Early Years, The - Roxy Music

...the end. In the early 70s they made some killer singles, but the albums were sometimes so experimental and self-indulgent that they verged on the barely listenable in places. Pared down to essentials, Bryan Ferry's ironic, stylised vocals, Eno's manic torturing of the synthesiser (until it was decided that the group wasn't big enough for the egos of both), Andy Mackay's unusual sax and oboe work, and Phil Manzanera's distinctive guitar playing all ...
...on this new compilation have most of the goodies from the first three albums, plus the first two singles, "Virginia Plain" and "Pyjamarama", which never appeared on album at the time. Next to the singles, I've always loved the faster tracks like "Re-make/Re-model", "Do the Strand" (which was played so much on radio at the time that it's hard to believe it never was a single), and "Editions of You" ... more

Roxy Music's first albums were a very different proposition from the ultra-smooth, bland entity they became at the end. In the early 70s they made some killer singles, but the albums were sometimes so experimental and self-indulgent that they verged on the barely listenable in places. Pared down to essentials, Bryan Ferry's ironic, stylised vocals, Eno's manic torturing of the synthesiser (until it was decided that the group wasn't big enough for the egos of both), Andy Mackay's unusual sax and oboe work, and Phil Manzanera's distinctive guitar playing all added up to a unique band. The 16 tracks on this new compilation have most of the goodies from the first three albums, plus the first two singles, "Virginia Plain" and "Pyjamarama", which never appeared on album at the time. Next to the singles, I've always loved the faster tracks like "Re-make/Re-model", "Do the Strand" (which was played so much on radio at the time that it's hard to believe it never was a single), and "Editions of You" most, but the relaxed, ambient-with-attitude air of the more ambitious "If There Is Something", "2 HB" (about Humphrey Bogart, not about pencils!) and the supposedly Eurovision send-up "A Song for Europe" still sound good. "In Every Dream Home a Heartache", about a certain mail order inflatable commodity, is still one of the most bizarre items of its time - just listen to Bryan's detached, bored montone vocal give way to the angry 'Then you blew my mind!'.
I'd quibble with one or two selections here - the short, sharp "Serenade" from the third album could have been included, and the tedious 9-minute "Bogus Man" left out, but that's only my opinion. And they're STILL putting those hideous mannequin faces on the cover, but you can always turn it over and read the excellent booklet notes inside instead. Yes, let's all do the Strand...
 

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