Arguably Bowie's greatest ever vocal performance. When asked, he said it was his own favourite. I think it's an extraordinary piece of work. It's sparse and economical, yet also rich, vibrant and romantic. And it gives Bowie an opportunity to show off most of his vocal range (at the time) as well. The arrangement, the lyrics and Bowie's passionate delivery make me imagine a vampire longing for his bride of the night.
When it came to releasing his favorites compilation iSelect, I'm surprised it wasn't on there. It seems Life on Mars? and Lady Grinning Soul ended up eventually overtaking it. David definitely loved his piano songs. I wish there could have been one more slot for this song.
Bowie has said he was so high on cocaine during the recording of this song that he doesn't even remember recording it at all. Some music reviewer said that David Bowie didn't have range... ummm, have you even heard this song??? My favourite Bowie tune, and this whole album is just a masterpiece.
It's not his 4 octave range, nor his amazing tone, that makes his vocals so special. It's the way that he makes emotion drip from every single syllable! Incredible vocalist and so refreshing compared to all those vocalists who believe it's just about power and technical 'showing off'.
Apparently, he always recorded his vocals in complete takes. There was no editing bits from different takes to make the "best" one overall, so what you hear is really a performance and not a patchwork. Perhaps that's what in part makes this so compelling. This is great on headphones.
Huge Bowie fan.... my recommendation is Diamond Dogs as your next listen. Yes, Low is ahead of its time musically, but DD is loosely based on the 1984 book and it is so creative in its content. What other artist could take on 1984 and create this dystopian landscape? DD or Aladdin Sane ( a better album than Ziggy)...Mike Garson on piano is worth the price of admission. Add Ronson? Wow. Great channel!
Yeah man when he had the China girl and all of those walk about 18 years old man I remember this man that was on MTV you know I mean mad at once everywhere come on same golden years come on now all right all right
I am so happy that you completed this album. There are a lot of things going on in this song, but to me, this is one of Bowie's top three vocal performances. His voice is so expressive, so pure, so dramatic- he completely transforms this song. I'm looking forward to your review of the complete album. As for the next Bowie album, I think you should step back and experience Ziggy Stardust or Aladdin Sane. Ziggy is a masterpiece that proved Bowie was a prodigy who had finally arrived. Aladdin Sane is 10% more glam and 50% more experimental. Both have hits, some of which you probably heard already. Ziggy is more thematic, while the sound on Aladdin Sane is more varied. Both are terrific albums. If you choose to go forward, then Scary Monsters will be an amazing experience. Either way, you can't go wrong.
His voice is so intense on this song. This is a great song. David has said he's not a great singer. Many covers have been done on this song. His cover is the absolute best. I saw him sing this live.. It was unbelievable.
Such feeling in his voice! Sadness and longing. The coolest dude of the century for sure. Next, Ziggy. That's a no brainer..."Suffergate City", "5 Years" an of course "Rock And Roll Suicide". Do it. Do it. Do it. ps. as always love your thoughtful analysis Justin. peace - out...from Australia.
This song is a great example of what a great, underrated drummer Dennis Davis was. He was a master of subtle complexity. He and the bassist, George Murray, are one of the greatest rhythm sections of all time, and they masterfully navigated their way through all the diverse twists and turns of David Bowie’s late-70’s stuff. They really don’t get the credit they deserve.
People keep (justifiably) going on about Bowie's incredible vocals in this song and record, but god damn, that rhythm section he built earlier in the '70s was on fire, and nowhere more so than on Station to Station.
All of his covers are pretty good. He did a full album called PinUps which is worth a listen if you want to hear more covers. His real influences on others as a songwriter and performer came with the three “glam” albums (Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane). It may be worth just stepping back to any (or all!) of those for your next toe into the Bowie lake...
The original song recorded by Johnny Mathis was the theme song to the film of the same title starring italian actress Anna Magnani with Anthony Quinn and Anthony Franciosa.
You're right about the desert feeling. Dimitri Tiomkin wrote many famous musics for Hollywood westerns back in the fifties, sixties like Rio Bravo and High Noon.
Bowie recorded a full album of cover songs, Pinups, in 1973, I think. He tended to throw cover songs on most of his albums. I really like his Jacque Brel covers: My Death snd Port of Amsterdam. they are not on any official albums but you can find the live versions easily enough.
Great reaction! I expect nothing less from you, you killed it. Thank you. I would start from the beginning w/ Bowie,but hey, you may not have that kind of time. Diamond Dogs is incredible, Aladdin Sane, Low,Heroes,Lodger,Blackstar,Outside,Ziggy,The man Who Sold, Low and Heroes. Do dive in,he's life changing.
What I like is this is a little different from his regular music,this is more haunting,has a Ballad feel to it,but most importantly is this is a new discovery of what his voice is capable of, a testing of his vocal range and what he is capable of.
Justin you are just too good, Bowie is Just incredible, I mean incredible. First heard him in 1969 age 7. He was brilliant then, and brilliant even before then.
A tour de force vocal performance. Awesome song. Anyways been lurking on your channel from the beginning. Great stuff here. Congratulations on your success. It’s refreshing to have a reaction channel that is genuine and displays some understanding of the music.
Loved your review on this album. He is my guy, this is one of my favourite albums and you are now one of my favourite youtubers! Great reviews dude consistently!
I don't know about the desert analogy but hey we all interpret lyrics differently. I played this song for my wedding. It's my favorite Bowie love song. The lyrics are amazing and David delivers them with with unleashed passion and tenderness. I think it's the most impressive vocal performance of his career. ( and I know his complete catalog very well) Whenever someone says Bowie doesn't have a great voice I have them listen to this track.
Bowie was a great friend of Nina Simones. As for this being the only cover, I'm not sure what you mean. He's previously done covers (Lets Spend The Night Together on Aladdin Sane for one.) He'd also recorded an entire album of covers called Pin Ups.
