The east side is very good on manifesto but i don't like the west side. 'Stronger through the years 'is one of the best songs they did. Manifesto and flesh and blood are the joint worst albums. Flesh and blood is over produced but with some great singles but has a lot of filler though.
8. Flesh & Blood 7. Manifesto 6. Avalon 5. Siren 4. Country Life 3. Stranded 2. Roxy Music 1. For Your Pleasure Agree with you on Prairie Rose very underrated. Shout out to Viva particularly for If There Is Something, my favourite Roxy tune of all time.
Viva is a great live album. What do you make of Both Ends Burning live with the screeching background vocals. I have always wanted to ask someone that. My friends don't listen to Roxy Music, unfortunately.
I personally adore their debut record. My invitation card was, as for most, For Your Pleasure, which is alsmost as good, but Roxy Music just feels so special to me. The arrangements, the genres fusing one with another seamlessly, Ferry's beautiful voice with poetry, everything seems to come together. I can surely say that FYP is more consistent as an album, but I can't help bot love every song on the debut. Especially Sea Breezes, which is my favorite Roxy song period. Anyways, nice list. The band also went nuts live. This seems to be overlooked, but some of their live perforances even top their studio recordings (e.g. Out of the Blue). Viva! is a particularly great album at that.
So glad to see you put for your pleasure as number one. That is their best album. That record is amazing in every dream home a hardache is an amazing track way ahead of its time.
"Ladies and gentlemen, FOR YOUR PLEASURE, the second Roxy Music album..." You pretty much nail it with each video, but this one is spot on for me. I have listed FOR YOUR PLEASURE as one of my all-time favorite albums for many, many years, since I made a habit of playing STRAND and DREAM HOME on the radio back in the 70s. Thanks for your work. And never forget: "...deluxe and delightful..." and "...do the Strandski..."
Great video. Roxy is definitely underappreciated here in the states. I agree with you on "If There Is Something" as being perhaps their best song. In fact, it might be my all-time favorite song by any artist and I find that the live version on "Viva!" is especially moving. I tried for a couple of years to get my wife into Roxy and she never quite understood them until she saw the movies "Flashbacks of a Fool" and "Lost In Translation." After that, she finally came around.
Funnily enough, I have some wonderful acid related memories from way back when, Country Life, Stranded, Viva, For Your Pleasure and the Eponymous! Smiling at the memories!
I'm sorry... "Stranded" is the best album thru and thru. Every song. I love the sound of their first four albums. I was 16 in '74 going to pick up my date listening to Mother Of Pearl, immediately I was hooked. Way ahead of their time and yet so listenable.
I agree. "Stranded" is a work of pure genius. "For your pleasure" has just a bit too much noodling for me. Both released in 1973! 1 Stranded 2 Siren 3 For Your Pleasure 4 Country Life 5 First album 6 Manifesto 7 Avalon (mild green Ferry liquid) 8 Flesh and Blood
Top 5 1 For your pleasure 2 Roxy music 3 Country life 4 Stranded 5 Siren If Stranded had a better song than Psalm it would be top 3,i think it's prob the worst Roxy song ever
Don't know if "Worst" applies to any Roxy album... Not for me anyway but it was great seeing you go through these and seeing what you liked about the albums. I think any lists are difficult and I doubt if anyone would agree completely on anything but that is actually the beauty of it all. You take from it what you will and certain things hit home for you more than maybe someone else. That is why it's interesting to hear someone else's point of view of material that you love - you will likely discover something new or look at the material from a different angle or just simply gain more appreciation. I can't bring myself to line the albums up in this way. I love all of these albums, some more than others but to me, the strongest, most cohesive albums are Country Life, Stranded, Siren and Avalon. As for individual tunes, the first song that reeled me in was In Every Dream Home a Heartache. After that, the ones that really pulled me in and got me hooked were Remake Remodel, Editions of You and Street Life. BTW, the live version of If There is Something off of Viva blew my mind and blows away the album version. Viva sealed the deal for me. I had to get EVERYTHING after that!
I get that, but it's sad. I recall girls I knew as a child who gave the same review to the Beatles when they became truly great, but were no longer their beloved mop tops. And how could one claim only one given Bowie, at the expense of other brilliant records? I love early Roxy, but Avalon is a sublime masterpiece and my unquestionable favorite.
@@nolongerthere It's typical ' Supermarket Shopping Aisle ' music though .... the polar opposite of everything Roxy was, in those innovative early days. Records like Avalon can be made by any half decent band - no originality required. It signalled the end for Roxy, as it had become the Bryan Ferry Backing Band, but hey ...they made a lot of money from those last 3 commercial albums, so Ferry n' the band would surely say that these elevator music albums set them up for life ...
@@dirktaylor5484 There is a lot of music I feel that way about; it's a matter of taste, as we all know, and we're all entitled to voice our opinions to groups in open forums, erroneous as our blanket dismissive statements may be. However, the higher road for a music fan is to practice a measure of restraint in direct responses to specific individuals expressing their love for said music.
Roxy Music is the greatest British band of all time, all the best bands have been influenced by them over the years, and as usual they never get talked about or heard of in the UK, thank you for making this video.
Saw Roxy Music on the Midnight Special when they were promoting the Country Life album. I later went to the mall and purchased it at the Record Bar. This is the Roxy Music I fell in love with and played the crap out of that record. Later on in life I collected the rest of they're catalog of music. And yes all very good albums. But I have to hold Country life as my fave. and the most complete sounding and the most balanced.
Well done Barry for doing this video of a great and influential band that hardly gets a mention when others(Not as good as you) are ranking artists or songs on TH-cam. I have to agree with you and say that For Your Pleasure is their best album but my favourite song of theirs is on: Country Life and that is the brilliant: Out Of The Blue. I also love all of Bryan Ferry's solo work and for me he's the only artist that can make a cover sound better than the original.
I became deaf (motorcycle accident ) in '78 at the age of 18. In 2001, I got a cochlear implant in my right ear, and 15 years later, my left ear got implanted. First thing I did when I could hear was listen to music: Pink Floyd and Roxy Music, most of the time. Music I knew, I heard and understood the best, including the words (whereas understanding speech when people talked to me took a a few years). I LOVE ROXY MUSIC! Manifesto came out after I went deaf, but when I heard it the first time, I had no problem understanding it. Not so Flesh & Blood, and Avalon: those 2 albums I had to listen to 50 times each to understand them, they are so different. But I love everything Roxy Music (and Bryan Ferry solo, Phil's solo albums), and those 23 years deaf make it impossible for me to pick favorite albums. I just do the sensible thing and listen to Roxy on my ipod in the shuffle mode most days. I do have favorite songs, though: If there is something (I love Bryan's voice on the first album, but the song on Viva album is sooooo beautiful) 2HB. Strictly Confidential Grey Lagoons A song for Europe Mother of pearl The thrill of it all A really good time Sentimental fool Both ends burning Manifesto Stronger through the years My only love Over you Avalon True to life.
@@classicalbum It was music that I missed the most during my deaf years, but most of what I remembered at the time I got the implant was just snipets of songs -just try and remember all of Floyd's ECHOES! But once I started hearing music, it all came flooding back. I've got 13,547 songs on my ipod, and I listen to a lot of music. Surprisingly, I listen to very little of today's music, unless it's rock. I have no desire to listen to Justin Beiber and the like. I've only heard 1 Madonna song (I think). When I bluetooth my ipod, the sound doesn't come from a speaker in the headphones, but is inside my ear via the implant: Best way to REALLY hear music! With 3 settings on the dial, I prefer music to be just that, no outside sound. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some music to listen to.
I find myself agreeing with all your song choices, including your remarks about If There Is Something. Mr. Ferry's vocals on the first album are another galaxy. Not proficient as in the sense of a high level singer, but how he transferred the emotions into his voice ... outstanding.
