Roxy Music | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 16 June 1972 | |||
Recorded | 14 – 29 March 1972 | |||
Studio | Command (London) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 42:15 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Peter Sinfield | |||
Roxy Music chronology | ||||
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Singles from Roxy Music | ||||
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Roxy Music is the debut studio album by English rock band Roxy Music, released on 16 June 1972 by Island Records.
It was generally well received by contemporary critics and made it to number 10 in the UK Albums Chart. [1]
The opening track, "Re-Make/Re-Model", has been labelled a postmodernist pastiche, featuring solos by each member of the band echoing various touchstones of Western music, including The Beatles' "Day Tripper", Duane Eddy's version of "Peter Gunn", and Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries"; the esoteric "CPL 593H" was supposedly the licence number of a car spotted by Bryan Ferry that was driven by a beautiful woman. Brian Eno produced some self-styled "lunacy" when Ferry asked him for a sound "like the moon" for the track "Ladytron". "If There Is Something" was covered by David Bowie's Tin Machine, and was later featured quite extensively, almost as a central figure, in the British film Flashbacks of a Fool .
Several of the album's songs were thematically linked to films. "2HB", with its punning title, was Ferry's tribute to Humphrey Bogart and quoted the line "Here's looking at you, kid" made famous by the 1942 film Casablanca ; "Chance Meeting" was inspired by David Lean's Brief Encounter (1945). "The Bob" took its title from Battle of Britain (1968) and included a passage simulating the sound of gunfire.
Discussing the music, Andy Mackay later said "we certainly didn't invent eclecticism but we did say and prove that rock 'n' roll could accommodate – well, anything really". [2]
The band had been rehearsing and re-working the songs for a couple of months before they finally found a recording place, after which the entire album was recorded in the space of a single week. This was necessary because there was no record deal as yet, and their managers at EG were financing the sessions themselves, paying £5,000 in recording fees. [1] The album was produced by King Crimson's lyricist Peter Sinfield, who had recently left that band. In May 1972, a few weeks after the recording sessions, a contract was signed with Island Records and in June the album was released.
The band's penchant for glamour was showcased both in the lyrics and in the 1950s-style album cover. The photographer Karl Stoecker shot the cover, featuring model Kari-Ann Moller, who later married Chris Jagger, brother of Mick Jagger (a stylised portrait of Kari-Ann Moller also graces the cover of Mott the Hoople's 1974 album The Hoople ). After Brexit, when Moller was stopped by immigration officials while traveling under her Norwegian passport, Jagger uploaded the Roxy Music cover in support of his wife's application to remain in the UK. [3]
The album was dedicated to Susie, a drummer who auditioned for Roxy Music in the early days. [4]
Roxy Music, particularly the album's LP incarnation, has been released in different packages over the years. The album's original cover, as issued in 1972 by Island Records, featured a gatefold sleeve picturing the band (including original bass guitarist Graham Simpson) in stage attire designed by Antony Price, [5] and did not include the track "Virginia Plain". The album's original US release, in late 1972 on Warner Bros. Records' Reprise subsidiary, included "Virginia Plain", which had since been issued as a single in the UK. The original US release also featured a gatefold sleeve, but replaced Simpson's photo with that of Rik Kenton, who played bass on "Virginia Plain" following Simpson's departure from the group.
US distribution of Roxy Music was transferred from Reprise to their affiliated company Atco Records in 1976, and back to Reprise in the mid-1980s. LP editions of the album pressed in these timeframes were without the gatefold sleeve and band photographs, instead providing liner notes on the rear album cover.
The original LP release did not contain any singles. In July 1972, a few weeks after the contract was signed, Roxy Music recorded two more songs, "Virginia Plain" and "The Numberer", that were released as a single. It peaked at No. 4 in the UK Singles Chart [6] and helped push sales of the album, which itself went to No. 10. [1] In most later repressings of the album, including CD versions, the song "Virginia Plain" has been included.
Versions of all nine tracks of the UK album were recorded by the BBC for the John Peel show on 4 January and 23 May 1972, with the earlier session featuring David O'List on guitar. [7]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [8] |
Christgau's Record Guide | B+ [9] |
Mojo | [10] |
Pitchfork | 8.9/10 [11] |
Q | [12] |
Record Collector | [13] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [14] |
Select | 4/5 [15] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 8/10 [16] |
Uncut | 8/10 [17] |
Reviewing for Creem in 1973, Robert Christgau said: "From the drag queen [sic] on the cover to the fop finery in the centerfold to the polished deformity of the music on the record, this celebrates the kind of artifice that could come to seem as unhealthy as the sheen on a piece of rotten meat. Right now, though, it's decorated with enough weird hooks to earn an A for side one. Side two leans a little too heavily on the synthesizer (played by a balding, long-haired eunuch lookalike named Eno) without the saving grace of drums and bassline." [18]
Around the time of the release of Roxy Music's third album Stranded , Ferry was quoted as saying that he did not like the odd production of Roxy Music and was re-recording many of its tracks. Ferry eventually re-recorded "Re-Make/Re-Model", "2HB", "Chance Meeting" and "Sea Breezes", and released them as B-sides to some of his solo singles between 1973 and 1976, collecting them together on his 1976 solo album Let's Stick Together .
