When Roxy Music first appeared, I did not like them because of Bryan Ferry's quivering voice, but I had a friend who bought all the albums and Ferry's solo albums. He converted me by lending me the albums around the time of Siren, especially with For Your Pleasure which is fantastic. Stranded, Country Life and Viva Roxy are all stylish avant-garde rock albums. From Manifesto, after the split, they changed their style to a more slick polished approach, and the early albums now seem to be forgotten. The antics of Bryan Ferry's son also did him no favours.
When Roxy Music reformed with Chris Spedding as a paid up member instead of session musician, I held out hope they would record new music, but no such luck. They even attempted recording again with Brian Eno, but it did not work.
This is my favourite Roxy Music track, In Every Dream home a Heartache from For Your Pleasure. The YT clip is from the Old Grey Whistle test. The song is about an inflatable doll and includes the unforgettable line, "I blew up your body . . . But you blew my mind."
I think that's the main reason my other half doesn't like Roxy Music, but the 'quivering voice' is something that I've always particularly loved. I think Bryan probably has what I call a 'marmite voice' - you either love it or hate it. I suspect a lot of females like that voice - it is super sexy and all
I adore the track 'In Every Dream Home a Heartache'. (I recall Tony played this track on his rock show some time ago, much to my delight and hubby's dismay )
In June 1976 Roxy Music announce in the press that at least for the rest of the year to have a rest from Roxy Music.
However they release their live album Viva in July 1976. Viva is recorded out of concerts from Glasgow ( november 1973), Newcastle ( november 1974) and London ( October 1975).
Review Viva in Melody Maker july 1976, Quote: It's a genuinely exciting, often thrilling record which captures precisely the flash and bravado of an impressive and intelligent band - end quote.
There are some question marks surrounding this album around tweeting the album in a studio.
Personally I don't care about that. I think it is one of the better produced albums ever.
There were plans to release this one as a double album and I wish they did. With songs
likeThe Thrill of it All and Song for Europe it would be an even better album.
Roxy really were at the cut & thrust of music - Manifesto was 3 cusps in 1!
(E-Z might recognise the Fulham Regal Cinema here?)
Definitely not as titled......
When these arrived on my TV set.... I wasn't in the least bit shocked, even my Mom commented on Bryan being "hot"!
The whole visual thing and sound was refreshing.... C'mon... we must raise our hats to a prog/art band for shoehorning "Robert E Lee" into the scheme of things -
Never much of a fan of Roxy Music although I recall Virginia Plain being in the UK singles chart back in 1972. Having said that I wasn't a fan a couple of Roxy Music songs that I did like and still do like hearing for nostalgia reasons for me of the mid-1970s era are Street Life and a 'B' side song called All I Want Is You this track has a great guitar solo from Phil.
All I Want Is You was a great song to do 'air guitar' to while looking in the mirror!!, Ha ha
You're smokin' tonight Magic, (album record at Ridge-Same as Desolation Angels)... I really warmed to this album and the beefing up of band members, I clocked Alan Spenner from Spooky Tooth in the video back then. 1979 was a great year-punk had 'growed up', disco was morphing into funk and british funk was excellent. The shot silk suit era of Roxy!
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