Ranking the Studio Albums: Roxy Music
Вставка
- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- Join Pete Pardo & Steven Reid as they rank the studio albums of British art rock legends Roxy Music. #roxymusic
💰Donate via Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/pete...
👕Order your SoT Merch: www.t8cloth.co...
🖥 Visit our website: www.seaoftranq...
One glaring omission in this discussion was the complete lack of a mention of the great Paul Thompson on drums. I'm sure most die hard fans would agree that his absence on the latter albums and live shows proved what a powerful force and integral member he was,and how none of the session guys who occupied the drum stool after him were able to match what he brought to the table.
Bryan Ferry has always credited Thompson as the most vital member of the group. I saw them several times in the 70s and again in 2003 in California. Thompson was just as powerful on drums, if not more so.
I’m predicting these two won’t pick it, but Avalon is pure magic from beginning to end. Such a beautiful album.
It’s a good one, but For Your Pleasure is still my favorite.
Never really a fan but yes Avalon is brilliant.I lived with a bloke who endlessly played Roxy Music,Bowie,Lou Reed,T Rex and Ian Hunter/Hoople and I can honestly say I wouldn’t mind if I never heard any of it again.
@@neuropete1 I was thinking the same...wasn't expecting them being so "meh" about such an great/influential band.
The perfect album. Ranking these would be difficult for the exception of what #1 would be.
@@neuropete1
I get RM and Avalon is my number 7..😀
Different points of view, that's all.
Great Band, sure we agree with this.
Greetings from Spain 🚲
Roxy Music 1st 5 albums are brilliant and Avalon.
mmmn - not Avalon.
This is hands down the most interesting show that Pete and Steve have done. Anyone can present a program on a band that you love and give all the accolades that make them a band that has everything that makes them great. This program required you guys to really put on your listening ears. Great show you guys.
I agree... fascinating to listen to both of your takes on this band!
agreed
It's even more interesting that Pete isn't really into the band, and gives a great review, and Steven is top notch as ever.
Not the biggest Roxy Music fan..I was surprised you even knew who they were. Stick to what you understand..Styx or Reo ..you're out of your depth.
@@richardbogartburke4978 if that is how you feel why would you ever watch this channel???
For Your Pleasure is such a masterpiece. It flows perfectly and every second is brilliant.
I agree, it’s definitely my favorite..
One of the greatest albums of all time....
Agreed
I agree.
For me Avalon is #1. I put that on when I really need to mellow out. Maybe enjoy some scotch and just chill.
Works for me, especially Avalon.
Agreed!
Roxy is an excellent British band. Phil Manzanera is a fine guitarist Andy Mackay's horns are awesome and Paul Thompson is an amazing drummer. First two albums are wonderful. Stranded is very good. The first half of Country life superb. This band is brainy, funny and energetic. Most enjoyable!
A friend back in the day looked at the cover of "Country Life" and asked, "Which one of those girls is Roxy?"
Hilarious. I don't even care if this is a true story or not. It should be.
One of the most creative bands of the seventies... First time I heard "In Every Dreamhome a heartache".. That blew my mind... so to speak...
I am channeling The Comic Book Guy and he says “best song ever!”
I would classify Roxy Music as an “art band.” This links them to Talking Heads and David Bowie and all three bands have Brian Eno in common.
Early on, I wouldn't say the Talking Heads were 'arty'...almost anti-'arty'. ;-)
@@jazzpunk Agreed, especially in terms of their live performances; but I think they rated-up fairly quickly as far as their discography is concerned.
@@thermionic1234567 What exactly are the qualifications to be art rock? I mean, prog rock is artsy, avant garde, new wave, metal, isn't most music art? I respect Bowie, Roxy, and TH, but I don't like the art rock label. Besides, Roxy Music bordered on 70s Brit pop and disco at times. I'm really not sure they are a pure rock band, even considering that rockers like Wetton, Gustafson, and Jobson were in the band at one point or another
Unrelated to Eno, but I think you can draw a line from Roxy to Magazine also.
And Japan
OMG finally Ranking Roxy Music! If I have one complaint, it is that there was no mention of the criminally neglected Paul Thompson whose great drumming powers the first 5 albums and the Viva Roxy Music live album. Uncut devoted a whole issue to Roxy and hardly mentioned Thompson either. Even Gustafson gets mentioned by Pete.
I love Roxy Music and was quite happy with the vid. It makes me want to put on some Roxy records with renewed enthusiasm which is what these vids should be about. I especially liked the comments of how unclassifiable the band was. Pete’s remark “they sit in this really weird chasm in the middle of everything yet not in the middle of everything” was especially nice.
I love all eras of the band, the weird experimental Eno era (For Your Pleasure ), the surprisingly rocking middle period (Country Life) and the beautiful final era (Avalon) which unfairly gets criticized for being poppy. The later music has an emotional resonance that complements their early work and that “pop” music does not have. As Steven says theIr music was never really middle of the road. But no matter how much their sound changed by some alchemy it remained uniquely identifiable as Roxy Music.
They have songs that can suit any mood, from heartbreak, fun, weird, proggy, rockin, dreamy, sexy etc so that I never get tired of listening to them.