Barry, you have the Top 3 in perfect order as far as I'm concerned. After those musically intense masterworks with their exquisitely crafted lyrics, the other albums appear thin and much less imaginative, though of course there are some catchy moments here and there.
I enjoyed this video, my no1 has to be the Roxy Music album. When the first album came out it sounded so avant garde, it was a truly great record, 'still play it today.
Sure, after Siren Roxy Music became totally different from the earlier Roxy Music. But I understand there has to be a development, you can't keep on always doing the same unless your name is Engelbert. I also understand that artists want to play for an audience, not for the thumbs-up of critics only. However, Avalon is a milestone as a pop album, and at that time a high level aural-paradise to our ears. It is quality through and through. It deserves the same level of recognition as the first 4 RM albums. If only more commercial music was as innovative as Avalon was in 1982. To my opinion Roxy Music delivered. 2 of the best progressive Art-Rock albums ever, one of the best Pop Albums ever, and from 8 released works 6 excellent. Plus, their life album Viva is one of the best life albums ever. BTW. If I took the 4 pre 90's Bryan Ferry albums In Your Mind, The Bride Stripped Bare, Boys and Girls, and Bête Noir, and cut off their slack, it would result in another two high level pop albums.
I am a Roxy Music fan since their first two singles in 1972 that were not on the first album and I enjoyed all of their releases. There is no bad one, even the polished "commercial" late albums stand high above anything else released in that genre. The band was always unique and if I rank the albums in the order of their appearance that does not really imply a steep downward slope. If you take 8 steps down from that sensational first album you are still more than eight miles high... Apart from Eno, who is of course a genius in a class of his own, there are also many good albums from Ferry and especially from Phil Manzanera (Diamond Head, the 801 albums, etc).
God I love Trash! It's their Punk song! Nice that Siren is highly placed, Brian has so much fun with his vocals on that one. Beautiful review of their debut!
Roxy Music played their first U.S. gig in Cleveland Ohio and became a cult hit, garnering a lot of radio airplay on our big FM station WMMS and leaving a deep imprint on Cleveland's local underground music scene. I vividly remember Crocus Behemoth (later front man for Rocket From The Tombs and Pere Ubu) absolutely RAVING about the first album back when he was a writer for Cleveland Scene magazine.
“Manifesto”, the title track is brilliant as is “Stronger Through The Years” and it is better than “Flesh + Blood” on my list and “Country Life” rates much higher up for me.
They're my third favorite band of all time. They were like a combination of my first two favorite bands, The Beatles and King Crimson. Glad you mentioned "Prairie Rose". My favorite Roxy Music song.
Great list and video! Here's mine. 1.) For Your Pleasure 2.) Country Life 3.) Stranded 4.) Siren 5.) Roxy Music 6.) Avalon 7.) Manifesto 8.) Flesh + Blood
1- Stranded 2 - For your pleasure 3- Roxy Music (1st album) 4- Country Life 5- Siren 6- Viva! (Roxy Music Live) 7- Greatest Hits 8- Avalon - 9-Manifesto 10 - Flesh and Blood.
There are some very subjective reviews tending to a style of music but you are like me liking many genres of music and not be stuck on one. You are very objective and study well the difference of songs and albums. Bravo
Have you worked in music journalism?? Your not just "some dude" on you tube this is the most in depth stuff I've heard,it's next level ... i'd say "liked and subbed" but I already did that way back, superb stuff!!! ,Max, Liverpool 😁👍
I've not worked in music journalism - my specialty is English lit. I bring close reading techniques and my obsession with rock music to these videos. They go quite well together.
I bought AVALON in 1982 and really liked it's more reflective ambient leanings. I was given the first four Roxy Music albums in 1981 on Japanese pressings and NEVER listened to more than one album - once - until last year (2022) and became a huge fan of those records, especially FOR YOUR PLEASURE and ROXY MUSIC. The gifted early albums survived some 15 moves and 40 years before I actually listened to them. Good things come to those who wait!
County Life for me and not just for the sublime cover. Out of the Blue is the 24 carat diamond as sharp, shining,, and and soaring into the heavens as it reaches an out of this world climax. Every cut on this album were so finely executed with just the right about of nuance to underscore what lived behind the gates of a Country Life. That's my take
@@cal59uk1 The way I put 'Out of the Blue' onto a Cassette tape in '84 was (for this non-techie) inspired engineering-enhanced audio joy. Using a friend's vinyl stereo with amazing JB speakers I gradually turn up the soaring violin-tinged close (what is it...35 seconds?) until it was at 'full blast' by the tune's climax. Then popping the cassette into my car's player...WOW...in a 'remake/remodel' of the song I had the opus S-C-R-E-A-M-I-N-G at me (like a Beatles crowd circa '63) in a blistering ear bath I still have to recreate now & again. Best song by best band ever
I see Roxy as two bands. The great art rock band captured on the first four. Then the classy pop band that I feel started from Siren onwards. The art rock band is much more me. As for the order, I tend to listen to all four in chronological order when I'm in the mood. I rate all four at 9/10. My only 10/10 was a 1976 compilation called greatest hits which did an excellent job of picking the very best from these four albums plus the two hits from Siren. Roxy are also on my list of "bands who should have a great live album but don't". Viva shows great promise but it's just too short.
Great point--the long-out-of-print Greatest Hits you mention is a perfect album. You're right--Viva should be a lot better (the sound is dodgy and why isn't it a double?).
Id really love to see you cover Brian enos solo albums at some point. If not his whole catalogue, a look into "here come the warm jets", and "taking tiger mountain by strategy" would be great.
The 8 albums comprise to #1. Impossible to say what is the best album! In 1974 Country Life was my fav, however Flesh & Blood in 1980 was my fav all time at the time! We change in our tastes as we progress through life. It's much easier to state what are my fav songs now. Lover which never appeared on any album is one of my all time best-loved!
a spectacular effort. I am not one to normally recommend live recordings but in this case there is a 2 disc cd Roxy Music Live that was recorded in 2002 in France. An incredible band line up and a setlist that mimics most to the individual songs you mentioned. Cannot recommend this release enough.
Thought-provoking analysis and thanks for a rare ranking of this band's albums. For Your Pleasure changed my life and stayed with me through Punk, New Wave, Electronic Dance and much more. I retained a soft spot for Roxy's remaining studio albums too, as they always seemed to be able to turn out haunting melancholy - if no longer the experimentation - apart from Manifesto, which I just could never get along with. Dance Away, in particular had me cursing their increasing popularity being inversely proportional to their diminishing creativity - such a polar opposite to Virginia Plain and Pyjamarama. And by then there was much more interesting 'dance' music (to me) coming from the likes of Kraftwerk!
Smart appraisal man. These albums are so important and measure my passage from early teenhood onward. Iremember an article in which Eno referred to Ferry as "blank frank" and recognised this as a kind of contempt for the popular. Anyway, an interesting listen, Rare to listen all the way thru a video these days-a non patronising, Well done!
Cracking review as usual Barry. I thought at first you'd missed some albums, but realised they were the live discs. So, not many recordings from one of the greatest bands to come out of the 70s, but what a body of work it is. That's a very perceptive comment about Roxy prefiguring the New Romantic movement by nearly ten years; and I love your reference to under the counter inflatables ! They never made a bad album and Ferry has gone on to release many excellent solo works. His Bob Dylan tribute album was a real standout. The first two Roxy discs in those wonderful glamour covers still sound modern and challenging nearly fifty years later. They still inspire me.
I think its kind of sad just how underestimated Ferry is as both a singer, who like so few others of his generation knows how to find the inner heart of a song - much like (but not at the godly level) say, Billie Holliday. Even things like "in Every dream home..." and as a songwriter who just knows how to craft a damn good pop song and if necessary, mangle it beyond recognition. He really deserves more recognition for that, so its nice to see an understanding review.
