AnyBlogDotCom: Roxy Music album by album

Roxy Music emerged at the same time as glam rock, and so tend to get grouped in with that. There are elements in common - an interest in 50s music, and a tendency for the band to dress up, but other than that, they don't really have a lot in common with Alvin Stardust, Gary Glitter and Sweet. The music and the imagery is infused by not just the 50s but the 40s as well, and embraces a number of musical styles aside from rock and roll, which was employed minimally. Indeed, Roxy Music seemed influenced more by The Temperance Seven than Elvis Presley. The name points you in the right direction - this is music from The Roxy - both the dance hall and the cinema of the years between the end of the Second World War and the start of the 60s. It is a broader, richer and more interesting source than the more simplistic rockabilly revival of bands like Mud and Showaddywaddy. Some music critics tend to classify them as art rock - and that would be largely due to Brian Eno's influence, though Ferry and Andy Mackay (who brought Eno into the band at an embryonic stage) also had an influence on the more futuristic elements of Roxy's sound. Art rock certainly suits them better than glam rock.

Roxy Music is essentially Ferry's vision - quite romantic, elegant, a little detached. But in the early band was a certain Brian Eno, who brought a unique and quite remarkable influence that lifted the early Roxy Music into a band worth paying attention to. After Eno left, the band initially retained much of the sound of the early Roxy, and the album immediately after Eno left, Stranded, in which he was replaced by Eddie Jobson on synthesizers and doodlings, appeared to be fearsomely devoted to proving that Roxy could maintain a modern, indeed avant-garde, approach to music; but gradually Ferry's interest in smooth lounge music dominated until Roxy Music became a mainstream pop ballads band, albeit informed somewhat by their art-rock background, in a similar way to which Genesis became an 80s pop band, albeit informed by their art-rock/prog-rock background.

I was stunned by Roxy right from the start - that first album (Roxy Music) and single ("Virginia Plain") impressed me back in 1972, and impress me still. I bought all their albums as they came out, until Siren (1975). I still liked Roxy, and enjoyed the singles from that album, and copied Ferry's GI Blues look, but that album wasn't one that I or my friends bought. We'd enjoyed the early albums, and stayed with the band, even after the departure of Eno, but with waning interest as Ferry's band became more like, well, Ferry's band. Meanwhile there were more interesting things going on, and by 1975 there was Blood On The Tracks, Dr Feelgood, Bruce Springsteen, Brian Eno, and Patti Smith, so Roxy were sounding tired, old fashioned, and too poppy. I did get the live album in 1977 - I don't know why, as it wasn't a great album, but it did contain mostly old stuff, so I guess was a comfort to listen to, and it was better than the albums that Roxy were starting to issue. But all the music they produced after they got back together in 1978, following their breakup in 1976, was so pop focused they can hardly be called the same band, and while there are familiar sounds (Ferry's voice, Mackay's sax) the approach, structure and overall sound is not the same. While I absolutely admire and get thrilled by Roxy's first two albums, the second incarnation of the band is not my thing at all. Smooth, slick, highly commercial - a superficial icy sheen that sounds pleasant, and is good to smooch to at dances, but it is not art, it is not meaningful, and is so ordinary compared to what they used to be. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy and respect tracks such as "Avalon" - I can quietly listen to that in the car, no problem. But it doesn't disturb, thrill, and excite me the way that "Virginia Plain" does.

The demos

Demos recorded at Eno's flat in Camberwell, May 1971
Brian Eno - synth, tapes
Bryan Ferry - voice, piano
Andy Mackay - sax
Graham Simpson - bass
Davy O'List - guitar
Dexter Lloyd - drums

"Lady" ("Ladytron")
"2HB"
"Chance Meeting"

John Peel sessions

January 1972
1. Remake Remodel (0:07) 2. B.O.B. Medley (5:05) 3. Would You Believe? (10:54) 4. If There Is Something (14:43) Ferry, Eno, Mackay, Thompson, Simpson, O'List

Recordings

Roxy Music (June 1972)

Recorded before the band had a recording contract - the session was paid for by the band's management company. Everything that Roxy were and would be is contained in this album. This was something very new, and it was very exciting at this time, and listening back it still retains that raw energy and enthusiasm, and that intellectual interest in mixing style with substance. The combination of Eno and Ferry works perfectly. The second album is also great, and in some ways is the better album, but this was a flamboyant and exhilarating kick through the door. Awesome album. Awesome cover. Awesome debut. Awesome band. Awesome energetic drumming. All the band are into this, and it's clear it matters to them. You can smell and feel the adrenaline - it bounces all over the album. You rarely get a better debut than this. Eno's treatments and textures, clearly supported by Mackay and to a lesser extent Manzanera, lift this album above anything else recorded outside Germany. Simply stunning. And all the songs were claimed as Ferry's, though Eno's solo albums compared with Ferry's own efforts (either solo or with Roxy) show that Eno owned at least 50% of most of the songs, and more than that on some. Though "Would You Believe?" and "Bitters End" are very conventional with little treatment, so they are mostly if not all Ferry. And "Sea Breezes", despite the "Something In The Air" madness toward the end, is also rather conventional so Eno's influence is merely that of being a shadow over Ferry's shoulder, as Lennon was when McCartney did songs like "Why Don't We Do It In The Road".

The original release didn't have "Virginia Plain" as that hadn't yet been recorded, but it was included on all subsequent releases. The Deluxe release contains nine John Peel Sessions and five contemporary live recordings.

