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David Bowie — Sound and Vision
Album: Low
Avg rating:
7.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3817









Released: 1977
Length: 2:58
Plays (last 30 days): 5
Ahhh...
Ahhh...

Doo, doo, doo, do-doh
Doo, doo, doo, do-doh

Don't you wonder sometimes
'Bout sound and vision

Blue, blue, electric blue
That's the color of my room
Where I will live
Blue, blue

Pale blinds drawn all day
Nothing to do, nothing to say
Blue, blue

I will sit right down, waiting for the gift of sound and vision
And I will sing, waiting for the gift of sound and vision
Drifting into my solitude, over my head

Don't you wonder sometimes
'Bout sound and vision
Comments (348)add comment
Bowie's unique take on the Diddley Beat.
The Talent that is BOWIE
Another phase in the career of this amazing musical chameleon.
"What do you do for a living?"
"I'm a musician."
"Really?  What instrument do you play?"
"Hot cast iron skillet."
"Hot cast iron skillet?  That's not an instrument!"
"It is when you add a spoonful of cold water to it.  You've probably heard my work on David Bowie's song "Sound and Vision"."
tchoon!
 jbonomo62 wrote:


Just keep listening to what you like and keep your opinions to yourself


...he likes it. He likes it a lot!

 gregskrtic wrote:

i remember buying this album on cassette way back in '77 and thinking, this is the "shit"!!!!  now 40+ years later, this is STILL THE SHIT!!!!!



Seems like you are smelling yourself!
Damn i miss bowie
Sweet Jesus I love David Bowie's music. 
 gregskrtic wrote:

i remember buying this album on cassette way back in '77 and thinking, this is the "shit"!!!!  now 40+ years later, this is STILL THE SHIT!!!!!



Just keep listening to what you like and keep your opinions to yourself
the bass line is just ,just...just..
 rpdevotee wrote:

I daresay this song is musical genius




Yes you may...
It's a crime that  this song is so short...could have gone on 3 or 4x as long...
Ok, Bowie is just such a natural segue from John Prine. Bill & Becca…🤔
 jnhashmi wrote:

This song has one hook and it keeps repeating over and over ad nauseam. Not much here. I know, classic and all that. But that's what I'm hearing.




nobody cares what you hear
This song could be twice as long and I wouldn't be mad about it
This song has one hook and it keeps repeating over and over ad nauseam. Not much here. I know, classic and all that. But that's what I'm hearing.
Still outstanding and timeless after all these years✌️
 Matt_Maurer wrote:

Way ahead of his time !


Can't believe this is from the '70s. Waaaay ahead of his time.
 Scooter1066 wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyO5MRTbL2s

Download the Free Studio converter - converts it to mp3

Or you could, you know, buy it?
i remember buying this album on cassette way back in '77 and thinking, this is the "shit"!!!!  now 40+ years later, this is STILL THE SHIT!!!!!
Way ahead of his time !’nn
New wave started here - the prototype
 Proclivities wrote:

Depending on which area of upstate NY he was broadcasting from, that DJ may have found just about anything depressing.  Great tune.
 
LOL. Keep up the good work. I like your comments.
 kurtster wrote:
I'll take sound over vision, but that's just me.  I can hear colors ...
 
My late mother-in-law was able to hear the Aurora Borealis.
 kurtster wrote:
I'll take sound over vision, but that's just me.  I can hear colors ...
 

That's what Helen Keller said.
The Sea and Cake do a nice little cover of this song on 2002's One Bedroom.
I'll take sound over vision, but that's just me.  I can hear colors ...
Long Live                                                                                                                               Radio Paradise
My rating is   a       STRONG                                                                                         8  -Most  Excellent 
I daresay this song is musical genius
Looooooooooooooooove this song!
Bliss... 10
 boontonite wrote:
I was listening to this on the radio in upstate New York around the time it came out. The DJ stopped the song about 1/2 way through, saying it was too depressing. I didn't agree.
 
Depending on which area of upstate NY he was broadcasting from, that DJ may have found just about anything depressing.  Great tune.
I'm going to sit right down, waiting for the gift of some ambition...
1977....So far ahead of his time...love this guy
 floydoftherocks wrote:
{#Bananajam}{#Cowboy}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Drummer}

RP needs a snorting icon in honor of the Thin White Duke... {#Cheesygrin}

 
His coke spoon was part of the collection of artifacts that were displayed in the Bowie show that I believe had its only American show in Chicago in 2015. Might this be in reference to that dining implement?
 jjtwister wrote:


 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyO5MRTbL2s

Download the Free Studio converter - converts it to mp3
 ShamanManu wrote:

{#Cheers}Thanks for turning me on tothe BECK vid I have the Bowie version how/where can I download the BECK version of the vid
thanks or your help
jjtwister

 
 

10
.
I love the Belin Trilogies,
at first I liked "Low" the best but here lately I have been listening to "Lodger" and I think it's my favorite,
if you would like to pair a couple of albums try "Lodger" then play Shearwater's "Jet Plane And Oxbow" right after,
sublime

 
 dkwalika wrote:
Does this get played here a lot, or is it just me?