Bryan ferry was the only artist through the years that ever intimidated David Bowie.
such a fantastic band.
When you get the recognition Bowie gave to Roxy then you know you have made it in the big time Bowies knows his stuff
@@mannyipermack4979 Bowie quote from an interview in 1974: "Roxy Music are the only group worth listening to".
I read somewhere that in the 70s/80s only Bowie and Ferry could get away with wearing a wristwatch during their shows.
My mom threw my Country Life album in the trash while I was at school. I guess she was intimidated by the hotties on the cover. Have since replaced but it still makes me laugh.
LOL.
Did you also have the Stones' Sticky Fingers album then too?? Mom would've fainted or called the fam clergyman on ya, eh?
Yep. My mom tossed my Rolling Stone that had a naked John Lennon on the cover with Yoko.
I’m 13 minutes in and will opine that one of their best songs - perhaps the best - is “In Every Dream Home, a Heartache.”
Nailed it, my personal fave.
@@realjoehaynes I wanna party with and Dan!
My favourite are “Siren”, “For Your Pleasure” and “Country Life”. “ Avalon” is a good mainstream álbum too.
Siren clocks in at #2 for me; behind the brilliant Avalon.
Pete have you ever seen live at the Apollo dvd from 2001, It's a reunion concert first time on stage together in 18 years, and they killed it. If not I have an extra copy and I'd love you to see it.
That DVD and CD is fantastic! Both Ends Burning is a show stopper!
Great dvd and show
great performance
1974s 'Country Life' is one of my all-time favorite albums... prog album totally
My favorite Roxy album
Yes I agree
Mine too, absolutely.
I absolutely agree - also, one of my favorite album covers of all time - top 10 easily. !
I miss those days!
Its my 2nd favorite but a masterwork and a young Eddie Jobson slaying it on the keys.
I once played in a power pop band from Boston that was the opening act for Roxy Music for the entire Manifesto US tour in 1979
We were called The Atlantics.
My ranking including Greatest Hits & Live
*1)* Flesh and Blood
*2)* Greatest Hits (1977)
*3)* The High Road (Live - 1983)
*4)* Roxy Music Live (2003 - reunion)
*5)* Manifesto
*6)* Avalon
*7)* Thrill of It All (1995 box set)
*8)* Country Life
*9)* Siren
*10)* Stranded
*11)* Viva! (Live - 1976)
*12)* For Your Pleasure
*13)* Roxy Music
Come hate me. Saw Roxy Music during Flesh and Blood tour in Germany.
this is completely wrong
I couldn't disagree more, pal, but it's all about opinions and yours are as valid as anyone else's
Dear Pete and Steven. This must have been one of the most interesting shows that you've done so far. I'm not a metalhead or progrocker, but I like to learn from this UA-cam channel and I'm intrigued by your views and opinions on artists I usually don't know (that much). With Roxy Music you picked out one of my all time favourite bands and it was a great pleasure to listen to your thoughts about them. You were honest to admit that you weren't their biggest fans, but you did so well in paying a tribute and showing tons of respect to one of the most influentials bands of the seventies and early eighties. Avalon is my favourite and it came out very well I guess. Keep up the good work and please do cover bands like these once and a while. Thank you.
So unfortunate Avalon such a great album was their last .
@@dannyschneider553 Sorry Danny, did not mean to downvote you. I meant to reply, by saying - they were at the top of their game at Avalon.
Saw Roxy at the Baltimore Civic Center on the Avalon tour. I just sat back in my seat and let the music wash over me. Excellent and I got to cross another classic British band off my bucket list.
Great band. Avalon Is a masterpiece...one of the most influential bands of the 70s.
Take a chance with me is my fav from that album
And there last Album to!
@@BigRagu939 my fav too.
@@peteranundsson4682 perfect way to end a band. Avalon Is a must In every collection.
Avalon is one of my favorite albums from the 80s.
i'm a hard rocker but i love Roxy Music !
Their First record is one of the best albums of all time. Everyone should listen to it. "If there is something" is their masterpiece, imo.
"If There Is Something" is a great track. The live version from "Viva! Roxy Music" is stunning. Even Bowie covered it with Tin Machine, although it was a far shorter and had a faster, rockier tempo.
On a side note, it is rumoured that Bowie also did a version of "Ladytron" which was originally touted for a "Pin-Ups 2" album along with the Springsteen tracks he eventually covered. Unfortunately, this has never seen the light of day.
IMHO, the three albums they did with Eddie Jobson; 'Stranded', 'Country Life', and 'Siren' were absolutely brilliant. The two albums with Brian Eno come next. Unfortunately, after the 'Siren' album, their sound became very soft, overproduced, and slick. Songs like 'Dance Away' were embarrassingly lightweight. They lost their art-rock edge and became an 80's pop band.
Agree, but Avalon is seductive as hell with great production values as many have said.
@@birneybrown7475 For me, they were a different band after the Siren album, and I don't mind change as long as it's interesting.
"Siren" is a great classic album. The way the songs flow from one to the next is awesome and many of them are among Roxy's best. I enjoy their adventurous spirit.
Witnessed the Country Life tour in early 75 it totally converted me on Roxy Music...love everything from the first album thru Country Life
This may be the one band that The Greatest Hits is Quintessential.
