Roxy Music
Jim and Greg dig into Roxy Music's influential 1972 self-titled debut album. They get the inside story of the recording of Roxy Music with former Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera, and discuss the album's lasting impact.
Roxy Music
This week, Jim and Greg tackle Roxy Music's 1972 self-titled debut album. Fronted by songwriter and vocalist Bryan Ferry, the English glam rock band combined the talents of bassist Graham Simpson, multi-reedist Andy Mackay, synth player Brian Eno, drummer Paul Thompson, and guitarist Phil Manzanera. Phil joined Jim and Greg to talk about Roxy's early years.
Reaping from sources as varied as avant-garde electronic composition, jazz, Berlin cabaret, glam rock, and American crooners, Roxy's hyper-eclectic style "didn't sound like anything else" in popular music in 1972, according to Greg. Ferry has cited the work of his mentor, pop collage artist Richard Hamilton, as an inspiration for his own catch-all musical aesthetic. As Greg observes, Roxy Music marked a new era in which "rock was a wide-open playing field, and you could do anything with it."
Critics took notice - the record was well-received upon its release and is frequently included on Best Album lists. Though the group went its separate ways in 1983, Roxy Music profoundly influenced musical genres to come, from post-punk and the New Romantic movement to Britpop—and it can all be traced back to the group's delightfully wacky debut album.
Featured Songs
- Roxy Music, "Would You Believe," Roxy Music, Island, 1972
- Led Zeppelin, "Black Dog," Led Zeppelin IV, Atlantic, 1971
- Bread, "Make It With You," On the Waters, Elektra, 1970
- Jethro Tull, "Tales of Your Life," Thick as a Brick, Chrysallis, 1972
- T. Rex, "Mambo Sun," Electric Warrior, Fly, 1971
- Roxy Music, "2 H.B.," Roxy Music, Island, 1972
- Roxy Music, "Chance Meeting," Roxy Music, Island, 1972
- Roxy Music, "Ladytron," Roxy Music, Island, 1972
- Roxy Music, "Ladytron [1971 Demo]," Roxy Music: 45th Anniversary Edition, Virgin, 2017
- Roxy Music, "Re-Make, Re-Model," Roxy Music, Island, 1972
- Roxy Music, "The Bob (Medley) - John Peel Radio Session London 1972," Roxy Music: 45th Anniversary Edition, Virgin, 2017
- Roxy Music, "Sea Breezes," Roxy Music, Island, 1972
- Roxy Music, "India," Avalon, E.G., 1982
- Roxy Music, "The Bob (Medley) ," Roxy Music, Island, 1972
- Roxy Music, "If There Is Something," Roxy Music, Island, 1972
- Roxy Music, "Virginia Plain," Roxy Music (U.S. Edition), Reprise, 1972
- Stereolab, "Percolator," Emperor Tomato Ketchup, Duophonic, 1996
- Moby, "Honey," Play, Mute, 1999
- Aphex Twin, "Bucephalus Bouncing Ball," Come to Daddy (EP), Warp, 1997
- The Cars, "Getting Through," Panorama, Elektra, 1980
- The Cars, "Let's Go," Candy-O, Elektra, 1979
- David Bowie, "Let's Dance," Let's Dance, EMI, 1983
- Siouxsie and the Banshees, "Spellbound," Juju, Polydor, 1981
- Grace Jones, "Love Is the Drug," Warm Leatherette, Island, 1980
- Mission of Burma, "Secrets," Vs., Ace of Hearts, 1982
- Beach Boys, "Had to Phone Ya," 15 Big Ones, Brother/Reprise, 1976
- Fountains of Wayne, "A Dip in the Ocean," Sky Full of Holes, Yep Roc, 2011
- Eddie Fisher, "Cindy Oh Cindy," Cindy Oh Cindy (single), RCA Victor, 1956
- Margot Eskens, "Cindy Oh Cindy," Cindy Oh Cindy (single), Polydor, 1956
- The Waterboys, "Fisherman's Blues," Fisherman's Blues (single)", Ensign and Chrysalis, 1988
- Phil Phillips and the Twilights, "Sea of Love," Sea of Love (single), Mercury Records, 1959
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