 
Don't you wonder some-tiiiiiiiiiiiii-mes?
It's never too much of David Bowie goodness  {#Notworthy}
{#Roflol}{#Roflol} Skydog wrote:

how much do you get played?

 


 dkwalika wrote:
Does this get played here a lot, or is it just me?

 
3 plays in the last 30 days; is that "a lot"?
 dkwalika wrote:
Does this get played here a lot, or is it just me?

 
how much do you get played?
...waiting for the gift of some ambition...
True visionary...this is so different than anything else of that time...thanks Mr.Bowie
 mgkiwi wrote:
Stop spitting on the fire!!

 {#Roflol}


 dkwalika wrote:
Does this get played here a lot, or is it just me?

 
Only once a week which is not enough to my liking.
That drum intro. perks me up everytime.
This is fun.
{#Dancingbanana_2}
9
Does this get played here a lot, or is it just me?
 papersitter wrote:
Beck does something amazing with this. Best in headphones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyO5MRTbL2s

 
{#Cheers}
 papersitter wrote:
Beck does something amazing with this. Best in headphones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyO5MRTbL2s

 
I watched it repeatedly when it first came out and was very much unimpressed. The tech and concept was cool, but otherwise bleh.
 boontonite wrote:
I was listening to this on the radio in upstate New York around the time it came out. The DJ stopped the song about 1/2 way through, saying it was too depressing. I didn't agree.

 
Maybe DJ was depressive{#Wink}
 Dazzerb wrote:
easy 10.  Superb Bowie

 
Absolutely!
Where Robert Smith found his inspiration for synth strings. :)
easy 10.  Superb Bowie
would it be to much to do a Bowie song every hour or two?
 
I was listening to this on the radio in upstate New York around the time it came out. The DJ stopped the song about 1/2 way through, saying it was too depressing. I didn't agree.
another good pick Bill
{#Bananajam}{#Cowboy}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Drummer}

RP needs a snorting icon in honor of the Thin White Duke... {#Cheesygrin}
 aspicer wrote:
Got a new album coming out in early 2016....fingers crossed for excellence!

 
Passed with flying colors if I do say so myself! {#Mrgreen}  More solemnly R.I.P
Beck does something amazing with this. Best in headphones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyO5MRTbL2s
I pulled this album out the other day and gave it a full spin (just got a new turntable). I always loved this song but don't remember ever listening to Low all that much. I still don't like it as it mostly lacks melody, but it's a fascinating study - very ahead of its time.  
Glorious but sad.......
!st time I've heard this since Dave died.  It's still exquisite.  Nicely done, & R.I.P.
 stegokitty wrote:
It's almost never a bad time for some Bowie.

 
almost. 3
It's almost never a bad time for some Bowie.
Got a new album coming out in early 2016....fingers crossed for excellence!
Part of the Berlin Trilogy.  Great albums.
Beck's cover of this is incredible. It's massive with a cast of 100s. Not at all like the original, but a clever way to hear the song in a new way.
heard a lot of good songs today on RP, but this is the first one to make me stop what I was doing and turn up the volume. {#Cheers}
{#Bananajam}mein held
I wonder how come am never tired of listening Bowie ? :D
cool song, but that album photo of Bowie always brings to mind a fantastic film:
The Man Who Fell to Earth is a 1976 British science fiction film directed by Nicolas Roeg.
A.MA.ZING.
 Al_Dente wrote:
While listening to this through decent headphones, the strange, somewhat random, piston-like sound in my left ear makes this song almost unbearable.

 
It's always been there; I heard that in my headphones over 35 years ago.  The digital remixing seems to have made it more prominent though.
 nszasz wrote:
Nice,,,, now check out Beck's "cover" of this with 160 musicians!

https://youtu.be/QnOmrDzRrGQ

  Although it's an interesting technical achievement, it's really a bad version of the song.
 Al_Dente wrote:
While listening to this through decent headphones, the strange, somewhat random, piston-like sound in my left ear makes this song almost unbearable.

 

Try listening to it with just the right headphone. Big improvement.
 Al_Dente wrote:
While listening to this through decent headphones, the strange, somewhat random, piston-like sound in my left ear makes this song almost unbearable.

 
Didn't bother me till you mentioned it. Aaaargh
Great song---too much airplay
Stop spitting on the fire!!
love it...
   beautiful.....excellence   {#Guitarist}{#Sunny}{#Clap}
 Limpopoking wrote:

I bought it, left it in the living room while I was at work and when I got home, it had swept the floors, done the ironing and made my bed... You did it wrong mate.