Roxy Music great topic thanks Pete!
1) Avalon
2) Country Life
3) Flesh & Blood
4) Manifesto
5) Stranded
6) For Your Pleasure
7) Siren
8) Roxy Music
Side note: I'm surprised no one mentioned Avalon's production values, it might be the best produced album ever, if there's a better sounding album, I haven't heard it.
Agree, fantastic production
Interesting ranking in that the final era appears to be your favorite, but CL is number 2. Do you consider CL to be the prototype for the final era? Never thought of that before but now I can see it.
Appreciate the honesty Pete. IMO Roxy is one is the most innovative, influential bands of the 70’s. They took the glam and proto punk movements to another level. Never thought of them as prog, and yes, no one sounds like them. There would be no Duran Duran w/o Roxy. They were even a huge influence on Chic. Ironically, Nile Rodgers would later produce both Duran and Bryan Ferry.
For me, "Country Life" is the best album followed by "For Your Pleasure" and "Stranded". "Avalon" is a classic album and the production by Bob Clearmountain and Rhett Davies is amazing.
Strongly agree FYP, Stranded and Country Life all brilliant. Not a bad track on any of them.
Great to see Steven Reid back on the show! When you listen to the Roxy Music, you can hear how much they influenced Punk and New Wave bands of the late 70s, especially with songs like Editions Of You.
Agreed. Great to see Steven back - great in depth music knowledge
@@martonimp @Lucha Libertaria Thanks to you both for the kind comments. Very much appreciated!
1. For Your Pleasure: best RM album for me. Every track great and never gets old. Agree the experiments are integrated into the songs more effectively than the debut.
2. Stranded: very close 2nd. There is just this ethereal quality to the songs here that works really IMO. Think Mother of Pearl might be the band’s best song. Even though Eno isn’t on this one, the song structures for some of this album are really unique and definitely far removed from the polished later work. Ironically this is Brian Eno’s favorite RM album.
3. Roxy Music (self titled): way ahead of its time and unlike anything before or since. That said, not for everyone and some of side 2 can be tough to get completely through in one sitting.
4. Country Life: great rock album and some of the band’s best songs are on it. However for me it is a bit overrated and feels like a more accessible, less adventurous Stranded.
5. Avalon: a great pop album but not one I reach for often.
6. Siren: I need to relisten to this but always had a hard time getting into it. Love is A Drug is great but the catalogue starts getting more bland to my ears starting around Country Life and here.
7/8: Manifesto & Flesh and Blood both tied for bottom of the list for me.
Great comments! I remember reading that “Stranded” was Eno’s favorite, interestingly. And I concur regarding “Country Life” feeling like a more commercial “Stranded” - almost becoming formulaic in the song collaborations.
I was a massive Sabbath and Deep Purple fan in the 1970’s when a girl I liked loaned me the first Roxy Music album. It was such a departure from what I usually listened to. I went to see them live on the stranded tour, by then Eno had been replaced by Eddie Jobson. They were amazing. A few year later and a few more Sabbath albums came and went I heard the Mahavishnu Orchestra and had a similar awakening to fusion.
I was listening to Candy O by The Cars the other day and I was thinking that they were definitely influenced by Roxy Music and then I thought about The Cars album covers and that just confirms it (Sexy girls on the covers like Roxy Music).
Stephen Reid + Pete Pardo + Roxy Music = Some straight up, excellent commentary. I have NEVER been a Roxy Music fan. I am coming to get an education on a band I have never enjoyed. Long live SoT!
I love Roxy Music's first five albums when they were more of a rock band. Everything from the self titled debut in 1972 up until and including the 'Siren' album from 1975. With just a few exceptions they mostly lose me after that. It frustrates me that here in the U.S. Roxy Music are really only known for the song 'Love Is The Drug' and for their very last album 'Avalon' which wasn't really like anything they'd done before. It was more adult contemporary borderline easy listening music which imo is boring. 'Avalon' however was their best selling album in the U.S. So most music fans here in the states idea and perception of what Roxy Music are all about is based entirely on that ONE album. Most are completely unaware of the bands earlier innovative harder rocking, experimental , prog rock/glam material from the early mid seventies.
That’s AOK Pete. You don’t have to like them all. 😅
Oh wow, a pleasant surprise !!! One of my fave bands and Ferry with the timeless voice for the ages !!!
1 Avalon
2 Stranded
3 Siren
4 For Your Pleasure
5 Flesh and Blood
6 Manifesto
7 Country Life
8 Roxy Music
Tend to actually like Ferrys solo work in the 80s and 90s a bit more, but love this band because they are so unique and singular.
@@neuropete1 yeah this was one of Pete's less enthusiastic rankings, but he was up front about his view on the band, their music, and especially Ferry's vocals. I get it, they aren't for every one.
Roxy Music are one of those bands that I enjoyed each successive album more than the previous, and I like the debut a fair amount. I totally respect that not everyone is into them, but I think they're fantastic. Very influential to be sure. My ranking first to last is basically reverse chronological order, Avalon first to s/t last. And I love their earlier stuff.
I like all of the Roxy albums, Phil Manzanera, Bryan Ferry, Eno, and Andy Mackay solo albums...
