Should We Wave Goodbye To The New Roxy Album?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Helen on -
well I am disappointed but not surprised at that news, so much for the Roxy album being finished and shelved then!!!!!! was there really ever a Roxy album on its way? I feel slightly cheated if that's the right word to use, I know BF has recorded his new solo album, but I did think that there was a Roxy album on its way as did everyone else.....Could there be a rift amongst them I wonder? and no sign of Eno being involved if they were to record again, that's quite disappointing in itself :(
Was it all just too good to be true after all?
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Permalink Reply by Richard Harris on -
What a shame. I have to believe that there was, at least at some point, a Roxy Music album. Seemingly Paul, Andy and Phil thought so - all the press that Phil and Andy gave a couple of years back suggested so, and hence "Roxy Music 2009 coming soon" that went up on Phil's website. There was talk of a contract with a record company, a PR firm in Liverpool handling a new band website. Has all of this really come to nothing? Or is this just BF playing games with us again to tease us?
Now the new BF album, which was supposed to be out in March, seems to have slipped to early summer and to still being worked on. What price that this is something else to be "turned to face the wall", as the man puts it.
His indecision is final. Can only imagine how exasperating this must be to the others. No wonder Andy is looking to take the Metaphors out early in 2010.
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Permalink Reply by Wayne David Rainford on -
Oh Yeah! we have all been here before! for me & all the die hards, it was great that there got together for the 2001 tour etc! i know theres alot of songs recorded in the can! will there ever see the light of day? if not on a full album, i think it would be a good selling point to put 2 or 3, onto wait for it! yes another best of package! like the new B.F one! with also a good dvd, with lots of gems that were left off the thrill of it all dvd etc!! L I T D, A T S, D A Promos! BBC totps M T T, Av, M Hour, kenny e, rest of full house, & so on!! I know it seems to be abig let down! Or maybe a 40th Ann?? Like time & time before! We will all grow, Stronger through the years!! wx
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Ash on -
I have to say that that is pretty disappointing news to say the least! I'm sorry but as far as I'm concerned Ferry's solo efforts pale in comparison to the Roxy material because of the input of Manzo and Mackay.
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Permalink Reply by cy on -
quite agree Stephen. I like Ferry,but together Roxy Music are on another planet.Doesnt matter how many great musicians Ferry gets together..it's just not Roxy.Roxy rule ok?
Why on earth did he say back on the culture show about there being a roxy album in 2009?(later proved wrong)but still!
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Permalink Reply by Jim on -
I have counted to ten. Then moved on till I got to a hundred or more. Does anyone else find this article just a little arrogant?
You know there is something about this that goes just a bit beyond disappointmet. In fact if I am honest there is something here that I really don't like at all. Richard rightly points to all the evidence that was there to show that a new album was in the offing. Talk of contracts, "Coming soon" web posts, allowing filming of studio sessions, radio interviews, hints, hints and more hints. Take a look at the post on Helen's page from Keith (aka virginia plain) which says according to Andy's wife the album is ready to go!
So why this never ending delay? This change of heart? This shift of focus?
On the one hand it could be teasing, the old Roxy Music art school slight of hand etc that was once endearing and kitch when we were all a bit younger. Regrettably it is a bit boring now and just an annoyance --- if that is what it is!
The other possibility is even less endearing. If phil was to be believed they had ten or so really good tracks down. If Eno is to be believed they recorded in the old fashioned way, Bryan writing etc and the rest pitching in and so on. But we are 30 plus years on. Who gets the writing credits? Who shares the royalties? Is it really still the " Bryan" show or have the others moved on and feel that they are worthy of more than just "STAGE" recognition?
I fully realise that you have to take these mutterings with a pinch of salt-- especially in a newspaper where the most reliable writing is to be found in the weather forecast!
Taking it at face value however, let me disagree with Bryan on one thing most clearly. " If there is a future for Roxy, it would be on stage only."--- eh wrong Bryan that is not a future, it is no more than the celebration of a past, though glorious that past may be.
I agree with Cyan totally in that the best Bryan Ferry album wil be no match for the worst Roxy Music Album. Bryan can record all the solo albums he wants. I hope they are good, but they will not have the musical, artistic or commercial clout that a Roxy Music Album brings.
