"Christiane F. Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo" Original Soundtrack
	previously released material
	Released on April? 1981
	US CHART POSITION #135
	Find it at GEMM
BL 43606 cover

O ne of the more interesting albums to slip out during the silent age (1981-1982) was this soundtrack to the German film, Christiane F. Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo (“We Children From The Train Station Zoo” would be a literal translation). Like many people who bought the album, I never saw the film, though I did sit through The Linguini Incident, so penance was served. (If you were seduced into watching Just A Gigolo, give yourself an extra star.) The soundtrack’s lone favor is the inclusion of an English/German version of “Heroes” that also graced a single; interesting if a little ich-y to English ears. The remainder of the record compiles tracks from the singer’s German period: Station To Station through to Lodger, a task that might have fallen to Changestwobowie if RCA had been on the ball. It’s in this capacity where Christiane F. excels, capturing many of the more interesting moments from these difficult works: “Boys Keep Swinging,” “Station To Station” (the live version from Stage), “Warszawa,” “Sense of Doubt.” It’s refreshing to hear the instrumental works given equal time alongside the more popular songs, as they’re an essential part of Bowie’s Berlin experiment. In a sense, Christiane F. comes to their rescue, providing a natural milieu for the mixture of moody soundscapes and songs of love and rebellion. The orange rating here actually reflects the enigmatic nature of listening to a soundtrack for a film so few have seen; if this had been packaged as a separate compilation, I’d have no trouble recommending it over Changestwobowie or even Changesonebowie for that matter. The selection isn’t supposed to present the popular side of a prickly period, instead loping over Low in search of more evocative slices that had already invited a soundtrack in the minds of listeners. Someday I’ll watch the film, likely straining to hear these songs in the background, but after years of fanciful speculation it may ultimately disappoint. The soundtrack does not, taking on a life separate of its namesake and ultimately surpassing it in legend.

BL 43606 back cover	BL 43606 lyric sleeve

TRACK LISTING

1. V-2 SCHNEIDER    (David Bowie)    3:10
2. TVC-15    (David Bowie)    3:29
3. HEROES/HELDEN    (David Bowie/Brian Eno/Maass)    6:08
4. BOYS KEEP SWINGING    (David Bowie/Brian Eno)    3:17
5. SENSE OF DOUBT    (David Bowie)    3:57
6. STATION TO STATION (LIVE)    (David Bowie)    8:50
7. LOOK BACK IN ANGER    (David Bowie/Brian Eno)    3:06
8. STAY    (David Bowie)    3:21
9. WARSZAWA    (David Bowie/Brian Eno)    6:20

CREDITS

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