@@shanewright2772 Couldn't agree more Shane. Everything he touches seems to come off. I suppose it's great taste and musical intelligence. He doesn't get the recognition that Bowie gets but that early Roxy stuff was just as creative and artistic, musically and lyrically. He's a wonderful modern crooner as well, and can front a jazz orchestra or string quartet as well as he can a rock band. Maybe Barry could do something on the site that does full justice to Bryan's talent.
What I enjoy most about your channel is your monumental Britishness. The view from the window on your right is either St. Paul's Cathedral, or a quiet sheep meadow. Don't destroy my illusion.
My personal ranking, from top to bottom is: 1. For Your Pleasure 2. Stranded 3. Avalon 4. Country Life 5. Roxy Music 6. Siren 7. Manifesto 8. Flesh and Blood
most enjoyable analysis Mr Album Review...sounds like a podcast of an issue of the NME or Melody Maker back in the late 1970s....stimulating journalistic lexicon...much appreciated, thanks
I'd put Country Life and Siren higher and Avalon lower on this list, but it's fun to compare takes. It'd be great to see a review of Ferry's solo albums, too.
I'm not a big consumer of pop, Roxy or early Roxy one of the few Pop Groups I found to be of value. Eno was a genius, some of his 75-84 efforts, sublime.
"For Your Pleasure" is a stone-cold classic. Heard it when it was first released in 1973, and it knocked me down. To think "Stranded" came out six months later........ For me, the first three albums were the best. Ferry is on record, as saying FYP is his favourite RM album. Rightly so.
Great band , beautiful records , amazing musicians. That is Roxy Music for me . My favourite album is Country life , followed by For your pleasure and Stranded.Your videos are very nice, very well argued.
Great to hear a detailed and informed analysis of albums that aren’t given the correct attention. Stranded has always left me cold, that’s the only placement I’d change. However, the songs you highlight are fantastic. As I say, really great analysis- I will be listening to more.
I enjoyed your critique. It was both, calculated and objective, by a person (I think) that understands the breadth of their work and the overall potential for the band. I don't know if my opinion would be similar, but off the cuff, I think I'd place "Country Life" a little bit higher, however, you did preface by saying that your remarks might be a little controversial with some fans. Ever notice that "Avalon" seems to go straight-to-the-top for anyone and everyone? It was definitely refreshing to see you put it more into perspective here. Thank you.
“Infectious as a dose of the clap.” What a simile to describe a song chorus! This series is wonderful and a far cry from those videos with an individual making facial expressions or the ‘Bill & Ted’ types head bobbing and saying ‘duuude that was awesome.’ It is refreshing to hear someone with a grasp of language and the intelligence to express himself. Wonderful stuff sir.
Although it's 3 years old, this is a stellar video that mirrors my ranking of Roxy Music to a T. However, my favorite all-time Roxy tune has to remain Virginia Plain, as that was the first track I heard as a young kid, via a Warner Brother's loss leaders sampler. Great show!!!
Had the pleasure to see them in '75 at the Granada in Chicago. They opened with "Manifesto" via an extended introduction, allowing Ferry to parade out in a red leather tuxedo. The band was fucking tight. So wish I could have seen them in '72/'73 with ENO.
the first album is really an invigorating and venturesome listen. you could draw reasonable parallels between t-rex and spiders but roxy was like a big bang, and the stage persona added to the mystique of it all. almost like futuristic teddy boys in their sartorial get ups and perhaps in some sense influenced by the game- changing a clockwork orange. for your pleasure takes on more daring themes and eno is ever present throughout the journey. the melody is more prevalent on albums after eno's departure because there was void now that could be used for optimal musical effect.
I came here after listening to your excellent review of Bowie's oeuvre. This one didn't disappoint. Ironically, even though you didn't like Manifesto, I thought your critique of it was one of the more nuanced I've come across - given that you usefully placed it within in the context of Ferry and Co's response to punk. I don't think I've come any reviewers who've done that. For me, the lp was clearly partly Ferry's attempt to take account of the changed music landscape after punk. Your description of the chorus of Avalon's "Take a Chance with Me" is as infectious as a dose of the clap" made me laugh out loud. Your review of Roxy Music's oeuvre was a pleasure to listen to. And, surprise, surprise, I agreed with your no. 1 choice! Didn't know it was Dame Judi Dench who'd intoned, "Don't ask why" at the end of "For Your Pleasure." But everything you say about this pop masterpiece is spot on. Nice job!
Eno was still in the band for 'For Your Pleasure' album' if the sleeve notes and Wikipedia are to be believed. It's my favourite too. Second albums rarely even match the first. This one surpasses it.
Great list. Mine is essentially in chronological order as for me, whilst I love every album, their wonderfully accessible art rock eccentricity waned with each release, thus making them less interesting as time progressed. 'Manifesto' & 'Flesh + Blood' are pariahs in their discography, though by the standards of almost any other band they'd be revered. 1. Roxy Music 2. For Your Pleasure 3. Stranded 4. Country Life 5. Siren 6. Avalon 7. Flesh + Blood 8. Manifesto
All the rankers I followed so far started with MANIFESTO - means not liking it. Strange.. I'm crazy about the whole album. Still in these days I play MANIFESTO all the way through - once in a while. It brings me in a certain mood that I like. (In 1979 I was 21)
Good ranking and interesting analysis. I enjoyed this. You didn't mention the track Manifesto, which is IMO the best track on the album and one of their best songs. I especially love the eerie bass introduction. This track makes the album jump up a couple of notches to me. I agree generally the earlier albums are more innovative and For Your Pleasure is probably their best album. There's not a bad track on it. I would rank Country Life and Stranded as equal second. The first album is also excellent in terms of songs but lacks the quality production values of subsequent albums. Yes, I remember seeing Eno say in an interview that Stranded was his favorite Roxy album.
@@SKYSAW59 'it is that. I remember putting Remake Remodel on repeat, lifting the tone arm to play it over and over again. I took a while to get to the rest of the album, but it was everything it promised to be. I like the production, it sounds great to me. It is far better for not having those blessed "production values..." being more like the first Velvets album. It was such a surprise after hearing Stranded and even For Your Pleasure. A song called "Remake Remodel" just had to sound like that. What an opener!
Saw roxy music in 73 74 75 .I loved them in 72 after I saw them on ogwt. Andy Mackay was my favourite. . In the early days bryan oozed style I think .he had all the right moves but think he lost it after 72. He did write some great songs after this . My favourite is sunset from stranded.
Interesting choices. I saw the first tour they played the whole first album then Virginia plain as the encore and that was it, 50 mins! Tickets went from 60p to 75p when it charted!
An articulate & valuable ranking of the fabulous Roxy Music catalogue. FOR YOUR PLEASURE and COUNTRY LIFE are my favourites (today) but I'd also add the first GREATEST HITS album from 1977. It includes two definitive stand-alone singles ("Virginia Plain" & "Pyjamarama"), a concise edit of "The Thrill of It All" plus key cuts from their first run albums. The COMPLETE STUDIO RECORDINGS box, of course, includes all of these as well as the atmospheric, sometimes experimental b-sides.
Enjoyed that greatly and the list coincides pretty much with what I would have chosen. That said, you seem to be moved towards different tracks on the bigger albums which just goes to show what a band they were
Great video! For some reason it seems that Roxy music is getting a mini-revival, at least here in YT. My first MR album was "Siren" and I think that will always be my #1 from them.
Have always been a fan of Roxy music the way they express their take on music has always been interesting and challenging. Like Jethro Tull every song is a journey.
