[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
David Bowie — Always Crashing in the Same Car
Album: Low
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2144









Released: 1977
Length: 3:24
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Every chance, every chance that I take
I take it on the road
Those kilometers and the red lights
I was always looking left and right
Oh, but I'm always crashing in the same car

Jasmine, I saw you peeping
As I pushed my foot down to the floor
I was going round and round the hotel garage
Must have been touching close to 94
Oh, but I'm always crashing in the same car
Comments (213)add comment
Some people refuse to ever learn.
Aptly titled album. Solid - no rating. 
always think this is Velvet Underground when hearing it in the background
Maybe he should try a different car?
Or take some driving lessons.   ; )
Just look @ the profile of this beautiful musician. He gifted us SO much,
This is a great title for a song!! 
I can relate!
 Rick_V wrote:

This past April, I took a tour of the studio where Low, Heroes, and Lodger were recorded (or at least engineered) - Hansa By-The-Wall studio in Berlin. Very cool place. Also saw the apartment where Bowie and Iggy lived while in Berlin on Hauptstrasse. Was great to walk around Berlin while listening to Low, Heroes, and Lodger.





Great! But i must complete by saying that the session for"Low" was mainly registered at the Château d'Hérouville St Clair, in "my sherish" Normandy.
There is each year a great festival at the same place, the Festival of Beauregard, if you come in Normandie, don't miss it. Every year i think that David was in the same place...
An album covered by Philip Glass no less
Excellent!
 lizardking wrote:

Mr. Bowie is making records in the great beyond now?  Awesome!  If that's the case, I'll assume he's with a bunch of other rockers, and then when it's my time I wont be so afraid of it!


David Jones created, then killed off many characters: Ziggy, Thin White Duke, Diamond Dog…and I think he’s killed off Bowie after seeing poor health/heart attack and uncertainty of time creeping up on him. Look at the pics of him a few days before he died of liver cancer. Does he look ill? Or even gaunt?
I figure he’s off somewhere enjoying the rest of his life. Godspeed.
 h8rhater wrote:


Not buying that Station To Station and Young Americans were irrelevant.  Not.  Buying.  This sounds like some kinda hipster-take to me.
 

Absolutely.  Station To Station is among his very finest.
 fredhatman wrote:
Bowie at his most Lou Reediest. Sublime.
 

Did Bowie crash that car on Dirty Blvd.?

Otherwise I don't get the Lou Reed reference
for me the very best bowie number
 jkamm14 wrote:

The "gated drum" sound on the snare drum was actually created by a digital phase shifter that producer Tony Visconti brought to the studio during the recording of Low, which was the first time it was used on a commercial album release. I always wondered how they got that sound!

Peter Gabriel (thanks to producer Hugh Padgham)
 would later feature a drum sound with "true" gated reverb on the song "Intruder", played by Phil Collins who would later use it to great effect in later Genesis/solo albums (including that famous, iconic drum fill in "In The Air Tonight").  

This is an interesting read.

http://recordingology.com/2015...
 
 Yes, the story goes that it was Hugh Padgham who accidentally "discovered" the sound, but Padgham was the engineer on that album; Steve Lillywhite was the producer.

.
Bowie at his most Lou Reediest. Sublime.
 Steely_D wrote:
Low is one of the great rock iconic albums. Besides the fact that it marks Bowie's resurgence into importance (from a period of cocaine-induced irrelevance) - it also is a sonic wonder.

Listen to these gated drums, the whole production of this. The whole album feels fresh, intelligent, and important.

Having said that, there's a better version of this on the Bowie @ the Beeb album. Amazingly intimate and lush. Strong recommendation. 
 

Not buying that Station To Station and Young Americans were irrelevant.  Not.  Buying.  This sounds like some kinda hipster-take to me.
 westslope wrote:

Ah yes.  Cocaine......  so much innocence, so much promise, so much wishful thinking,  so much bull shit.

Mind you, if I could get my mittens on some coca leaves, I would be all over it.

Maybe if it was not for the tobacco, David Bowie would still grace us with his presence.

Gotta ask Steely_D:   "Gated Drums?"  You are referring to the gated reverb, no cierto?  I understand the audio output but not the terminology, hence the question.

Final request:  keep up the DB commentary.  I enjoy it and as you might have guessed, in my ageing wisdom, I have developed a far keener appreciation of Bowie's music.
 
