"Marks" (1972), their first release, is mostly instrumental with a highly jazzy feel. Quite versatile, it features snippets of calypso, circus music, Dixieland and (of all things!) country music. Their best progressive effort, however, is their second album "Mountain Queen" (1973) which features long instrumental passages with prominent lead guitar, whirling Hammond organ, dual saxophones, electric violin and catchy choruses in a slightly Canterbury style. With the release of "Nobody Can Wait Forever" (1975) and "Best Kept Secret" (1976), however, the band went for a more hard rock sound with shorter, more accessible tunes. Two live albums as well as six compilation cd's of their material were subsequently released by Polydor and various other record labels.With the band's cameback in 2003 they released "Blue Planet" (2005) and "Sailors & Sinners" (2009).
The symphonic style of "Mountain Queen" should appeal to progsters; "Nobody Can Wait Forever" is recommended if you like a more bluesy/funky approach.
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Central Station Hustle
Alquin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes it runs me down
Takes a friend to show the right place to go
when your hights are runnin' low
French parfum and long cigarette
whiskey sours at 'the Dugout', how can I forget
She cast her spell on the moment we met
'Nobody's perfect', lonely Harry said
things love can do to the mind
Oh but I wouldn't listen, I was out-a-head,
as I drifted away in a dream
Spent all my money, those nights together.
Whispers of love and promises forever
A lipstick message on the mirror saying:
'It could never' was the last I ever seen of her.
Me and Alphonso spent all night talking.
Sometimes it's hard, you gotta stand on your feet.
Why not forget it, you've passed it
It was fun while it lasted.
Heaven's waitin'for you just down the street.
The song "Central Station Hustle" by Alquin tells a story of a man's experiences at the central station, which seems to be a place of excitement, exhaustion, and some tragic love stories. The lyrics suggest that the city life can tire you out, but you can always rely on your friend's guidance to stay on track. The singer of the song explores the pleasures and downfalls of the station life. The song begins with the chorus "Central Station Hustle, every place I've been, sometimes it runs me down," which sets the tone for the rest of the verses.
The first verse paints a picture of the sensory experiences the central station has to offer such as French perfume, long cigarettes and whiskey sours at 'The Dugout.' The singer meets a woman who casts a love spell that he cannot resist, but she leaves him with just a message of heartbreak on the bathroom mirror. The second verse introduces a friend, Alphonso, who provides support and guidance in moments of uncertainty. The song's overall message is that even though life can feel like a hustle, you can always rely on friends and find joy in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Central station hustle, every place I've been
The hustle and bustle of every station I have been to
Sometimes it runs me down
At times, it gets too tiring to handle
Takes a friend to show the right place to go
It takes a good friend to guide you in the right direction
when your hights are runnin' low
when you are feeling low
French parfum and long cigarette
The fragrance of French perfume and a long cigarette
whiskey sours at 'the Dugout', how can I forget
Memories of drinking whiskey sours at the Dugout still linger
She cast her spell on the moment we met
I was enchanted by her the moment we met
by the light of the pinball - machine
As the pinball machine illuminated the room
'Nobody's perfect', lonely Harry said
Lonely Harry once said 'Nobody's perfect'
things love can do to the mind
The effect love can have on one's mind
Oh but I wouldn't listen, I was out-a-head,
I didn't listen, I was lost in my own thoughts
as I drifted away in a dream
I drifted away lost in my thoughts
Spent all my money, those nights together.
I spent all my money on those nights together
Whispers of love and promises forever
Whispers of love and promises that would last forever
A lipstick message on the mirror saying:
A message on the mirror written in lipstick that read
'It could never' was the last I ever seen of her.
The last thing I ever saw from her was the message 'It could never'
Me and Alphonso spent all night talking.
I spent the entire night talking to Alphonso
Sometimes it's hard, you gotta stand on your feet.
At times it's difficult, but you have to stand on your own
Why not forget it, you've passed it
Why not forget about it, it's in the past
It was fun while it lasted.
It was a lot of fun while it lasted
Heaven's waitin'for you just down the street.
Heaven is just down the street, waiting for you
Contributed by Thomas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.