8. Flesh and Blood 7. Manifesto 6. Avalon 5. Roxy Music 4. Siren 3. Country Life 2. For Your Pleasure 1. Stranded Their first five LPs are pretty close to equal.
I loved Roxy from Virginia Plain (still my favourite all time single), but to me "best to worst "is easy. The first two are equally the best, then getting less so with every other up to Siren (I still like all of these though) I was appalled when I bought Manifesto on its release, and tried so hard to like it but passed it on quickly. Didn't buy anything else after this, but hated all the MOR songs I heard by them on the radio - Angel Eyes, Dance Away, Avalon etc.
I'm sure most of us know where you're coming from and it's easy to just agree with you; but I'd add that everything that Bryan has done is valid and he had the talent and musical imagination to stretch out. There's some good stuff on those later albums but nothing can beat the early Roxy. I think we're probably all agreed on that.
@@PhilBaird1 not all of us, Phil. I can almost reverse Lemming's take on this: for me, the artsy-fartsy pretentious experimentalists eventually discovered melody and produced superbly polished, (at last) accessible treasures with Manifesto... Flesh & Blood...and the jewel in their crown, the sublime Avalon - nothing short of exquisite. From Siren backwards each album was patchy: flashes of brilliance (Amazona on Stranded is truly breathtaking) but lots of self-absorbed, forgettable padding.
Early Roxy Music or later Roxy Music? Personally I prefer the early work, but still like the last three albums. It's a bit like early and later Genesis, again I much prefer the early albums, but obviously both bands (and others) decided at some point to change direction/style and nothing could be done about that. I'm thankful that Roxy Music recorded some great work, and listen quite regularly to all their music.
8. Manifesto, 7. Flesh and Blood, every other albums rises up at different times for me and not really able to say which is my favorite or least favorite of the others.
I agree that For Your Pleasure is the bands ultimate and most intriguing album. I would probably put Avalon a bit higher but you nailed a band that is the mostly obtuse to American ears
A great critical assessment. My fave is their debut, but fave Roxy track is Out of the Blue, with it's phasing and truly cinematic scope. Would love to hear you speak to their singles, especially the non-album tracks.
Lucky enough to have seen the band, when Brian ENO was still a member at the Grand Theatre, Leeds. In the early 70’s, saw them a couple of times after that, but they just weren’t as good.
Hello john. Agree with you. I loved the band . But they never impressed me in concert. Saw them first in 73 in newcastle the stranded tour with Leo sayer.and bryan and the others were ok on the night .I saw them in 74 and 75 and they never improved on this. Still love their music.
Thanks for your Opionons I would diagree with you a lot as I listened to the later material first & worked my way back.I like both ends of the spectrum the Pop vs the Rock. Roxy wrote some of the best pop songs of all time.Avalon is like escaping into another world.I came from the new romantic experince but was happy with the classic roxy albums.Country Life is one of my favorites Out of the Blue is mind blowing.Thanks again it was nice to see some share there Roxy Music experince with others.Bowie usually gets all the atenttion.
I love all their records, but my preference is for the first phase of their career. My bottom 3 favs are less entrenched (and have shifted place with each other from time to time), whereas the top 5 are more so. 8. Flesh & Blood 7. Manifesto 6. Avalon 5. Siren 4. Roxy Music 3. Country Life 2. For Your Pleasure 1. Stranded (Viva would probably be between Siren and Avalon)
I'm glad Roxy developed as a band and moved with the times. It makes their history interesting. It would have been wrong for them to be still sounding like 1972 in 1982.
True, but they aren't the only group who changed their style substantially over the years. Surprising how few bands do actually get out of their comfort zone and try new sounds. Some have been more successful than others mind you. I've always been fascinated by Roxy Music, and how they started off essentially as an 'art school' glam rock band, but finished as a more mainstream polished 80's pop band.
So agree. I would hold my breath upon first dropping the needle on a new Roxy album, always bought the instant they came out, usually unheard. I think Ferry moved forward with each album with such a high standard of maintaining artistic integrity with an ear for the marketplace while maintaining such a remarkable unique and distinctive sound. Of course I have my sequence of favorites, but I don't think Roxy has ever made anything less than one great album after another.
Love that this video exists. It’s really hard to find Roxy videos and they are awesome
Thank you .. do share this
Right? I couldnt agree more. Roxy are one of the best bands ever. Everyone needs to know them
The east side is very good on manifesto but i don't like the west side. 'Stronger through the years 'is one of the best songs they did. Manifesto and flesh and blood are the joint worst albums. Flesh and blood is over produced but with some great singles but has a lot of filler though.
Eno's electronic noodlng : nothing will describe Eno better than that notion
Even their worst is better than many artists best! 👍
8. Flesh & Blood
7. Manifesto
6. Avalon
5. Siren
4. Country Life
3. Stranded
2. Roxy Music
1. For Your Pleasure
Agree with you on Prairie Rose very underrated. Shout out to Viva particularly for If There Is Something, my favourite Roxy tune of all time.
Viva is a great live album. What do you make of Both Ends Burning live with the screeching background vocals. I have always wanted to ask someone that. My friends don't listen to Roxy Music, unfortunately.
Agree with your ranking 100%
@@petalchildyes, me, too!
Good list
The live album Viva! Roxy Music is also tremendous.The Great Paul Thompson one of the most underrated rock drummers is at his best here.
PT is not underrated.
I am FB friends with PT..We have been pmIng a bit here and there...He seems like a very nice guy!
Such a great live album, the live version of 'If There Is Something' competes with the studio version of the song for me, it's that good.
Thanks for sharing your ranking. I had the pleasure of seeing Roxy Music 3 times '(83, '01, & '22).
I agree wholeheartedly with your list. For Your Pleasure is a gem. Roxy Music blazed across the 70s night sky like a comet.
I fell in love with A Song For Europe and would listen to it in my car over and over. Thank you so much for this video!
I personally adore their debut record. My invitation card was, as for most, For Your Pleasure, which is alsmost as good, but Roxy Music just feels so special to me. The arrangements, the genres fusing one with another seamlessly, Ferry's beautiful voice with poetry, everything seems to come together.
I can surely say that FYP is more consistent as an album, but I can't help bot love every song on the debut. Especially Sea Breezes, which is my favorite Roxy song period.
Anyways, nice list. The band also went nuts live. This seems to be overlooked, but some of their live perforances even top their studio recordings (e.g. Out of the Blue). Viva! is a particularly great album at that.
So glad to see you put for your pleasure as number one. That is their best album. That record is amazing in every dream home a hardache is an amazing track way ahead of its time.
Gotta go with the first 5 albums, all so good with glitter, romantic music , bizarre sounds and space rock
"Ladies and gentlemen, FOR YOUR PLEASURE, the second Roxy Music album..." You pretty much nail it with each video, but this one is spot on for me. I have listed FOR YOUR PLEASURE as one of my all-time favorite albums for many, many years, since I made a habit of playing STRAND and DREAM HOME on the radio back in the 70s. Thanks for your work. And never forget: "...deluxe and delightful..." and "...do the Strandski..."
Victor Hawkins Hands down one of the best albums ever. In every dreamhome is still up there for me. They were in rare form then.
Great video. Roxy is definitely underappreciated here in the states. I agree with you on "If There Is Something" as being perhaps their best song. In fact, it might be my all-time favorite song by any artist and I find that the live version on "Viva!" is especially moving. I tried for a couple of years to get my wife into Roxy and she never quite understood them until she saw the movies "Flashbacks of a Fool" and "Lost In Translation." After that, she finally came around.
First heard Roxy Music listening to Country Life while coming down from my first acid trip back in the late 70's. Hooked for life ever since.
Funnily enough, I have some wonderful acid related memories from way back when, Country Life, Stranded, Viva, For Your Pleasure and the Eponymous!
Smiling at the memories!