Albums to consider: The Temperance Seven - Deluxe Collection (1960s); The Velvet Underground - Velvet Underground & Nico (1967), White Light/White Heat (1968), The Velvet Underground (1969); The Mothers Of Invention - Cruisin With Rubin (1968), Weasels Ripped My Flesh (1970); Captain Beefheart - Strictly Personal (1968), Trout Mask Replica (1969); King Crimson In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969); Gentle Giant - Gentle Giant (1970); Syd Barrett - Barrett (1970); Soft Machine - Third (1970); Kraftwerk - Kraftwerk (1970); Can - Tago Mago (1971); Hawkwind - In Search of Space (1971); Gong - Camembert Electrique (1971); East Of Eden - New Leaf (1971); Kevin Ayers - Shooting At The Moon (1971); Pink Floyd - Meddle (1971); Genesis - Nursery Cryme (1971); Yes - Fragile (1971); Todd Rundgren -Something/Anything? (1972; Steely Dan – Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972); Faust - So Far (1972); Sha Na Na - The Night Is Still Young (1972)

In 1976 Ferry recorded new versions of some of the tracks on the Roxy debut for his solo album Let's Stick Together. It's useful to compare them: "Remake/Remodel": Roxy - Ferry ; "Chance Meeting": Roxy - Ferry; "Sea Breezes" - Roxy - Ferry; ""HB": Roxy - Ferry. They are recognisably the same songs - and Ferry even keeps some of the discordant and unconventional aspects, but the Ferry solo versions are more melodic, and less challenging. And the essence of Eno's treatments have largely been washed away.

Released	16 June 1972
Recorded	14 March 1972 – 29 March 1972
Studio	Command Studios, London
Genre	Glam rock art rock
Length	42:12
Label	Island Reprise
Producer	Peter Sinfield

All tracks are credited to Bryan Ferry.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Re-Make/Re-Model"	5:10
2.	"Ladytron"	4:21
3.	"If There Is Something"	6:33
4.	"2HB"	4:34

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Bob (Medley)"	5:48
2.	"Chance Meeting"	3:00
3.	"Would You Believe?"	3:47
4.	"Sea Breezes"	7:00
5.	"Bitters End"	2:02

Bryan Ferry – vocals, piano, Hohner Pianet, Mellotron
Brian Eno – VCS3 synthesizer, tape effects, backing vocals
Andy Mackay – oboe, saxophone, backing vocals
Phil Manzanera – electric guitar
Paul Thompson – drums
Graham Simpson – bass guitar

Modern reviews: Louder; BBC; The Quietus; ClassicPop; Uncut; ProgArchives; SpectrumCulture; StevePaffod; RYM; UDiscover; NowSpinning;

Lyrics

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 9
Score: 10

"Ladytron" OGWT (Jun 1972)
First TV appearance. Introduced by Bob "Hissing" Harris as "style over substance".

"Virginia Plain" TOTP (Aug 1972)
An awesome single. Wikipedia AllMusic
B-side: "The Numberer"
No 4 UK, Top 30 Europe
Bass by Rik Kenton

"Virginia Plain" lyrics

Make me a deal and make it straight

All signed and sealed, I'll take it

To Robert E. Lee I'll show it

I hope and pray he don't blow it 'cause

We've been around a long time

Just try to try to try to try to

Make the big time

Robert Lee in the "Virginia Plain" lyrics was a lawyer liaising between Roxy Music and Island Records. Robert E. Lee was a Confederate general in the American Civil War.

Take me on a roller coaster

Take me for an airplane ride

Take me for a six day wonder

William Kemp danced from London to Norwich,
in nine days - and wrote a pamphlet
which he called "'Kemps nine daies wonder".

But don't you throw don't you throw my pride aside besides

What's real and make believe?

Baby Jane's in Acapulco

We're all flying down to Rio

Bette Davis played Baby Jane in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?

Jane Holzer, a Warhol superstar, was nicknamed Baby Jane.

Far beyond the pale horizon

Some place near the desert strand

And where my Studebaker takes me

That's where I'll make my stand but wait

Can't you see that Holzer mane?

What's her name, Virginia Plain?

A horse's halter and mane

A love letter to the lyrics of "Virginia Plain"

RoxyMusicSongs on "Virginia Plain"

Paris Theatre, London

Concert, Sept 1972

Broadcast on Radio 1 In Concert.

"Pyjamarama" (Mar 1973)
An indifferent song, released just before the For Your Pleasure album, but not included on it. The b-side was "The Pride and The Pain" by Andy Mackay.
No 10 UK

For Your Pleasure (March 1973)

There is nothing on the second album that isn't on the first, but it is done more professionally. Where the debut glistened with enthusiasm and adrenaline and huge ideas, the second gets down to business. It's a swings and roundabouts thing. When all is said and done, this is a great album, but if you are only going to hear one Roxy album, then it has to be the debut because the band are audacious on that, and they know it. It is the art rock equivalent of The Kingsmen recording "Louie Louie". "Do The Strand" feels like the band are attempting to do another single like "Virginia Plain", but this lacks the surreal lyrics and genuine originality of the debut single. Indeed, it feels like just another glam rock track - it has energy, but lacks ideas. Little evidence of Eno there. Indeed, it isn't until "In Every Dream Home" is Eno's presence really felt, despite wild doodlings on "Editions Of You". And the bass throughout the album (done by Ferry's old band member from his Newcastle days) is quiet and dutiful, rather than an integral and artistic part of the whole as on the debut by Graham Simpson. This is a darker, more considered album, and when that consideration works, as it does on "Dream Home" it works very well, but on the whole this does feel tense, awkward, and secondary in several senses of the word. Side Two is Eno, though without the camp and pop of Ferry. Indeed, it is only "Dream Home" where the two seem to work well together. The rest of the time, there is the sense of - this is Ferry asserting himself, and this is Eno asserting himself. So, a good album with one of the band's best tracks, and some fascinating stuff from Eno on Side Two, but not a match for the debut.