In 1994, Roxy Music was ranked number 57 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums . He described the album as "totally original and a breath of bizarre air", noting that it "put Bryan Ferry and Eno at the forefront of the art-rock movement." [19] In 2003, Rolling Stone included the album at number 62 in its list of the best debut albums of all time and stated: "In England in the early Seventies, there was nerdy art-rock and sexy glam-rock and rarely did the twain meet. Until this record, that is." [20] Uncut placed it at number nine on its 2015 list of the best debut albums. [21] In 2005, Q included Roxy Music at number 31 in a list of "40 Cosmic Rock Albums" published in its special issue Pink Floyd & the Story of Prog Rock. [22] In 2012, Treble named it as one of 10 "essential" glam rock albums. [23]
In 2024, the cover artwork was parodied by Linda Thompson for Proxy Music , an album of her songs performed by other singers. [24]
All tracks are written by Bryan Ferry
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 |
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 |
All tracks are written by Bryan Ferry
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Re-Make/Re-Model" | 5:10 |
2. | "Ladytron" | 4:21 |
3. | "If There Is Something" | 6:33 |
4. | "Virginia Plain" | 2:57 |
5. | "2HB" | 4:34 |
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 |
In March 2018, a Super Deluxe 3CD + 1DVD "Book Set" of the debut album Roxy Music was released containing previously unheard material, original 1971 demos, the original album plus alternate takes, contemporary BBC Sessions and a DVD containing rare video footage and a 5.1 surround mix by Steven Wilson, along with a 136-page hardback book with an essay by Richard Williams, including many rare and unpublished photographs. All are within a heavy-duty slipcase. [25] [ better source needed ]
'Disc One: Original Album'
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Re-Make/Re-Model" | 5:14 |
2. | "Ladytron" | 4:26 |
3. | "If There Is Something" | 6:34 |
4. | "Virginia Plain" | 2:58 |
5. | "2HB" | 4:30 |
6. | "The Bob (Medley)" | 5:48 |
7. | "Chance Meeting" | 3:08 |
8. | "Would You Believe?" | 3:53 |
9. | "Sea Breezes" | 7:04 |
10. | "Bitters End" | 2:08 |
'Disc Two: Demos & Out-takes'
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Ladytron" | 5:21 |
2. | "2HB" | 7:14 |
3. | "Chance Meeting" | 4:22 |
4. | "The Bob (Medley)" | 5:59 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | "Instrumental" | 0:32 |
6. | "Re-Make/Re-Model" | 8:13 |
7. | "Ladytron" | 5:16 |
8. | "If There Is Something" | 7:06 |
9. | "2HB" | 4:43 |
10. | "The Bob (Medley)" | 7:19 |
11. | "Would You Believe?" | 3:05 |
12. | "Chance Meeting" | 5:30 |
13. | "Sea Breezes" | 2:38 |
14. | "Bitters End" | 6:04 |
15. | "Virginia Plain" | 3:35 |
'Disc Three: The BBC Sessions'
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "If There Is Something" | 6:38 |
2. | "The Bob (Medley)" | 5:50 |
3. | "Would You Believe?" | 3:49 |
4. | "Sea Breezes" | 8:18 |
5. | "Re-Make/Re-Model" | 4:58 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
6. | "2HB" | 3:46 |
7. | "Ladytron" | 6:14 |
8. | "Chance Meeting" | 3:00 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
9. | "Virginia Plain" | 4:03 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
10. | "The Bob (Medley)" | 5:51 |
11. | "Sea Breezes" | 7:11 |
12. | "Virginia Plain" | 3:27 |
13. | "Chance Meeting" | 5:51 |
14. | "Re-Make/Re-Model" | 6:28 |
'Disc Four: DVD VIDEO CONTENT'
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Re-Make/Re-Model" | 4:59 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
2. | "Ladytron" | 6:03 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
3. | "Virginia Plain" | 2:56 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
4. | "Re-Make/Re-Model (start)" | 1:05 |
5. | "Ladytron" | 4:30 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
6. | "Would You Believe?" | 3:49 |
7. | "If There Is Something" | 5:25 |
8. | "Sea Breezes" | 6:06 |
9. | "Virginia Plain" | 3:52 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
10. | "Re-Make/Re-Model" | 5:15 |
11. | "Ladytron" | 4:32 |
12. | "If There Is Something" | 6:40 |
13. | "2HB" | 4:30 |
14. | "The Bob (Medley)" | 5:48 |
15. | "Chance Meeting" | 3:18 |
16. | "Would You Believe?" | 3:54 |
17. | "Sea Breezes" | 7:04 |
18. | "Bitters End" | 2:03 |
19. | "Virginia Plain" | 3:01 |
Chart (1972) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [26] | 49 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [27] | 58 |
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [28] | 23 |
UK Albums (OCC) [29] | 10 |
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [30] | 80 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [31] | 152 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [32] | 89 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [33] | 16 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [34] | Gold | 100,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
In 2024 Linda Thompson released the album Proxy Music featuring a photograph of herself in a white dress on the cover in homage to the Roxy Music album. The title refers to Thompson's enlistment of proxies to record the album's vocals due to her spasmodic dysphonia that took away her ability to speak or sing. [35]
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.
