ROXY MUSIC

"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*)

"The Studio Albums" is a very special compilation album of Roxy Music that was released in 2015. This is an economic package that includes the entire studio discography of the band on only one package. So, it can be an interesting purchase for those who don't have yet all these studio albums individually. They can perhaps save in money and space.

As I've already reviewed all these albums previously on Progarchives, in a more extensive way, I'm not going to do it again. So, if you are interested to know, in more detail, what I wrote about them before, I invite you to read all those reviews. However, in here I'm going to write something about them in a more short way. So, of course, I'm not going to analyze them track by track, as I did before, but I'm only going to make a global appreciation of all those eight albums.

"Roxy Music": "Roxy Music" is an excellent, original and fantastic debut album. It's with "For Your Pleasure", one of the two albums that represent the first period, the most experimental and avant-garde period of them. They represent also the most interesting phase for all prog heads. Some songs of this album remind me the new wave music. Their debut is a classic album. Roxy Music was a band that proved the innovative music can also be melodic and accessible.

"For Your Pleasure": "Roxy Music" and "For Your Pleasure" are the two less accessible albums of the band but are also the best and most experimental and avant-garde of their career. Both albums represent the most interesting phase of the band for prog heads. Still, "For Your Pleasure" is better because is more balanced, mature and adult. Ferry took the reins a little more and Eno's influence diminished. There's no doubt this was the album which put the art into rock.

"Stranded": "Stranded" is a mark in the change of the musical direction of the band. The musicianship is excellent and the production is very professional. "Stranded" is one of the most sophisticated and charming albums of Roxy Music. This is, perhaps, their best work after the departure of Eno. Even Eno later rated it as Roxy Music's finest album. So, if you're really interested in their most prog phase without their avant-garde phase, "Stranded" is the right place to start.

"Country Life": Of all Roxy Music studio albums, "Country Life" is their most rock album. It's essential for those who love the decadence, the glamour and the passion of art rock. Overall, "Country Life" is another step out of the more experimental sound of the first two Roxy Music's albums. If you liked "Stranded" you will not be disappointed. The new sounds are great, even if they aren't quite complex. The new language made of Roxy Music a band ahead of their time.

"Siren": "Siren" marks the end of an era, the end of the second era of Roxy Music. "Siren" is a fantastic album and a landmark in the progressive rock music of the 70's. It's a model of the modern rock and we can't forget that the Rolling Stone magazine considered "Siren" as the Roxy Music's masterpiece and ranked it in number 371 on their list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. "Siren" is a solid offering from Roxy Music, one of their defining truly essential albums.

"Manifesto": Returning to action after almost four years of solo projects, Roxy Music redefined their sound and strips away, and once for all, of their experimentalism and the art rock influences in favour of short concise pop songs with some kind of stylish disco rhythms, while retaining in the generality a good and consistent song writing. "Manifesto" is a transition album from the art rock to pop. So, for all prog heads, it hasn't the kind of music we expected from them.

"Flesh + Blood": I always considered "Flesh + Blood" better than "Manifesto". "Flesh + Blood" is better balanced, cohesive and consistent than "Manifesto is. However, it lacks to it a touch of progressiveness to be a great prog work. Like Genesis, Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music succeeded where other bands like Renaissance, Gentle Giant and Emerson, Lake & Palmer failed and weren't able to achieve and sustain a commercial success in those difficult days of the 80's.

"Avalon": "Avalon" is the most well produced, mature, accessible, commercial and bestselling album of Roxy Music. This is a unique album on the entire band's career that takes us to another dimension. It's true that "Avalon" isn't truly a progressive album but it's a charming album that still sounds fresh, cool and sophisticated after all these years. I still can hear it with great pleasure, even nowadays. So, "Avalon" is highly recommended for any huge art rock enthusiast.

Conclusion: "The Studio Albums" is a great compilation album of Roxy Music. As I mentioned before, this is a very complete compilation album with all studio albums of the band on only one package. So, this compilation album is an excellent alternative for all who don't have the studio discography of Roxy Music. "The Studio Albums" is very similar to other compilation album "The First Seven Albums". The only difference, as its name indicates, is that "The First Seven Albums" has only the first seven studio albums of the band, missing to it their last studio album "Avalon", an album that had not yet been released in 1981, the year of its release. So, if you need to have a compilation album of the band with their studio works, "The Studio Albums" is a better option because it has all the studio albums of the band.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

It's completely different with bands like Yes, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, ELP. How can you make a guide to their work if many of their outstanding compositions last more than 10-15 minutes? Theoretically, it's possible, but how will it work in practice? Such songs will be taken out of context, and this will not give a full understanding of the album and the creative period from which they were taken. It's the same as reading separate chapters of Stephen King's The Dark Tower. Or fragments of separate chapters.