Released	23 March 1973
Recorded	February 1973
Studio	AIR Studios, London, England
Genre	Art rock glam rock art pop
Length	42:16
Label	Island Warner Bros.
Producer	Chris Thomas John Anthony Roxy Music

All tracks are credited to Bryan Ferry.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Do the Strand"	4:04
2.	"Beauty Queen"	4:41
3.	"Strictly Confidential"	3:48
4.	"Editions of You"	3:51
5.	"In Every Dream Home a Heartache"	5:29

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Bogus Man"	9:20
2.	"Grey Lagoons"	4:13
3.	"For Your Pleasure"	6:51

Bryan Ferry – vocals, piano, Hohner Pianet, Mellotron, harmonica, rhythm guitar on "In Every Dream "
Brian Eno – VCS3 synthesizer, backing vocals
Andy Mackay – oboe, saxophone, Farfisa electronic organ
Phil Manzanera – electric guitar
Paul Thompson – drums

John Porter – bass guitar

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 10
Score: 7

"Do The Strand" (Jul 1973)
B-side: "Editions of You"
Top 30 in Holland

Bryan Ferry
These Foolish Things (Oct 1973)

An attractive, stylish, but trivial album. Released in the same month as Bowie's Pinups, a similar album, though Bowie's was the more interesting.

Ferry went on to make these solo albums:

Another Time, Another Place (1974)
Let's Stick Together (1976)
In Your Mind (1977)
The Bride Stripped Bare (1978)
Boys and Girls (1985)
Bête Noire (1987)
Taxi (1993)
Mamouna (1994)
As Time Goes By (1999)
Frantic (2002)
Dylanesque (2007)
Olympia (2010)
The Jazz Age (2012)
Avonmore (2014)
Bitter-Sweet (2018)

Released	5 October 1973
Recorded	June 1973
Genre	Pop
Length	43:46
Label	Island
Producer	Bryan Ferry John Porter John Punter

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" (Bob Dylan 1963)	Bob Dylan	5:19
2.	"River of Salt" (Ketty Lester 1962)	Brown, Bernard & Jan Zackery	1:48
3.	"Don't Ever Change" (The Crickets 1961)	Gerry Goffin, Carole King	2:15
4.	"Piece of My Heart" (Erma Franklin 1967)	Jerry Ragovoy, Bert Berns	3:06
5.	"Baby I Don't Care" (Elvis 1957)	Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller	1:50
6.	"It's My Party" (Lesley Gore 1963)	Gold, Gluck Jr., Herb Weiner	2:00
7.	"Don't Worry Baby" (Beach Boys 1964)	Brian Wilson, Roger Christian	4:13
8.	"Sympathy for the Devil" (Rolling Stones 1968)	Mick Jagger, Keith Richards	5:50
9.	"The Tracks of My Tears" (The Miracles 1965)	"Smokey" Robinson, Moore, Tarplin	3:04
10.	"You Won't See Me" (The Beatles 1965)	John Lennon, Paul McCartney	2:32
11.	"I Love How You Love Me" (Paris Sisters 1961)	Barry Mann, Larry Kolber	3:02
12.	"Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (Four Tops 1966)	Ivy Jo Hunter, Stevie Wonder	3:06
13.	"These Foolish Things" (cover)	Strachey (music), Maschwitz (lyrics)	5:41

Bryan Ferry – lead vocals, acoustic piano
Eddie Jobson – keyboards, synthesizer, violin
David Skinner – acoustic piano
Phil Manzanera – guitar solo (10)
John Porter – guitar, bass guitar
Paul Thompson – drums

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 5

Brian Eno
Here Come The Warm Jets (Nov 1973)

Eno's debut solo album. Fascinating. Rich with ideas. Includes some Ferry impersonations. Clearly demonstrates who had the music ideas in Roxy.

Eno would go on to record these solo albums (in addition to many collaborations and notable production work):

Here Come the Warm Jets (1974), Island
Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) (1974), Island
Another Green World (1975), Island
Discreet Music (1975), Obscure
Before and After Science (1977), Polydor
Ambient 1: Music for Airports (1978), Polydor
Music for Films (1978), Polydor
Ambient 4: On Land (1982), EG
Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks (1983), E.G.
More Music for Films (1983), E.G.
Thursday Afternoon (1985), E.G.
Nerve Net (1992), Opal, All Saints
The Shutov Assembly (1992), Opal, All Saints
Neroli (1993), All Saints
Headcandy (1994), BMG
The Drop (1997), All Saints
Another Day on Earth (2005), Hannibal
Lux (2012), Warp
The Ship (2016), Warp
Reflection (2017), Warp

Released	January 1974
Recorded	September 1973
Studio	Majestic, London
Genre	Art pop, glam rock
Length	42:01
Label	Island
Producer	Eno

All tracks are written by Brian Eno, except where noted.

Side A
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Needles in the Camel's Eye"	Eno, Phil Manzanera	3:11
2.	"The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch"		3:04
3.	"Baby's on Fire"		5:19
4.	"Cindy Tells Me"	Eno, Manzanera	3:25
5.	"Driving Me Backwards"		5:12

Side B
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"On Some Faraway Beach"		4:36
2.	"Blank Frank"	Eno, Robert Fripp	3:37
3.	"Dead Finks Don't Talk"	Eno; arranged by Paul Thompson, Busta Jones, Nick Judd, Eno	4:19
4.	"Some of Them Are Old"		5:11
5.	"Here Come the Warm Jets"		4:04

Brian Eno – vocals, keyboards, snake guitar, electric larynx, synthesizer, treatments, instrumentation, production, mixing
Chris "Ace" Spedding – guitar on tracks 1 and 2
Phil Manzanera – guitar on tracks 1, 2 and 4
Simon King – percussion on tracks 1, 3, 5 to 7 and 10
Bill MacCormick – bass guitar on tracks 1 and 7
Busta Jones – bass guitar on 2, 4, 6 and 8
Robert Fripp – guitar on 3, 5, and 7
Paul Rudolph – guitar on tracks 3 and 10, bass guitar on tracks 3, 5 and 10
John Wetton – bass guitar on tracks 3 and 5
Andy Mackay – keyboards on track 6, saxophones and keyboard on track 9
Paul Thompson – percussion on track 8
Lloyd Watson – slide guitar on track 9
Chris Thomas – extra bass guitar on track 2, mixing

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 10
Score: 10

Stranded (Nov 1973)

Eno has left. The band make a fairly straightforward album. It's attractive and has commercial appeal, but most of the interest that was present in Roxy Music has gone. This is professional, slick, and very mainstream. And rather boring.