 
That's great, But did it make the world a better place?  Did it feed the hungry, lighten the burden of the oppressed masses?  Rally the proletariate to rise up against the capitalist masters?
 lasker98 wrote:
Possibly my favourite Bowie song.

 
{#Clap}   ditto
 helloitsme wrote:
Does anyone else remember the cymbal crash/hiss being a bit softer back in the 70s?

And my hearing was better then too.

 
Always the same volume --- a nice Hhhhhiiiiiiisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.
Possibly my favourite Bowie song.
Does anyone else remember the cymbal crash/hiss being a bit softer back in the 70s?

And my hearing was better then too.
Not that inspired  -- by Bowie standards 
Sound & vision - that accounts for a lot of it. There is also touch, a little bit of smell & taste.
 Limpopoking wrote:

I bought it, left it in the living room while I was at work and when I got home, it had swept the floors, done the ironing and made my bed... You did it wrong mate.

 

What, no dinner? Sheesh!
 rdo wrote:
This was the only Bowie cd I ever bought. Didn'd do anything for me.
 
I bought it, left it in the living room while I was at work and when I got home, it had swept the floors, done the ironing and made my bed... You did it wrong mate.
While listening to this through decent headphones, the strange, somewhat random, piston-like sound in my left ear makes this song almost unbearable.
 rdo wrote:
This was the only Bowie cd I ever bought. Didn'd do anything for me.
 
Low is an acquired taste. If you started here, I can see how you got no further. Should have started with Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, or Hunky Dory or Man Who Sold the World.

Go back, browse the catalog. Low was part of the Berlin years, heavily influenced by Brian Eno and the Lou Reed, and Iggy Pop. Very European (and not at all British).
 marcelbr wrote:
Funny indeed, and did you know that Nick Lowe had an EP out called "Bowi"? See:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowi


indypaul wrote:


That's funny! Here I was sitting here thinking "Great, a Nick Lowe song" and then I look at the playlist. OOPS!!!

 
Yeah, it reminds me of "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass"

 
Nick Lowe titled that EP "Bowi" -with the dropped letter "E" as a joke, since David Bowie had recently released this album "Low" - leaving the "E" off of his last name.  I bought both records when they first came out and still have them.
Funny indeed, and did you know that Nick Lowe had an EP out called "Bowi"? See:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowi


indypaul wrote:


That's funny! Here I was sitting here thinking "Great, a Nick Lowe song" and then I look at the playlist. OOPS!!!

 
Yeah, it reminds me of "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass"
his album "changes" is excellent.Also 'Year of the Diamond Dogs.
 indypaul wrote:


That's funny! Here I was sitting here thinking "Great, a Nick Lowe song" and then I look at the playlist. OOPS!!!

 
Yeah, it reminds me of "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass"
One of the all-time great Bowie tracks.

I think I finally understand how underrated this album is.


Personally, I like the funky tone on the bass.  But this is a dancing tune, with the exaggerated Bowie backup singing to keep a smile on my face!
{#Daisy}
 must have been the herbicide  rdo wrote:
This was the only Bowie cd I ever bought. Didn'd do anything for me.
 


Nice,,,, now check out Beck's "cover" of this with 160 musicians!

https://youtu.be/QnOmrDzRrGQ
El gran Bowie superando su adicción y renaciendo en Berlín, uno de sus mejores discos {#Music}
This song makes me think about you and that afternoon laughing about Bowies looks... do you remember?
This song reminds me of bouncing along in my first car, a baby blue AMC Hornet....hideous vehicle, got me everywhere for 4 years. Loved it! As I seat danced, driving the beltway, my seat back broke and I almost caused a traffic calamity of epic proportion. David Bowie saved me, really he did. 
This is absolute crap ... I give it a 10 ... because I love it ... God help me!  (a conflicted RP Hater)
Never heard this before. I like it. Catchy guitar and bass.
Banana split agrees !
{#Bananasplit}
Just terrible.
This was the only Bowie cd I ever bought. Didn'd do anything for me.
short and sweet
{#Daisy}
great song from one of his best records....
 indypaul wrote:


That's funny! Here I was sitting here thinking "Great, a Nick Lowe song" and then I look at the playlist. OOPS!!!
 
Struck me the same way and I'm a Bowie fan.
Magnificent, joyful riff, exquisite production (the drums!), kind of silly David Bowie-sounding-like-Dracula-singing-about-being-a-shut-in-coke-fiend lyrics but definitely one of life's theme songs...
more than 30 years away and and wee can keep on dancing , i love this song.
bill likes it a lot. it gets played pretty regularly.