If you include this album and the so called "Berlin Trilogy" that followed, it's the only cover during that period. Unless of course you include "Red Money" from "Lodger" which is a rehash of Iggy Pop's "Sister Midnight" which Bowie co-wrote anyway.
Well, it's the only cover JP has reacted to so far and it's the only cover on Station to Station and it's the last cover Bowie released in that half of the 70s.
My Dad was a huge jazz fan especially Nina Simone. When he heard Bowie's version he recognized it right away. I remember it being a weird old man and teen bonding moment. I miss him... and Bowie too.
The "thirst in the desert" theme you describe is exactly the plot of the movie "The Man Who Fell to Earth," also released in 1976 (the album's cover shot is a still from the film), so ... interesting comment! :-)
Funny thing as you were singing Seal I recalled he actually did a very good rendition of one of Bowie’s finer songs Quicksand.. This was a beautiful cover by Bowie.. It’s almost 💔
This cover is one of my three favorite songs on Station to Station (along with the title track and "Stay"). Justin, for Bowie's next album I advise you to go back to the Diamond Dogs album from 1974 then after that one you can go directly to the Berlin trilogy (Low, "Heroes", Lodger). Diamond Dogs is essential to understanding Bowie's journey from Glam Rock to Soul music to his more experimental electronic ambient works ! Please do it, I promise you won't be disappointed! .-)
David was good friends with the singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone. He based his cover of this song on her performance of it, so I'd suggest you hear that version (and to Nina's music in general). The original version of this song is some pop gloop made for a 1958 romance movie and sung by Johnny Mathis. My grandma had that single and she played it a lot when I was a kid in the 70s. I didn't hear David's version until I was in college, then I heard Nina's. David was undergoing a lot of spiritual crisis underneath that cocaine haze. I think of this song, along with Word on a Wing, as his cries out to whoever may have been out there to save him. This whole album is the chronicle of a young man who was too afraid to really feel anything, or to make that scary effort to see who he really was, or to be close to anyone who could see him, and how he knew that this fear was fucking up his life.
WOW! How bittersweet and timely. Station to Station (i.e. place to place) was released in January 1976, and Bowie passed in January 2016 - a full 40 years later. The inside spread of the album has Bowie reclining in a dark blue with silver stripes, 2pc casual outfit. He wears the same outfit in his video Lazurus (from his final album released January 2016, Blackstar). In the video he wears it at the beginning as he emerges from a wardrobe, and wears it again at the end as he climbs back inside. Point? We end up where we began (i.e. place to place). Love your videos and critiques!
Station to Station is a masterpiece, and I'm so glad you reacted to it, I loved re listening this album like it was the first time through you. I hope we get more Bowie reactions, this was fantastic!!
Oh yeah, this song's a winner, love that older vibe. I just might have to learn this song on guitar. JP you looked like you thoroughly enjoyed that. I never paid attention to Bowie but I've been digging your reaction. Keep em coming please.
I went down the reaction video rabbit hole a few weeks ago but got tired of the same old same old pretty quickly. I only found you because I was specifically looking for something less mainstream so obviously, a Bowie reaction. I found more than one, but you my friend, really did it justice. Consider me subscribed!
this is one of the best Bowie songs his vocal really shines on this one,, a beautiful song I'm voted for scary monsters or heros album next (because Fripp)
Hey, man, the band on this album also played on the Berlin trio of LPs that came next. Low, Heroes and Lodger. All are great. You get the Dennis Davis/Carlos Alomar band. You get Tony Visconti producing, and Brian Eno and Bowie exploring new sounds and recording techniques. You get outside guests like Robert Fripp coming by. You get memorable songs and beautiful instrumental music.
What he doesn't get is Mike Garson. I think that's probably as good of a reason as any to do Aladdin Sane or Diamond Dogs, and Diamond Dogs has a bit of Visconti, but most importantly, a ton of Bowie, and if I remember correctly, Herbie Flowers, who played bass on Space Oddity, and Aynsley Dunbar from Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention and Jefferson Starship on drums.
Great that you did the entire album. I found your channel recently and subbed. I think an artist like Bowie really needs to be listened to in chronological order as his progression musically is very interesting. He has the nickname of "The Chameleon of Rock" for a reason. I recomend going back to 1969 and starting with the song "Space Oddity" which put Bowie on the map. I'd then continue through each successive album of the 70's and up to 1983's "Let's Dance" which was his commercial and popular peak. I saw him on the tour for that album the "Serious Moonlight" tour and he was just as impressive live as on his records. The man could really sing and was a world class songwriter too. Saw him live two more times after that. Great concerts. I was so lucky to have the opportunity.
I love Bowie and most that he has done . (I cried for 2 weeks when he died) but this album is my favourite has been for years, followed by Low, Ziggy, Hunky, Blackstar and Scary monsters 🤘⭐️⚡️
This album was not that high on my Bowie charts, it has gained considerable ground. Awesome album. Better thanks to this channel. Again I was like uhhh, fine Wild Wind Song, ok, but after, I really dug it a lot and your explanation of it, chef kiss. PLS, Perfect Love Song. ... you’re life itself. Is it hot in here or is it me. Whew. Puts you in the mood . Justin, you’re such a romantic. Nat, he was talking to you. My vote is Heathen. It’s not likely I know but David Torn and Pete Townshend, Tony Levin, Dave Grohl, Matt Chamberlain, come on. Take care everyone, tell them they are life itself by wearing your mask, Peace and Bowie Music
This is why it would be a good next album if he doesn't go backwards. People seem to want Low, but Heroes is more intense, and there's a lot more Bowie composition than Eno. There's a very good reason it had the most success of the Berlin trilogy and catapulted the world into a more muscular new wave.