Released	1 November 1973
Recorded	September 1973
Studio	AIR Studios, London
Genre	Art rock
Length	41:06
Label	Island Atco
Producer	Chris Thomas

All tracks are written by Bryan Ferry, except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Street Life"	3:29
2.	"Just Like You"	3:36
3.	"Amazona" (Ferry, Phil Manzanera)	4:16
4.	"Psalm"	8:04

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Serenade"	2:59
2.	"A Song for Europe" (Ferry, Andy Mackay)	5:46
3.	"Mother of Pearl"	6:52
4.	"Sunset"	6:04

Bryan Ferry – vocals, piano, electric piano, harmonica
John Gustafson – bass guitar
Eddie Jobson – synthesizers, keyboards, electric violin
Andy Mackay – oboe, saxophone, treatments
Phil Manzanera – guitar, treatments
Paul Thompson – drums, timpani

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 9
Score: 4

"Street Life" (Nov 1973)
B-side: "Hula Kula"
No 9 UK.

"All I Want Is You" (Oct 1974)
Released just before the Country Life album.
Note the TOTP appearance in which the band
are casually dressed in contrast to their earlier
more considered attire. No 12 UK
B-side: "Your Application's Failed"

Country Life (1974)

This is sleek, slightly indulgent, velvet jacket pop. The album covers of women as sex objects is getting a bit tiresome by now, as is the lack of adventurousness in the music - especially given the vibrant shock and joy of their first albums. This is slushy, lazy lounge music. Some critics find this the band's best album.

Released	15 November 1974
Recorded	July 1974 – August 1974
Studio	AIR Studios, London
Genre	Art rock
Length	41:42
Label	Island Atco
Producer	Chris Thomas John Punter Roxy Music

All tracks are written by Bryan Ferry, except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Thrill of It All"	6:24
2.	"Three and Nine" (Ferry, Andy Mackay)	4:04
3.	"All I Want Is You"	2:53
4.	"Out of the Blue" (Ferry, Phil Manzanera)	4:46
5.	"If It Takes All Night"	3:12

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bitter-Sweet" (Ferry, Mackay)	4:50
2.	"Triptych"	3:09
3.	"Casanova"	3:27
4.	"A Really Good Time"	3:45
5.	"Prairie Rose" (Ferry, Manzanera)	5:12

Bryan Ferry – vocals, keyboards, harmonica
John Gustafson – bass
Eddie Jobson – strings, synthesizer, keyboards (credited as 'Edwin Jobson')
Andy Mackay – oboe, saxophone (credited as 'Andrew Mackay')
Phil Manzanera – guitar
Paul Thompson – drums

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 10 (album pick)
Score: 5

Diamond Head (Phil Manzanera April 1975)

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:

Siren (1975)

There is a lack of ideas here. It is the most mainstream pop of the albums so far, and it seems the band have found their audience, and are happy with it. However, the art-rock ambitions are not completely gone, and a track like "Sentimental Fool" is a reminder of the early albums, and what the band could do. The two singles were "Love Is The Drug" (Roxy's biggest hit, and with a great fat disco bass line by John Gustafson) and "Both Ends Burning". After the tour to support the album, the band broke up.

Released	24 October 1975
Recorded	June 1975 – September 1975
Studio	AIR Studios, London
Genre	Art pop
Length	42:30
Label	Island Atco
Producer	Chris Thomas

All tracks are written by Bryan Ferry, except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Love Is the Drug" (Ferry, Andy Mackay)	4:11
2.	"End of the Line"	5:14
3.	"Sentimental Fool" (Ferry, Mackay)	6:14
4.	"Whirlwind" (Ferry, Phil Manzanera)	3:38

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"She Sells" (Ferry, Eddie Jobson)	3:39
2.	"Could It Happen to Me?"	3:36
3.	"Both Ends Burning"	5:16
4.	"Nightingale" (Ferry, Manzanera)	4:11
5.	"Just Another High"	6:31

Bryan Ferry – vocals, keyboards, harmonica
Andy Mackay – oboe, saxophone
Paul Thompson – drums
Phil Manzanera – guitars
Eddie Jobson – violin, synthesizers, keyboards
John Gustafson – bass

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 10
Score: 4

"Love Is The Drug" (Sept 1975)
International Top 30, and
first chart entry in America. No 2 UK
B-side: "Sultanesque"

"Both Ends Burning" (Dec 1975)
Top 30 UK only
B-side: "For Your Pleasure" (live)

Viva! (1976)

A useful, tight and well produced live album which selects mainly from the early albums. Not a great album, but certainly very entertaining. Listenable and more than adequate. Released when the band had broken up - perhaps to fulfil a contract?