A separate story with compilations like this. They focus on only one aspect: singles, hits and radio idols. It is impossible to get a full idea of ​​the band's work from such a collection. I have seen this for myself. About 30 years ago, I first heard Roxy Music from this CD. I barely perceived the first half. But the second half, starting with Dance Away, seemed to me the lightest, most sincere and most understandable from a musical point of view. Later, I was surprised to learn that Roxy Music is classified as progressive rock, although I did not notice any traces of progressive in either the first or second part. At that time, I was already familiar with the work of the classics of progressive rock, there was something to compare it with. Even later, I was finally able to get to know Roxy Music's work in more detail, listened to all their albums. I did not find any progressive either, although I was looking for it. But I noticed something else: at first, I did not perceive the songs that were not included in this collection and were new to me. I have listened to this collection many times and got used to it, got used to a certain sequence of songs. There was a time when I thought that Roxy Music was somewhere between rock and the Pet Shop Boys or Duran Duran. The second part of this collection and the lack of opportunity to listen to the group's work by albums are to blame. Fortunately, the mp3 format soon appeared, and I was able to listen to Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry and many others in their entirety. After several years, I finally realized how interesting and diverse the Roxy Music group is, how much their music differs on early and later albums. The collection does not convey this at all, concentrating only on time-tested and accessible to mass perception hits. This follows from its title. At least it is fair to consumers.

That's why I'm convinced that compilations are bad for bands like Roxy Music. Yes, they probably increase sales, but they also create a false impression of the music. Based on this, I think the 3-star rating for this compilation is well deserved. This disc is great to listen to in the car, on the beach, in solitude on a quiet evening. But you definitely shouldn't start learning Roxy Music's music with this disc.

By the way, in Ukraine you can still download the full discography of almost any band or artist from the Internet for free, and that's great.

"Flesh + Blood" is the seventh studio album of Roxy Music and that was released in 1980. After the release of "Flesh + Blood" the band toured extensively until 1983, when Bryan Ferry dissolved the group and the band's members devoted themselves to personal projects. The more straight forward and commercial direction that the band took on "Manifesto" continued on "Flesh + Blood". The art cover was conceived by Peter Saville and was photographed by Neil Kirk. It features three young women holding javelins, two are on the front cover and one is on the back. Saville worked with no input from Ferry or the rest of the band, but continued the tradition for Roxy Music albums to feature images of women.

After touring their previous studio album "Manifesto" and before recording "Flesh + Blood", the original drummer Paul Thompson have abandoned the band because the broke of a thumb in a motorcycle accident. He later left the group permanently. So, the line up has only three original members of the band, Bryan Ferry (vocals, keyboards, piano, synthesizer, guitar and strings), Andy MacKay (oboe and saxophones) and Phil Manzanera (guitar and bass). The album has also the participation of Neil Hubbard (guitar), Paul Carrack (strings), Alan Spenner (bass), Neil Jason (bass), Gary Tibbs (bass), Allan Schwartzberg (drums and percussion), Andy Newmark (drums) and Simon Phillips (percussion).

"Flesh + Blood" has ten tracks. The first track "In The Midnight Our" written by Wilson Pickett and Steve Cropper is a song originally performed by Wilson Pickett in 1965 and released on his 1966's album "The Exciting Wilson Pickett". Sincerely, I don't know the original song, but from what I've read, this version is completely different. It's a very good song with a cool sound that has become a cult classic Roxy Music's song. The second track "Oh Yeah" written by Bryan Ferry was one of the songs chosen to be released as a single and is a big hit of this album. It's the second single released from the album and hit the UK singles chart. This is a very catchy pop song very well made which improves in general the commercial quality of the song writing of the album. This is a perfect pop song. The third track "Same Old Scene" written by Bryan Ferry was another song chosen to be released as a single and also hit the UK singles chart. It's a song with a strong bass line, nice vocals, great keyboards and specially a fantastic saxophone work by Andy MacKay. This is another great Roxy Music's song. The fourth track with the same name of the album, "Flesh and Blood" written by Bryan Ferry, is also a good song but is a little bit inferior to the other previous songs. It has a good bass line and a nice guitar sound but the melody is repetitive. It's a pity that they didn't develop the song a bit more. The fifth track "My Only Love" written by Bryan Ferry is, in my opinion, a type of song that pushed Roxy Music into lush soundscapes. It's a song with a very simple and catchy melody and wistful lyrics and also with nice guitar and saxophone sounds. This is another great pop song. The sixth track "Over You" written by Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera is the first song chosen to be released as a single and has also hit the UK singles chart. It's a song with high melodic guitar accompanied by pulsating drums and bass. This is another catchy pop song very well made reaching its objectives perfectly well. The seventh track "Eight Miles High" written by Gene Clark, David Crosby and Roger McGuinn is a song of the American rock band The Birds. The original version was first released as a single and was also included on the band's third studio album "Fifth Dimension", in 1966. As with "In The Midnight Hour", I also don't know the original version. So, the only thing I can say is that this is an interesting song, nice and enjoyable. The eighth track "Rain, Rain, Rain" written by Bryan Ferry is another calm, good, nice and enjoyable song with good and powerful line rhythm. The ninth track "No Strange Delight" written by Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera is one of the highest points of the album. This is the only song that probably reminds us the old sound of them. It has some decadent magic of the old days. The tenth and last track "Running Wild" written by Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera is a very calm, melodic and beautiful ballad with a very special feeling. This is a good mellow ballad in which Ferry exells. I think this is a very nice way to close this album.