Flesh+ Blood, Manifesto, First 5...Avalon...
"Out of the blue, love came burning through..."
" I blew you up, and you blew my mind!"
Fabulous show guys, really enjoyed it.
Avalon!
First things first: almost ALL of those album covers are fantastic! Lol. How is it the gay man appreciates those more than you two? 😁😂
I could write a ton about this band. I also hated them when I first hear them as a teenager (If I remember correctly, I felt like I only needed one Bowie... dumb, I know), but when I rediscovered them in my late 20s, at a time my life was on fire and nearly in ruins between addiction and a crumbling relationship, so many of their albums were like therapy to me.
I still can’t listen to “Mother of Pearl” without flashing back to so many foolish and dangerous speed fueled nights of debauched idiocy, those lyrics: *“I’ve been up all night (again), party time wasting is too much fun. Then I step back thinking of life’s inner meaning, and my latest fling. It’s the same old story, all love and glory; it’s a pantomime. If you’re looking for love in a looking glass world, it’s pretty hard to find.”* It just sends chills down my spine, dude. And the song, “Strictly Confidential”, is just a perfect breakup narrative, with all the loss of trust, second guessing, despairing, and resentment so perfectly laid bare.. it’s hard to listen to without getting chocked up tbh. Then you have the sublime, basically spiritual bliss of songs like, “Psalm”, or “For Your Pleasure”, or “Sea Breezes”... I could go on and on, and that’s not even getting to the lush pop, and handful of brilliant singles.
Anyway, my ranking, for whomever gives a damn:
*8. ‘Flesh & Blood’*
*7. ‘Manifesto’* - I should say about both these albums that they’re near interchangeable for me, undoubtedly my least favorite of their catalogue. I give ‘Manifesto’ the edge ONLY because there are 2-3 songs on it I actually think are fantastic, and only a couple I genuinely don’t like. That said, ‘Flesh + Blood’ is undoubtedly a more consistent and less disjointed album, but there are no songs on it I actually LOVE, as there are on ‘Manifesto’... I’d give both albums a score 6.5/10, if forced to quantity scores.
*6. ‘Roxy Music’*
*5. ‘Avalon’* - I should say that I like both of these albums (the debut, and the final) CONSIDERABLY more than the lower ranked two. The debut is very front loaded, and not nearly as consistent as their swan song, and where I like a couple songs from RM more than anything on ‘Avalon’, it’s not quite enough to rank it higher. Of their “later/reunion albums”, I think ‘Avalon’ is by far the strongest, 7.7/10 if I’d quantify. Of their first five albums, I think “Roxy Music” is by far the weakest, 7.5/10 if quantified. Both good albums.
*4. ‘Siren’*
*3. ‘Country Life’* - Okay, now we’re into the truly great albums, another big jump from the prior two imo, and really, these two albums are nearly interchangeable, both very consistent, and my rank comes down merely to more favorite songs on one than the other. I’d give ‘Siren’ a 8.5/10, and ‘Country Life’ an 8.6/10, if quantified..
*2. ‘Stranded’* - Brian Eno has always said that the best Roxy Music album was ‘Stranded’, the first album without his input, and it’s hard to not agree. I could talk about every individual song on that album, but I won’t. “Mother of Pearl” is my favorite Roxy Music song, period. The lyrics are genius imo, but that’s bc I relate them so personally to the worst period of my life, and everything about the song, music and words, is pure catharsis. I could write an essay on that song alone.
Imo both that track, and “Psalm”, are perfect 10/10 tracks. The metaphoric language of “Psalm” is again just absolutely genius, and it legitimately feels like a hymn, like a divine experience. I’ve considered it for a “play this at my funeral” track.
Perhaps the primary reason I rank the album lower than ‘For Your Pleasure’, is bc I think “Serenade” could be a far better song, musically, structurally, and vocally and I frankly find it very skipable... it’s the only song on the album that comes anywhere close to being a dud, though I wouldn’t call it filler.
That said, I think this album has their best lyrics, and many of their best compositions: 9.5/10, nearly a perfect album imo..
*’1. ‘For Your Pleasure’* - This is one of only a few albums I’m willing to bestow with a 10/10 ranking, and frankly, I think it’s one of the best albums of the 70s. This is what I think of when I think of “art rock”, and in a variety of ways, it’s actually quite groundbreaking. Again, I could do a track by track, but I won’t go that far... Suffice to say, there isn’t a bad song on here, and when they’re really on, they’re REALLY on.
The album begins by introducing the newest dance craze, “The Strand”, which is impossible to not shake it to. What follows are two genius breakup songs, two of the best I know, before another dance number (“Editions of You”), but with the hedonism turned up to 10.
The instrumentals on these first four tracks are pure rock n roll; experimental and artistic, yes, but whether fast or slow the structures are pretty standard, and they gave pretty normal run times, all under 5 minutes, but the second half is where they start to get jammy, and lengthy, without coming across like any of the “jam” type bands who came before them (if anything, one might argue their cues come from the Velvet Underground, CAN, and the more “avant-garde” generally).