Released	August 1976
Recorded	November 1973, October 1974 and October 1975
Genre	Art rock
Length	46:15
Label	Island
Producer	Chris Thomas

Side one
No.	Title	Original release	Length
1.	"Out of the Blue" (Newcastle City Hall, Oct 1974^[4])	Country Life (1974)	4:44
2.	"Pyjamarama" (Glasgow Apollo, Nov 1973)	Non-album single (Mar 1973)	3:36
3.	"The Bogus Man" (Newcastle City Hall, Oct 1974)	For Your Pleasure (1973)	7:05
4.	"Chance Meeting" (Glasgow Apollo, Nov 1973)	Roxy Music (1972)	2:58
5.	"Both Ends Burning" (Wembley Empire Pool, Oct 1975)	Siren (1975)	4:46

Side two
No.	Title	Original release	Length
1.	"If There Is Something" (Newcastle City Hall, Oct 1974)	Roxy Music (1972)	10:37
2.	"In Every Dream Home a Heartache" (Newcastle City Hall, Oct 1974)	For Your Pleasure (1973)	8:23
3.	"Do the Strand" (Newcastle City Hall, Oct 1974)	For Your Pleasure (1973)	4:00

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 7

Score: 6

801 Live (Phil Manzanera & Eno 1976)

Not a lot going on here. Bit of a damp squid really. Coupled with awful acoustics which makes it sound like they are playing down the plughole of a council bath. Compare the messy, directionless "Baby's On Fire" from this album with the intense, focused, and atmospheric "Baby's On Fire" from the June 1, 1974 album.

Released	November 1976 (UK) March 1978 (North America)
Recorded	3 September 1976
Venue	Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Genre	Art rock
Length	46:26 (LP) 56:59 (1999 Reissue) 114:13 (Live Collectors Edition)
Label	Island, Polydor, Expression
Producer	801

Side One

"Lagrima" (Phil Manzanera) – 2:34
"TNK (Tomorrow Never Knows)" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 6:14
"East of Asteroid" (Manzanera, Bill MacCormick) – 4:58
"Rongwrong" (Charles Hayward) – 5:10
"Sombre Reptiles" (Brian Eno) – 3:14

Side Two

"Baby's on Fire" (Eno) – 5:02
"Diamond Head" (Manzanera) – 6:21
"Miss Shapiro" (Manzanera, Eno) – 4:20
"You Really Got Me" (Ray Davies) – 3:23
"Third Uncle" (Eno) – 5:14

Phil Manzanera – guitar
Lloyd Watson – slide guitar, vocals
Francis Monkman – Fender Rhodes piano, clavinet
Brian Eno – keyboards, vocals, synthesizers, guitar
Bill MacCormick – bass, vocals
Simon Phillips – drums, rhythm generator

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 9

Score: 4

Greatest Hits (1977)

As is usual when a band breaks up, the record company release a greatest hits package. It's OK, but has nothing from their best album, the debut.

All songs credited to Bryan Ferry except as noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Notes	Length
1.	"Virginia Plain"	from single, 1972	2:55
2.	"Do the Strand"	from For Your Pleasure, 1973	4:00
3.	"All I Want Is You"	from Country Life, 1974	2:53
4.	"Out of the Blue" (Ferry, Phil Manzanera)	from Country Life, 1974	4:42
5.	"Pyjamarama"	Remix of single, 1973	2:50
6.	"Editions of You"	from For Your Pleasure, 1973	3:45

Side two
No.	Title	Notes	Length
1.	"Love Is the Drug"	from Siren, 1975	4:05
2.	"Mother of Pearl" (edit)	from Stranded, 1973	6:45
3.	"A Song for Europe" (Ferry, Mackay)	from Stranded, 1973	5:45
4.	"The Thrill of It All" (edit)	from Country Life, 1974	4:20
5.	"Street Life"	from Stranded, 1973	3:21

Wikipedia

AllMusic:

Score: 4

Manifesto (1979)

The band get back together and make this dreary piece of shit. Contains "Dance Away", one of their most successful singles, and the album was their most successful internationally so far.

Released	16 March 1979
Recorded	1978–1979
Studio	Ridge Farm Studio, Rusper, England; Basing Street Studios, London
Genre	Pop rock
Length	42:33
Label	E.G. Polydor Atco
Producer	Roxy Music

All tracks are written by Bryan Ferry, except where noted.

Side one – "East Side"
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Manifesto" (Ferry, Phil Manzanera)	5:29
2.	"Trash" (Ferry, Manzanera)	2:14
3.	"Angel Eyes" (Ferry, Andy Mackay)	3:32
4.	"Still Falls the Rain" (Ferry, Manzanera)	4:13
5.	"Stronger Through the Years"	6:16

Side two – "West Side"
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Ain't That So"	5:39
2.	"My Little Girl" (Ferry, Manzanera)	3:17
3.	"Dance Away"	4:20
4.	"Cry, Cry, Cry"	2:55
5.	"Spin Me Round"	5:15

Bryan Ferry – vocals, keyboards, harmonica
Andy Mackay – oboe, saxophone
Phil Manzanera – electric guitar
Paul Thompson – drums

Additional personnel

Alan Spenner – bass
Paul Carrack – keyboards
Gary Tibbs – bass

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 3 1/2

Singles from Manifesto

"Trash" (Feb 1979)
No 40 UK
B-side: "Trash 2"

"Dance Away" (Apr 1979)
One of the band's biggest hits
No 2 UK Top 100 Internationally
B-side: "Cry Cry Cry"

"Angel Eyes" (Aug 1979)
No 4 UK. Top 50 Europe
B-side: "My Little Girl"

Flesh and Blood (1980)

The least critically liked but most commercially successful of Roxy's albums so far, this sees them moving more strongly toward the smooth, silky sophisti-pop sound of Avalon and away from the more interesting art-rock sound of their debut. Where Manifesto was a confusing mess with the band unsure of their direction, still wishing to hold onto the critical esteem of their early more interesting days, but finding themselves bereft of ideas and enthusiasm, and looking for a commercial and musical way forward, this album finds them on much clearer ground, and as such is the better album. It's not my thing. I find it boring. But it's more assured and confident than Manifesto.