If you're really unsure which album to do next then why not listen to a song off each album and make your choice on what you find most interesting. My nominations would be: Space Oddity = Cygnet Committee The Man Who Sold the World = The Width of a Circle Hunky Dory = Life on Mars? Ziggy Stardust = Moonage Daydream Aladdin Sane = Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) Pin Ups = Sorrow Diamond Dogs = Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise) Young Americans = Young Americans Station to Station = done Low = Always Crashing in the Same Car Heroes = Heroes Lodger = Boys Keep Swinging Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) = It's No Game (No 1) Let's Dance = Modern Love And there my knowledge of Bowie ends, I'm sure others could continue if your interested.
Let's continue, then, since you invited us to do so Tonight : Loving the alien Never let me down : Time will crawl Tin Machine 1 : Under the god Tin Machine 2 : Shopping for girls Black tie white noise : Miracle goodnight The Buddha of Suburbia : Bleed like a craze, dad Outside : The voyeur of utter destruction, or The heart's filthy lessons (or anything from this album, actually : it deserves a whole review on its own !) Earthling : 7 years in Tibet Hours : Thursday's child Heathen : I would be your slave Reality : New killer star The next day : Where are now ? Blackstar : THE WHOLE ALBUM, DAMMIT !!!! Of course, this is just scratching the surface, but I think those songs are quite representative of the album they're in. Just keep in mind that, with someone as versatile as Bowie, one song from an album, no matter how representative it is, can be followed by another that is the exact opposite... and still on point anyway ;-) !
@@hijikaelemenope3127 Thanks a lot. Around the time of Lets Dance I wandered off into exploring 60s soul, then the blues, then punk, and later Irish folk punk. I'd didn't re-connect with Bowie until the release of The Next Day. It's was like meeting an old friend.
Labyrinth = As the World Falls Down It's a movie soundtrack and half of the songs have been written by Trevor Jones, but some of the songs on it are fan favorites and the first experience people have with David Bowie. It could honestly be considered his best work of the 80s if not Scary Monsters.
The reason there’s no consensus “next Bowie album” here is because this is the pinnacle. You could go spacey Ziggy Stardust 70’s Bowie or fun Let’s Dance 80’s Bowie with Stevie Ray Vaughn (my vote, assuming I have one) and not go wrong, just depends on what you feel like reviewing.
I agree with the Diamond Dogs suggestion next, but it really is a style choice about where to go next. Others have nailed it with their requests, I think much of his glam rock stuff looses something without historical / cultural context. Don't get me wrong, I am also a lifelong fan (since 1974), and I love all his work including the Ziggy period, but new listeners don't feel the same impact today. At least JP is thoughtfully & intelligently breaking down the entire album instead of picking songs at random, a much better method with Bowie (IMO). Will be waiting for the next Bowie-thon!
Go back and then forward - it’s the only logical choice - you can then appreciate fully the stylistic development of each phase and the periodic schismatic stylistic changes as his career progressed. Maybe skip the laughing gnome however.
A brilliant track that sounds haunted. I wish Station to Station had more background atmospherics to it similar to some of the stuff on The Idiot or Low, but I appreciate the ghoulish vocals throughout the album, throws everything off kilter, again, in a haunted way.
I'm on the Diamond Dogs train. I think it will give you an exceptional sampler of what David is capable of. Other albums will be a little more focused on 1 or 2 target genres. Diamond Dogs kind of sounds like a mix of everything David released in the entire 70s. Remember to do Future Legend/Diamond Dogs, Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise), and Big Brother/Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family in groupings. The flow is absolutely perfect that way and you won't have separate videos for transitional tracks. This song is generally considered one of David's all time best by fans, and as split as fans are with different albums, that is pretty consistent. When David was recording Station to Station, Frank Sinatra was around and wanted to check out what David was doing, so David played him a few songs. Frank said this song had one of the best vocal performances he had ever heard. It's an absolute classic.
Very relevant! I would even go further by saying that Justin could do the triptych "Sweet Thing"/"Candidate"/"Sweet Thing (Reprise)" followed by "Rebel Rebel" since the latter is attached to the suite , the effect will be even more striking !
@@a.k.1740 I think it's an interesting thing to consider. Then again, Rebel Rebel being the biggest single on the album means that it can easily stand on its own. It doesn't connect thematically with the Sweet Thing Suite, plus it would get a lot more views by itself. I'm also curious if people would want him to listen to Dodo and Candidate (Demo) as well.
Those songs aren't necessary, per say, but unlike the Ryko bonus tracks for Station to Station, the albums before have bonus tracks as good as the rest of the album. JP would have a blast, imo.
@@chrismeadows4216 Yes, there are some very interesting bonus tracks on the Rykodisc reissues but I imagine Justin wants to stay in the context of the original albums so these bonuses are to be reserved for later in a dedicated topic
I'd love you to hit Bowie's Young Americans album. It's his soul/R&B phase, he has David Sanborn on sax and Luther Vandross singing and arranging the background vocals. I saw where Luther credited Bowie with giving him his first big break, and a lot of the album was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, home of the Sound of Philadelphia (TSOP)!
And it's really the most rewarding way, tbh, although I hadn't fully connected with an album until Young Americans on the first go. After the 2nd and 3rd sweep, I loved about 20 of the albums. Now, I love them all except Black Tie White Noise and Hours.
This isn’t the first cover Bowie recorded. He’d recorded The Rolling Stones’ “Let’s Spend the Night Together” on Aladdin Sane, plus Pin-Ups: a whole album of covers of obscure 60’s songs.
You should react to the next album Low from 1977. Masterpiece with the closing instrumental Subterraneans which is the greatest piece of music ever written by Bowie.
Just seeing this now. Yes, the lyrics are amazing, but it seems as if you're giving David the credit for them. But I will admit, he delivers them flawlessly and with the utmost emotion.
