Both Ends Burning

Last updated
"Both Ends Burning"
Both Ends Burning (Roxy Music, 1975 single).jpg
Single by Roxy Music
from the album Siren
B-side "For Your Pleasure (Live)"
ReleasedDecember 1975
EMI Studios, London
RecordedJune 1975 (1975-06)–September 1975 (1975-09), AIR Studios, London
Genre Funk [1]
Length3:58 (Single version)
5:12 (Album version)
Label Island, Polydor
Songwriter(s) Bryan Ferry
Producer(s) Chris Thomas
Roxy Music singles chronology
"Love Is the Drug"
(1975)		"Both Ends Burning"
(1975)		"Trash"
(1979)

"Both Ends Burning" is a single by English rock band Roxy Music taken from their 1975 album Siren . Written by Bryan Ferry, the song features lyrics inspired by the pressure felt by the band to complete the Siren album as well as keep up their touring obligations. Ferry's struggles in writing the lyrics for the song meant that the band largely had to complete the instrumental track without his vocal line.

Contents

"Both Ends Burning" was released as the follow-up single in the UK and Europe to the band's colossally successful previous single, "Love Is the Drug". Reaching number 25 in the UK, the song has since seen acclaim from music writers for its use of synthesizers and has become a live favorite for the band.

Background

"Both Ends Burning" was one of the final songs completed for Siren , in large part because vocalist Bryan Ferry was struggling to complete lyrics for the album. As a result, the band largely had to arrange the song before Ferry recorded his vocals. Saxophonist Andy Mackay remembered, "Toward the end of recording, we were compromised as we had been on Stranded and other albums by Bryan not having finished lyrics so that tracks got overworked as instrumentals while we were working as it were in the dark. 'Both Ends Burning' is a case in point. It has always been better live because we know where the singing comes in!" [2]

Lyrically, "Both Ends Burning" was inspired by the stress that the band was experiencing during the recording sessions for Siren. Ferry recalled, "We were on a punishing world tour schedule in 1975 and there were a lot of late nights to get the Siren album finished on time. I guess this was the inspiration behind this song." [3]

Release

"Both Ends Burning" was released as the follow-up single to the band's smash hit "Love Is the Drug" in the UK and Europe. Released in December 1975, the single crept to number 25. It was also released as the B-side to "Love Is the Drug" in the US and Canada. [4] [5] Since then, it has become a fan favorite and has appeared regularly in the band's live setlists. [2]

The version released as a single edited the intro and the ending compared to the album version. The B-side of the single was a version of their song "For Your Pleasure" recorded live at the Empire Pool Wembley in October 1975, at one of the concerts from which the Viva! album was composed. [6] [7] The single version is on The Complete Studio Recordings 1972–1982 but was not included on their 1977 album Greatest Hits .

Critical reception and legacy

"Both Ends Burning" has seen critical acclaim since its release. The Quietus called the track "sweeping and feverish," while Vulture has praised the song as "defin[ing] the mature use of synthesizers during this time." [8] Paul Sexton of uDiscoverMusic wrote, called it "a less celebrated Ferry composition [than 'Love Is the Drug'] but was cutting-edge in its own way, with synthesizer detail by Eddie Jobson, Mackay's ever-urgent saxophones and Ferry’s impassioned lead." [7] Dave Thompson of AllMusic called it "one of Roxy mach one's most unexpected triumphs" as well as "the undisputed highlight of the otherwise sorry Siren album – 'Love Is the Drug' notwithstanding." [9]

Johnny Marr of the Smiths spoke glowingly of the song for its fusing of pop and the avant garde, stating, "You listen to 'Both Ends Burning,' that was a pop single! And the attitude of the singer and what he is saying, and the way he is putting his voice across, and just the start of it... That is the best kind of avant-garde, I think." [10]

Charts

Chart (1975–1976)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC) [11] 25

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roxy Music</span> English art rock band