The "gated drum" sound on the snare drum was actually created by a digital phase shifter that producer Tony Visconti brought to the studio during the recording of Low, which was the first time it was used on a commercial album release. I always wondered how they got that sound!

Peter Gabriel (thanks to producer Hugh Padgham) would later feature a drum sound with "true" gated reverb on the song "Intruder", played by Phil Collins who would later use it to great effect in later Genesis/solo albums (including that famous, iconic drum fill in "In The Air Tonight").  

This is an interesting read.

http://recordingology.com/2015...
 Steely_D wrote:
Low is one of the great rock iconic albums. Besides the fact that it marks Bowie's resurgence into importance (from a period of cocaine-induced irrelevance) - it also is a sonic wonder.

Listen to these gated drums, the whole production of this. The whole album feels fresh, intelligent, and important.

Having said that, there's a better version of this on the Bowie @ the Beeb album. Amazingly intimate and lush. Strong recommendation. 
 
Ah yes.  Cocaine......  so much innocence, so much promise, so much wishful thinking,  so much bull shit.

Mind you, if I could get my mittens on some coca leaves, I would be all over it.

Maybe if it was not for the tobacco, David Bowie would still grace us with his presence.

Gotta ask Steely_D:   "Gated Drums?"  You are referring to the gated reverb, no cierto?  I understand the audio output but not the terminology, hence the question.

Final request:  keep up the DB commentary.  I enjoy it and as you might have guessed, in my ageing wisdom, I have developed a far keener appreciation of Bowie's music.
 Steely_D wrote:

I was a college sophomore, playing this repeatedly in my room to the point that my roommate would tell me to turn that shit off. He has since apologized for being wrong. Also, I turned him on to Dylan via Highway 61 Revisited. He was/is a brilliant guy - but these just weren't on his radar at that point. Now he runs a great record store near Austin.

 
Well, it took me quite some time to love Bowie, too. It wasn't until my early  twenties. I know some friends tried to convert me much earlier, First time when I was 15 - no idea why …
Master Bowie
 JohnnySockhead wrote:
This album's music barely registered in my neck of the woods back when I left for college in 1980-84. It took a few short years to grow on me. Now the youngsters get it better than we did.

 
I was a college sophomore, playing this repeatedly in my room to the point that my roommate would tell me to turn that shit off. He has since apologized for being wrong. Also, I turned him on to Dylan via Highway 61 Revisited. He was/is a brilliant guy - but these just weren't on his radar at that point. Now he runs a great record store near Austin.
 Steely_D wrote:
Low is one of the great rock iconic albums. Besides the fact that it marks Bowie's resurgence into importance (from a period of cocaine-induced irrelevance) - it also is a sonic wonder.

Listen to these gated drums, the whole production of this. The whole album feels fresh, intelligent, and important.

Having said that, there's a better version of this on the Bowie @ the Beeb album. Amazingly intimate and lush. Strong recommendation. 

 
I completely agree with this. Well said.
Side 1  is a 10 Side 2 is a 0
...Jasmine, I saw you peeping
 NorthernLad wrote: Posted: May 16, 2016 - 00:02
Bill you are at the top of your game.

Oh yeah, David, so are you. 

 
Mr. Bowie is making records in the great beyond now?  Awesome!  If that's the case, I'll assume he's with a bunch of other rockers, and then when it's my time I wont be so afraid of it!


 JohnnySockhead wrote:
This album's music barely registered in my neck of the woods back when I left for college in 1980-84. It took a few short years to grow on me. Now the youngsters get it better than we did.

 
yep, Bowie was ahead of his time
to be followed by Radiohead's 'Airbag'?
Always loved this one. The repeating synth-cello line is the glue.
Bill you are at the top of your game.

Oh yeah, David, so are you. 
great album too, of the 27 Bowie albums I rank this in the top 2 or 3
It's been a go to for a while
This album's music barely registered in my neck of the woods back when I left for college in 1980-84. It took a few short years to grow on me. Now the youngsters get it better than we did.
 OceanBlue wrote:
Does every song on this album have an annoying and repetitive sound effect in the background ruin it completely?