Bryan Ferry is an English singer and songwriter who was the frontman of the band Roxy Music and also a solo artist. 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".
Avalon is the eighth and final studio album by the 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.
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.
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.
Here Come the Warm Jets is the debut solo studio album by English musician Brian Eno, released on Island Records on 8 February 1974. It was recorded and produced by Eno following his departure from Roxy Music, and blends glam and pop stylings with avant-garde approaches. The album features numerous guests, including several of Eno's former Roxy Music bandmates along with members of Hawkwind, Matching Mole, Pink Fairies, Sharks, Sweetfeed, and King Crimson. Eno employed unusual directions and production methods to coax unexpected results from the musicians.
For Your Pleasure is the second studio album by the English rock band Roxy Music, released on 23 March 1973 by Island Records. It was their last to feature synthesiser and sound specialist Brian Eno. The album expanded on the experimental nature of their self-titled debut, featuring more elaborate production and experiments with phasing and tape loops.
Manifesto is the sixth studio album by English rock band Roxy Music. It was released in March 1979 by E.G. in the United Kingdom, Polydor in Europe and Atco in the United States.
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.
Stranded is the third album by English rock band Roxy Music, released in 1973 by Island Records. Stranded was the first Roxy Music album on which Bryan Ferry was not the sole songwriter, with multi-instrumentalist Andy Mackay and guitarist Phil Manzanera also making songwriting contributions. It is also their first album with keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson and bassist John Gustafson, who replaced Brian Eno and John Porter, respectively, after their departures following the release of their previous album For Your Pleasure.
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.
"Virginia Plain" is a song by English rock band Roxy Music, released as their debut single in August 1972. Written by Roxy frontman Bryan Ferry, the song was recorded by the band in July 1972 at London's Command Studios. Backed with "The Numberer", an instrumental composed by Andy Mackay, as a single the song became a Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number four.
Boys and Girls is the sixth solo studio album by English singer and songwriter Bryan Ferry, released on 3 June 1985 by E.G. Records. The album was Ferry's first solo album in seven years and the first since he had disbanded his band Roxy Music in 1983. The album was Ferry's first and only number one solo album in the UK. It was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and contains two UK top 40 hit singles. It is also Ferry's most successful solo album in the US, having been certified Gold for sales in excess of half a million copies there.
"Do the Strand" is the first song from English rock band Roxy Music's second album, For Your Pleasure. In contrast to the songs from Roxy Music's eponymous debut album, this song starts suddenly without any instrumental fanfare.
"Do the Strand" is the first song from English rock band Roxy Music's second album, For Your Pleasure. In contrast to the songs from Roxy Music's eponymous debut album, this song starts suddenly without any instrumental fanfare.
"Oh Yeah", also known as "Oh Yeah (There's a Band Playing On the Radio)" or "Oh Yeah (On the Radio)" on certain releases, is a hit single by the English rock band Roxy Music. It was released as the second single from their 1980 album Flesh and Blood. The song is featured prominently in the fifth episode of the Stephen Merchant comedy series Hello Ladies.
Greatest Hits is a compilation album by the English band Roxy Music. It was released in 1977, when the band were on hiatus.
Live is a double live album by English art rock band Roxy Music, released in 2003. Their fourth official live album, it contains performances from a variety of venues on their 2001 reunion world tour, and represents the entire set list from those concerts. Live was packaged in a Digipak case.
"Pyjamarama" is a song by English rock band Roxy Music, released as a single in February 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.