In episode #26 of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez award their gold, silver and bronze medals for songs from David Bowie’s Station To Station.
Released in January 1976, Station to Station represented Bowie’s transition away from American soul influences toward the avant-garde European sensibilities that would define his late-1970s work with Brian Eno.
Station To Station introduced Bowie’s mysterious “Thin White Duke” persona — elegant, detached, and emotionally fractured. Recorded in Los Angeles during a turbulent period of Bowie’s life, the album blended art rock, funk, krautrock influences, and hypnotic electronic textures into one of his most acclaimed works.
The album reached #3 on the US Billboard 200, making it the highest charting album of Bowie's career. The major single from the album was Golden Years which peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Second single TVC 15 reached #64.
The musicians on the album formed one of Bowie’s most celebrated backing bands. Guitarist Carlos Alomar anchored the music with sharp
funk rhythms. George Murray and Dennis Davis created the sleek rhythmic
foundation that would continue into Bowie’s Berlin recordings. Keyboardist Roy Bittan of E Street Band fame and guitarist Earl Slick played roles as well. Producer Harry Maslin helped shape the album’s polished sound.
Culturally, Station to Station became enormously influential on post-punk, new wave, gothic rock, and alternative music. Its cold elegance and rhythmic experimentation inspired artists ranging from Joy Division and Talking Heads to later musicians such as Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead.
Medal Winners
Wild
Is The Wind
TVC
15
Station
To Station
Stay
Golden
Years
Bonus Tracks
Fame
Young
Americans
Space
Oddity
Rebel
Rebel
Cat
People (Putting Out Fire)
Wild
Is The Wind – Bowie Video
(Just
Like) Starting Over – John Lennon
Rockin
Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu – Johnny Rivers
When
You Wish Upon A Star -Jiminy Cricket/Cliff Edwards
Baby
Mine – Bonnie Raitt
The
Nearness Of You – Glen Miller & His Orchestra
Rawhide
– Frankie Lane
Town
Without Pity – Gene Pitney
Town
Without Pity – Ronnie Montrose
Wild
Is The Wind – Johhny Mathis
Wild
Is The Wind – Nina Simone
Do
Not Forsake Me, Oh, My Darling – Tex Ritter original soundtrack High Noon
Bennie
& The Jets – Elton John
Funeral
For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding – Elton John
Autobahn - Kraftwerk
Track Listing
Side One
Station To Station
Golden Years
Word On A Wing
Side Two
TVC 15
Stay
Wild Is The Wind
#StationToStation #DavidBowie #ThinWhiteDuke #GoldenYears
#TVC15 #ArtRock #ClassicAlbums #1976Music #BerlinTrilogy #RockHistory
Contact Info
Website: Gary Wenstrup
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