This song rather then a desert makes me think of one of those really crisp, late autumn days where the sky is full of grey clouds moving in the wind and the singer just has a meager jacket to brace himself with against it. I guess it's that leaf imagery that does that for me. But that's just me and it definitely reminds of a time and a place and a windy relationship so... And indeed there is a girl in this landscape not too far away getting a warm fire started in an old stone house. Interesting how the song mentions none of this, but the instruments and voice make it appear. I guess it just depends on where one's from? My choice for next album is SCARY MONSTERS for sure, to me an absolute pinnacle. But if you want to get to an earlier point to see where Bowie really became David Bowie THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST is certainly paramount.
My vote is for the Young American album. It’s a heavy dose of funk and soul recorded in Philadelphia with a young Luther Vandross on background vocals and helping with arrangements.
@@JustJP There's one, I think it was on 'Later...with Jools Holland' where the audience are singing along and he teases them by holding back on the "..you're life" (make 'em wait)"........itself..." Brilliant!
Your info is wrong. Bowie had covered a good number of songs in studio before this album. He had even recorded two Springsteen songs, along with stuff like "It Ain't Easy", a Ron Davies song, on Ziggy Stardust; Marc Bolan's "Prettiest Star"; Chuck Berry's "Round and Round", but most had not been released.
Next stop... 'Heroes' This was first recorded by Johnny Mathis, used in a film... however, it's jazz interpreter, Nina Simone's version is Bowie's odd & gorgeous interpretation & inspiration... hands down, best standard vocal of his career... footnote: Frank Sinatra heard this track soonafter it was recorded & asked Bowie to lunch, as daughter Tina was considering Bowie to portray her dad in a biopic miniseries in that time
Nice album, sorry I missed it when it came out. Bowie has some Top 40 songs that I would pass on. The theme from Cat People is a good stand alone song, Putting out fire with Gasoline
My favorite Bowie album--though this rotates. Lots of great next Bowie albums suggested on here. If you're interested in the experimental and ambient side of Bowie, his trilogy collaboration with Brian Eno begins with Low, which is a great place to start and immediately followed this album in terms of chronology. Low begins the Berlin trilogy, so called because it was made when he lived in Berlin with Iggy Pop and got sober. The title track of the next album, Heroes, is one you should save for a reaction video. Given your reaction to "Biko" by Peter Gabriel, you probably will appreciate the larger context of that song, "Heroes." One band I want to put you onto, if you're not already familiar, is the German prog-rock band Can. If you want to take a deep dive in, check out the album Tago Mago. The drummer Jaki Liebezeit is amazing and gives the band a unique feel.
If you can't decide which album to do next, why not jump the shark and react to "Live at the Tower". A great mix of a lot of his hits with great sound quality.
He was a big NinaSimone fan who famously covered this song before Bowie. Both were good friends. There's a very funny vid of a very drunk Nina looking for Bowie in her audience.
Seriously Justin....you need to check out the next 4 Bowie albums in chronological order. From Station to Station right through to Scary Monsters makes so much sense.
Arguably Bowie's greatest ever vocal performance. When asked, he said it was his own favourite.
I think it's an extraordinary piece of work. It's sparse and economical, yet also rich, vibrant and romantic. And it gives Bowie an
opportunity to show off most of his vocal range (at the time) as well.
The arrangement, the lyrics and Bowie's passionate delivery make me imagine a vampire longing for his bride of the night.
When it came to releasing his favorites compilation iSelect, I'm surprised it wasn't on there. It seems Life on Mars? and Lady Grinning Soul ended up eventually overtaking it. David definitely loved his piano songs. I wish there could have been one more slot for this song.
Bowie has said he was so high on cocaine during the recording of this song that he doesn't even remember recording it at all. Some music reviewer said that David Bowie didn't have range... ummm, have you even heard this song??? My favourite Bowie tune, and this whole album is just a masterpiece.
Gordiesummer - obviously that person does not know Bowie, right? No range...give me a break! ✌
It's not his 4 octave range, nor his amazing tone, that makes his vocals so special. It's the way that he makes emotion drip from every single syllable! Incredible vocalist and so refreshing compared to all those vocalists who believe it's just about power and technical 'showing off'.
Couldn't agree more.
Apparently, he always recorded his vocals in complete takes. There was no editing bits from different takes to make the "best" one overall, so what you hear is really a performance and not a patchwork. Perhaps that's what in part makes this so compelling. This is great on headphones.
4.75 to 5 octave range actually. G1 to Eb6 and he's hit some D6's live as well! Incredible!
Very well noted. To me this intepration is like wine, you discover always new flavours. Best regards from Brazil.
Perfection. Probably Bowie's best vocal performance. Look at Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust or Scary Monsters.
For me the most spectacular Bowie vocals are on Sweet Thing/Candidate from Diamond Dogs and Teenage Wildlife from Scary Monsters.
@@253timeandtimeagain2 I agree those two would be at the top of the list.
He sings quite well on God Only Knows too. Nice Beach Boys tribute.
It's gotta be Ziggy or Aladdin next. His most artistic period, and his two best albums.
Totally agree
Diamond dogs often gets over looked as a whole album experience. I'd love to see it done on here.
I like “1. Outside” album. It is a weird album. It took me some time to get used to it, but now it is one of my favorites albums of Bowie.
Underrated as hell! Bowie and Eno together...pure gold.
Bowie always makin moves, so many interesting songs on Outside. Deep Bowie gone deeper
Huge Bowie fan.... my recommendation is Diamond Dogs as your next listen. Yes, Low is ahead of its time musically, but DD is loosely based on the 1984 book and it is so creative in its content. What other artist could take on 1984 and create this dystopian landscape? DD or Aladdin Sane ( a better album than Ziggy)...Mike Garson on piano is worth the price of admission. Add Ronson? Wow. Great channel!
I could live with Diamond Dogs.