I'm sorry... "Stranded" is the best album thru and thru. Every song. I love the sound of their first four albums. I was 16 in '74 going to pick up my date listening to Mother Of Pearl, immediately I was hooked. Way ahead of their time and yet so listenable.
I used to put “Just Like You” on sooooo many mix tapes/CDs made for folks I wanted to sleep with 😂
For your pleasures can't be beaten, Stranded is good but Psalm spoils it just drags on and on
I agree. "Stranded" is a work of pure genius. "For your pleasure" has just a bit too much noodling for me. Both released in 1973!
1 Stranded
2 Siren
3 For Your Pleasure
4 Country Life
5 First album
6 Manifesto
7 Avalon (mild green Ferry liquid)
8 Flesh and Blood
Do the strand probably the greatest Roxy song ever
Top 5
1 For your pleasure
2 Roxy music
3 Country life
4 Stranded
5 Siren
If Stranded had a better song than Psalm it would be top 3,i think it's prob the worst Roxy song ever
One of my fav bands ever.
Don't know if "Worst" applies to any Roxy album... Not for me anyway but it was great seeing you go through these and seeing what you liked about the albums. I think any lists are difficult and I doubt if anyone would agree completely on anything but that is actually the beauty of it all. You take from it what you will and certain things hit home for you more than maybe someone else. That is why it's interesting to hear someone else's point of view of material that you love - you will likely discover something new or look at the material from a different angle or just simply gain more appreciation. I can't bring myself to line the albums up in this way. I love all of these albums, some more than others but to me, the strongest, most cohesive albums are Country Life, Stranded, Siren and Avalon. As for individual tunes, the first song that reeled me in was In Every Dream Home a Heartache. After that, the ones that really pulled me in and got me hooked were Remake Remodel, Editions of You and Street Life. BTW, the live version of If There is Something off of Viva blew my mind and blows away the album version. Viva sealed the deal for me. I had to get EVERYTHING after that!
Make no mistake. Avalon is one of the greatest albums ever recorded. Problem is, it's just not "our" Roxy Music.
The NME review of Avalon at the time of release had the headline "Mild Green Ferry Liquid"!
I get that, but it's sad. I recall girls I knew as a child who gave the same review to the Beatles when they became truly great, but were no longer their beloved mop tops. And how could one claim only one given Bowie, at the expense of other brilliant records? I love early Roxy, but Avalon is a sublime masterpiece and my unquestionable favorite.
@@nolongerthere It's typical ' Supermarket Shopping Aisle ' music though .... the polar opposite of everything Roxy was, in those innovative early days. Records like Avalon can be made by any half decent band - no originality required. It signalled the end for Roxy, as it had become the Bryan Ferry Backing Band, but hey ...they made a lot of money from those last 3 commercial albums, so Ferry n' the band would surely say that these elevator music albums set them up for life ...
@@dirktaylor5484 There is a lot of music I feel that way about; it's a matter of taste, as we all know, and we're all entitled to voice our opinions to groups in open forums, erroneous as our blanket dismissive statements may be. However, the higher road for a music fan is to practice a measure of restraint in direct responses to specific individuals expressing their love for said music.
Wrong. It’s way too mature and smooth, which is not what Roxy Music truly was. I want the provocative glammy arty futuristic weird rock n roll band.
Roxy Music is the greatest British band of all time, all the best bands have been influenced by them over the years, and as usual they never get talked about or heard of in the UK, thank you for making this video.
Saw Roxy Music on the Midnight Special when they were promoting the Country Life album. I later went to the mall and purchased it at the Record Bar. This is the Roxy Music I fell in love with and played the crap out of that record. Later on in life I collected the rest of they're catalog of music. And yes all very good albums. But I have to hold Country life as my fave. and the most complete sounding and the most balanced.
Mother of Pearl is the song that opened my eyes (& ears!) to the brilliance of Roxy Music.
Well done Barry for doing this video of a great and influential band that hardly gets a mention when others(Not as good as you) are ranking artists or songs on TH-cam. I have to agree with you and say that For Your Pleasure is their best album but my favourite song of theirs is on: Country Life and that is the brilliant: Out Of The Blue. I also love all of Bryan Ferry's solo work and for me he's the only artist that can make a cover sound better than the original.
"Take a Chance With Me" is one of my top ten favorite songs of all time. It is a perfect pop song.
Agree.. I’m trying to get my band to do it here in 2024
One or two changes but mostly I agree with your list. "Mother Of Pearl" and "Song For Europe" are my Roxy favorite songs.
Oh, and of course "In Every Dream Home a Heartache". How could I forget?
@@RuiBarEdits Yes, I was going to add that one myself, they are pretty much Roxy's epic tracks.
I became deaf (motorcycle accident ) in '78 at the age of 18. In 2001, I got a cochlear implant in my right ear, and 15 years later, my left ear got implanted.
First thing I did when I could hear was listen to music: Pink Floyd and Roxy Music, most of the time. Music I knew, I heard and understood the best, including the words (whereas understanding speech when people talked to me took a a few years).
I LOVE ROXY MUSIC! Manifesto came out after I went deaf, but when I heard it the first time, I had no problem understanding it. Not so Flesh & Blood, and Avalon: those 2 albums I had to listen to 50 times each to understand them, they are so different. But I love everything Roxy Music (and Bryan Ferry solo, Phil's solo albums), and those 23 years deaf make it impossible for me to pick favorite albums. I just do the sensible thing and listen to Roxy on my ipod in the shuffle mode most days. I do have favorite songs, though:
If there is something (I love Bryan's voice on the first album, but the song on Viva album is sooooo beautiful)
2HB.
Strictly Confidential
Grey Lagoons
A song for Europe
Mother of pearl
The thrill of it all
A really good time
Sentimental fool
Both ends burning
Manifesto
Stronger through the years
My only love
Over you
Avalon
True to life.
What an amazing story...
Wow, glad you're able to hear now especially great music! 😁
Wowowow. What a great story honey.
@@classicalbum It was music that I missed the most during my deaf years, but most of what I remembered at the time I got the implant was just snipets of songs -just try and remember all of Floyd's ECHOES! But once I started hearing music, it all came flooding back. I've got 13,547 songs on my ipod, and I listen to a lot of music. Surprisingly, I listen to very little of today's music, unless it's rock. I have no desire to listen to Justin Beiber and the like. I've only heard 1 Madonna song (I think).
When I bluetooth my ipod, the sound doesn't come from a speaker in the headphones, but is inside my ear via the implant: Best way to REALLY hear music! With 3 settings on the dial, I prefer music to be just that, no outside sound.
Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some music to listen to.
I find myself agreeing with all your song choices, including your remarks about If There Is Something. Mr. Ferry's vocals on the first album are another galaxy. Not proficient as in the sense of a high level singer, but how he transferred the emotions into his voice ... outstanding.
Barry, you have the Top 3 in perfect order as far as I'm concerned. After those musically intense masterworks with their exquisitely crafted lyrics, the other albums appear thin and much less imaginative, though of course there are some catchy moments here and there.
“Infectious as a dose of the clap” - that is quite a simile! Excellent list and breakdown of your list. Thank you.
I enjoyed this video, my no1 has to be the Roxy Music album. When the first album came out it sounded so avant garde, it was a truly great record, 'still play it today.
Sure, after Siren Roxy Music became totally different from the earlier Roxy Music. But I understand there has to be a development, you can't keep on always doing the same unless your name is Engelbert. I also understand that artists want to play for an audience, not for the thumbs-up of critics only.
However, Avalon is a milestone as a pop album, and at that time a high level aural-paradise to our ears. It is quality through and through. It deserves the same level of recognition as the first 4 RM albums. If only more commercial music was as innovative as Avalon was in 1982.