 
This era of his work (1977-79) is much more electronic than his earlier (and later) stuff and Brian Eno collaborated on this, so yes, there are a lot of electronic "sound effects" on this album.  Whether or not they're annoying is a matter of opinion, I guess.  This album helped get me through high school in the late 1970s.
{#Frustrated}Unbelievable he is dead! I cannot comprehend it!
Rest in peace, genius. I know the death of David today at 8am in the morning (Europe/Madrid timezone), so aprox 7 hours ago, and I was sad all morning. With this set of music in RP today maybe my behaviour will be happiest. Only maybe. Depending on the music set chosed by  Bill :)
{#Heartkiss} thank you Bill
{#Notworthy}{#Meditate}{#Cool}{#Sunny}
 Kaw wrote:
Wow 2 Bowie songs in a row to honor him. Way to go RP.

 
Let the music play....
what a loss ! two days after his new cd comes out RIP
R.I.P.
Wow 2 Bowie songs in a row to honor him. Way to go RP.
Low is one of the great rock iconic albums. Besides the fact that it marks Bowie's resurgence into importance (from a period of cocaine-induced irrelevance) - it also is a sonic wonder.

Listen to these gated drums, the whole production of this. The whole album feels fresh, intelligent, and important.

Having said that, there's a better version of this on the Bowie @ the Beeb album. Amazingly intimate and lush. Strong recommendation. 
Genius - noone synthesized influences and created unique sounds like Bowie - ever.
 Cynaera wrote:
I'd never heard this album before, but I like this song. I can relate - I only have one vehicle, and I keep passing out in it.

 
Damn! That lady had a way with words.
{#Motor} Was this written for Billy Joel?? lol
Does every song on this album have an annoying and repetitive sound effect in the background ruin it completely?
An overall 6.9 - Really?! {#Think}
Thank you, Brian Eno.

Love that treatment on that wonderfully tortured solo. 
Nice Music 
 oldfart48 wrote:
another fine example of .........CRAP.............. no talent over rated dreck..............

 
We may not have much in common, but well always have Bowie and Squeall to hate.   {#Cheers}  {#Lol}
 oldfart48 wrote:
another fine example of .........CRAP.............. no talent over rated dreck..............

 
I Agree...superbad
 Cynaera wrote:
I'd never heard this album before, but I like this song. I can relate - I only have one vehicle, and I keep passing out in it.

 
Wow, George Michael listens to Radio Paradise - hiya George, I loved 'Faith'
 oldfart48 wrote:
ALWAYS IREVELIVENT
 
Who knew it was possible to make 23 spelling mistakes in a single word?
Very entertaining.
 oldfart48 wrote:
ALWAYS IREVELIVENT, 
Silly, pointless post of the day. {#Doh}

This whole era of Bowie caught me in a weird way when I was younger (early 80's). I liked it but thought it a bit cold. Well guess what, I was right LOL. That's the appeal.


 This is a good album to just 'pass out' with..side two is trippy for sure.  Cynaera wrote:
I'd never heard this album before, but I like this song. I can relate - I only have one vehicle, and I keep passing out in it.

 


 oldfart48 wrote:

total ego driven poser......his output is tripe

 
I'm guessing B.C. refers to your favourite music era?
Me like. Haven't heard much Bowie other than the radio stuff. This is worth another listen.
4 time! Why so much hate!
Jealous?

oldfart48 wrote:
another fine example of .........CRAP.............. no talent over rated dreck..............

 


 whomhow wrote:
My god, how pretentious it sounds... His friend did much better album same year, by the way.

 
total ego driven poser......his output is tripe
Always amazing.
my wife just had her "Berlin Period"
My god, how pretentious it sounds... His friend did much better album same year, by the way.
Not in the mood for this right now.
 Rick_V wrote:

This past April, I took a tour of the studio where Low, Heroes, and Lodger were recorded (or at least engineered) - Hansa By-The-Wall studio in Berlin. Very cool place. Also saw the apartment where Bowie and Iggy lived while in Berlin on Hauptstrasse. Was great to walk around Berlin while listening to Low, Heroes, and Lodger.



 
Very cool!  I wouldn't have thought to do that - will be sure to do the same next time in Berlin!
 oldfart48 wrote:
like this ahole ever had to sleep outside................. he would not survive  a homeless reality............./........ pretty boy rich ahole  no talent bs.i give it a one as there are no minuses.  squeal is better and he is damn near imposable to take
 
Oh dear, grand-dad's off his meds again.

This past April, I took a tour of the studio where Low, Heroes, and Lodger were recorded (or at least engineered) - Hansa By-The-Wall studio in Berlin. Very cool place. Also saw the apartment where Bowie and Iggy lived while in Berlin on Hauptstrasse. Was great to walk around Berlin while listening to Low, Heroes, and Lodger.


