LIVE

"Live" is a double live album of Roxy Music. From what I know, it was the fourth and last official live album of Roxy Music, until now, and was released in 2003. It isn't a classic live album recorded from only one live show and released to promote a new studio album from the band. It contains live performances from all their studio albums taken from a great variety of locals on their 2001 reunion live world tour, and represents the entire set list from those live concerts.

The line up on the album was formed by their original line up Bryan Ferry (vocals and piano), Phil Manzanera (guitar), Andy MacKay (oboe and saxophone) and Paul Thompson (drums). Unfortunately, the keyboardist Brian Eno was an exception and didn't appear on the album, and the original bassist Graham Simpson too, but we mustn't forget that Roxy Music never had a permanent bass player. Beyond the original members, some guest musicians appeared on the album. Chris Speeding (guitar), Colin Good (piano), Zev Katz (bass), Julia Thornton (keyboards and percussion), Lucy Wilkins (violin and keyboards) and Sarah Brown, Yanick Etienne, Michelle Brown and Sharon White (backing vocals).

"Live" has twenty-two tracks. "Re-Make/Re-Model", "Ladytron" and "If There Is Something" were originally released on "Roxy Music". They were recorded at Detroit Pine Knob in 29, July, Milan Forum in 24 September and Birmingham N.E.C. in 17 June, respectively. "Virginia Plain" was originally released as a single. It wasn't initially released on their album "Roxy Music". Later, it was a track added to that album. It was recorded at Stuttgart Schleyerhalle in 22 September. "In Every Dream Home A Heartache", "Editions Of You", "Do The Strand" and "For Your Pleasure" were originally released on "For Your Pleasure". They were recorded at Antwerp Sportspaleis in 14 September, Perth Ent. Centre in 19 August, Vancouver G.M.P. in 3 August and Adelaide Ent. Centre in 17 August, respectively. "Street Life", "A Song For Europe" and "Mother Of Pearl" were originally released on "Stranded". They were recorded at Hamburg Sporthalle in 19 September, Perth Ent. Centre in 19 August, and Vienna Gasometer in 26 September, respectively. "Out Of Blue" was originally released on "Country Life". It was recorded at Manchester E.N. Arena in 28 September. "Both Ends Burning" and "Love Is The Drug" were originally released on "Siren". They were recorded at Milan Forum in 24 September and Perth Ent. Centre in 19 August, respectively. "Dance Away" was originally released on "Manifesto". It was recorded at Adelaide Ent. Centre in 17 August. "My Only Love" and "Oh Yeah!" were originally released on "Flesh + Blood". They were recorded at Stuttgart Schleyerhalle 22 September and Detroit Pine Knob in 29 July, respectively. "While My Heart Is Still Beating", "Tara", "More Than This" and "Avalon" were originally released on "Avalon". They were recorded at Glasgow S.E.C.C. in 29 September, Toronto Air Canada Centre in 16 July, Tokyo Int. Forum in 7 September and London Apollo in 2 October, respectively. "Jealous Guy" is a John Lennon's song. It was released on Lennon's album "Imagine". It was never released on any studio album of Roxy Music. It was released on their live EP "The High Road". It was recorded at Birmingham N.E.C. in 17 June.

With this document of their reunion in 2001, Roxy Music presents one of their best live albums. In terms of prog their second best after "Viva! Roxy Music". After almost twenty years of abstinence, Roxy Music was fully on the retro track. The selection of songs is more than satisfactory and, compared to the 1982 tour, places a clear emphasis on the 70's. But a few hits from the 80's shouldn't be missed either. The double CD is, like "Heart Still Beating", not the recording of a single concert, but a live compilation that was created at various locations around the world. It contains the full program of the world tour and follows the London concert in the order of the songs as seen on the "Live At The Apollo" DVD. In addition, there are only the two songs "More Than This" and "If There Is Something", which is the plus point of the CD edition. The band is in top form having a lot of fun. The focus is the band's stars Ferry, Mackay and Manzanera.

Conclusion: "Live" is a great live album. In a way, we even can say that is better than "Viva! Roxy Music". Since it was a reunion tour and the band had no album to support, they offered a great choice of their fabulous repertoire. "Live" has everything we can expect of a live album. It has a perfect alignment, an impeccable repertoire choice with different versions from the original songs and in the case of "A Song For Europe", "My Only Love", "Both Ends Burning" and "Tara", they're practically new songs. So, it's perfectly representative of the band's career and of all their studio albums and finally has a magnificent musical live performance and a great sound. "Live" shows that Roxy Music was a great band and that they're also great when performing live. "Live" is a living proof that even thirty years later, their heart is still beating. To conclude, I only want say one more thing. When I was young I had the privilege and the honour to be on a live performance of them, I think on "Avalon" live tour. And I can assure you they were great when performing live.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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