To my opinion Roxy Music delivered. 2 of the best progressive Art-Rock albums ever, one of the best Pop Albums ever, and from 8 released works 6 excellent. Plus, their life album Viva is one of the best life albums ever.
BTW. If I took the 4 pre 90's Bryan Ferry albums In Your Mind, The Bride Stripped Bare, Boys and Girls, and Bête Noir, and cut off their slack, it would result in another two high level pop albums.
Wow... "Country Life" is my favorite.
Me too!
It's tied w For Your Pleasure for my favorite!
For your pleasure and this are pure amazong
It's been my favourite for a very long time.
I am a Roxy Music fan since their first two singles in 1972 that were not on the first album and I enjoyed all of their releases. There is no bad one, even the polished "commercial" late albums stand high above anything else released in that genre. The band was always unique and if I rank the albums in the order of their appearance that does not really imply a steep downward slope. If you take 8 steps down from that sensational first album you are still more than eight miles high...
Apart from Eno, who is of course a genius in a class of his own, there are also many good albums from Ferry and especially from Phil Manzanera (Diamond Head, the 801 albums, etc).
still more than eight miles high......very droll...
God I love Trash! It's their Punk song! Nice that Siren is highly placed, Brian has so much fun with his vocals on that one. Beautiful review of their debut!
largely agree with your rankings - shock! For Your Pleasure is a total masterpiece.
Roxy Music played their first U.S. gig in Cleveland Ohio and became a cult hit, garnering a lot of radio
airplay on our big FM station WMMS and leaving a deep imprint on Cleveland's local underground music
scene. I vividly remember Crocus Behemoth (later front man for Rocket From The Tombs and Pere Ubu)
absolutely RAVING about the first album back when he was a writer for Cleveland Scene magazine.
Couldn't wait for Fridays to hear Murray Saul say "You gotta get down dammit". The Buzzard ruled big time back then.
@Mike G I remember someone from CREEM magazine describing Cleveland as "the kind of city where a Kevin Ayers concert would sell out."
@Mike G I wanted to be a writer for CREEM. I loved that magazine. The anti-ROLLING STONE. R.I.P. - Rick Johnson.
bowie and the spiders made their american debut at public hall in cleveland 1972. must be a magnetic pull that brought them both there.
“Manifesto”, the title track is brilliant as is “Stronger Through The Years” and it is better than “Flesh + Blood” on my list and “Country Life” rates much higher up for me.
#1 for me. I think these things depend on when bands come on to your radar.
you sir are a brilliant wordsmith, love your vids
They're my third favorite band of all time. They were like a combination of my first two favorite bands, The Beatles and King Crimson. Glad you mentioned "Prairie Rose". My favorite Roxy Music song.
I always had the sense of a connection between Roxy's pre-"Manifesto" albums and Be Bop Deluxe
I really thought Avalon would be in a higher position. Dor me this album os sublime.
Thanks for this amazing video and greetings from Brazil
Great list and video! Here's mine.
1.) For Your Pleasure
2.) Country Life
3.) Stranded
4.) Siren
5.) Roxy Music
6.) Avalon
7.) Manifesto
8.) Flesh + Blood
1- Stranded 2 - For your pleasure 3- Roxy Music (1st album) 4- Country Life 5- Siren 6- Viva! (Roxy Music Live) 7- Greatest Hits 8- Avalon - 9-Manifesto 10 - Flesh and Blood.
There are some very subjective reviews tending to a style of music but you are like me liking many genres of music and not be stuck on one. You are very objective and study well the difference of songs and albums. Bravo
8. Manifesto
7. Siren
6. Country Life
5. Flesh + Blood
4. Roxy Music
3. Four Your Pleasure
2. Stranded
1. Avalon
fchrisgrimm You nailed it
So glad that you gave their debut album a high rating at No. 3 Many people seem to write it off but it's really great on its total whackiness.
great reviews!
my personal list
8. flesh and blood
7. manifesto
6. Stranded
5. Avalon
4. Roxy Music
3. Siren
2. Country Life
1. For your pleasure
Have you worked in music journalism?? Your not just "some dude" on you tube this is the most in depth stuff I've heard,it's next level ... i'd say "liked and subbed" but I already did that way back, superb stuff!!! ,Max, Liverpool 😁👍
I've not worked in music journalism - my specialty is English lit. I bring close reading techniques and my obsession with rock music to these videos. They go quite well together.
They sure do! Thanks for the reply 😀👍
I bought AVALON in 1982 and really liked it's more reflective ambient leanings. I was given the first four Roxy Music albums in 1981 on Japanese pressings and NEVER listened to more than one album - once - until last year (2022) and became a huge fan of those records, especially FOR YOUR PLEASURE and ROXY MUSIC. The gifted early albums survived some 15 moves and 40 years before I actually listened to them. Good things come to those who wait!
I would definitely have put Country Life before Avalon. But other than that I mostly agree
County Life for me and not just for the sublime cover. Out of the Blue is the 24 carat diamond as sharp, shining,, and and soaring into the heavens as it reaches an out of this world climax. Every cut on this album were so finely executed with just the right about of nuance to underscore what lived behind the gates of a Country Life. That's my take
My second fave Roxy album. Apart from the throwaway If It Takes All Night this all killer no filler.
"Out of the Blue" 1974 is their best album track.
@@cal59uk1 The way I put 'Out of the Blue' onto a Cassette tape in '84 was (for this non-techie) inspired engineering-enhanced audio joy. Using a friend's vinyl stereo with amazing JB speakers I gradually turn up the soaring violin-tinged close (what is it...35 seconds?) until it was at 'full blast' by the tune's climax. Then popping the cassette into my car's player...WOW...in a 'remake/remodel' of the song I had the opus S-C-R-E-A-M-I-N-G at me (like a Beatles crowd circa '63) in a blistering ear bath I still have to recreate now & again. Best song by best band ever
Some of the production on CL is rough.. but not as bad as the unlistenable Just another High! The guitar sound is awful.
@@cal59uk1 no.. Remake will always be the benchmark. It can never be beat.. by anyone!
I see Roxy as two bands. The great art rock band captured on the first four. Then the classy pop band that I feel started from Siren onwards.
The art rock band is much more me. As for the order, I tend to listen to all four in chronological order when I'm in the mood. I rate all four at 9/10. My only 10/10 was a 1976 compilation called greatest hits which did an excellent job of picking the very best from these four albums plus the two hits from Siren.
Roxy are also on my list of "bands who should have a great live album but don't". Viva shows great promise but it's just too short.
Paul Simister yesssss!
Great point--the long-out-of-print Greatest Hits you mention is a perfect album. You're right--Viva should be a lot better (the sound is dodgy and why isn't it a double?).
Heart Still Beating is close to what you are seeking.
Totally agree, first four albums terrific 1st album my favourite of all time, saw them in greens playhouse in Glasgow and they blew my mind
Id really love to see you cover Brian enos solo albums at some point. If not his whole catalogue, a look into "here come the warm jets", and "taking tiger mountain by strategy" would be great.
The 8 albums comprise to #1. Impossible to say what is the best album! In 1974 Country Life was my fav, however Flesh & Blood in 1980 was my fav all time at the time! We change in our tastes as we progress through life. It's much easier to state what are my fav songs now. Lover which never appeared on any album is one of my all time best-loved!
a spectacular effort. I am not one to normally recommend live recordings but in this case there is a 2 disc cd Roxy Music Live that was recorded in 2002 in France. An incredible band line up and a setlist that mimics most to the individual songs you mentioned. Cannot recommend this release enough.
For Your Pleasure first Roxy album I ever bought and my favourite. A big fan of early Roxy and this Album is in my top tnree of all time.