 (former member) wrote:

Low is one of the great rock iconic albums. Besides the fact that it marks Bowie's resurgence into importance (from a period of cocaine-induced irrelevance) - it also is a sonic wonder.

Listen to these gated drums, the whole production of this. The whole album feels fresh, intelligent, and important.

Having said that, there's a better version of this on the Bowie @ the Beeb album. Amazingly intimate and lush. Strong recommendation. 

 

ALWAYS IREVELIVENT,
 ThePoose wrote:

Whose Kool-Aid do you drink then?

 
any other...............PSD.
another fine example of .........CRAP.............. no talent over rated dreck..............
like this ahole ever had to sleep outside................. he would not survive  a homeless reality............./........ pretty boy rich ahole  no talent bs.i give it a one as there are no minuses.  squeal is better and he is damn near imposable to take
Always crashing in the same car... reminds me of Toonces, the driving cat.  {#Jump}
This song is superb ... and so true ...
great..
 shutter wrote:
I think this is my favorite Bowie album.  Lotsa Eno influence.
 

Very definitely mine too-Spring 1977
 shutter wrote:
I think this is my favorite Bowie album.  Lotsa Eno influence.
 

Very definitely mine too-Spring 19977
 (former member) wrote:

Except for his spelling of "unparalleled"
 

Thanks form...er....Romeo.  corrected on original
Fine to hear that "on the radio!" Thanks.
 lemmoth wrote:

Keep trying - his range and variety and craftsmanship are unparrelled in the history of rock and roll.
 
{#Eh}
One of the best songs by one of the best artists ever  - sublime in the true Romantic sense of the word.
Bill has got to spot playing my playlist.  Bowie, Radiohead and Costello all in the last 20 minutes.  How the heck am I supposed to work.
 Shimmer wrote:
Plodding. Sorry I don't drink the Bowie kool-aid.

 
Whose Kool-Aid do you drink then?
The Sovereign!
bravooooooooooooooo
 unclehud wrote:
Reminds me of an old joke ...
 
Drunk comes out of the bar, looks around, lights a cigarette, walks directly into a lamppost, and is knocked on his butt.  Gets up, dusts himself off, turns around unsteadily a few times, walks directly into the same lamppost, which knocks him on his butt again.  Gets up, scratches his head, wobbles around, and crashes yet again into the very same lamppost.
 
Despairingly he shouts, "Lost!  In an impenetrable forest!"
 
{#Lol}{#Lol}{#Lol}

Reminds me of an old joke ...
 
Drunk comes out of the bar, looks around, lights a cigarette, walks directly into a lamppost, and is knocked on his butt.  Gets up, dusts himself off, turns around unsteadily a few times, walks directly into the same lamppost, which knocks him on his butt again.  Gets up, scratches his head, wobbles around, and crashes yet again into the very same lamppost.
 
Despairingly he shouts, "Lost!  In an impenetrable forest!"
I think this is my favorite Bowie album.  Lotsa Eno influence.
Warm. Leatherette.
Hey Ma....they're playing my song.....
 
ah, the story of my life, the same car, same defects, need to trade it in :-). The simple poetry of Bowie strikes again, great song, brilliant album, love it
 Cynaera wrote:
I'd never heard this album before, but I like this song. I can relate - I only have one vehicle, and I keep passing out in it.
 
Has anybody contacted Homeland Security?

I'd never heard this album before, but I like this song. I can relate - I only have one vehicle, and I keep passing out in it.
 dmax wrote:
Except for his spelling of "unparalleled"
 
Can't argue with that!  ; )

Love this song! Makes me feel woozy!!{#Bounce}
 lemmoth wrote:
. . . his range and variety and craftsmanship are unparrelled in the history of rock and roll.
 
I guess I'm going to have to join the "Lemmoth is always right" club.   ; )


 horstman wrote:


Ferrari!!!
 

Hope the thrill was worth it.
I was not familiar with this album until I heard this song on RP - liked it enough to get the CD and IMHO it is a brilliant piece of work - takes a few listens, but it fits together beautifully.
 lemmoth wrote:

Keep trying - his range and variety and craftsmanship are unparrelled in the history of rock and roll.
 

{#Yes} Agreed!
 patrick_larson wrote:
Every time Bowie comes on I want to punch my computer. I don't get the allure of this guy.  I do like "Heroes" and "China Girl" (only because Stevie Ray plays guitar on it).