I can't help but feel that at the back of this it all boils down to control and money, which in turn robs everyone of the very entity which would maximise profiles, revenues, merchandising etc and set an advance platform for the individual members to promote their individual projects to maximum effect. If I am right-- and there is no guarantee of that--- then someone somewhere is being very stupid indeed.
As for Roxy Music? Well it would appear that this is Adieu. It all ended with Avalon all those years ago and despite hints and promises of an encore after years, there is just no more to come i'm afraid. Of course it could be that despite the public pronouncements, what they put together in the studio a few years back was just not good enough to cut it in these modern times. Alas nothing is there for us to share but yesterday?
I'm afraid I have reached the stage where i will not be holding my breath for the " Bryan" album in March/ Summer/ October/ Christmas 2010/11/12 etc.
Whenever it does appear I will happily give it a listen, read the reviews and so on and if it has anything good on it I will buy it. However I will not go out blindly and purchase it because it is a Bryan album. I will probably like it in all honesty as it will have HIS style-- just not that Roxy Music style. If it is crap it will remain on the shelf!
Roxy Music RIP?
Good Night and Good Luck
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Permalink Reply by Siren on -
"I fully realise that you have to take these mutterings with a pinch of salt-- especially in a newspaper where the most reliable writing is to be found in the weather forecast!"
Does this article in The Times make it any any better Jim?
"But Ferry dispenses with the subject of his new compilation album in a few moments, remarking merely that one of the new tracks it features, a cover of a Drifters song, is “all right”, and that I should come back next year to talk about his new record, which will be “more interesting”. Featuring Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, Flea, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist, and Nile Rodgers of Chic, it will not be, as has been widely reported, a Roxy Music comeback. “It was overly publicised, when Brian Eno and I went into the studio together, that we were re-forming. We worked together for a few days, weeks maybe, and I decided I didn’t really want to do a Roxy thing. It’s going to be a solo record. Brian plays on a couple of tracks though.”
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/m...
:(
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Permalink Reply by Jim on
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No Siren, It doesn't. It makes it far worse.
If we take those words at face value, he is even more arrogant-- breathtakingly so! Was it only Bryan and Brian in that studio? The "overly publicised" video footage I saw seemed to show a few others in there as well-- Andy, Phil,PaulThompson etc etc-- but alas Mr Ferry seems to have forgotten they were there!
Oh, and was it a few days? A few weeks? Oh I can't remember-- not that important really.
"... and i decided I didn't really want to do a Roxy Thing".
So Bryan decided-- full stop, end of story. Did he tell the others? Does any of what they rehearsed, wrote or come up with make it's way on to the " solo" record?
I fully respect the right of any individual to decide who they work with, what they work on, and their right to individual choice-- even when that choice disappoints me and goes against what I would have liked to have happened. So if Bryan chooses to work on a non Roxy "thing" then that is his choice and the others will just have to accept it and get on with their lives and other things. C'est la vie!
I hope Bryan's record is good and is something that we can all enjoy-- but no matter how good it is it will not be a "Roxy" "Thing"-- which a lot of us were looking forward to, wanted most of all, and indeed were encouraged to expect.
What disappoints me most is his chosen use of language. For someone who crafted some of the greatest lyrics and whose use of words I love to death, I can't believe that he would glibly throw away the quotes above by accident, so i have to take it that they are deliberately designed to convey what he allegedly feels about the whole Roxy "Thing", and to focus on the publicity for what might be up and coming.
I recall many years ago he gave an interview about the reformation of Roxy and made a glib comment saying something like the others would just love it for the money but he wasn't sure about it etc. That came across as crass, bitter and just not very nice.
I also recall being told that BF was, in truth, just not a very nice man-- and this from the mother of someone who worked closely with the band and whose only dealings with him were in an occasional social capacity, and separately from those who work in venues where he has performed. All smooze and charm one minute for the public, downright rude and dismissive the next with those who work with him in some capacity. Some members of this forum who have met Bryan have witnessed the same thing on occasion.
I have never met BF, and have said on these pages before that I have no desire to. I have loved his, Roxy's, music and sense of style for close on 40 years. However the quotes above are not impressive in their content or inference. I think they will do nothing to endear Bryan Ferry, the man, to a new audience, and plenty to alienate an older and more mature group who once bought his records no matter what.