Thought-provoking analysis and thanks for a rare ranking of this band's albums. For Your Pleasure changed my life and stayed with me through Punk, New Wave, Electronic Dance and much more. I retained a soft spot for Roxy's remaining studio albums too, as they always seemed to be able to turn out haunting melancholy - if no longer the experimentation - apart from Manifesto, which I just could never get along with. Dance Away, in particular had me cursing their increasing popularity being inversely proportional to their diminishing creativity - such a polar opposite to Virginia Plain and Pyjamarama. And by then there was much more interesting 'dance' music (to me) coming from the likes of Kraftwerk!
Smart appraisal man. These albums are so important and measure my passage from early teenhood onward. Iremember an article in which Eno referred to Ferry as "blank frank" and recognised this as a kind of contempt for the popular. Anyway, an interesting listen, Rare to listen all the way thru a video these days-a non patronising, Well done!
My list 1) Stranded 2) Siren 3) For Your Pleasure 4) Avalon 5) Country Life 6) Flesh+Blood 7) Roxy Music 8) Manifesto
Cracking review as usual Barry. I thought at first you'd missed some albums, but realised they were the live discs. So, not many recordings from one of the greatest bands to come out of the 70s, but what a body of work it is. That's a very perceptive comment about Roxy prefiguring the New Romantic movement by nearly ten years; and I love your reference to under the counter inflatables ! They never made a bad album and Ferry has gone on to release many excellent solo works. His Bob Dylan tribute album was a real standout. The first two Roxy discs in those wonderful glamour covers still sound modern and challenging nearly fifty years later. They still inspire me.
I think its kind of sad just how underestimated Ferry is as both a singer, who like so few others of his generation knows how to find the inner heart of a song - much like (but not at the godly level) say, Billie Holliday. Even things like "in Every dream home..." and as a songwriter who just knows how to craft a damn good pop song and if necessary, mangle it beyond recognition. He really deserves more recognition for that, so its nice to see an understanding review.
@@shanewright2772 Couldn't agree more Shane. Everything he touches seems to come off. I suppose it's great taste and musical intelligence. He doesn't get the recognition that Bowie gets but that early Roxy stuff was just as creative and artistic, musically and lyrically. He's a wonderful modern crooner as well, and can front a jazz orchestra or string quartet as well as he can a rock band. Maybe Barry could do something on the site that does full justice to Bryan's talent.
What I enjoy most about your channel is your monumental Britishness. The view from the window on your right is either St. Paul's Cathedral, or a quiet sheep meadow. Don't destroy my illusion.
1. For your pleasure
2. Siren
3. Roxy Music
4. Avalon
5. Country Life
6. Stranded
7. Manifesto
8. Flesh and Blood
My personal ranking, from top to bottom is:
1. For Your Pleasure
2. Stranded
3. Avalon
4. Country Life
5. Roxy Music
6. Siren
7. Manifesto
8. Flesh and Blood
most enjoyable analysis Mr Album Review...sounds like a podcast of an issue of the NME or Melody Maker back in the late 1970s....stimulating journalistic lexicon...much appreciated, thanks
I'd put Country Life and Siren higher and Avalon lower on this list, but it's fun to compare takes. It'd be great to see a review of Ferry's solo albums, too.
I'm not a big consumer of pop, Roxy or early Roxy one of the few Pop Groups I found to be of value. Eno was a genius, some of his 75-84 efforts, sublime.
"For Your Pleasure" is a stone-cold classic. Heard it when it was first released in 1973,
and it knocked me down. To think "Stranded" came out six months later........
For me, the first three albums were the best.
Ferry is on record, as saying FYP is his favourite RM album.
Rightly so.
Totally agree , early Roxy majestic.
Great band , beautiful records , amazing musicians. That is Roxy Music for me . My favourite album is Country life , followed by For your pleasure and Stranded.Your videos are very nice, very well argued.
Great to hear a detailed and informed analysis of albums that aren’t given the correct attention.
Stranded has always left me cold, that’s the only placement I’d change. However, the songs you highlight are fantastic.
As I say, really great analysis- I will be listening to more.
I enjoyed your critique. It was both, calculated and objective, by a person (I think) that understands the breadth of their work and the overall potential for the band. I don't know if my opinion would be similar, but off the cuff, I think I'd place "Country Life" a little bit higher, however, you did preface by saying that your remarks might be a little controversial with some fans. Ever notice that "Avalon" seems to go straight-to-the-top for anyone and everyone? It was definitely refreshing to see you put it more into perspective here. Thank you.
“Infectious as a dose of the clap.” What a simile to describe a song chorus! This series is wonderful and a far cry from those videos with an individual making facial expressions or the ‘Bill & Ted’ types head bobbing and saying ‘duuude that was awesome.’ It is refreshing to hear someone with a grasp of language and the intelligence to express himself. Wonderful stuff sir.
Although it's 3 years old, this is a stellar video that mirrors my ranking of Roxy Music to a T. However, my favorite all-time Roxy tune has to remain Virginia Plain, as that was the first track I heard as a young kid, via a Warner Brother's loss leaders sampler. Great show!!!
Had the pleasure to see them in '75 at the Granada in Chicago. They opened with "Manifesto" via an extended introduction, allowing Ferry to parade out in a red leather tuxedo. The band was fucking tight. So wish I could have seen them in '72/'73 with ENO.
Correction: It was '79
the first album is really an invigorating and venturesome listen. you could draw reasonable parallels between t-rex and spiders but roxy was like a big bang, and the stage persona added to the mystique of it all. almost like futuristic teddy boys in their sartorial get ups and perhaps in some sense influenced by the game- changing a clockwork orange. for your pleasure takes on more daring themes and eno is ever present throughout the journey. the melody is more prevalent on albums after eno's departure because there was void now that could be used for optimal musical effect.
I came here after listening to your excellent review of Bowie's oeuvre. This one didn't disappoint. Ironically, even though you didn't like Manifesto, I thought your critique of it was one of the more nuanced I've come across - given that you usefully placed it within in the context of Ferry and Co's response to punk. I don't think I've come any reviewers who've done that. For me, the lp was clearly partly Ferry's attempt to take account of the changed music landscape after punk. Your description of the chorus of Avalon's "Take a Chance with Me" is as infectious as a dose of the clap" made me laugh out loud. Your review of Roxy Music's oeuvre was a pleasure to listen to. And, surprise, surprise, I agreed with your no. 1 choice! Didn't know it was Dame Judi Dench who'd intoned, "Don't ask why" at the end of "For Your Pleasure." But everything you say about this pop masterpiece is spot on. Nice job!
Eno was still in the band for 'For Your Pleasure' album' if the sleeve notes and Wikipedia are to be believed. It's my favourite too. Second albums rarely even match the first. This one surpasses it.
Great list. Mine is essentially in chronological order as for me, whilst I love every album, their wonderfully accessible art rock eccentricity waned with each release, thus making them less interesting as time progressed. 'Manifesto' & 'Flesh + Blood' are pariahs in their discography, though by the standards of almost any other band they'd be revered.
1. Roxy Music
2. For Your Pleasure
3. Stranded
4. Country Life
5. Siren
6. Avalon
7. Flesh + Blood
8. Manifesto
Really glad you mentioned 'If There Is Something'. Undoubtedly my favourite Roxy track; Ferrys voice is truly stunning on it.
Yes. Love your taste.
A near perfect listing. I'd put 'FYP' above the debut, but who's arguing.... ;-)
I totally agree with the list......I tried but I could not find a way.....(to disagree with the list)
All the rankers I followed so far started with MANIFESTO - means not liking it. Strange..
