As Time Goes By/More Than This - Bryan Ferry

Advantages: Different, Ferry at his best, Excellently executed
Disadvantages: Arrangement on 'I'm In The Mood For Love' (small gripe!)

...I was once watching the opening credits to the Sitcom 'As Time Goes By' and thought 'Bryan Ferry could do this miles better'. So imagine my surprise when he actually did (okay, I was also surprised that this album only took four years to arrive...) The great thing was I was right. Ferry has always had an ear for the classic tunes but he always adds his own little (or sometimes not so little) touches to them. The true genius is he quite often makes his version better than the original. 'As Time Goes By' is a album of 15 songs from the 30's and 40's performed in the style of the period. Ferry seems in his element; crooning along, laid-back and thoroughly enjoying himself. You can just see him in some ballroom, leaning across a piano and captivating his audience. The track listing is amazing including 'As Time Goes By', 'Miss Otis... Read review

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Advantages: Some excellent cover versions, often interpreted very differently from the originals
Disadvantages: Tracks 5 and 9 - well, what's the Skip button for?

...'t country here. A couple of verses delivered quietly sound more like Tony Bennett than Bryan Ferry. Then - smack! - in come the drums, the guitars, the brass section, and after another verse delivered more punchily, it's into a really rocking instrumental section which reminds me of a couple of little-known songs by The Move, before he comes back for a final repeated chorus. The Move reference may have been deliberate, as in his DJ days Bryan used to spin 'Fire Brigade' every night. 'You Are My Sunshine' - well, there had to be a weak link somewhere. The 1930s country singalong is slowed down here to a funeral pace, he sounds bored, the long harmonica bit adds nothing, and it just goes on…and on…and on - for almost seven minutes, the longest track on the album. 'Hey Jude' has got a lot to answer for sometimes. 'What A Wonderful... Read review

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Advantages: 45 Roxy & Bryan Ferry tracks
Disadvantages: Another Compilation

...I bought this album as a point of principle. The point and the princliple being the same - I've bought every other Roxy Music album to date, every Bryan Ferry album, plus some from fellow Roxy members Phil Manzanera & Andy MacKay. If you're thinking you've probably got a copy of all the tracks already, you'd be right. If you're thinking you've got more money than sense, you'd probably be right again - my wife has already told me this! OK, so what about the album? I'm not going to give you a review of all the tracks - suffice to say there are 45 spread over three CDs. So what can I tell you? This is, for my money, the definitive collection. It spans a period of over 30 years. From albums Roxy Music to Frantic with highlights from everything in between. This is the very best of Roxy Music & Bryan Ferry. For those not familiar... Read review

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