Roxy Music "The Atlantic Years 1973 - 1980" (1983)

The Atlantic Years 1973 - 1980 (compilation)
release date: Nov. 1983
format: vinyl (815 849-1) / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: various
label: EG / Polydor - nationality:

Compilation album by Roxy Music released after Bryan Ferry had dissolved the band earlier that year. The album contains ten tracks with a total running time of 41 minutes. The selected tracks may intend to reflect the entire history of the band, but it's quite obviously made with an attempt to showcase Roxy Music in the light of its most recent albums, thus putting emphasis on the sophisti-pop branch of the band's later stylistic sound. Four tracks (#1, #2, "6, #9) are from Manifesto (1979), four (#3, #5, #7, #8) from Flesh + Blood (1980), and one track (tracks #4 and #10) is originally found on Siren (1975) and For Your Pleasure (1973) respectively.

Roxy Music "The High Road" (1983) (live)

The High Road (live)
release date: Mar. 1983
format: vinyl (Mini LP - 2335 269)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Rhett Davies & Roxy Music
label: EG / Polydor - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: B) 1. "Like a Hurricane" (other version) - 2. "Jealous Guy" (other version)

Live ep, or as stated on the front cover sticker: Live Mini LP containing 4 tracks with a total running time at 26 mins. is recorded live at the Apollo in Glasgow, Scotland, Sep. 30, 1982 during the band's Avalon Tour.

The two strongest tracks - for which the album is almost essential - are the two cover-versions on the B-side: a nearly 8 mins. powerful version of Neil Young's majestic "Like a Hurricane" - in itself by Young a fantastic composition, and Roxy Music do fine justice to the intensity of the song, and then the more than 6½ mins. fine version of John Lennon's likewise classic "Jealous Guy" - two songs Roxy Music would often have on its set-list at concerts throughout the 80s.
The album has never been released in digital format but the same recordings have found their way to the lengthier live album Heart Still Beating (1990), which contains 14 tracks.

Roxy Music "Oh Yeah" (1980) (single)

Oh Yeah, 7'' single

release date: Jul. 25, 1980

format: vinyl

[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,76]

producer: Rhett Davies & Roxy Music

label: Polydor / EG - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) "Oh Yeah (On the Radio)" (5 / 5) (TOTP 1980) - - B) "South Downs"

The second single to be taken from Flesh + Blood (May 1980), the seventh studio album by Roxy Music. Both tracks are credited Bryan Ferry, and the B-side is a non-album instrumental. The single was issued with various front covers and also as this: in a generic white sleeve without print or any titles.

Roxy Music "Flesh + Blood" (1980)

Flesh + Blood

release date: May 23, 1980

format: vinyl / cd (2015 remaster)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,84]

producer: Roxy Music & Rhett Davies

label: Polydor / EG / Universal Music - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "In the Midnight Hour" - 2. "Oh Yeah" (5 / 5) - 3. "Same Old Scene" - 5. "My Only Love" - 6. "Over You" (5 / 5) - 9. "No Strange Delight"

7th studio album by Roxy Music following one year after Manifesto (Mar. 1979) is the band's second out of three albums in total following the reunion in '78. Shortly before recording the album drummer Paul Thompson broke his thumb and was unable to play until the band was ready to go on a live tour promoting the album, which means the album was made with session drummers (especially Allan Schwartzberg also playing percussion on nearly all tracks, and then also assisted by drummer Andy Newmark and percussionist Simon Phillips). The band is therefore reduced to a trio (on the album) of Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay, and Phil Manzenera.

The album was met by some of the same lukewarm reviews that had followed Manifesto; however, the album became the band's second to top the albums chart list in the UK, which it replicated in New Zealand, and despite some reluctance expressed by the music press, Manifesto became the band's commercially so far best-selling album world-wide. Also, the album produced no less than five single releases starting with "Over You" (May 9, 1980) and followed by "Oh Yeah" (Jul. 25, 1980) - both reaching number #5 on the singles chart. The release of the title track as a single only manifested in Italy. Then followed "Same Old Scene" (Oct. 1980) and ended with "In the Midnight Hour" (?), which was only released for the North American market and in Portugal. Some critics found that the band had come to a stand-still, unable to make any real progress, and I think I understand what caused some of the criticism, only I don't agree on the full perspective. Flesh + Blood isn't far from the style of Manifesto but the real point is that the band has destilled its sound. No, they no longer play art rock or real glam rock and upholds a position at the forefront of modern rock music - instead the band has taken a deliberate turn and now play with a fusion of styles focusing on melody, sophisticated pop / rock that builds on r&b, pop soul, and bits of disco, although, this is lesser accentuated on this, but the main point is: no one else showcases this melodic blend. But I guess the 'real' problem is that the album came out when punk rock and new wave was on everyone's lips, and this simply ignores all of that.

"Oh Yeah" and "Over You" are two of the band's most iconic songs and to have both on the same album is simply a pure delight.

Highly recommended.

[ allmusic.com 2 / 5, Rolling stone 2,5 / 5, Smash Hits 6,5 / 10, Pitchfork 6,6 / 10 stars ]

Roxy Music "Manifesto" (1979)

Manifesto
release date: Mar. 1, 1979
format: vinyl (reissue) / cd (2015 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Roxy Music
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: A) 2. "Trash" - 3. "Angel Eyes" - 4. "Still Falls the Rain" - 5. "Stronger Through the Years" - - B) 1. "Ain't That So" - 3. "Dance Away" - 4. "Spin Me Round"

6th studio album by Roxy Music originally released by E.G. in the UK, Polydor in Europe and by Atco Records for the North American market. The album is the band's first after having reunited in '78 and after a period where Bryan Ferry released three solo albums. Manifesto follows the release of the band's fifth: Siren from 1975 after which Ferry released three solo albums Let's Stick Together (1976), In Your Mind (1977), and The Bride Stripped Bare (1978). The band credited on Manifesto are reduced to four members: Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay, and Paul Thompson - the latter left the band in 1980.
Musically, the band has taken a bolder move with a stronger dancefloor appeal by including elements from a world of disco and funk. Critics weren't exactly overwhelmed by the new Roxy Music; however, the album performed more than well, peaking at number #7 in the UK and reaching number #23 in the US - their best-ever charting album on the Billboard 200.
In retrospect, I think of it as one the band's better albums, and I guess the big difference is when, and for what reasons, you fell for this band's music. Personally, I didn't really know of the period before this, which I only discovered after falling for this, the successor Flesh + Blood (May 1980), and their grand finale: Avalon (May 1982), and imho, those three albums represent the band's very best.
This is classic Roxy Music and a most recommended album.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, Pitchfork 7,5 / 10, Smash Hits 4 / 5 stars ]