Conclusion: Roxy Music was always a very special band for me and I always loved "Flesh + Blood". I know this album isn't progressive and has a pop/disco sound. I also know that many people consider this album more a personal musical project of Bryan Ferry than a Roxy Music's album, specially because was for the first time that a band's album have songs that weren't written by the members of the band. That was only usual on Bryan Ferry's solo albums. Still, I always considered "Flesh + Blood" a better album than "Manifesto". "Flesh + Blood" is almost a perfect album because is better balanced, cohesive and consistent than "Manifesto" is. However, since I'm on a progressive site I can only rate it with 3 stars. It lacks to it a touch of progressiveness to be a great progressive work. Like Genesis, Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music succeeded where other bands like Renaissance, Gentle Giant and Emerson, Lake & Palmer failed and wheren't able to achieve and sustain a commercial success in those difficult days of the 80's for the prog rock music.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

"The High Road" is a DVD of Roxy Music that was released in 1983. It was taken from a recorded live show filmed on their "Avalon" live tour in Frejus, France on 27th August 1982. It must not be confounded with the live EP with the same name that has only four tracks, "Can't Let Go", "My Only Love", "Like A Hurricane" and "Jealous Guy". This was taken from a recorded live show, filmed on their "Avalon" live tour at the Apollo in Glasgow, Scotland on 30th August 1982.

The line up of Roxy Music on this concert is Bryan Ferry (vocals and keyboards), Phil Manzanera (lead guitar), Andy Mackay (saxophone and oboe), Neil Hubbard (guitars), Guy Fletcher (keyboards), Alan Spenner (bass guitar), Andy Newmark (drums), Jimmy Maelen (percussion) and Fonzi Thornton, Michelle Cobbs and Tawatha Agee (backing vocals).

"The High Road" has fourteen tracks. The first track "The Main Thing" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Avalon". The second track "Out Of The Blue" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Country Life". The third track "Both Ends Burning" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Siren". The fourth track "A Song For Europe" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Stranded". The fifth track "Can't Let Go" isn't a Roxy Music's track. It's a Bryan Ferry's track. It was originally released on his album "The Bride Stripped Bare". The sixth track "While My Heart Is Still Beating" was originally released on Roxy music's album "Avalon". The seventh track "Avalon" was originally released on Roxy music's album "Avalon". The eighth track "My Only Love" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Flesh + Blood". The ninth track "Dance Away" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Manifesto". The tenth track "Love Is The Drug" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Siren". The eleventh track "Like A Hurricane" isn't a Roxy Music's track. It's a Neil Young's track. It was originally released on the Neil Young's album "American Stars 'n Bars". The twelfth track "Editions Of You" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "For Your Pleasure". The thirteenth track "Do The Strand" was also originally released on Roxy music's album "For Your Pleasure". The fourteenth track "Jealous Guy" isn't also a Roxy Music's track. It's a John Lennon's track. It was originally released on the John Lennon's album "Imagine".

As is usual with Roxy Music, the live band is in damn good shape, extremely cheerful and bursting with energy. This makes the appearance very dynamic, which is further reinforced by the stage images of them. Bryan Ferry is sweating profusely, what is also usual, and at some point he takes off his jacket and bow tie. Andy Newmark seated behind Ferry in the centre of the stage bangs the drums like an animal. But the much stronger use of guitars compared to the studio productions, there are two guitarists, Phil Manzanera and Neil Hubbard, both of whom also sing as soloists, contribute to the rocking, swinging effect of the recording. After "The Main Thing", the track list is followed by a block from the 70's, introduced by the classic "Out Of The Blue". Then there are a few songs from the albums since "Manifesto" and finally a fat mix of cover versions and classics from the 70's. Similar to the live compilation of "Heart Still Beating", this concert can also be called a best live compilation of Roxy Music. It's a rich mix of hits like "Avalon", "While My Heart Is Still Beating", "Dance Away", "My Only Love", "The Main Thing" and "Jealous Guy" and challenging classics like "Out Of The Blue", "A Song For Europe", "Do The Strand", "Both Ends Burning", "Love Is The Drug" and "Editions Of You".

