Purchased Because Of The Cover

In 1973 Roxy Music released their second album For Your Pleasure and another album with a great artwork. As known from their first album another model on the cover. What makes this cover special was the artwork with Brian Ferry's then girlfriend Amanda Lear in front of a skyline at night with a black panther at the leach. I knew Roxy Music from their debut and I bought this album without listening to one song. The music is different to their debut and only Do The Strand is like their first successful appearance. Now they had more time and equipment to create a sound that was included by Can and the slower songs are radical new and far away what they called a song in these days.

Roxy Music - Do The Strand
Roxy Music - The Bogus Man
Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure

Roxy Music Live

Back in 1973 Roxy Music played a short live set in German television. It was in my very young days when I saw them live and I couldn't understand their music and their outfit. They were different to all the rock stars of the generation before me. No more long hairs and dirty jeans and one step ahead of glam rock they were pioneers of modern rock. I saw them and I investigated more of their music. Roxy Music, Brian Eno and Bryan Ferry faced me to another kind of music. Since I listened to them nothing was before the way I felt for music. This was the greatest gift that they gave to me. By the way one of the greatest album covers of all time.

Johnny And Mary

A few years ago there was a collaboration between Norwegian DJ, songwriter and producer Todd Terje and Bryan Ferry with the result of a very new and unique version of the classical song Johnny And Mary best known on the way Robert Palmer did decades ago. I love this kind of version and it's slowed down rhythm and the reduction to the essential of the song. Sometimes I wonder why they don't play this version on public broadcast.

Old Vine In New Bottles

Back in 1974 Al Green recorded Take Me To The River a classic downtempo soul song. Some people recognized this one as a good song and played it like many others of Al Green. In 1978 Talking Heads made this cover on their second record More Songs About Buildings And Fruit. It was one those songs for me that combined classic soul music with  intelligent pop music and some NY-based punk influences. David Byrne once wrote about this song:

"Coincidence or conspiracy? There were at least four cover versions of this song out at the same time: Foghat, Bryan Ferry, Levon Helm, and us. More money for Mr Green's full gospel tabernacle church, I suppose. A song that combines teenage lust with baptism. Not equates, you understand, but throws them in the same stew, at least. A potent blend. All praise the mighty spurtin' Jesus." 

Another cover version that is better than the original.

Talking Heads - Take Me To The River

Live Music In German Television # 4

Back in 1973 Roxy Music appeared on German TV for a small live appearance. It was the time when they released their second album. Looking back to this show I was astonished about their appearance. I was very young and their sound was new and different and I didn't know how to handle this kind of music. I was astonished how rock musicians could wear dresses like them. In normal ways musicians shown up with long hairs and worn out jeans. But now Bryan Ferry appeared with a white suite and it was extraordinary in these times. Not only the songs were great at this time - Brian Eno made s sound that would be the basis for the upcoming electronic sounds.

For me this live concert was the initial for the upcoming music.
Enjoy this little gem.