Diamond Dogs - definitely.
@@kevind4850 Yes, I would say Diamond Dogs first then Low which will lead to "Heroes", Lodger & Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps).
Golden Years golden years David Bowie
Yeah man when he had the China girl and all of those walk about 18 years old man I remember this man that was on MTV you know I mean mad at once everywhere come on same golden years come on now all right all right
I am so happy that you completed this album. There are a lot of things going on in this song, but to me, this is one of Bowie's top three vocal performances. His voice is so expressive, so pure, so dramatic- he completely transforms this song. I'm looking forward to your review of the complete album. As for the next Bowie album, I think you should step back and experience Ziggy Stardust or Aladdin Sane. Ziggy is a masterpiece that proved Bowie was a prodigy who had finally arrived. Aladdin Sane is 10% more glam and 50% more experimental. Both have hits, some of which you probably heard already. Ziggy is more thematic, while the sound on Aladdin Sane is more varied. Both are terrific albums. If you choose to go forward, then Scary Monsters will be an amazing experience. Either way, you can't go wrong.
Stunningly beautiful cover. The musicianship on this album is breathtaking. My vote for next Bowie album would be 'Aladdin Sane'.
His voice is so intense on this song. This is a great song. David has said he's not a great singer. Many covers have been done on this song. His cover is the absolute best. I saw him sing this live.. It was unbelievable.
David was always wrong about his singing. He's a GREAT singer: range, tone, richness, modulation, he has it all. This cover proves it.
Spiders From Mars Low
I like the timeline!
Such feeling in his voice! Sadness and longing. The coolest dude of the century for sure.
Next, Ziggy. That's a no brainer..."Suffergate City", "5 Years" an of course "Rock And Roll Suicide".
Do it. Do it. Do it.
ps. as always love your thoughtful analysis Justin.
peace - out...from Australia.
"5 years" is one of my favs
Want to hear a sample of David's vocal range? Listen to SWEET THING/CANDIDATE/ SWEET THING REPRICE
Did you just make him a deal?
This song is a great example of what a great, underrated drummer Dennis Davis was. He was a master of subtle complexity. He and the bassist, George Murray, are one of the greatest rhythm sections of all time, and they masterfully navigated their way through all the diverse twists and turns of David Bowie’s late-70’s stuff. They really don’t get the credit they deserve.
Just recently discovered this song beautiful
I love this cover getting the full Bowie treatment. It was a tribute to Nina and would love to see you react to Nina's version too.
Go early HUNKY DORY, HUNKY DORY, HUNKY DORY. whatever you choose it’ll be good mind you.
People keep (justifiably) going on about Bowie's incredible vocals in this song and record, but god damn, that rhythm section he built earlier in the '70s was on fire, and nowhere more so than on Station to Station.
All of his covers are pretty good. He did a full album called PinUps which is worth a listen if you want to hear more covers.
His real influences on others as a songwriter and performer came with the three “glam” albums (Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane). It may be worth just stepping back to any (or all!) of those for your next toe into the Bowie lake...
The original song recorded by Johnny Mathis was the theme song to the film of the same title starring italian actress Anna Magnani with Anthony Quinn and Anthony Franciosa.
Can't argue with your reaction JP, it's great.
You're right about the desert feeling. Dimitri Tiomkin wrote many famous musics for Hollywood westerns back in the fifties, sixties like Rio Bravo and High Noon.
Bowie recorded a full album of cover songs, Pinups, in 1973, I think. He tended to throw cover songs on most of his albums. I really like his Jacque Brel covers: My Death snd Port of Amsterdam. they are not on any official albums but you can find the live versions easily enough.
Dennis Davis for President.
As sublime a vocal performance as he ever laid down in the studio
That's wild!
I've learnt to play this one on my 12 string acoustic. so satisfying to play along to.
THIS IS SOOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!
Great reaction! I expect nothing less from you, you killed it. Thank you. I would start from the beginning w/ Bowie,but hey, you may not have that kind of time. Diamond Dogs is incredible, Aladdin Sane, Low,Heroes,Lodger,Blackstar,Outside,Ziggy,The man Who Sold, Low and Heroes. Do dive in,he's life changing.
Ty Anna!
This channel is criminally under subscribed! Always intelligent and thoughtful analysis.
Ty winny!
Simply beautiful
What I like is this is a little different from his regular music,this is more haunting,has a Ballad feel to it,but most importantly is this is a new discovery of what his voice is capable of, a testing of his vocal range and what he is capable of.
Justin you are just too good, Bowie is Just incredible, I mean incredible. First heard him in 1969 age 7. He was brilliant then, and brilliant even before then.
A tour de force vocal performance. Awesome song. Anyways been lurking on your channel from the beginning. Great stuff here. Congratulations on your success. It’s refreshing to have a reaction channel that is genuine and displays some understanding of the music.
Thanks Tommy!
Loved your review on this album. He is my guy, this is one of my favourite albums and you are now one of my favourite youtubers! Great reviews dude consistently!
Thanks John!!
I don't know about the desert analogy but hey we all interpret lyrics differently. I played this song for my wedding. It's my favorite Bowie love song. The lyrics are amazing and David delivers them with
with unleashed passion and tenderness. I think it's the most impressive vocal performance of his career. ( and I know his complete catalog very well) Whenever someone says Bowie doesn't have a great voice I have them listen to this track.
Bowie was a great friend of Nina Simones. As for this being the only cover, I'm not sure what you mean. He's previously done covers (Lets Spend The Night Together on Aladdin Sane for one.) He'd also recorded an entire album of covers called Pin Ups.
If you include this album and the so called "Berlin Trilogy" that followed, it's the only cover during that period. Unless of course you include "Red Money" from "Lodger" which is a rehash of Iggy Pop's "Sister Midnight" which Bowie co-wrote anyway.