Conclusion: Strangely, my review is only the second one here. Like Finnforest, I also know Roxy Music for a long time, since the 70's. Roxy Music was one of the first prog rock bands I knew. However, unlike him, I always loved them. Roxy Music always was one of my favourite bands and they became as one of the most important bands in the development of my musical culture. About "The High Road", this is a great DVD that shows an excellent live performance of Roxy Music. It's a very well representative DVD of the band's musical history, because it has songs from seven of their eight studio albums. The exception is their eponymous debut studio album "Roxy Music", without any song on it, which is somehow very strange and incomprehensible. The two first studio albums from the group, "Roxy Music" and "For Your Pleasure" are in general considered the two best and most progressive albums of the band and "Re-Make/Re-Model", "Ladytron" and "Virginia Plain", three of the songs of that album, are songs usually performed live by Roxy Music. "The High Road" has an excellent selection of tracks superiorly performed live. Even the weakest tracks "Can't Let Go", "Dance Away" and "My Only Love" are great, when played live. The picture and sound are perfects but it has no extras.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

"Manifesto" is the sixth studio album of Roxy Music and that was released in 1979. "Manifesto" follows an almost four years of a recording hiatus. Roxy Music regrouped for this new studio album. This is their first album since their previous studio album "Siren". "Manifesto" initiates the third musical phase of Roxy Music. It's the most unusual album of this phase. You might already be expecting the precious pop, which Roxy Music has been remembered by many. But surprise. "Manifesto" is for a good part of it free. Rather, "Manifesto" is virtually the new wave album from the band.

The art cover design which featured a variety of mannequins was created by Bryan Ferry with the fashion designer Antony Price and the American TV actress Hilary Thompson, amongst others. It was inspired by the first edition of the Wyndham Lewis's literary magazine, "Blast". "Manifesto" has a new line up because their keyboardist Eddie Jobson and their bassist John Gustafson were no longer present on it, because they had already left the group. So, the line up of this album is Bryan Ferry (vocals and keyboards), Andy MacKay (oboe and saxophone), Phil Manzanera (electric guitar), Paul Thompson (drums), Paul Carrack (keyboards), Alan Spenner (bass) and Gary Tibbs (bass).

"Manifesto" has ten tracks. The first track, who gives its name to the album, "Manifesto" written by Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera, is probably the highest point of the album. This is a song where we can still see clearly the influences of the art rock. It's a great song with a fantastic bass line, great keyboards, good guitar work and also, as usual, a good vocal performance by Bryan Ferry. The second track "Trash" written by Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera is the first song of the album which was chosen to be released as a single. It's a very short song and very different from the previous and has no more influence of art rock. It's only a simple song with a pop tune, very well played but nothing else. The third track "Angel Eyes" written by Bryan Ferry and Andy MacKay is the third song of the album which was chosen to be released as a single and was also the first song made for a music video to Roxy Music's album. It's another very pop oriented song featuring a rock style. It's better than the previous song, also very well played but it's a very normal and simple song. The fourth track "Still Falls The Rain" written by Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera is a very nice song with some funky influences. It's probably the most beautiful song of the album, very simple and with some great musical moments. The fifth track "Stronger Through The Years" written by Bryan Ferry is another great moment of this album. This is, in my opinion, the second best song of the album with great individual performances of all musicians. It's a very hypnotic song also with influences of art rock and where we can also feel clearly the influences of the new wave. The song reminds me strongly the music of Japan. The sixth track "Ain't That So" written by Bryan Ferry is a song with a mix of pop, disco and avant-garde music. It's an interesting music with a nice and catchy tune, very well played and that was made to be danced. The seventh track "My Little Girl" written by Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera was the B side song for their single "Angel Eyes". It's a melodic pop/disco song, very simple, that reminds me the popular music of the American pianist and composer Burt Bacharach. Sincerely, this is, in my opinion, one of the weakest songs of the album. The eighth track "Dance Away" written by Bryan Ferry was the second song to be taken from the album to be released as a single and became one of the band's famous commercial songs and also the best selling single of this album. Despite it has nothing to do with the prog music, it has good and simple lyrics, a fantastic melody and a great dancing rhythm. I always loved this song and "Dance Away" is, for me, one of the great pop songs ever written and consequently another great moment of the album. The ninth track "Cry, Cry, Cry" written by Bryan Ferry is the opposite and represents one of the worst moments of the album. It's an uninspired song, repetitive, monotonous and completely dispensable. It's the second weakest song of the album but fortunately it's also the second shortest of the album too. The tenth and last track "Spin Me Round" written by Bryan Ferry isn't, in my opinion, as bad as some of you consider. It's a very simple, melodic, calm and enjoyable song. We even can say that it finishes perfectly well this album, really.

