The self-titled first Roxy Music album opens with what seems to be a ambient recording from a cafe--glasses clinking, low talking, and so on. It sets up a mood of casual elegance that the band explored throughout their career, from sophisticated glamour all the way through decadence. The first song, "Re-Make/Re-Model" becomes, after the cafe introduction, a punchy rock track that mixes an insistent rhythm section, Andrew Mackay's saxophone playing, and Bryan Ferry's unmistakable voice into a cultured warble (the song's "chorus," by the way, is "CPL 593H," the license plate number of a car).
Roxy Music's early work is a strange hybrid of glam rock, cocktail jazz, and English music hall. The band has a joke at the expense of each, and is clearly enjoying themselves. Other standouts include the classics "Virginia Plain" and "2HB." The first was the band's first single and arguably the most successful song from their early period, with catchy lyrics, a fabulous bridge section, and a beat you can dance to. The second is a ballad inspired by the film CASABLANCA featuring a bubbling synthesizer and saxophone under Ferry's "Here's looking at you, kid" chorus. This is a must-own.
Liner Note Authors: Kaz Akaiwa; Simon Puxley.
Recording information: Command Studios, London, England (03/1972).
Photographer: Karl Stoecker.
Arranger: Roxy Music.
Roxy Music: Graham Simpson (bass instrument); Andy Mackay , Paul Thompson , Phil Manzanera, Brian Eno, Bryan Ferry.
Personnel: Bryan Ferry (vocals, piano, keyboards); Phil Manzanera (guitar); Andy Mackay (oboe, saxophone); Brian Eno (keyboards, synthesizer, tapes); Rik Kenton, Graham Simpson (bass guitar); Paul Thompson (drums).
Q (9/99, pp.122-3) - 5 stars (out of 5) - "...difficult, innovative, unlikely, provocative, daring and successful....Roxy Music turned heads with 1972's eponymous debut....this is rock'n'roll before and after science, it's licks laced with futurism....a masterpiece unwithered by age..."
Nice Remastering This is a nice remastering CD. Submitted by a reviewer (Tokyo, Japan) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
NOT poxy music. Can this be the same outfit that released "Dance away", "Avalon" and a host of irritating, instantly-forgettable, crappy tunes some 10 years later. Well yes and no...Mr. Ferry had yet to fully discover his aggravating lounge lizard persona and Eno was on hand to provide excellent early synth (and the band aren't stuck up their own rear ends).
Instead we are treated to a variety of musical styles melted into one pot and washed down with lilting saxophone. The LP sounds as good today as 30 (!) years ago. Submitted by a reviewer (...somewhere in England.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
What a Concept! With their first release Roxy Music introduced the world to a new kind of rock band and tantalized with numerous glimpses of the incredible potential within each of the members of the band. The CD gets only 4 stars because it was not quite as cohesive as their future offerings but is a definite must own for any Roxy Music fan Submitted by a reviewer (Phoenix, Az) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
ELEVEN OUT OF FIVE STARS YOU HAVE HEARD IT BEFORE,
BUT THIS TIME IT'S TRUE. I WAS THIRTEEN AND DITCHING SCHOOL. I JUMPED THE TURNSTYLE, TOOK THE RED LINE TO HARVARD SQUARE AND WAS NEVER THE SAME AGAIN. THANK GOD AND BRYAN FERRY. THE HARVARD COOP HAD A LARGE CUT-OUT OF ROXY'S FIRST PIN-UP COVER GIRL IN THE WINDOW. INTRIGUED, I BOUGHT THE RECORD WITHOUT A SINGLE NOTE HEARD BY EITHER OF MY EARS. WELL, THIRTY-PLUS YEARS LATER AND THE RECORD STILL AMAZES ME. AT THE TIME WARNER BROS. DESCRIBED THE ALBUM AS A FUTURISTIC SHA-NA-NA (DON'T ASK). WELL, IT WAS SORT OF THAT BUT OH SO MUCH MORE. FRANKLY, STOP READING THIS DRIVEL AND BUY THE ROXY CATALOG AND WATCH HOW YOUR APPRECIATION OF LIFE EXPANDS AND DEEPENS. CHEERS, KEVIN J. KEEFE, MALIBU, CA
P.S. A FEW YEARS LATER A SIMILAR SITUATION WITH A GIANT POSTER OF A YOUNG, UNKNOWN DEBBIE HARRY IN A SEE-THRU BLOUSE IN THE VERY SAME WINDOW. ALWAYS TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS AND YOUR HORMONES. YEAH. Submitted by kjk2 (MALIBU, CA USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
Nice Remastering
What a Concept!
ELEVEN OUT OF FIVE STARS
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