I hope the record is good and that there is much to enjoy. I hope BF enjoys good health and financial success in all he does-- the same goes for the rest of them. However there is part of me that says no matter how good the record is I am just loath to give my money to someone who may have developed into nothing more than a talented but rude, arrogant prick in a dinner jacket.
There is plenty of other good music out there to enjoy.
And it pains me to write that believe me.
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Permalink Reply by Wayne David Rainford on
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I know & understand where your coming from Jim. To be honest i love Roxy & Bryans music! I dont get the same buzz, when a new bf cd comes out, saying that if there was a new roxy cd, yes it would be great! but it would be the same! why? where all alot older! I like most of you grow up with roxy! from been 14! Im now nearly 51! The teens etc, rushing in from school, to listen to stranded, coming home early from the pub, to hear tracks from the country life album, on the john peel show & so on! Great times! We as fans have not had much to write home about, over the years! the odd album, lots of greatest hits! not any extras! bonus tracks, live tracks etc! I Wish i would have been doing the markerting! Viva roxy! as a double would have come out years ago! Promo videos! Live albums, from the tours! I could go on & on! 1994 was ready the last bf album! all his own stuff! since then, covers, covers, covers! loads of live shows doing mostly the same old stuff, you know what i mean! I wonder if the new album will have any covers? No im not having a go! Im just abit pee off! We have all been taken for a ride for far to long!! I love my music! 3000 cds, nick drake to snow patrol, i will buy bfs new cd, mainly out of respect! i do hope to get alittle buzz out of it! ps ive met & spent time with bf & the rest of the In Crowd, & there all fine etc with me! pps Roll on the BBC SESSIONS! wx
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Permalink Reply by Lee Rogers on
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Jim, I've got to agree with you. When Roxy Music came out (I was only 14), obviously Ferry caught the eye but what it was, was the sound, something so unique that I got shivers down my back and that was due to the unique chemistry they possessed. Whatever they created, and they embraced a lot of stylistic changes over the years, it was always recognisable as Roxy Music. The band was always more than the some of its parts. When I think of Roxy I don't think of Ferry but of them all as the way they gelled to create that special wall of sound has never been equalled and which could only come as a result of the different musical , artistic and intellectual backgrounds which seemed to fit so well together. OK when they started out it was very much Ferry's thing but without the others and their input it would not have been the same. I constantly re-visit their albums (more the first 4 than anything else although there are flashes of brilliance on the other albums) however despite Ferry having relased a few good albums they will never have the impact as anything Roxy have done. I am now thinking that he has only used Roxy as stepping stone to his own career. Also one and a half albums in 15 years of original material only proves creatively he is struggling (how many cover versions will be on the new album). I must admit I resisted buying Dylanesque for well over a year as I thought it was a cop out. I will give him his due that he worked hard in terms of going out and performing in recent years, however aren't many of the songs he performs Roxy's? Ok so the album they could have released may not have had the impact of the other 8 because what made Roxy stand out was that there was nothing else like them but at least some effort could have been made to try and recapture what made them great. The others could take a lot of the creative burden away leaving him to concentrate on lyrics if he has problems songwriting which is well known. If that's how it is, then maybe Phil, Andy, Paul and Eno should continue and make an album together to show a glimpse of what it could have been like.
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Permalink Reply by Jim on
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Lee,
there is a lot to digest here, and a lot to ponder on from elsewhere.
Let me start by jumping to Bryan's defence in certain respects, which may be a tad surprising given the depth of my cynicism and criticism above. I can't agree that Ferry "used" Roxy as to be fair it was he who had the entire creative image in his head to create a band that was in itself an art form. He had the idea of the visual, of the sound, of the sense of style and avante garde and most of all at the start it was he who penned the songs-- and what songs they were. He had the chance to ditch "The band" at the very outset and sign up as the solo enigmatic front man but resisted stating that he (as an unsigned recording artist) would deliver songs, band, musicians, image, clothes--- The full package.
