As Time Goes By/Taxi - 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... Read review

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Advantages: Thirteen Great Cover Versions
Disadvantages: None

...This op was prompted by reading JOHNV's op on the same album. It's my favourite Bryan Ferry solo outing , and in my opinion, his most successful. Born September 26, 1945 in Washington in the North England, Bryan Ferry, the son of a coal miner, began his musical career as a singer with the rock outfit the Banshees while studying art at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne under pop-conceptualist Richard Hamilton. Later he joined the Gas Board, a soul group featuring bassist Graham Simpson. In 1970, Ferry and Simpson formed Roxy Music and within a few years, Roxy Music had become phenomenally successful, which allowed Ferry the opportunity to indulge his first solo LP in 1973. Far removed from the group's arty glam-rock, These Foolish Things consisted completely of cover versions, just about beating David Bowie's similar project... Read review

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Advantages: Probably his least arty, most commercial album
Disadvantages: Not a critical favourite, sometimes derided for lacking depth

...of a song, a worthy successor to ‘Love Is The Drug’ and ‘Let’s Stick Together’, underpinned by chunky electric piano and horns, stinging lead guitar, and gutsy female backing vocals. ‘All Night Operator’ goes one step further into disco-funk territory, with brass to the fore and vocal backing almost swamping Bryan at times, but quite effectively. ‘One Kiss’ is the set’s only ballad, almost in waltz tempo, and with a strong hook and lead guitar, for me it’s one of the best slow songs he ever put his name to. ‘Love Me Madly Again’ is the closest this gets to early Roxy Music, and at over seven minutes the longest track. While the song itself isn’t that memorable, its mid-tempo mood and long dreamy instrumental section are reminiscent of ‘Out Of The Blue... Read review

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