Roxy Music are an English rock band formed in 1970 by lead vocalist and principal songwriter Bryan Ferry and bassist Graham Simpson. By the time the band recorded their first album in 1972, Ferry and Simpson were joined by saxophonist and oboist Andy Mackay, guitarist Phil Manzanera, drummer Paul Thompson and synthesizer player Brian Eno. Other members over the years include keyboardist and violinist Eddie Jobson and bassist John Gustafson. The band split in 1976, reformed in 1978 and split again in 1983. In 2001, Ferry, Mackay, Manzanera and Thompson reunited for a concert tour and have toured together intermittently ever since, most recently in 2022 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first album. Ferry has also frequently enlisted band members as backing musicians during his solo career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Ferry</span> English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

Bryan Ferry is an English singer and songwriter. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established a distinctive image and sartorial style: according to The Independent, Ferry and his contemporary David Bowie influenced a generation with both their music and their appearances. Peter York described Ferry as "an art object" who "should hang in the Tate".

<i>Avalon</i> (Roxy Music album) 1982 studio album by Roxy Music

Avalon is the eighth and final studio album by English rock band Roxy Music, released on 28 May 1982 by E.G. Records, and Polydor. It was recorded between 1981 and 1982 at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, and is regarded as the culmination of the smoother, more adult-oriented sound of the band's later work. It has been credited with pioneering the sophisti-pop genre.

<i>Country Life</i> (Roxy Music album) 1974 studio album by Roxy Music

Country Life is the fourth studio album by English art rock band Roxy Music, released on 15 November 1974 by Island Records. It was released by Atco Records in the United States. The album is considered by many critics to be among the band's most sophisticated and consistent.

<i>Flesh and Blood</i> (Roxy Music album) 1980 studio album by Roxy Music

Flesh and Blood is the seventh studio album by English rock band Roxy Music, released on 23 May 1980 by E.G. Records, it was an immediate commercial success peaking at No. 1 in the UK for one week in June and then returned to the summit in August for another three weeks, in total spending 60 weeks on the albums chart in the United Kingdom. The album also peaked at No. 35 in the United States and No. 10 in Australia.

<i>Siren</i> (Roxy Music album) 1975 studio album by Roxy Music

Siren is the fifth album by English rock band Roxy Music, released in 1975 by Island Records. It was released by Atco Records in the United States.

<i>Viva!</i> (Roxy Music album) 1976 live album by Roxy Music

Viva! Roxy Music was the first live Roxy Music album. It was released in July 1976 and was recorded at three venues in the United Kingdom between 1973 and 1975. The recordings were from the band's shows at the Glasgow Apollo in November 1973, Newcastle City Hall in October 1974 and the Wembley Empire Pool in October 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Mackay</span> British musician (born 1946)

Andrew Mackay is an English musician, best known as a founding member of the art rock group Roxy Music.

<i>Lets Stick Together</i> 1976 album by Bryan Ferry

Let's Stick Together is a 1976 album by Bryan Ferry. His third solo release, it was his first following the disbanding of Roxy Music earlier in the year. Unlike Ferry's two previous solo releases, Let’s Stick Together was not a dedicated album project, instead predominately made up of singles, B-sides, and an EP. Three tracks were exclusive to the LP, all remakes of Roxy Music tracks: "Casanova", "2HB", and "Chance Meeting". It had a generally favourable critical reception, but only just made the UK Top 20.

"If There Is Something" is a song written by Bryan Ferry and recorded by Roxy Music for their eponymous debut album in 1972. A live version appears on their Viva! live album.