Well, it's the only cover JP has reacted to so far and it's the only cover on Station to Station and it's the last cover Bowie released in that half of the 70s.
My Dad was a huge jazz fan especially Nina Simone. When he heard Bowie's version he recognized it right away. I remember it being a weird old man and teen bonding moment. I miss him... and Bowie too.
Superb...!👌🏼. Those vocals... Perfect.
So emotionnaly intense!
The "thirst in the desert" theme you describe is exactly the plot of the movie "The Man Who Fell to Earth," also released in 1976 (the album's cover shot is a still from the film), so ... interesting comment! :-)
Funny thing as you were singing Seal I recalled he actually did a very good rendition of one of Bowie’s finer songs Quicksand.. This was a beautiful cover by Bowie.. It’s almost 💔
This cover is one of my three favorite songs on Station to Station (along with the title track and "Stay").
Justin, for Bowie's next album I advise you to go back to the Diamond Dogs album from 1974 then after that one you can go directly to the Berlin trilogy (Low, "Heroes", Lodger).
Diamond Dogs is essential to understanding Bowie's journey from Glam Rock to Soul music to his more experimental electronic ambient works !
Please do it, I promise you won't be disappointed! .-)
Diamond Dogs get my pick.
If only for Sweet Thing alone and We Are the Dead. Love that album so much.
Shovel gets my pick.
One of the most beautiful songs ever written, as performed by Bowie. I always get so emotional listening to this song. Astounding!
David was good friends with the singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone. He based his cover of this song on her performance of it, so I'd suggest you hear that version (and to Nina's music in general). The original version of this song is some pop gloop made for a 1958 romance movie and sung by Johnny Mathis. My grandma had that single and she played it a lot when I was a kid in the 70s. I didn't hear David's version until I was in college, then I heard Nina's.
David was undergoing a lot of spiritual crisis underneath that cocaine haze. I think of this song, along with Word on a Wing, as his cries out to whoever may have been out there to save him. This whole album is the chronicle of a young man who was too afraid to really feel anything, or to make that scary effort to see who he really was, or to be close to anyone who could see him, and how he knew that this fear was fucking up his life.
WOW! How bittersweet and timely. Station to Station (i.e. place to place) was released in January 1976, and Bowie passed in January 2016 - a full 40 years later. The inside spread of the album has Bowie reclining in a dark blue with silver stripes, 2pc casual outfit. He wears the same outfit in his video Lazurus (from his final album released January 2016, Blackstar). In the video he wears it at the beginning as he emerges from a wardrobe, and wears it again at the end as he climbs back inside. Point? We end up where we began (i.e. place to place).
Love your videos and critiques!
Ty!
Still waiting for your take on some specific songs from Young Americans (no, not Fame or the title track).
This recorded version is good, but in my opinion Bowie rocked the live versions even more! my favorite one is from the BBC theatre back in 2000.
Hunky Dory or Ziggy Stardust next. Start with the early, great albums which propelled him to stardom, and work forward from there.
That whole album is amazing
The word you're looking for to describe Bowie's vocals on this track is : "VUNERABLE"!
Station to Station is a masterpiece, and I'm so glad you reacted to it, I loved re listening this album like it was the first time through you.
I hope we get more Bowie reactions, this was fantastic!!
Ty Klui!
Oh yeah, this song's a winner, love that older vibe. I just might have to learn this song on guitar. JP you looked like you thoroughly enjoyed that. I never paid attention to Bowie but I've been digging your reaction. Keep em coming please.
Yeah this one was fantastic!
I went down the reaction video rabbit hole a few weeks ago but got tired of the same old same old pretty quickly. I only found you because I was specifically looking for something less mainstream so obviously, a Bowie reaction. I found more than one, but you my friend, really did it justice. Consider me subscribed!
this is one of the best Bowie songs
his vocal really shines on this one,, a beautiful song
I'm voted for scary monsters or heros album next (because Fripp)
Hey, man, the band on this album also played on the Berlin trio of LPs that came next. Low, Heroes and Lodger. All are great. You get the Dennis Davis/Carlos Alomar band. You get Tony Visconti producing, and Brian Eno and Bowie exploring new sounds and recording techniques. You get outside guests like Robert Fripp coming by. You get memorable songs and beautiful instrumental music.
What he doesn't get is Mike Garson. I think that's probably as good of a reason as any to do Aladdin Sane or Diamond Dogs, and Diamond Dogs has a bit of Visconti, but most importantly, a ton of Bowie, and if I remember correctly, Herbie Flowers, who played bass on Space Oddity, and Aynsley Dunbar from Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention and Jefferson Starship on drums.
Beautiful
Another great review from this fantastic album.
Great that you did the entire album. I found your channel recently and subbed. I think an artist like Bowie really needs to be listened to in chronological order as his progression musically is very interesting. He has the nickname of "The Chameleon of Rock" for a reason. I recomend going back to 1969 and starting with the song "Space Oddity" which put Bowie on the map. I'd then continue through each successive album of the 70's and up to 1983's "Let's Dance" which was his commercial and popular peak. I saw him on the tour for that album the "Serious Moonlight" tour and he was just as impressive live as on his records. The man could really sing and was a world class songwriter too. Saw him live two more times after that. Great concerts. I was so lucky to have the opportunity.
I love this track
I love Bowie and most that he has done . (I cried for 2 weeks when he died) but this album is my favourite has been for years, followed by Low, Ziggy, Hunky, Blackstar and Scary monsters 🤘⭐️⚡️
This album was not that high on my Bowie charts, it has gained considerable ground. Awesome album. Better thanks to this channel.
Again I was like uhhh, fine Wild Wind Song, ok, but after, I really dug it a lot and your explanation of it, chef kiss. PLS, Perfect Love Song.