Conclusion: Returning to action after almost four years of solo projects, Roxy Music redefined their sound and strips away, and once for all, of their experimentalism and the art rock influences in favour of short concise pop songs with some kind of stylish disco rhythms, while retaining in the generality a good and consistent song writing, which are good examples "Manifesto", "Stronger Through The Years" and "Dance Away". However, I've no doubt in saying that "Manifesto" is the weakest studio album of the band. "Manifesto" is a transition album from the art rock to pop. As any transition album, and despite a number of wonderful musical moments on the album, it isn't entirely satisfactory due to the lack of balance between these two different musical proposals. The final result is a not very well balanced album with two types of musical influences with some inconsistency. This isn't the type of music that we expected from them.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

"Live At The Apollo" is a DVD of Roxy Music that was released in 2002. It was captured during a live performance from a recorded live show, filmed at the Hammersmith Apollo, London, on 2nd October 2001, when they made their reunion live tour. The DVD includes also a short documentary with a press conference, interviews and some rehearsal footage.

The line up on "Live At The Apollo" on this live concert is Bryan Ferry (vocals, keyboards and harmonica), Phil Manzanera (lead guitar), Andy Mackay (saxophone and oboe), Paul Thompson (drums), Chris Spending (guitar), Colin Good (piano), Lucy Wilkins (violin, keyboards and synthesizer), Zev Katz (bass guitar), Julia Thornton (keyboards and percussion) and Sarah Brown and Yanick Etienne (backing vocals). "Live At The Apollo" has also the participation of the dancers Lizzie Carlin, Sophie Pateman, Katie Turner and Anna Volands.

"Live At The Apollo" has twenty tracks. "Re-Make/Re-Model" was released on "Roxy Music". "Street Life" was released on "Stranded". "Ladytron" was released on "Roxy Music". "While My Heart Is Still Beating" was released on "Avalon". "Out Of The Blue" was released on "Country Life". "A Song For Europe" was released on "Stranded". "My Only Love" was released on "Flesh + Blood". "In Every Dream Home A Heartache" was released on "For Your Pleasure". "Oh Yeah!" was released on "Flesh + Blood". "Both Ends Burning" was released on "Siren". "Tara" was released on "Avalon". "Mother Of Pearl" was released on "Stranded". "Avalon" was released on "Avalon". "Dance Away" was released on "Manifesto". "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". "Editions Of You" was released on "For Your Pleasure". "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. "Love Is The Drug" was released on "Siren". "Do The Strand" was released on "For Your Pleasure". "For Your Pleasure" was released on "For Your Pleasure".

Roxy Music has always had a close relationship with London were the band was founded and recorded their albums. So, it was no big surprise that the final show of Roxy Music was at Hammersmith Apollo. And the band was astonishing by everywhere. The performance was great with eleven persons on the line up, including the original members Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay, Phil Manzanera and Paul Thompson. This isn't an "old man" show. On the contrary, the musicians are there with great enthusiasm. The two guitarists, besides Manzanera there's also the old master Spedding, are really amazing with very energetic with some devastating works. Mackay remains the epitome of cool in the band. Ferry is the amazing front man that always was, spellbinding while barely moving a muscle and is already sweating frighteningly at half time. Thompson is as competent as he always was. Besides the "old Roxies", singer Sarah Brown has made a couple of impressive appearances, but the secret stars on this live show are Lucy and Julia who both deliver one great show with their individual performances. The song selection is surprisingly 70's heavy, which should please the prog listener and viewer, who can of course also enjoy the interspersed more pop songs. The band harmonizes perfectly and plays tight like in the good old days. Here we have a nice ambience for songs like "Re-Make/Re-Model", "Ladytron", "In Every Dream Home A Heartache", "Mother Of Pearl", "Avalon", "Jealous Guy", "Virginia Plain" and "Love Is The Drug". Besides the live show, the DVD as some other interesting things like interviews and recordings from the rehearsal room. Style has always been a big topic of Roxy Music, which is why the menu navigation on the DVD is also very tasty. In terms of sound, you are served with Dolby Digital 5.0, DD 2.0 and DTS 5.0. The picture quality is also really excellent.

Conclusion: "Live At The Apollo" is an excellent DVD that shows a magnificent live show performed by a legendary band, one of my favourites, really. It has an amazing live set performed by a great and gifted group of musicians. Here, we have the core of the band Ferry, Manzanera and Mackay in great shape. It has also the presence of other band's former member, Thompson. Unfortunately, it's missing their great keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson. But, he was well replaced by the extraordinary multi-instrumentalist Lucy. Besides, the rest of the line up is also absolutely amazing. With "Live At The Apollo", Roxy Music proved that they ere one of best live bands in the world. Their professionalism, leaving nothing to chance, is absolutely extraordinary. The addition of several musicians on stage, gives to the band's music more quality and another dimension. So, Roxy Music is even a better band when performing live then in studio.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

"The Complete Studio Recordings" is a very special compilation album of Roxy Music that was released in 2012. This is an economic package that includes the entire studio discography of the band on only one package. But, besides that, it has also two extra CD's with singles, B sides singles and alternative mixed versions. So, it can be an interesting purchase for those who don't have yet all these studio albums individually and they can have also some extra things.

