The hugely talented and influential Roxy Music started as an
avant-garde art house band with Brian Eno involved… so they were
innovative and experimental, even glammy at times. After Eno left Roxy
became more traditionally rock/pop oriented with a dance club aesthetic,
and then further matured to where they became almost a smooth,
seductive AOR lounge act. Their final album Avalon is loaded with great
songs, including “Take a Chance With Me” which made #111 on Marc's Top
200. That song was not the most well known song on the album - that
accolade goes to “More Than This” - but the entire album is solid
straight through, and I love listening to the whole thing in one go.
(Special note: Although “Avalon” was their last studio album, Roxy
released a live EP from the Avalon tour called “The High Road” and a
double-CD live set as well called “Heart Still Beating” - both of which
are simply spectacular).
When Roxy Music broke
up in 1983, lead singer Bryan Ferry went back to his solo career. He
had released solo albums before, and now that he had made a big name for
himself (and made serious bank) with Roxy Music, he could afford to
take his time as he segued back to a solo artist… and did so for 2
years, working on the album “Boys and Girls”. When “Boys and Girls”
came out in 1985 it re-established Bryan Ferry as a top star, hitting
the Top 10 in Britain and generating 3 singles. It’s smooth, seductive
and utterly romantic songs burn long and slow like a candle. Like
Avalon, it is fantastic to listen to in one go … 38 minutes of pure
bliss (preferably experienced in a bedroom with a partner, hint hint,
wink wink).
Also like Avalon, the most
well-known track…. is not today’s Awesome Song! "Slave To Love" was
the first single off “Boys and Girls” and did very well on the charts
and I like it very much. But my current favorite off the album is the
tune “Windswept” which has a flow that is dense, moody &
atmospheric, a master example of style & class, just like the band
Japan’s best work. Particluarly love the interplay between guitars,
basses, winds - romantic New Wave at it’s absolute finest. Enjoy!
-WAS
-WAS
Bonus! The whole Boys & Girls album on vinyl:
I had only heard this song a few times, as Brian Ferry wasn't what I was into back in the 80s. And I don't think I'd ever seen the video. What a great track!! Definitely ranks as an "Awesome" Song of the Week.
ReplyDeleteBryan Ferry ... smoother than an Astroglide Zamboni
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