The second half of the album opens with a loving serenade to... a blow up doll... with the masterpiece 10/10 song, “In Every Dream Home, A Heartache”, which was my introduction to the band. I’m actually surprised neither of you mentioned this one. From there, a real kraut rock influence can be felt on the 9+ minute, “The Bogus Man”, and according to what I’ve read, that’s bc this was meant to be an homage of sorts to CAN... to my knowledge, it’s the first influence kraut rock had on an English band’s music, at least 3-4 years before Bowie took those sounds and made them known to the rest of the mainstream music consuming world. “Grey Lagoons” is the most conventional track on this half, really well done art rock... and then comes that finale, Eno’s first masterpiece imo, as I understand he was the primary writer of the title track, which closes the album in stunning, experimental, psychedelic, Brian Eno fashion... I mean, it’s really some VERY otherworldly stuff, almost haunting, very eerie, but pure genius imo.
There you have it, folks. I doubt anyone had read this far, but if you have, and you’re a big Roxy Music fan, as I am, I’d love to hear any opinions, counterpoints, disagreements, or whatever. They really are a group I could go on and on about, maybe the first group it’s proper to call “art rock”, though that’s obviously debatable. They deserve a greater place in RnR history imo, but hey, they never broke really big in America, and I think that’s why they just aren’t as universally loved, bc they aren’t universally known.. ✌️
Fantastic comment - quoting the lyric to Mother of Pearl had me singing along ... his lyrics were SO FUCKING GOOD.
I think that "For Your Pleasure" is NOT their best album, and I wonder if everyone else in the world is hypnotised by one song (one sublimely terrific song).
For me it's "Stranded" ... the great songs, the segue between MoP and Sunset. The lyrics, his voice. It's all just so perfect. One of my go-to albums. I can even handle the christianity in Psalm.
I've seen and read about 5 of these Roxy countdowns and each is very different. For me the Top 5 are
5) Avalon- very well put together but a little too calm. I use this on head phones to go back to sleep if I have insomnia.
4) the Debute Album. Some great songs but uneven. The first side is great and the b side is mediocre.
3)Country Life - a little uneven as well but 80% of it is top shelf British Brilliance!!! Out of the Blue alone! Wow! Music from the gods!
2) Stranded- I almost put this at #1 due to songs like Mother of Pearl and Street Life. These 5 albums should be must listen for anyone trying to form any type of rock or pop band.
1)For Your Pleasure- In my opinion this is in the top 10 albums to ever come out of the 🇬🇧. There LITERALLY is not a bad track on this album but Do the Strand, Editions of You and In Every Home a Heartache all really initially jump out at you on first listen. If I could eat For Your Pleasure, I would ❤😜
These guys bring out some good points that a long time fan (early 70's) may have missed or forgotten. Agree that Jobson's contribution is underplayed and not appreciated enough.
I think the not being real fans gives me the objectively I don't have concerning RM
My ranking starting with number 1
Country Life (a personal choice)
Roxy Music
For You Pleasure
Stranded
Siren
Manifesto (spotty but an intro to the final era)
Avalon
Flesh and Blood (dreamy sounding but weak songs and arrangements)
John Wetton's bass thundered for them in the live settings of 74-75 ... and honestly, put them over the top when he helped with the harmonies.
Love this Band. Avalon by far the best thing they produced. In the 80’s when you went into a audio store the first thing they would play to demo speakers was Avalon. Great album fantastic sound!
IS that 4 videos in 24 hours Pete? Do you ever sleep buddy. A huge fan of yours. You deserve a break today! Pete. Your great. Hammer time! As far as Roxy Music goes, Pete says it best. Original, great musicians but 'not so much my bag man'. I much prefer Brian Eno and Phil Manzenera (see 801 Live) but there are SOME great songs there. 'Country life' is the sexiest album cover EVER. When I saw that as a 14 year old?? Wow! HOT!!!! Damn! I still feel that way. A very interesting conversation. Both of you were great!
It is about time!!! I have been psyched to see your input on them. Good decision to use Steven Reed as a cohost for this one.He has a great way of stating his analysis on stuff. Roxy Music, the Ladytron single and For Your Plessure are the best by far in my opinion! The post Eno stuff are pretty good! Afew are great. Namely Stranded, Country Life and Sirens! And Yes they were doing 80s pop music in 1972!!! The band went more commercial sounding and less unique and more so experimental as they went on in their career. Very COOL episode Pete.. I'd love to hear your in put on The Sparks also with sorta the same general feel as Roxy Music.🤘😝🎼🎶🎵🎶❤️
Avalon is my favorite produced album of all-time, it sounds absolutely amazing.
Agree !! I got the sacd also but haven't bought a player yet. 😅
Best review on Ranking series so far, nice team with Pete and Steven. Will have to buy some more Roxy on vinyl as I only have Flesh and Blood, Manifesto and Avalon. For your pleasure and Country Life no doubt next on my list....thanks.
If you are at all a Brian Eno fan, check out the album "Vini Reilly" by the band Durutti Column. He said its his all time favourite guitar-based album.
In terms of rankings, very hard. I actually think from the first album through Siren, you have albums of equal strength. Any one of them could be my favorite on a given day.
When I first heard Avalon on WXRT radio in Chicago, I turned directly into a record store and bought the vinyl on the spot. That's what happened to me with this remarkable album.