Released	23 May 1980
Recorded	1979–80
Studio	Basing Street Studios, Gallery Studios
Genre	Pop rock
Length	41:56
Label	E.G. Atco/Reprise (US)
Producer	Rhett Davies and Roxy Music

All songs written by Bryan Ferry except as noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"In the Midnight Hour" (Wilson Pickett, Steve Cropper)	3:09
2.	"Oh Yeah"	4:51
3.	"Same Old Scene"	3:57
4.	"Flesh and Blood"	3:08
5.	"My Only Love"	5:18

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Over You" (Ferry, Phil Manzanera)	3:27
2.	"Eight Miles High" (Gene Clark, David Crosby, Roger McGuinn)	4:55
3.	"Rain Rain Rain"	3:20
4.	"No Strange Delight" (Ferry, Manzanera)	4:44
5.	"Running Wild" (Ferry, Manzanera)	5:03

Bryan Ferry – vocals, keyboards, piano, synthesiser (on track 4), guitar (on track 4), and strings (on track 5)
Andy Mackay – saxophones, oboe
Phil Manzanera – guitar, bass (on track 6)

Additional personnel

Paul Carrack – strings (on track 2), organ, piano (on track 10)
Neil Hubbard – guitar (on tracks 1, 2, 5, and 7–10)
Neil Jason – bass (on tracks 2, 7, and 9)
Andy Newmark – drums (on tracks 4 and 5)
Simon Phillips – percussion (on track 5)
Allan Schwartzberg – drums (on tracks 1-3 and 6–10), percussion (on tracks 4 and 5)
Alan Spenner – bass (on tracks 3–5, 8, and 10)
Gary Tibbs – bass (on track 1)

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 4
Score: 4

"Over You" (May 1980)
No 5 UK Top 50 Europe, No 8 USA
B-side: "Manifesto"

"Same Old Scene" (Oct 1980)
No 12 UK
B-side: "Lover" (used in Miami Vice)

"Jealous Guy" (Feb 1981)
No 1 UK Top 20 Europe

A cash in by Ferry on the death of one of the great figures of the 20th Century. It annoyed the fuck out of me at the time, and still irks me now. Such an obnoxious version of a subtle and complex song. Here's the astonishing original: Lennon's "Jealous Guy" (1971 from Imagine). At a time when many people were upset by the murder of Lennon just as he was making a musical come back, and his life seemed in order for the first time ever, Ferry somehow feels it appropriate to do his wanky superficial crooning version of one of Lennon's most personal and delicate and fascinating songs of guilt and repentance. Ferry's version reached number one, and if Ferry gave any of the money from the sales to world peace, that would be something, and a true tribute to Lennon. But my understanding is that he and the rest of the band just put it in their pockets and said thank you very much for dying, John, as you've just given us our first and only number one, and we made a bit on money on the side. What a tribute, eh lads? And the attention we got, helped the sales of our next album. Can't be bad. [As a footnote, here's the original version of the song, as written by John in 1968 in Rishikesh and recorded as a demo in Esher: "Child of Nature" - the 27 songs on the Esher demos were recorded in one day at George Harrison's house in Esher as preparation for The White Album. "Child of Nature" wasn't used).

B-side: "To Turn You On"

"More Than This" (Apr 1982)
No 6 UK Top 30 Europe No 100 US
B-side: "India" (inst)

Avalon (1982)

The final Roxy album, and this has got as far away from Eno's Roxy as it is possible to get. This is now pure Ferry. Smooth and stylish, but superficial. The band have moved into the territory of sophisti-pop, though without the cool sophistication of The Style Council who were working in the same area. It's a very popular and listenable album, but rather bland.

Released	May 28, 1982
Recorded	1981–1982
Studio	Compass Point Studios, Nassau; The Power Station, Manhattan, New York
Genre	Sophisti-pop, pop rock, synth-pop, art pop
Length	37:31
Label	E.G. Records/Polydor
Producer	Rhett Davies and Roxy Music

All tracks are written by Bryan Ferry, except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"More Than This"		4:30
2.	"The Space Between"		4:30
3.	"Avalon"		4:16
4.	"India" (instrumental)		1:44
5.	"While My Heart Is Still Beating"	Ferry, Andy Mackay	3:26

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Main Thing"		3:54
2.	"Take a Chance with Me"	Ferry, Phil Manzanera	4:42
3.	"To Turn You On"		4:16
4.	"True to Life"		4:25
5.	"Tara" (instrumental)	Ferry, Mackay	1:43

Bryan Ferry – lead vocals; keyboards; guitar synthesizer
Phil Manzanera – lead guitar
Andy Mackay – saxophones

Additional personnel

Neil Hubbard – guitars
Alan Spenner – bass guitar (on tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10)
Neil Jason – bass guitar (on tracks 2, 6, 7 & 9)
Paul Carrack – piano (on track 8)
Andy Newmark – drums (all tracks but 8 and 10)
Rick Marotta – drums (on track 8)
Jimmy Maelen – percussion (on tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 9)
Kermit Moore – cello (on track 8)
Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals (on tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9)
Yanick Étienne – backing vocals (on track 3)

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 4

"Take A Chance With Me" (Sep 1982)

No 28 UK

B-side: "The Main Thing"

Street Life: Greatest Hits (1986)

This is a fairly uninteresting compilation of Ferry's solo work and - apart from "Virginia Plain" - the mostly pop orientated output associated with the later and lesser Roxy. Not my thing.

