken rythyms!  Don't you just love it?
Sound like someone is spinning the Wheel of Fortune.  Annoying.
 e_b wrote:
In 1976 there was also that great ELO album "a new world record" and I think maybe Boston's debut album.  I'm sure other great ones.  It was a way better decade than the 80's....

BTW, I'm a big Bowie fan...but I'm not loving this one....
 
Boston's debut album? {#Eek} You consider that a great one?  To each his own I guess.


There is absolutely nothing musical about this track. And I like Bowie.

I saw Bowie on two consecutive nights (or was it one long day?) on the Let's Dance tour in Detroit. That was the tour that he kicked SRV off the tour (allegedly over $ issues) and SRV started his own tour to shadow Bowie's. We saw SRV at St. Andrew's Hall after the second Bowie show. Although we were just vaguely aware of him at that time, he left an indelible impression and not simply due to the almost all Jimi Hendrix encore he provided...Bowie was simply superb and I very vaguely remember a pair of identical-looking male twins who acted as backup singers and acted in unison... 

 
quatsch wrote:


Slick's a pretentious wanker on stage. He always looks like Jimmy Fallon playing guitar god in a lost SNL sketch. I don't care how well he plays. It sucks monkey balls to have to suffer through watching him.
 


 sirrus wrote:

Like town hall meetings...

 

I know what you mean.  Those lying, slimy politicians at the town hall meetings make me sick.
 sharkey wrote:
F..ing shit. How did that improve ur life? Are u now happier? Such a f....g amazing experience. I'm impressed
White shirt - black pants - reddish hair. F.....g wonderful dreck.
 You need some serious meds. 
 ZM_Herb wrote:
I saw this tour also - and he opened with this. He had an incredible stage visual effect with a "wall" of
ultra-bright white lights shining straight down near the front edge of the stage - Bowie and his band were behind the wall if light - and you could not see them. The song started and when the vocals began - Bowie walked through the wall of light..... White shirt - black pants - reddish hair slicked back and just stunned the crowd.......brilliant live - with stage presence like no one else on the planet !!
 
I saw that tour, too — I'll never forget it — he was absolutely masterful!

 toterola wrote:

There are some folks who just like to talk sh*t to get a controversy going. No matter where you go, they always seem to appear. {#Stupid}
 
Like town hall meetings...

In 1976 there was also that great ELO album "a new world record" and I think maybe Boston's debut album.  I'm sure other great ones.  It was a way better decade than the 80's....

BTW, I'm a big Bowie fan...but I'm not loving this one....
I'm spotting a pattern here today of legend - dud - legend - dud - legend - Next song?   Hoping it is about to change.
 smehan55 wrote:
Damn. What is up with all the hate? I've always thought this was a great song, great album. IMHO
 
There are some folks who just like to talk sh*t to get a controversy going. No matter where you go, they always seem to appear. {#Stupid}
 1wolfy wrote:
yes, for sure, we did'nt have much in 76 colt4x5 wrote:
context, everyone. 

1976.

Gary Wright, Dream Weaver
Eric Carmen, All By Myself
Carte Blanche, Don't Go Breaking My Heart
and the Theme from SWAT

 
 
 
What are you talking about? That was the year Destroyer was released!


yes, for sure, we did'nt have much in 76 colt4x5 wrote:
context, everyone. 

1976.

Gary Wright, Dream Weaver
Eric Carmen, All By Myself
Carte Blanche, Don't Go Breaking My Heart
and the Theme from SWAT
and Carly Simon,
KC and the sunshine band
 
 
This is not music, plain and simple.
 Rickvee wrote:
This song is pure greatness. Bowie was a genius.
 
Isn't he still alive?  Or do you mean his work no longer smacks of genius?

context, everyone. 

1976.

Gary Wright, Dream Weaver
Eric Carmen, All By Myself
Carte Blanche, Don't Go Breaking My Heart
and the Theme from SWAT

 
always loved station to station.
whats wrong with you americans?
6.4??
is the song too complex for your ears?
{#Stupid}

This song is pure greatness. Bowie was a genius.
 Patnet wrote:
Sharkey, what you going to to do? Go out and shoot people?
Bowie is a real artist who didn't pander to any particular and produced good music.
 

Good music?? Your baiting me right??

Damn. What is up with all the hate? I've always thought this was a great song, great album. IMHO
I love David Bowie most of the time, but this is just sprawling, musical spew imho. :(
 Shesdifferent wrote:
I know how great an artist Bowie is, but God this is horrible!
 

{#Iamwithstupid}
 SchoepTone wrote:
This may be Bowie's finest 10 minutes of music.

 

Not a chance. Life on Mars is so very much better; in every way. This simply sucks{#Puke}

Pure unadulterated genius.  The late great Lester Bang's called Station to Station one of the finest guitar records ever made.
I'm not going to lie; I'm completely mystified by this.
This may be Bowie's finest 10 minutes of music.

 Shesdifferent wrote:
I know how great an artist Bowie is, but God this is horrible!
 
Try 'Wild is teh Wind' from the same record, couldn't be more different ...

 lwilkinson wrote:
Sounds like a really bad imitation of early Jethro Tull.