Bryan Ferry was an exceptional lyricist and songwriter and criminally underrated. I would say he was a great vocalist as well. From 1971 to 1975 Roxy put out fantastic albums, all of them filled with outstanding songs. Roxy as a band was also very talented and they did not sound like any other band. Paul Thompson was a magnificent drummer, he could play any style Ferry threw at him. My favorite Roxy album is Country Life. So many great, classic songs on this. Love this band!
Thank you for Ranking the Studio Albums: Roxy Music🎤🎸🎵🥁
Roxy was always hit and miss for me but I could come up with a killer playlist of their tunes I love. Out of the Blue is my fave Roxy track; awesome tune. Do the Strand, Both Ends Burning, Editions of You, Mother of Pearl all absolute classics.
In 1973, I was at the music store at a Mall flipping through the R's and came across the first two Roxy Music albums...I had no idea who they were as they were complete unknowns in North America in 1973... The covers intrigued me... particularly the cover to For Your Pleasure.... this was not hippy music, or even clearly glam rock... but I was already a fan of movies from the 1930's and 1940's and I was drawn to the Retro aspect of the cover... the 1965 Cadillac... the panther on the leash, and the chauffeur on the back of the cover... this was referencing back to the pre-hippy 1950's or 1960's...... and the covers evoked the glamour of classic Hollywood... so I bought For Your Pleasure and opened it when I got home... the photos on the inner sleeve were another revelation...Retro and futuristic at the same time.... half 50's Elvis and half Jetsons.... put the album on and the first song.... Do The Strand!... like nothing I'd ever heard before...again, Retro rock and roll, but the Retro references stretched even farther back all the way to the 1920's and 1930's of Rudy Vallee and Maurice Chevalier ... and the songs were great!!... so I did something I've never done before or since..... got back on the bus that same day and bought the first album.... and it was also amazing and with another mind bending inner sleeve... not quite as slick as For Your Pleasure, but full of great songs and wonderful moments, and because it is not as slick it has an "anything might happen" thing going on... and Virginia Plain instantly became one of my all time favourite songs (it's not on some versions of the album, but it was on the one I bought)... I then spent the next little while trying to get people to listen to Roxy Music, which was pretty much a hopeless task... I remember putting For Your Pleasure on at a party and, literally, it was removed by an angry throng after the first song in favour of Midnight at the Oasis by Maria Muldaur!!... people were still clinging to the hippy aesthetic, and were almost offended by this strange British glam band (I had experienced that a few years earlier trying to get people to listen to the Velvet Underground,and experienced this again 4 years later trying to get people to listen to the Ramones)... but Roxy Music foretold the Retro element that was so much a part of the punk rock of groups like the Ramones and B52's...trying to dial things back to a path that ignores hippy-ness.. Frank Zappa's Reuben & the Jets was probably the first Retro thing, but that was more nostalgia whereas Roxy Music somehow propelled their Retro sensibility into a form of futurism.. they are a hugely important band and one of the all time great bands.
1 For your pleasure
2 Roxy Music
3 Stranded
4 Country Life
Later: Smooth disco.
Can't agree more....although Siren has it's moments. You are obviously of my age and into them from 1972
Purchased the debut album when it was brand New in 1972. Strangest thing I had ever heard. Loved it!
Both a Prog and Glam rock band, can’t for the rankings of Asia, Bad Company, Def Leppard, and Mott the Hoople. I love these videos with Steven!
Roxy Music had a great run before their hiatus ... You can't go wrong with any of their first 5 albums.
Yeah, yeah I know it's about studio stuff !! Avalon is their Best !!!
But Roxy is one of those bands that are "Much Better Live" !!!!
So I just always listen to Viva/ The High Road/ Heart Still Beating and Roxy Live 2003' all Live !!!!
And if you can find it .... "Newcastle 74" the excellent soundboard bootleg Live
recording of that show with the Great John Wetton on Bass !! Just makes Roxy
so much heavier and more Prog like on the cuts Wetton is on Viva !!!
And yes Art Rock and Roxy Music is Prog !! : )
I love every single album, but Manifesto. Avalon is my all time favorite album.
Agree, Manifesto is by far their worst. I agree with Eno, Stranded is their best. I don't see how anyone could pick the Country Life cover over Stranded's - no way! In the USA, the Country Life cover was banned and it was covered by green cellophane and later issues had the trees covering the models. BTW my ranking: Stranded/Roxy Music/Siren/For Your Pleasure/Avalon/Country Life/Flesh & Blood/Manifesto. Viva! contains an extended version of If There is Something. No mention of Sentimental Fool? Mother of Pearl has two separate parts: Manzanera's great solo followed by Ferry's tremendous lyrics and delivery.
Excellent show well balanced intelligent opinions. If you want something different Roxy music is a great tonic. They are fabulously different. Thankyou
Got to know Roxy in the 70's living in Germany, and loved them instantly. Then moving back to Canada took a lot of grief from my buddies being a Roxy fan....that is until Avalon came out...which I think is a classic!! But not my favorite. That would be Siren, followed by closely by Country Life and Stranded. Awesome band, totally unique. Saw them live twice, excellent concerts!! Ferry is a class act! Manzanara is great.