All tracks are written by Bryan Ferry; except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Virginia Plain" (Roxy Music, single), 1972)		2:58
2.	"A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" (edit) (Bryan Ferry, from These Foolish Things, 1973)	Bob Dylan	4:15
3.	"Pyjamarama" (Roxy Music, single, 1973)		2:52
4.	"Do the Strand" (For Your Pleasure, 1973)		3:46
5.	"These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)" (These Foolish Things, 1973)	Eric Maschwitz, Jack Strachey	4:51
6.	"Street Life" (Stranded, 1973)		3:27
7.	"Let's Stick Together" (Let's Stick Together, 1976)	Wilbert Harrison	2:59
8.	"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" (Another Time, Another Place, 1974)	Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach	2:53
9.	"Love Is the Drug" (Siren, 1975)	Ferry, Andy Mackay	4:04
10.	"Sign of the Times" (The Bride Stripped Bare, 1978)		2:28
11.	"Dance Away" (Manifesto, 1979)		3:44
12.	"Angel Eyes" (edit) (Manifesto, 1979)	Ferry, McKay	2:51
13.	"Oh Yeah" (edit) (Flesh + Blood, 1980)		4:36
14.	"Over You" ( Flesh + Blood, 1980)	Ferry, Phil Manzanera	3:26
15.	"Same Old Scene" (Flesh + Blood, 1980)		3:58
16.	"In the Midnight Hour" (Flesh + Blood, 1980)	Wilson Pickett, Steve Cropper	3:08
17.	"More Than This" (edit) (Avalon, 1982)		4:10
18.	"Avalon" (Avalon, 1982)		4:16
19.	"Slave to Love" (Boys and Girls, 1985)		4:17
20.	"Jealous Guy (edit)" (single, 1981)	John Lennon	4:55

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 9
Score: 3 1/2

The Early Years (1989)

A compilation of the first three albums plus the two non-album singles. Tracks listed in chronological order. It's acceptable, but lacks thought.

Score: 5

Heart Still Beating (1990)

Live album of a 1982 concert in France from the band's last tour before they broke up for the second time in 1983. It is what it is. It's not offensive, but it is tired and lacking in engagement and excitement. It's mostly a band going competently through its paces, and probably mostly quietly enjoying it. Stick it on and it becomes what it is, pleasant background music well played.

Compare two tracks from the 1977 Viva! album with the 1990 album:

"Out Of The Blue" (1977 - recorded 1974) "Out Of The Blue" (1990 - recorded 1982)
"Both Ends Burning" (1977 - recorded 1975) "Both Ends Burning" (1990 - recorded 1982)

Viva! wasn't a great album, but at least it had a good choice of songs, and there was some oomph about the performances.

Released	30 October 1990
Recorded	1982
Genre	Pop rock
Length	67:52
Label	Virgin Records (UK) Reprise Records (North America)
Producer	Bob Clearmountain and Rhett Davies

All tracks are written by Bryan Ferry, unless otherwise noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"India"		0:53
2.	"Can't Let Go"		5:20
3.	"While My Heart Is Still Beating"	Ferry; Andy Mackay	3:52
4.	"Out of the Blue"	Ferry; Phil Manzanera	4:26
5.	"Dance Away"		3:45
6.	"Impossible Guitar"	Manzanera	3:41
7.	"A Song for Europe"	Ferry; Mackay	6:27
8.	"Love Is the Drug"	Ferry; Mackay	3:52
9.	"Like a Hurricane"	Neil Young	7:43
10.	"My Only Love"		7:16
11.	"Both Ends Burning"		5:32
12.	"Avalon"		4:23
13.	"Editions of You"		4:10
14.	"Jealous Guy"	John Lennon	6:32

Touring personnel

Neil Hubbard - guitar
Alan Spenner - bass
Andy Newmark - drums
Jimmy Maelen - percussion
Guy Fletcher - keyboards

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 5

Score: 3

There are various compilations (often mixing Ferry solo material with Roxy tracks) and live albums. But the only official album since Heart Still Beating is:

Live (2003)

The band (Ferry, Manzanera, Mackay, and Thompson) reformed in 2001 - they almost got Eno on board, but he felt it was a dubious idea). They have toured and played live several times since then, and even got together (including Eno) to record an album, which - sadly - has now been shelved. The band last played together in March 2019 for the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inauguration (but without Eno). This album is composed of recordings from the 2001 tour. It's professional, polite, listenable, and no doubt a good souvenir for those who went to the concerts, but it's a bit empty for the rest of us - music for lifts and elevators.

Released	3 June 2003
Recorded	17 Jun 2001 – Oct 2, 2001
Genre	Art rock, glam rock, new wave, new romanticism
Label	Eagle
Producer	Rhett Davies, Roxy Music

Disc one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Re-Make/Re-Model" (2001-07–29th; Pine Knob, Detroit)	4:28
2.	"Street Life" (2001-09–19th; Sporthalle, Hamburg)	2:28
3.	"Ladytron" (2001-09–24th; Forum, Milan)	5:02
4.	"While My Heart Is Still Beating" (2001-09–29th; S.E.C.C., Glasgow)	4:50
5.	"Out Of The Blue" (2001-09–28th; E.N. Arena, Manchester)	4:21
6.	"A Song For Europe" (2001-08–19th; Ent. Centre, Perth)	8:09
7.	"My Only Love" (2001-09–22nd; Schleyerhalle, Stuttgart)	8:25
8.	"In Every Dream Home a Heartache" (2001-09–14th; Sportspaleis, Antwerp)	6:18
9.	"Oh Yeah" (2001-07–29th; Pine Knob, Detroit)	4:21
10.	"Both Ends Burning" (2001-09–24th; Forum, Milan)	6:06
11.	"Tara" (2001-07–16th; Air Canada Centre, Toronto)	3:27

Disc two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"More than This" (2001-09–07th; Int. Forum, Tokyo)	3:55
2.	"If There Is Something" (2001-06–17th; N.E.C., Birmingham)	5:54
3.	"Mother Of Pearl" (2001-09–26th; Gasometer, Vienna)	6:10
4.	"Avalon" (2001-10–02nd; Apollo, London)	4:20
5.	"Dance Away" (2001-08–17th; Ent. Centre, Adelaide)	3:51
6.	"Jealous Guy" (2001-06–17th; N.E.C., Birmingham)	5:25
7.	"Editions Of You" (2001-08–19th; Ent. Centre, Perth)	3:47
8.	"Virginia Plain" (2001-09–22nd; Schleyerhalle, Stuttgart)	3:01
9.	"Love Is The Drug" (2001-08–19th; Ent. Centre, Perth)	3:48
10.	"Do The Strand" (2001-08–03rd; G.M.P., Vancouver)	3:50
11.	"For Your Pleasure" (2001-08–17th; Ent. Centre, Adelaide)	6:41