As I've already reviewed all these albums previously on Progarchives, in an extensive way, I'm not going to do it again. So, if you are interested to know, in more detail, what I wrote about them before, I invite you to read all those reviews.

"Roxy Music": "Roxy Music" is an excellent, original and fantastic debut album. It's with "For Your Pleasure", one of the two albums that represent the first period, the most experimental and avant-garde period of them. They represent also the most interesting phase for all prog heads. Some songs of this album remind me the new wave music. Their debut is a classic album. Roxy Music was a band that proved the innovative music can also be melodic and accessible.

"For Your Pleasure": "Roxy Music" and "For Your Pleasure" are the two less accessible albums of the band but are also the best and most experimental and avant-garde of their career. Both albums represent the most interesting phase of the band for prog heads. Still, "For Your Pleasure" is better because is more balanced, mature and adult. Ferry took the reins a little more and Eno's influence diminished. There's no doubt this was the album which put the art into rock.

"Stranded": "Stranded" is a mark in the change of the musical direction of the band. The musicianship is excellent and the production is very professional. "Stranded" is one of the most sophisticated and charming albums of Roxy Music. This is, perhaps, their best work after the departure of Eno. Even Eno later rated it as Roxy Music's finest album. So, if you're really interested in their most prog phase without their avant-garde phase, "Stranded" is the right place to start.

"Country Life": Of all Roxy Music's studio albums, "Country Life" is their most rock album. It's essential for those who love the decadence, the glamour and the passion of art rock. Overall, "Country Life" is another step out of the more experimental sound of the first two Roxy Music's albums. If you liked "Stranded" you will not be disappointed. The new sounds are great, even if they aren't quite complex. The new language made of Roxy Music a band ahead of their time.

"Siren": "Siren" marks the end of an era, the end of the second era of Roxy Music. "Siren" is a fantastic album and a landmark in the progressive rock music of the 70's. It's a model of the modern rock and we can't forget that the Rolling Stone magazine considered "Siren" as the Roxy Music's masterpiece and ranked it in number 371 on their list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. "Siren" is a solid offering from Roxy Music, one of their defining truly essential albums.

"Manifesto": Returning to action after almost four years of solo projects, Roxy Music redefined their sound and strips away, and once for all, of their experimentalism and the art rock influences in favour of short concise pop songs with some kind of stylish disco rhythms, while retaining in the generality a good and consistent song writing. "Manifesto" is a transition album from the art rock to pop. So, for all prog heads, it hasn't the kind of music we expected from them.

"Flesh + Blood": I always considered "Flesh + Blood" as better than "Manifesto" is. "Flesh + Blood" is better balanced, cohesive and consistent than "Manifesto is. However, it lacks to it a touch of progressiveness to be a great prog work. Like Genesis, Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music succeeded where other bands like Renaissance, Gentle Giant and Emerson, Lake & Palmer failed and weren't able to achieve and sustain a commercial success in those difficult days of the 80's.

"Avalon": "Avalon" is the most well produced, mature, accessible, commercial and bestselling album of Roxy Music. This is a unique album on the entire band's career that takes us to another dimension. It's true that "Avalon" isn't truly a progressive album but it's a charming album that still sounds fresh, cool and sophisticated after all these years. I still can hear it with great pleasure, even nowadays. So, "Avalon" is highly recommended for any art rock enthusiast.

Conclusion: "The Complete Studio Recordings" is a very good and very interesting compilation album of Roxy Music. It's very complete with all their studio albums on only one package. But, beyond that, it has also two extra CD's of outtakes, B sides and some rarities. So, with all these material, "The Complete Studio Recordings" is an excellent alternative for all who don't have the studio discography of Roxy Music and they can have also some rare material at the same time. It's true that there is another compilation album of Roxy Music very similar to this one "The Studio Albums" also with all the eight studio albums of the band. But, "The Complete Studio Recordings" is a better option because you can have also the two extra CD's. So, we can say that "The Complete Studio Recordings" is indicated to all who don't have their studio albums yet and for those who are hard fans and wish to have everything from the band.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

"More Than This, The Best Of Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music" is a compilation album of Roxy Music that was released in 1995. This is a compilation album featuring music of some songs of Roxy Music and music of the band's lead member and singer Bryan Ferry with some songs as a solo artist. The name of this compilation album was taken from the song "More Than This", one of the songs of the eighth Roxy Music's studio album "Avalon", which was released in 1982.