... you’re life itself. Is it hot in here or is it me. Whew. Puts you in the mood . Justin, you’re such a romantic. Nat, he was talking to you.
My vote is Heathen. It’s not likely I know but David Torn and Pete Townshend, Tony Levin, Dave Grohl, Matt Chamberlain, come on.
Take care everyone, tell them they are life itself by wearing your mask,
Peace and Bowie Music
Lol! Ty David
My two cents: you cannot go wrong with any seventies era Bowie! It is all great stuff. Go through it all before moving into the eighties and beyond...
Good advice.
My favorite Bowie album is Heroes. It features Brian Eno, and Robert Fripp, and of course Carlos Alomar. A little more experimental, but very intense.
This is why it would be a good next album if he doesn't go backwards. People seem to want Low, but Heroes is more intense, and there's a lot more Bowie composition than Eno. There's a very good reason it had the most success of the Berlin trilogy and catapulted the world into a more muscular new wave.
If you're really unsure which album to do next then why not listen to a song off each album and make your choice on what you find most interesting. My nominations would be:
Space Oddity = Cygnet Committee
The Man Who Sold the World = The Width of a Circle
Hunky Dory = Life on Mars?
Ziggy Stardust = Moonage Daydream
Aladdin Sane = Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)
Pin Ups = Sorrow
Diamond Dogs = Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise)
Young Americans = Young Americans
Station to Station = done
Low = Always Crashing in the Same Car
Heroes = Heroes
Lodger = Boys Keep Swinging
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) = It's No Game (No 1)
Let's Dance = Modern Love
And there my knowledge of Bowie ends, I'm sure others could continue if your interested.
Great list.
Not a bad idea
Let's continue, then, since you invited us to do so
Tonight : Loving the alien
Never let me down : Time will crawl
Tin Machine 1 : Under the god
Tin Machine 2 : Shopping for girls
Black tie white noise : Miracle goodnight
The Buddha of Suburbia : Bleed like a craze, dad
Outside : The voyeur of utter destruction, or The heart's filthy lessons (or anything from this album, actually : it deserves a whole review on its own !)
Earthling : 7 years in Tibet
Hours : Thursday's child
Heathen : I would be your slave
Reality : New killer star
The next day : Where are now ?
Blackstar : THE WHOLE ALBUM, DAMMIT !!!!
Of course, this is just scratching the surface, but I think those songs are quite representative of the album they're in. Just keep in mind that, with someone as versatile as Bowie, one song from an album, no matter how representative it is, can be followed by another that is the exact opposite... and still on point anyway ;-) !
@@hijikaelemenope3127 Thanks a lot. Around the time of Lets Dance I wandered off into exploring 60s soul, then the blues, then punk, and later Irish folk punk. I'd didn't re-connect with Bowie until the release of The Next Day. It's was like meeting an old friend.
Labyrinth = As the World Falls Down
It's a movie soundtrack and half of the songs have been written by Trevor Jones, but some of the songs on it are fan favorites and the first experience people have with David Bowie. It could honestly be considered his best work of the 80s if not Scary Monsters.
This song is perfect, one of my top three Bowie songs (along with "Five Years" and "Heroes").
The reason there’s no consensus “next Bowie album” here is because this is the pinnacle. You could go spacey Ziggy Stardust 70’s Bowie or fun Let’s Dance 80’s Bowie with Stevie Ray Vaughn (my vote, assuming I have one) and not go wrong, just depends on what you feel like reviewing.
I agree with the Diamond Dogs suggestion next, but it really is a style choice about where to go next. Others have nailed it with their requests, I think much of his glam rock stuff looses something without historical / cultural context. Don't get me wrong, I am also a lifelong fan (since 1974), and I love all his work including the Ziggy period, but new listeners don't feel the same impact today. At least JP is thoughtfully & intelligently breaking down the entire album instead of picking songs at random, a much better method with Bowie (IMO). Will be waiting for the next Bowie-thon!
Ty Chris!
Go back and then forward - it’s the only logical choice - you can then appreciate fully the stylistic development of each phase and the periodic schismatic stylistic changes as his career progressed.
Maybe skip the laughing gnome however.
You mean Bowie's best song?
Ha ha ha
Hee hee hee
A brilliant track that sounds haunted. I wish Station to Station had more background atmospherics to it similar to some of the stuff on The Idiot or Low, but I appreciate the ghoulish vocals throughout the album, throws everything off kilter, again, in a haunted way.
outstanding pick
Ty Perry!
So many great albums. Take a step back and go with "Hunky Dory".
I'm on the Diamond Dogs train. I think it will give you an exceptional sampler of what David is capable of. Other albums will be a little more focused on 1 or 2 target genres. Diamond Dogs kind of sounds like a mix of everything David released in the entire 70s. Remember to do Future Legend/Diamond Dogs, Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise), and Big Brother/Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family in groupings. The flow is absolutely perfect that way and you won't have separate videos for transitional tracks.
This song is generally considered one of David's all time best by fans, and as split as fans are with different albums, that is pretty consistent. When David was recording Station to Station, Frank Sinatra was around and wanted to check out what David was doing, so David played him a few songs. Frank said this song had one of the best vocal performances he had ever heard. It's an absolute classic.
Very relevant! I would even go further by saying that Justin could do the triptych "Sweet Thing"/"Candidate"/"Sweet Thing (Reprise)" followed by "Rebel Rebel" since the latter is attached to the suite , the effect will be even more striking !
@@a.k.1740 I think it's an interesting thing to consider. Then again, Rebel Rebel being the biggest single on the album means that it can easily stand on its own. It doesn't connect thematically with the Sweet Thing Suite, plus it would get a lot more views by itself. I'm also curious if people would want him to listen to Dodo and Candidate (Demo) as well.
Those songs aren't necessary, per say, but unlike the Ryko bonus tracks for Station to Station, the albums before have bonus tracks as good as the rest of the album. JP would have a blast, imo.
