Actually the second half of a single show, this recording begins with Bowie offering a compelling version of “Station To Station,” the title track from the 1976 album of the same name, to open the second set. From the moment he sings the initial line: “…the return of the thin white duke…” the crowd is all his - on their feet, and reveling in the homecoming. From there, things only escalate. He then launches into a powerful version of “Cracked Actor,” a tune from 1973’s Aladdin Sane, drawing a special roar from the audience when he delivers the controversial line “…suck baby suck,…entire summary
David Bowie - vocals, guitar
David LeBott - keyboards
Lenny Pickett - saxophone
Stan Harrison - baritone sax
Steve Elson - tenor sax
Carlos Alomar - guitar
Earl Slick - lead guitar
Carmen Rojas - bass
Tony Thompson - drums
Joyce and Kevin Simms - backing vocals
Actually the second half of a single show, this recording begins with Bowie offering a compelling version of “Station To Station,” the title track from the 1976 album of the same name, to open the second set. From the moment he sings the initial line: “…the return of the thin white duke…” the crowd is all his - on their feet, and reveling in the homecoming. From there, things only escalate. He then launches into a powerful version of “Cracked Actor,” a tune from 1973’s Aladdin Sane, drawing a special roar from the audience when he delivers the controversial line “…suck baby suck, give me your head…”
Leading a monumental, 10-piece band, he grooves through a collection of mostly hit songs that includes “Space Oddity" (his first hit single), "Young Americans” (his first dance hit), “Fame” (which he co-wrote with John Lennon) and a trio of all-out rockers: “Cat People,” “Putting Out Fire” and “Jean Genie.” This tour only featured one song from his legendary Ziggy Stardust LP, “Star” - but it's a memorable one, nonetheless. Noticeably absent from the show was the usual Bowie show-stopper “Suffragette City,” but he more than makes up for it with what would have been, back then, a mix of classic and modern Bowie.
Among the other highlights are a version of “Modern Love,” which kicks like a mule, and a spunky version of the Who classic “I Can’t Explain.”
A must for all Bowie fans; proof that, no matter what the persona, the man could rock out with the best of them.
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