This is the second hybrid compilation album published by Roxy Music. The first one was "Street Life: 20 Great Hits" released in 1986. As I mentioned before, when I reviewed that previous compilation album, Roxy Music always was a singles' band where many were more successful than the singles of the majority of the bands on this site. On the other hand, with the passing of time, especially when Brian Eno left the band, Ferry has become synonymous of Roxy Music and vice versa. So, it isn't strange that compilation albums of Roxy Music appear with songs of Ferry's solo repertoire.

"More Than This, The Best Of Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music" has twenty tracks, ten from Roxy Music and ten from Bryan Ferry. About the Roxy Music's tracks, "Virginia Plain" was their debut single. It wasn't recorded on the original version of their debut album "Roxy Music". Still, after the success of their debut album it was included on later reissues. It was released as a new single with "Pyjamarama" in 1977. It was made to be a hit single. It has interesting appointments by Eno. "Street Life" is from "Stranded". It's an enjoyable song in the pop/rock style and made in the commercial vein. It's well performed and Ferry's vocal style is good. "Love Is The Drug" is from "Siren". It's an incredible song, melodic and with good quality. It has an incredible performance. MacKay and his saxophone are great, Manzanera and his guitar work is great too and Ferry and his vocals are fantastic, as always. "Dance Away" is from "Manifesto". Despite it has nothing of progressive, it has good simple lyrics, a fantastic melody and a great dancing rhythm. I always loved this song. This is, for me, one of the greatest pop songs ever written. "Angel Eyes" is also from "Manifesto". It's a pop oriented song featuring a rock style. It's better than many songs on "Manifesto". It's well performed, in spite of be a normal simple song. "Oh Yeah" is from "Flesh + Blood". It's a catchy pop song, well made and that improves the good commercial quality of the song writing on "Flesh + Blood". "Same Old Scene" is also from "Flesh + Blood". It has a strong bass line, nice vocals, great keyboards, and especially it has a fantastic saxophone work by MacKay. This is a great Roxy Music's song. "Jealous Guy" is a cover song of Lennon. It was originally released on "Imagine" of Lennon in 1971. It was only released as a single, and was made after the dead of Lennon as a tribute to him. This is a great version of a fantastic song, a perfect fit for Ferry's persona and Roxy Music's adult rock. "More Than This" is from "Avalon". It's a good commercial pop song made for an easy radio listening. We may say this is a perfect hit pop song of the 80's. "Avalon" is also from "Avalon". It has good lyrics and the music is perfect and invites you to dance slowly like when the party is over. The voice of Ferry is fantastic and the female chorus voices are warm with a nice touch.

About Bryan Ferry's tracks, "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is of "These Foolish Things". It's a cover song of Bob Dylan. "These Foolish Things" is also of "These Foolish Things". It's a cover song of Harry Link, Holt Marvell and Jack Strachey. "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" is of "Another Time, Another Place". It's a cover song of Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach. "Let's Stick Together" is of "Let's Stick Together". It's a cover song of Wilbert Harrison. "Slave To Love" is a Ferry's song of "Boys And Girls". "Don't Stop The Dance" is also of "Boys And Girls". It's a Ferry and a Rhett Davies song. "Is Your Love Strong Enough?" is a Ferry's song. It was taken from the soundtrack of "Legend", a film of Ridley Scott of 1986. "Legend" is a soundtrack album of Tangerine Dream with its music by Ferry and music with lyrics by Jon Anderson, "Loved By The Sun". It was never released on any studio album of Ferry. "Kiss And Tell" is a Ferry's song of "Bete Noire". "I Put A Sell On You" is of "Taxi". It's a cover song of Screamin' Jay Hawkins. "Your Painted Smile" is a Ferry's song of "Mamouna". These are all great tracks but aren't progressive. So, I'm not going to review them here.

Conclusion: "More Than This, The Best Of Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music" is a hybrid compilation album like "Street Life: 20 Great Hits" compilation is. Still, while "Street Life: 20 Great Hits" has more Roxy Music's tracks than Ferry's tracks, "More Than This, The Best Of Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music" is a compilation album perfectly balanced between Roxy Music and Ferry's tracks, with ten tracks from each. By the other hand, fifteen tracks on "More Than This, The Best Of Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music" are also present on "Street Life: 20 Great Hits". The only five new tracks are all from Ferry's solo work. So, in a Roxy Music and progressive point of view, "More Than This, The Best Of Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music" is less interesting than "Street Life: 20 Great Hits" is. So, "Street Life: 20 Great Hits" is a better option. However, if you don't know yet Ferry's solo career "More Than This, The Best Of Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music" is probably a better option.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

"Street Life: 20 Great Hits" is a compilation album of Roxy Music that was released in 1986. This is a very special compilation album because it features music of Roxy Music and music of the band's lead member and singer Bryan Ferry as a solo artist. And this is even more special because the songs that belong to the Roxy Music's repertoire are songs that were released as singles. This isn't really a very strange thing, because we all know that Roxy Music always was a singles' band where many were more successful than the singles of the majority of the bands on this site, indeed.