BTW, a band from Australia, Icehouse, sounds a lot like later day Roxy.
I've met Paul Thompson a few times, very nice man, I remember Jon Lord saying once 'If, if's and ans were Pots and Pans"What he meant was if Deep Purple had a rest in 1973 and came back how greater could they have been. The same if Led Zeppelin had carried on after John Bonham, Paul Thompson would have been the perfect choice, he is definitely a Bonham esque drummer.
Not gonna lie. Wasn’t the biggest fan but since this episode/ I’ve revisited/ get older/ sometimes wiser/ lol. Great insight Steven. And Pete. Thank you 👍💯
John Wetton was playing part-time with Roxy around Country Life....
@ I don't think so... Wetton is on a number of Ferry's solo albums.
@ Roxy always had a problem with a stable bass player.... I think Wetton helped out on some of the live gigs around the Country Life tour. Even though it says John Gustafson is the bass player on the album, the song, Out of The Blue, sounds like something Wetton would play.... Wetton is on Ferry's Another Time, Another Place, Let's Stick Together, In Your Mind and Bride Stripped Bare....
@ John Gustafson was the bass player on three of Roxy Music's albums. 'Stranded', "Country Life', and 'Siren'. I believe that John WETTON was only their bass player on one of Roxy's studio recordings the single "Your Applications Failed". All of Wetton's other work with Roxy was just for live performances.
Thanks Pete and Steven. Not being a fan of Roxy Music and not owning any of their records, however knowing and respecting the band, I really loved the way you presented the show and done the ranking. Fun and interesting show and now go away with a few records to discover Thanks a million and keep up the great work. Cheers
You didn't mention it, but when Country Life first came out in the US, the cover was without the women...just the bushes behind them. Just too sexy for the US. I don't know when they started selling the European cover in the US. Oh, I think the cover is very arty, besides being sexy. I like it. RM has always been campy, and over the top. You have to take their covers and their music that way.
and now here in the 21st century where acceptance is pretty much all over the place. the funny part is hunting down if you're a vinyl collector the no women covers are harder to find than the ones with them.
The first 2 albums because of Mr Eno. I also like Siren and Country Life very much. Any album after that. I am not a huge fan. . if you have never heard the one Quiet Sun album featuring Mr Manzanera I reccomend it highly
And...I must say this, those are some of the best album covers in rock music. Creative, thought provoking and beautiful.
For Your Pleasure is an absolute classic
Saw Roxy on the Country Life tour 1975 at Cardiff Capitol theatre. Just awesome. For me as a hard rock and prog rock fan they fitted in that slot between rock and pop and were excellent at it in the 70s. Eddie Jobson was awesome
Clear that I like Roxy Music a lot more than Pete & Steven. But who cares - really interesting chat, thanks guys! Here's how I see them:
1 - Siren
2 - For Your Pleasure
3 - Country Life
4 - Flesh + Blood (clearly I'm higher on this than most... Oh Yeah is one of my all-time favourite songs)
5 - Stranded
6 - Avalon
7 - Roxy Music
8 - Manifesto
I swear I'm not yelling at you but WHEN THE HELL ARE YOU GOING TO DO A RANKING THE ALBUM'S ON CHEAP TRICK !?!?
Btw, great job Pete. I too am not a Huge Roxy Music fan, and I very much agreed with your ranking. And cheers to you Steve. Always doing a Top job in this channel. Carry On....
I'm surprised, Steve, as they are one of my favorite bands, and I share a lot of your tastes. Perhaps they will grow on you!
I will admit that the more time passes the more I like them!
It's good to see/hear Roxy Music get some acknowledgement. Good job(son) Pete and Steve. Here's my ranking: 1) Siren, 2) Roxy Music, 3) Country Life, 4) Manifesto, 5) Avalon, 6) Stranded, 7) For Your Pleasure, 8) Flesh and Blood. Viva! is one of my favorite single disc live albums. I'm sure John Wetton "borrowed" the echo ending of Viva! for Night After Night. I'll have to listen to the Roxy catalog again to see if my rankings change.
I recall not liking them in my teens, but then a few years later they were one of my favorite groups. (Steely Dan were the same for me.) The first album and Country Life are standouts. Ferry and Jim Morrison can duke it out over who had the coolest, sexiest voice in rock music. Imagine Ferry singing "The Crystal Ship"!
... Or Jim singing "Just Like You"
many people are surprised when they hear Brian ferry singing jealous Guy John Lennon's imagine classic
love roxy music...for your pleasure, country life, avalon, siren....so good...and so looking forward to watching alex harvey after this...love them as well...what an incredible double bill for me tonight...peace guys...rocky
Great video, Pete & Steven. I only own Avalon and haven't really listened to much else in their discography so I won't be trying to rank the albums - but I will absolutely listen to a few of the ones you ranked high now. I actually really like Bryan Ferry's voice so that's not a hindrance. Oh, on a completely different note: How about ranking the albums by Samson?
I actually think it’s very interesting to throw in a band now and then who you aren’t a fan of. I like that.