@@chrismeadows4216 Yes, there are some very interesting bonus tracks on the Rykodisc reissues but I imagine Justin wants to stay in the context of the original albums so these bonuses are to be reserved for later in a dedicated topic
Ty for the song suggestions/groupings!
Yes, you,v
e nailed it !
Thanks Yves :)
I'd love you to hit Bowie's Young Americans album. It's his soul/R&B phase, he has David Sanborn on sax and Luther Vandross singing and arranging the background vocals. I saw where Luther credited Bowie with giving him his first big break, and a lot of the album was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, home of the Sound of Philadelphia (TSOP)!
If you don't know where to go next with Bowie, simply default to chronological. You'll get to all the albums eventually.
And it's really the most rewarding way, tbh, although I hadn't fully connected with an album until Young Americans on the first go. After the 2nd and 3rd sweep, I loved about 20 of the albums. Now, I love them all except Black Tie White Noise and Hours.
This isn’t the first cover Bowie recorded. He’d recorded The Rolling Stones’ “Let’s Spend the Night Together” on Aladdin Sane, plus Pin-Ups: a whole album of covers of obscure 60’s songs.
The first cover Bowie put on an album was 'Fill Your Heart' on the 1971 album Hunky Dory. And the songs he covered on Pinups were hardly "obscure".
I love it. :) Definitely gotta try Spaceship by Philip Glass. :P
You should react to the next album Low from 1977. Masterpiece with the closing instrumental Subterraneans which is the greatest piece of music ever written by Bowie.
❤
Just seeing this now. Yes, the lyrics are amazing, but it seems as if you're giving David the credit for them. But I will admit, he delivers them flawlessly and with the utmost emotion.
This song rather then a desert makes me think of one of those really crisp, late autumn days where the sky is full of grey clouds moving in the wind and the singer just has a meager jacket to brace himself with against it. I guess it's that leaf imagery that does that for me. But that's just me and it definitely reminds of a time and a place and a windy relationship so... And indeed there is a girl in this landscape not too far away getting a warm fire started in an old stone house. Interesting how the song mentions none of this, but the instruments and voice make it appear. I guess it just depends on where one's from?
My choice for next album is SCARY MONSTERS for sure, to me an absolute pinnacle. But if you want to get to an earlier point to see where Bowie really became David Bowie THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST is certainly paramount.
My vote is for the Young American album. It’s a heavy dose of funk and soul recorded in Philadelphia with a young Luther Vandross on background vocals and helping with arrangements.
Oh and check out Scott Walker esp since the Walker Brothers’ Nite Flights
You need to check out some of his live versions of this song, Absolutely phenomenal!
Oh I've been watching him live after every song😅
@@JustJP There's one, I think it was on 'Later...with Jools Holland' where the audience are singing along and he teases them by holding back on the "..you're life" (make 'em wait)"........itself..." Brilliant!
The live performances dominate the originals about 85% of the time. Bowie was truly an icon.
Your info is wrong. Bowie had covered a good number of songs in studio before this album. He had even recorded two Springsteen songs, along with stuff like "It Ain't Easy", a Ron Davies song, on Ziggy Stardust; Marc Bolan's "Prettiest Star"; Chuck Berry's "Round and Round", but most had not been released.
Nowadays, we say: That's INSANE. DB used it Long ago.
Only when he was a lad.
Next stop... 'Heroes'
This was first recorded by Johnny Mathis, used in a film... however, it's jazz interpreter, Nina Simone's version is Bowie's odd & gorgeous interpretation & inspiration... hands down, best standard vocal of his career... footnote: Frank Sinatra heard this track soonafter it was recorded & asked Bowie to lunch, as daughter Tina was considering Bowie to portray her dad in a biopic miniseries in that time
Nice album, sorry I missed it when it came out. Bowie has some Top 40 songs that I would pass on. The theme from Cat People is a good stand alone song,
Putting out fire with Gasoline
My favorite Bowie album--though this rotates. Lots of great next Bowie albums suggested on here. If you're interested in the experimental and ambient side of Bowie, his trilogy collaboration with Brian Eno begins with Low, which is a great place to start and immediately followed this album in terms of chronology. Low begins the Berlin trilogy, so called because it was made when he lived in Berlin with Iggy Pop and got sober. The title track of the next album, Heroes, is one you should save for a reaction video. Given your reaction to "Biko" by Peter Gabriel, you probably will appreciate the larger context of that song, "Heroes."
One band I want to put you onto, if you're not already familiar, is the German prog-rock band Can. If you want to take a deep dive in, check out the album Tago Mago. The drummer Jaki Liebezeit is amazing and gives the band a unique feel.
"Wild is the Wind" was going to be my funeral song. Then "No Plan" was released...
Where are you now?
@@davidcopson5800 Second Avenue, just out of view...
Thanks for noting that Dmitri Tiomkin is the composer of this song, with Ned Washington as lyricist...
If you can't decide which album to do next, why not jump the shark and react to "Live at the Tower". A great mix of a lot of his hits with great sound quality.
Ah Seal, you have to do Crazy and the tune with Adamski. Btw check out this song as sung by Nina Simone. Uff George Murray’s basslines
He was a big NinaSimone fan who famously covered this song before Bowie. Both were good friends. There's a very funny vid of a very drunk Nina looking for Bowie in her audience.
You should move to "Low" next to see how his style changed so completely within twelve months.
Which Bowie album to do next? Why, "Heroes", I'd say! Cheerios from an autumn coloured country in Scandinavia ...
Please do hunky dory or ziggy stardust🙏
Seriously Justin....you need to check out the next 4 Bowie albums in chronological order. From Station to Station right through to Scary Monsters makes so much sense.
Johnny Mathis did this song in 1957.
You need to watch the music video
Do Young Americans next, one of his best albums.