<i>More than This</i> (compilation album) 1995 compilation album by Bryan Ferry Roxy Music

More than This: The Best of Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music is a 1995 compilation album covering Roxy Music and the solo career of the group's lead singer, Bryan Ferry. The name of the album is taken from the song "More than This" from the 1982 Roxy Music album Avalon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Street Life (Roxy Music song)</span> 1973 single by Roxy Music

"Street Life" is the opening track of English rock band Roxy Music's third album Stranded. Written by lead singer Bryan Ferry, the song is an ode to modern life that features sound effects of street noise alongside dissonant synth noises courtesy of newly recruited member Eddie Jobson. Producer Chris Thomas provides bass on the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is the Drug</span> 1975 single by Roxy Music

"Love Is the Drug" is a 1975 song from English rock band Roxy Music's fifth studio album Siren, released as a single in September 1975. Co-written by Bryan Ferry and Andy Mackay, the song originated as a slower, dreamier track until the band transformed its arrangement to become more dance-friendly and uptempo. Ferry's lyrics recount a man going out looking for action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Same Old Scene</span> 1980 single by Roxy Music

"Same Old Scene" is a 1980 song recorded by English rock band Roxy Music and written by lead singer Bryan Ferry. The song was taken from the group's number one album Flesh and Blood, and was released as a single in late 1980. It peaked at #12 on the UK Singles Charts and #35 in Australia.

<i>The Best of Roxy Music</i> 2001 greatest hits album by Roxy Music

The Best of Roxy Music is a greatest hits album by English art rock band Roxy Music, released in 2001. The album includes at least one song from all eight of the band's studio albums and all three of their non-album single A-sides. The songs are arranged in reverse chronological order.

<i>The Ultimate Collection</i> (Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music album) 1988 greatest hits album by Bryan Ferry with Roxy Music

The Ultimate Collection is a greatest hits album by Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music, released on 7 November 1988 by E'G Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyjamarama (song)</span> 1973 single by Roxy Music

"Pyjamarama" is a song by English rock band Roxy Music, released as a single in March 1973. It reached a peak of number 10 on the UK Singles Chart after a twelve week charting stint. The song was written by Bryan Ferry, and the first one he wrote with the guitar as his instrument. and was backed by an instrumental non-LP track called "The Pride and the Pain" written by Andy Mackay.

"All I Want is You" is a single by English rock band Roxy Music, written by Bryan Ferry, and taken from their 1974 album Country Life. It reached a peak of No. 12 on the UK Official Singles Chart, in an eight-week stint on the charts. The single is also notable for its B-side, an instrumental track called "Your Application's Failed", which is the only track to date written by drummer Paul Thompson. The track was re-released on The Thrill of It All boxset.

"The Thrill of It All" is a song by English rock band Roxy Music, released as a single only in the US in March 1975, taken from their 1974 album Country Life. The single was backed by the "All I Want Is You" B-side, an instrumental track called "Your Application's Failed", which is the only track to date written by drummer Paul Thompson. The track was re-released on "The Thrill of It All" boxset.

References

  1. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Roxy Music". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 705–706. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  2. 1 2 Chiu, David. "Running Out of Steam: Andy Mackay of Roxy Music on Siren". The Quietus. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  3. ↑ "Both Ends Burning by Roxy Music". SongFacts. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  4. ↑ "Roxy Music – Love is the Drug / Both Ends Burning (1975, Plastic Products Pressing, Vinyl)". Discogs .
  5. ↑ "Roxy Music – Love is the Drug (1975, Vinyl)". Discogs .
  6. ↑ Viva Roxy Music website on Viva! Roxy Music
  7. 1 2 Sexton, Paul (27 December 2021). "'Both Ends Burning': Roxy Music's Second Siren' Call". uDiscoverMusic. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  8. ↑ Wyman, Bill (27 March 2019). "The Essential Guide to Roxy Music, From the Songs to the Eno-Ferry Feud". Vulture. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  9. ↑ Thompson, Dave. "Both Ends Burning – Roxy Music | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  10. ↑ Horlsey, Jonathan (1 April 2022). "Johnny Marr: "I like synths but they don't come anywhere near the fun you can have with a guitar, in every aspect"". MusicRadar. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  11. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.