Love this band so creative and original. My favorite is Country Life with For Your Pleasure a close second. Also like Bryan Ferry’s solo albums quite a bit. Even more eclectic than Roxy. Whole catalog is excellent and worth exploring. Art Rock at its best. Have to say a little disappointed in the ranking if you don’t really like a band it’s hard to be objective and interject the passion that a band as iconic as Roxy deserves. Still great seeing Steven a big fan of his insights.
Great show as usual but made even better by the thoughtful and thorough discussions for a band that may not be a favorite for some. Stranded was the first Roxy Music album I bought and did but a few more. Avalon has been my favorite and holds the top spot in my rankings. Thanks, Pete and Steven for such an interesting show.
On my top five favorite bands list. Stranded is on my top ten favorite album list.
Here's my list:
1. For Your Pleasure (Masterpiece)
2. Country Life (Masterpiece)
3. Stranded (Excellent work)
4. Sirens (Great album)
5. Roxy Music (Excellent Debut and what was to come)
6. Manifesto (Great comeback album with a little Disco Art Pop Rock mix)
7. Flesh and Blood (Similar to previous album but with a little more 80s production)
8. Avalon (Good album with a little avante garde and new age touch)
9. Viva Roxy Music Live (Good live album)
100% agreement with your list John!!
I saw Roxy Music at Radio City Music Hall during the Avalon tour, and it was one of the best concerts ever. Not only all the beautiful Avalon songs but a tour of the greatest hits that brought back the feel of their earlier incarnations perfectly. Not to mention, Modern English- so sadly underestimated as a one-hit wonder- played a great opening set (listen to Carry me down and After the snow!). It was an amazing evening, and Ferry acquitted himself wonderfully as the unique front man for a great, eclectic band.
I agree, saw the same tour, but in Montreal, where they added a 3rd band to the evening, Men without Hats, who were kind of fun...safety dance....but Roxy and Bryan were on fire that night!
Very interesting rankings. Great job guys!.
I don't know where but I read that Robert Fripp tried to convince to Bryan Ferry to sing in Crimson. I suppose Ferry moved in the same area of artists; finally Ferry preferred his own musical project in the SAME label: EG Records... like King Crimson and Brian Eno.
This atmosphere only created very special projects.
Pete, I recommend you to listen this Roxy Music cover: Prairie Rose, from the Scottish band Big Country (1984); this was a B side.
Roxy Music were the most important and interesting band of the 70s. Almost everything done on the first 5 albums was brilliant. This was the true “progressive” music. Avalon. In 1980 pick-up a new era and was equally important. Brian Ferry solo albums are also incredible and well worth listening too. Try listening to these records a few times. Once they click with you, you can’t get enough.
Yes, they were ahead of Bowie by several years. The early albums are essential but can be difficult for new listeners. Their sound is very eclectic and comes from all sorts of directions; as much European traditions as American. Ferry, like Jim Morrison, was a modern day crooner working in the rock genre, and a marvellously talented vocalist and songwriter. Bowie gets all the attention but Ferry was and is his equal. There's a great compilation of the early years that's a fantastic summary of what Roxy were all about, and it still sounds ahead of its time.
Growing up I always read about Roxy Music - Siren in those Rolling Stone lists of greatest albums. I enjoy most of Roxy, especially the 70s, but for me Siren is THE album by this band.
1. Roxy Music
(the self titled album, awesome debut, one of the best ever)
2. For your pleasure
(the first and 2:nd albums are a level above the rest)
3. Stranded
4. Siren
5. Country life
6. Avalon
... and the covers are great by the way
The ranking wasn't important here but the acknowledgement of the influence Roxy had on so many artists (positive or not) was so far reaching. The very fact that they are considered an episode here perhaps underlines how far their popularity extends. As with many SOT episodes the difference in perception between North America and UK/Europe is always fascinating.
Great! Pete, can you do a Ranking the studio albums on W.A.S.P.
One of my all-time top bands. Interesting discussion. Don't think I heard any mention of The Bogus Man (off FYP) or Sentimental Fool (off Siren). Both are great, longer experimental tracks. The live version of If There is Something off Viva! is tremendous.
Roxy Music was a miss for me in the late 70's/80's, but I've dived in due to exposure from a soundtrack album. One of my favorite music movies is "Velvet Goldmine", which focuses on the UK glam scene of the early 70's. The cover songs are all well integrated into the surreal fictional nature of the movie; this has led me to discovering all the originals that I wasn't really familiar with. Lots of Roxy music, Eno, Cockney Rebel, Stooges, T.Rex and some Bowie influenced originals make up the soundtrack.
1) Roxy Music
2) Siren
3) For Your Pleasure
4) Country Life
5) Stranded
6) Avalon
7) Flesh and Blood
8) Manifesto
I am with you, Pete...like 'em, don't hate 'em...more like...Meh, OK.
Will add that if Alan Spenner played bass with them...that is cool by me.
Siren, couldn't live w/ out it. So much to love and it's good they are "Roxy Music" they influenced so much I can't even fathom someone not getting it,but maybe I'm happy you don't 1) Siren 2) Stranded 3) For Your Pleasure 5) Country Life 6) Self titled
All first five albums are all exceptional. Watching them live on the Stranded, Country Life and Siren tours between 1974 - 76 was an unparalleled delight. The most unique musical ensemble of the 1970s.