"Street Life: 20 Great Hits" has twenty tracks, fourteen from Roxy Music and six from Ferry. About Roxy Music's tracks, "Virginia Plain" was their debut single. Originally, it wasn't recorded on "Roxy Music". After the success of their debut, it was included on the later reissues. It was released as a single, together with "Pyjamarama", in 1977. It's an interesting song made to be released as a hit single. It has good appointments by Eno. "Pyjamarama" was never released on any of their studio albums. It was released as a single to promote "For Your Pleasure". As I said before, it was also released as a single, together with "Virginia Plain". Like many of the early Roxy Music's tracks, it's fantastic and rocks nicely. The guitar work is great. "Do The Strand" is from "For Your Pleasure". It has a fantastic vocal work by Ferry that sings some curious lyrics. It has also great guitar, keyboard, and saxophone performances, well accompanied by strong and vigorous drums. This is a great song plenty of energy. "Street Life" is from "Stranded". It's a song in the pop/rock style, enjoyable and composed in the commercial vein. It's well performed and Ferry's vocal style is good. "Love Is The Drug" is from "Siren". It's an incredible song, melodic and with great quality. It has an incredible performance. MacKay and his saxophone are really great, Manzanera and his guitar work is great too and Ferry's vocals are fantastic, as always. "Dance Away" is from "Manifesto". Despite it has nothing of progressive, it has good and simple lyrics, a fantastic melody and a great dancing rhythm. I always loved this song. For me, it's one of the greatest pop songs ever written. "Angel Eyes" is also from "Manifesto". It's a pop oriented song featuring a rock style. It's better than many of the songs on "Manifesto". It's well performed in spite of be a normal and simple song. "Oh Yeah" is from "Flesh + Blood". It's a catchy pop song, well made and that improves the good commercial quality of the song writing on "Flesh + Blood". "Over You" is also from "Flesh + Blood". It has a high melodic guitar work, supported by pulsating drums and bass. This is a catchy pop song well made reaching its objectives well. "Same Old Scene" is also from "Flesh + Blood". It has a strong bass line, nice vocals, great keyboards, and especially, a fantastic saxophone work by MacKay. This is a great Roxy Music's song. "In The Midnight Hour" is also from "Flesh + Blood". It's a cover song of Wilson Pickett and Steve Cropper originally performed by Pickett in 1965 and released on his 1966's studio album "The Exciting Wilson Pickett". I don't know the original song, but from what I read, this is a different version. It's a good song with a cool sound that has become a classic Roxy Music's song. "More Than This" is from "Avalon". It's a good commercial pop song made for an easy radio listening. We may say this is a perfect hit pop song of the 80's. "Avalon" is also from "Avalon". It has good lyrics and the music is perfect and invites you to dance slowly like when the party is over. The voice of Ferry is fantastic and the female chorus is warm with a nice touch. "Jealous Guy" is a cover song of Lennon. It was originally released on "Imagine" of Lennon in 1971. It was only released as a single, and was made after the dead of Lennon as a tribute to him. This is a great version of a fantastic song, a perfect fit for Ferry's persona and Roxy Music's adult rock.

About Bryan Ferry's tracks, "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is from "These Foolish Things". It's a cover song of Bob Dylan. "These Foolish Things" is also from "These Foolish Things". It's a cover song of Harry Link, Holt Marvell and Jack Strachey. "Let's Stick Together" is from "Let's Stick Together". It's a cover song of Wilbert Harrison. "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" is from "Another Time, Another Place". It's a cover song of Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach. "Sign Of The Times" is a Ferry's song of "The Bride Stripped Bare". "Slave To Love" is also a Ferry's song of "Boys And Girls". I know very well all these tracks. They're all great, but since they aren't progressive, I'm not going to review them here.

Conclusion: "Street Life: 20 Great Hits" is an interesting and curious compilation album of Roxy Music. It's a hybrid compilation with a great collection of songs with good quality. As the title suggests, it's concentrated exclusively on Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry's most commercial successful tracks, ignoring completely their more complex, creative and progressive tracks. About Roxy Music's tracks, almost all their studio albums are represented here. Unluckily, "Country Live" isn't. So, almost their entire career is represented here. Nevertheless, half of the tracks belong to their less creative and progressive phase. However, the tracks of those albums are, in general, good. About Ferry's tracks they're good, but we can't say that they're properly progressive tracks. Regardless, this is a good compilation album.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)