Bowie is like bad Chinese food; either it sits well or you get the runs.{#Sad}
 

DB and Jethro Tull ... now that's a stretch ...
Sounds like a really bad imitation of early Jethro Tull.

Bowie is like bad Chinese food; either it sits well or you get the runs.{#Sad}
I know how great an artist Bowie is, but God this is horrible!

'The European Man is here'  ... next up Low and Heroes.  Great times, great music ...


nate917 wrote:
When Bowie toured behind the Let's Dance album, SRV, who played lead on the album, didn't want to go, so Earl Slick did the lead guitar on tour, with a little help from Carlos Alomar. Slick's got great stage presence, reminiscient of Angus Young.
Slick's a pretentious wanker on stage. He always looks like Jimmy Fallon playing guitar god in a lost SNL sketch. I don't care how well he plays. It sucks monkey balls to have to suffer through watching him.
Sharkey, what you going to to do? Go out and shoot people? Bowie is a real artist who didn't pander to any particular and produced good music.
Hey Sharkey...sounds like you need a fix..too bad
25demayo wrote:
Should have stayed in his locker....
Below the sea
1wolfy wrote:
When I was a young lad I'd only listen to the 1st half of this song..The 2nd wasn't hard enough for me..too disco....but it sounds good now..
More crap.....
ZM_Herb wrote:
The song started and when the vocals began - Bowie walked through the wall of light..... White shirt - black pants - reddish hair slicked back and just stunned the crowd.......brilliant live - with stage presence like no one else on the planet !!
F..ing shit. How did that improve ur life? Are u now happier? Such a f....g amazing experience. I'm impressed White shirt - black pants - reddish hair. F.....g wonderful dreck.
When I was a young lad I'd only listen to the 1st half of this song..The 2nd wasn't hard enough for me..too theatrical...but it sounds good now..kinda
I'd love to hear TVC15.
what a pile of dreck s..t
Bill, you rock! I've always loved the middle of this song--"Once there were mountains..."-- so I just wait through the rest until we get there. It's worth it.
crnkan wrote:
Is this really Bowie. Thought this was Davy Jones
Should have stayed in his locker....
Not the kind of Bowie I like.
I've heard better buskers!
Whirlpool wrote:
CLASSIC
DEFINITELY! High School in the '70's... it wasn't "TOO LATE" then.
Is this really Bowie. Thought this was Davy Jones
dionysius wrote:
That was actually Earl Slick playing lead on this song and album. Alomar, the bandleader, played rhythm. And of course the great Adrian Belew owned this song when Bowie had him in the band, but that's neither here nor there. Slick's pretty good, still.
When Bowie toured behind the Let's Dance album, SRV, who played lead on the album, didn't want to go, so Earl Slick did the lead guitar on tour, with a little help from Carlos Alomar. Slick's got great stage presence, reminiscient of Angus Young.
This was a great live show back in the late 70's, as I recall. Bowie just reinvented himself everytime he released a new LP. Another great track from this is "My TVC15" A great rocker!
I like most Bowie, but this is just filler. sorry.
Great song, great album. Glad to see it on the RP playlist.
dmax wrote:
Yes yes yes. That wailing Carlos Alomar at the beginning triggers back my college years.
That was actually Earl Slick playing lead on this song and album. Alomar, the bandleader, played rhythm. And of course the great Adrian Belew owned this song when Bowie had him in the band, but that's neither here nor there. Slick's pretty good, still.
i think i'm gonna definitely need a cigarette after this one!
25demayo wrote:
That's because it is. Play list is not keeping up with the music.
AHA!!
welby wrote:
Sounds alot like Jethro Tull to me...
That's because it is. Play list is not keeping up with the music.
Sounds alot like Jethro Tull to me...
Has anyone here ever been to the Thin White Duchy? Is it worth a visit?
I expect I'll get pummeled for this, but this is the first time I have ever heard this. And I was alive during the relevant period in Bowie's career. It's not bad, but it's not great either.
Old_Pool_Skunk wrote:
Saw this live with Adrian Belew on tour with him. Rocked the place.
I saw this tour also - and he opened with this. He had an incredible stage visual effect with a "wall" of ultra-bright white lights shining straight down near the front edge of the stage - Bowie and his band were behind the wall if light - and you could not see them. The song started and when the vocals began - Bowie walked through the wall of light..... White shirt - black pants - reddish hair slicked back and just stunned the crowd.......brilliant live - with stage presence like no one else on the planet !!
Huey wrote:
I think everyone jumped on his bandwagon
Right you are. Bowie has always been hailed as a musical chameleon who was/is not afraid to experiment with different personae and styles - some experiments were more successful than others, but he's widely respected for his fearlessness and his ingenuity.
Fun! Nice break from the routine.
If you play this, can you not follow it up with TVC-15 from this LP? Which is one of the most perfect pop songs ever composed. I like this song, but it shows Bowie's pretentiousness... still, like the other songs on this album, it closes brilliantly.
CLASSIC
Just goes to show even a brilliant artist makes some uncredibly stupid choices sometimes.
This is a disapointing song from Bowie, sounds like something from a broadway play or Les Miserables! Not entertaining at all
I've got a cassette copy of this album in the garage. The neighbors must get sick of it. Not me.
Love alot of Bowies stuff. But not this.
Saw this live with Adrian Belew on tour with him. Rocked the place.