 
Keep trying - his range and variety and craftsmanship are unparalleled in the history of rock and roll.
Plodding. Sorry I don't drink the Bowie kool-aid.

Great great non radio song from a fabulous and massively influential album.  Unfortunately some he influenced couldn't quite execute as well as Bowie.
 tapatia1072 wrote:


I agree. This album really blew my mind the first time I heard it - think I was maybe in jr. high school and checked it out from the library. It won me over and turned me into a lifelong Bowie fan.
 
 
+1.  Lodger is another good one from the same era.

 Rick_V wrote:
A great song that's even better when heard within the context of the album. LOW is a must-have for any serious music fan.
 

I agree. This album really blew my mind the first time I heard it - think I was maybe in jr. high school and checked it out from the library. It won me over and turned me into a lifelong Bowie fan.
 crockydile wrote:

 

Ferrari!!!
 crockydile wrote:

 
Is that a Toyota?

 horstman wrote:

Essex,

If I insulted you as to your sexual orientation, my apologies. It did not appear that you were offering an olive branch but rather expressing yourself in your crass wonderful way about all things negative towards Bowie and his music.

Have a nice day and welcome back. I'd say I missed you but in all honesty, that would be a lie.
 
...who knows, in another time, another place we could have been like Butch and Sundance...Abbot and Costello, er Fred and Ginger...


I think of the "always crashing" thing as always having the same kinds of screw-ups and hang-ups.
I know EXACTLY how that feels.


When this song came out, I liked the apparent ambiguity of the line "I'm always crashing in the same car." Was he always having car accidents in the car? Or just going to sleep?  I never listened to any of the other lyrics because I never wanted to find out.  LOL

Always loved this song, BTW. As I remember, Robert Fripp plays on the album...or not...I do know that Eno's in there!

 EssexTex wrote:

I don't care if a person's gay or not, I'm surprised at your reaction, and as for you "not messing with strangers"...don't flatter yourself...I was offering an olive branch not a night of man love. 
 
Essex,

If I insulted you as to your sexual orientation, my apologies. It did not appear that you were offering an olive branch but rather expressing yourself in your crass wonderful way about all things negative towards Bowie and his music.

Have a nice day and welcome back. I'd say I missed you but in all honesty, that would be a lie.
 aurora1957 wrote:
.. the synth sounds totally evil like some kinda weird ass buncha snakes
 
this a bad thing??

this song sounded good in the set it was played in with all the blandness i was craving a little melodic noise which Eno was so good at bringing out in the albums he produced.
Totally agree with Ricky V and the others.  One of my favorite albums and loved the Bowie Berlin era.  I believe that most of Bowie's creative dark side comes out when he works with Eno.  So much for the subtle 'LOW' profile cover.
horstman wrote:


Essex, you sad Texan fool, just because Bowie liked to hug guys (and maybe more) doesn't mean that the rest of us Bowie LOVERS do as well.

Quite honestly, your hating Bowie doesn't affect me one way or the other. It just shows me how stupid you are in your utter simplistic hatred of one artist.

Now I hate Neil Young and profess to it honestly, but I have songs of his that I have rated a 10 and a 9 and I have good things to say about him too. You, you simply offer your crass, unadulturated crap for the masses to suck on like sour milk.

And do you really want a hug? Because quite honestly, I don't mess around with strangers, and you are one sick little puppy.{#Ass}

Ha ha...my reference to "hugging you" has no connection to anything Bowie's done in the past present or future...how funny that you would think that...I don't care if a person's gay or not, I'm surprised at your reaction, and as for you "not messing with strangers"...don't flatter yourself...I was offering an olive branch not a night of man love.
Check out other people's comments and you will see I'm not alone in disliking this particular song. However I don't like the man as an artist...and you don't like that so boo hoo to you.
When you're not listening to Bowie (if ever) I suggest you enroll in some anger management classes as you're coming across like
"Yosemite Sam"{#Ass}

A great song that's even better when heard within the context of the album. LOW is a must-have for any serious music fan.
totally dig this song.

Bowie is a unique kind of awesomeness!


my favorite bowie album too!

 


Every time Bowie comes on I want to punch my computer. I don't get the allure of this guy.  I do like "Heroes" and "China Girl" (only because Stevie Ray plays guitar on it).

My favorite Bowie album!