I'm crazy about the whole album. Still in these days I play MANIFESTO all the way through - once in a while. It brings me in a certain mood that I like. (In 1979 I was 21)
Good ranking and interesting analysis. I enjoyed this. You didn't mention the track Manifesto, which is IMO the best track on the album and one of their best songs. I especially love the eerie bass introduction. This track makes the album jump up a couple of notches to me. I agree generally the earlier albums are more innovative and For Your Pleasure is probably their best album. There's not a bad track on it. I would rank Country Life and Stranded as equal second. The first album is also excellent in terms of songs but lacks the quality production values of subsequent albums. Yes, I remember seeing Eno say in an interview that Stranded was his favorite Roxy album.
But.. The production of Remake is absolute chaotic perfection!
yes, the track Manifesto is equal to their best songs from earlier albums.
@@SKYSAW59 'it is that. I remember putting Remake Remodel on repeat, lifting the tone arm to play it over and over again. I took a while to get to the rest of the album, but it was everything it promised to be. I like the production, it sounds great to me. It is far better for not having those blessed "production values..." being more like the first Velvets album. It was such a surprise after hearing Stranded and even For Your Pleasure. A song called "Remake Remodel" just had to sound like that. What an opener!
Saw roxy music in 73 74 75 .I loved them in 72 after I saw them on ogwt. Andy Mackay was my favourite. . In the early days bryan oozed style I think .he had all the right moves but think he lost it after 72. He did write some great songs after this . My favourite is sunset from stranded.
So glad you mentioned Sunset. Beautiful. May seem strange but I've always said I'd like it played at my (hopefully years away) funeral service.
Thanks a b. I never tire of hearing the song . I love when bryan sighs in it.take car.
Interesting choices. I saw the first tour they played the whole first album then Virginia plain as the encore and that was it, 50 mins! Tickets went from 60p to 75p when it charted!
An articulate & valuable ranking of the fabulous Roxy Music catalogue. FOR YOUR PLEASURE and COUNTRY LIFE are my favourites (today) but I'd also add the first GREATEST HITS album from 1977. It includes two definitive stand-alone singles ("Virginia Plain" & "Pyjamarama"), a concise edit of "The Thrill of It All" plus key cuts from their first run albums. The COMPLETE STUDIO RECORDINGS box, of course, includes all of these as well as the atmospheric, sometimes experimental b-sides.
another great video....i probably would have put 'country life' a little higher, but great list...cheers....
Enjoyed that greatly and the list coincides pretty much with what I would have chosen. That said, you seem to be moved towards different tracks on the bigger albums which just goes to show what a band they were
Do enjoy myself the title track from Manifesto, Love Is The Drug, End of The Line all very great. Also, lets not forget, Virginia Plain. Great vid :)
Been a fan since Virginia Plain. Stranded is the bollocks because every song is good to great! My 3rd favourite album of all time!
Great video! For some reason it seems that Roxy music is getting a mini-revival, at least here in YT. My first MR album was "Siren" and I think that will always be my #1 from them.
Have always been a fan of Roxy music the way they express their take on music has always been interesting and challenging. Like Jethro Tull every song is a journey.
8. Flesh and Blood
7. Manifesto
6. Avalon
5. Roxy Music
4. Siren
3. Country Life
2. For Your Pleasure
1. Stranded
Their first five LPs are pretty close to equal.
Stranded is my favorite and I would put Flesh + Blood above Avalon, but this list is pretty spot-on.
I loved Roxy from Virginia Plain (still my favourite all time single), but to me "best to worst "is easy. The first two are equally the best, then getting less so with every other up to Siren (I still like all of these though) I was appalled when I bought Manifesto on its release, and tried so hard to like it but passed it on quickly. Didn't buy anything else after this, but hated all the MOR songs I heard by them on the radio - Angel Eyes, Dance Away, Avalon etc.
Lemming 998 fully agree with you there, lost interest after Siren, but those first 5 albums, man they were magic.
I'm sure most of us know where you're coming from and it's easy to just agree with you; but I'd add that everything that Bryan has done is valid and he had the talent and musical imagination to stretch out. There's some good stuff on those later albums but nothing can beat the early Roxy. I think we're probably all agreed on that.
@@PhilBaird1 not all of us, Phil. I can almost reverse Lemming's take on this: for me, the artsy-fartsy pretentious experimentalists eventually discovered melody and produced superbly polished, (at last) accessible treasures with Manifesto... Flesh & Blood...and the jewel in their crown, the sublime Avalon - nothing short of exquisite. From Siren backwards each album was patchy: flashes of brilliance (Amazona on Stranded is truly breathtaking) but lots of self-absorbed, forgettable padding.
Early Roxy Music or later Roxy Music? Personally I prefer the early work, but still like the last three albums. It's a bit like early and later Genesis, again I much prefer the early albums, but obviously both bands (and others) decided at some point to change direction/style and nothing could be done about that. I'm thankful that Roxy Music recorded some great work, and listen quite regularly to all their music.
8. Manifesto, 7. Flesh and Blood, every other albums rises up at different times for me and not really able to say which is my favorite or least favorite of the others.
I agree that For Your Pleasure is the bands ultimate and most intriguing album. I would probably put Avalon a bit higher but you nailed a band that is the mostly obtuse to American ears
1 For Your Pleasure
2 Stranded
3 Siren
4 Country Life
5 Roxy Music
6 Avalon
7 Flesh and Blood
8 Manifesto
A great critical assessment. My fave is their debut, but fave Roxy track is Out of the Blue, with it's phasing and truly cinematic scope. Would love to hear you speak to their singles, especially the non-album tracks.
Great show Siren is My favorite Phil manzanera guitar work is excelent.🎸
Lucky enough to have seen the band, when Brian ENO was still a member at the Grand Theatre, Leeds. In the early 70’s, saw them a couple of times after that, but they just weren’t as good.
Hello john. Agree with you. I loved the band . But they never impressed me in concert. Saw them first in 73 in newcastle the stranded tour with Leo sayer.and bryan and the others were ok on the night .I saw them in 74 and 75 and they never improved on this. Still love their music.
Country life number One for me.
My pick as well.
Thanks for your Opionons I would diagree with you a lot as I listened to the later material first & worked my way back.I like both ends of the spectrum the Pop vs the Rock. Roxy wrote some of the best pop songs of all time.Avalon is like escaping into another world.I came from the new romantic experince but was happy with the classic roxy albums.Country Life is one of my favorites Out of the Blue is mind blowing.Thanks again it was nice to see some share there Roxy Music experince with others.Bowie usually gets all the atenttion.
I love all their records, but my preference is for the first phase of their career. My bottom 3 favs are less entrenched (and have shifted place with each other from time to time), whereas the top 5 are more so.
8. Flesh & Blood
7. Manifesto
6. Avalon
5. Siren
4. Roxy Music
3. Country Life
2. For Your Pleasure
1. Stranded
(Viva would probably be between Siren and Avalon)
Once again great reviews
I'm glad Roxy developed as a band and moved with the times. It makes their history interesting. It would have been wrong for them to be still sounding like 1972 in 1982.
True, but they aren't the only group who changed their style substantially over the years. Surprising how few bands do actually get out of their comfort zone and try new sounds. Some have been more successful than others mind you. I've always been fascinated by Roxy Music, and how they started off essentially as an 'art school' glam rock band, but finished as a more mainstream polished 80's pop band.
Yes, I think that's probably right, and it counters the familiar wisdom.
So agree. I would hold my breath upon first dropping the needle on a new Roxy album, always bought the instant they came out, usually unheard. I think Ferry moved forward with each album with such a high standard of maintaining artistic integrity with an ear for the marketplace while maintaining such a remarkable unique and distinctive sound. Of course I have my sequence of favorites, but I don't think Roxy has ever made anything less than one great album after another.
Siren was the fork in the road. They were saying farewell to the old, like a snake shedding its skin.
For Your Pleasure is the most complete album,dark,haunting,rocky,prog,arty you name it.
Great descriptions of the Albums!