Bryan Ferry - Lead vocals, piano
Andy Mackay - Saxophone, oboe, backing vocals
Phil Manzanera - Lead guitar
Paul Thompson - Drums
Chris Spedding - Guitar
Colin Good - Piano, backing vocals
Zev Katz - Bass
Lucy Wilkins - Violin, keyboards, backing vocals
Julia Thornton - Percussion, keyboards

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 9

Score: 4

Conclusion

Roxy Music was an active band from 1972 to 1983, with a roughly two year break between 1976 and 1978. The constant members were Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay, and Phil Manzanera. The band reformed between 2001 and 2011, bringing back Paul Thompson. Around 2005-2006 the band, with Eno, recorded an album that has since been shelved. In 2019 they were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Ferry, Manzanera, Mackay and Jobson, with supporting musicians, performed six songs.

Essentially there are two Roxy Music bands who can be most easily classed by the '76-'78 split into the early (pre-'77) art-rock Roxy, and the later (post-'77) smooth-pop Roxy, and the two albums at either end of their active period best sum up each Roxy - the 1972 debut Roxy Music defines the art-rock Roxy, while the 1982 final album Avalon defines the smooth-pop Roxy. The band changed record labels from Island to Polydor during their break, so the early art-rock Roxy releases were originally on Island, and the later smooth-pop releases were on Polydor. Island were bought by Polydor in 1989.

The smooth-pop Roxy is much more popular than the art-rock Roxy. Smooth Roxy is easier to listen to, quite soothing with an attractive gloss. Art Roxy is somewhat more interesting, challenging, exciting, shocking, different, adventurous and significant. People may like and even respect both Roxys, but it is unlikely that anyone could be truly enthusiastic about both as they are coming at music and art from different directions, and arrive at mutually exclusive places. They are somewhat incompatible, yet the paradox is that they contain each other - the art Roxy contains rather more of the smooth Roxy than the other way round, but even the Roxy of Avalon, contains a memory and an essence of what they were in the early 70s, and what they set out to do in those heady art-rich days.

The art Roxy is the significant band, the one that intellectuals and music critics love. The smooth Roxy is the popular and commercially successful band, the one the masses enjoy, and that the intellectuals and music critics should not (though a number of modern music critics do). Both bands have their own fans.

Summary

Voice/Musicianship (15)

Ferry's voice is instantly recognisable and very attractive - it is for most people what draws them to the band and keeps their interest. It works well for both version of Roxy - the art rock version and the smooth-pop version. The band in their later period are smoothly professional without being exciting or interesting, while in their early period they are very exciting and interesting, albeit sometimes more enthusiastic than accomplished. However, at all times the band have something of worth. Overall: 12

Image/Star quality (5)

They had a great art-rock image when they launched. They gradually lost that as the band stopped dealing in image, and it all focused on Ferry's rather tired romantic crooner image. Ferry himself maintained an illusion of glamour and stardom, but on a rather modest scale. Score: 3

Lyrics/Music (20)

Lyrics and music are competent throughout the band's career. Both are considerably more interesting and significant in the early art-rock period. Score: 12

Impact/Influence (10)

Huge impact. They had an influence on style and appearance in popular music, on electronic music, on incorporating an eclectic mix of music styles, on the idea of a band having an image that reflected and projected the music. They had a lesser influence and impact once Eno left. But there are those who credit Avalon and Ferry with influencing sophisti-pop, though that is much more likely to have been Style Council and Paul Weller, whose sound and look is directly related to the young sophisti-pop bands. So, the first two albums, 8, the rest of the band's career, more like 3. Combine the two: 5

Popularity (5)

The early work sold moderately. The later work sold better. The last album sold the most. They are reasonably popular. 3

Emotional appeal (5)

In their smooth-pop incarnation they had a lover's romantic appeal; in their art rock period the emotional appeal was in the joy and excitement of what they were doing. Score: 3

Authenticity (15)

For the first album the band breathed, dreamed, ate and shat authenticity. They clearly believed in what they were doing and lived it. That Eno, who lives for the authentic art moment, argued with Ferry. the consummate commercialist, and left after the second album, then went on to become one of the most respected and admired musical figures in 20th century, while Ferry's band went on to become commercially successful while gradually stripping away all the elements that made the band's early albums so unique and meaningful, indicates the tension that made those early albums so special. For the first two albums: 14. For the rest: 5 . Combined: 9

Art (5)

Eno is art. The band were art. That quickly diminished after Eno left. With Eno - the band is 5. By the time the band released their most popular album they were pure commercialism, so 0. Combining the two: 3

Classic albums/songs (5)

Roxy Music and "Virginia Plain": 2

Originality/Innovation (5)

The first album is startlingly original and innovative. The look and sound of the band when they appeared on TOTP's playing "Virginia Plain" is like seeing humans from the future come back to the 70s to play music. They sadly become less and less innovative and original as they progressed. If Roxy Music had split up after For Your Pleasure, they would have been the perfect band. Overall: 4

Legacy (10)

Despite erroneous claims that Roxy/Ferry influenced sophisti-pop, it is Roxy's early art-rock period that is important. If they did not record those early albums, and all we had was the later albums, then Roxy would still have been popular, but would have been considered just another late 70s / early 80s smooth-pop band - popular, OK, but nothing special. But the early stuff, particularly the debut album, was something new in pop music - their appearance itself was fascinating - that combination of appearance, name, and music to successfully create an artistic whole was significant. They will endure because of that. And the influence of that will continue to be felt in music. Score: 8

Total: 64/100