Yes he could not have created the sound without the influence of Eno, Phil, Andy,GPT or indeed the engineers at the Command studios. Yet perhaps Ferry's greatest triumph was Stranded as he rose to the challenge of Roxy without Eno and engineered a sound incorporating Jobson's talents and influence as well as writing material for the album that is as diverse on a track for track basis as you will find anywhere. So I can't agree he used the band because effectively The band is driven by Him-- although not him alone.
Equally, the rest of them have a few grey hairs and can no doubt defend their own corner or criticise with some fair degree of authority. Equally, when, after all these years, they praise Ferry -- WE should listen. Consider the band's accounts of his Recording of Mother of Pearl, his complete change of mood on the piece of music that became Love is the Drug, his insistance that Jealous Guy was THE lennon track to Record, His last minute late night reworking of what became Avalon-- and you get the impression that over and above his other talents Ferry has a considerable ability to reinterpret, rearrange and shape the original material of others.
I agree entirely that when they first broke there was nothing like them on the planet. Your views on the first 4 albums and every appearance causing the hairs to stand up could be words from my own lips--- very often expressed elsewhere on here.
I will look forward to HIS new album but not nearly as much as I was looking forward to Roxy's new album. I had good reason to look forward to it too. This is one of the most influential bands over a period of time. Any new work from them after 30 years of a gap was to be eagerly anticipated. maybe it would rekindle that hairs on the back of the neck feeling. Maybe it would only be that way for life long fans, or just maybe this collective could rise to the challenge of taking music by the scruff of the neck once again and doing something that leaves you mesmerised.
And there was reason for such hope. Phil said as much. Blogs on other folks webpages talked of them working on " The new Roxy album". See Virginia Plain's comment on Helen's page that not only was the album in the can but that young and new fans of music thought it was contemporary and exciting.
So imagine the disappointment when that article says " Bryan decided" he didn't want to do it!!! Why? Why after the album has already been recorded? Why after literally years of carefully planned leaks that it was happening-- they let TV footage of the recording out for god sake!!!!!
I can only presume money lies at the route of this evil carbunkle. Ferry talks of rejuvenating the creative juices and getting focus back. So it must be back. Even if some of what " Roxy" did on any new album included the odd cover then I would live with that-- so would everyone else.
But why oh why torpedo the whole thing at this late hour? Why not a cheep from anyone else? Surely someone, somewhere must have beat a path to Phil's door and asked for a comment and confirmation?
Don't get me wrong, The Big Man is and always will be a personal icon but sometimes he has the odd major tosser moment that makes me want to just hide under the duvet. Equally he then redeems himself with bits of sheer wonderous escapism. I am convinced that this is one such moment. If he wanted a new Roxy album out there then I believe it is there and all set to go-- what a thought-- a new album by Roxy Music!!!!!
If he doesn't want it out there then, pardon the french, but we are all fucked on the Roxy front--and after all the hints that is really really annoying and frustrating.
I wanted to take my oldest son (15) to see Roxy Music. I wanted to take friends who missed them sort of first time around. I wanted to don some kind of strange fashionista get up and relive 1973/74 or whenever. Childish? Immature? Mid Life Crisis? All of the above? Who cares-- who really gives a toss? It would just be great fun.
The nearest real life feeling of anticipation I can give is this:
Does anyone reading the posts on this forum remember the buzz, the stomach churning excitement, the deep inner molecular shifting that went through mind and body when you were present and heard the opening riffs of Manifesto? There they were after a gap of years, when you thought you wouldn't see them again, and here is this great thunderous risky wall of sound as you put it that went right through you-- quite unlike any noise that Roxy had produced before. Followed by Big Bry, bedecked in Red Leather suit and white shoes, abandoning his high pitched falsetto and replacing it with deep booming gutteral proclemation " I am for the life around the corner-- takes you by surprise!"
Feck me! As Mrs Doyle would say!
Well I believe that we could have got that again, could have relived that feeling that no one else has ever provoked. I am still for the life around the corner that takes you by surprise.
But alas it seems that quite some time ago Bryan decided against it!!!!
Or perhaps, like me you believe that sentiment to be complete bollocks, and that something has happened to make oul smoothy chops chuck his toys out the pram.
With that I am away under the duvet, perhaps to compose a plagiarised masterpiece.
" With every dream Homme-- a headache!"
© 2010 Created by Chris Turner
