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 ... Read review
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Want Is You The 'in' Crowd Smoke Gets In Your Eyes You Go To My Head Love Is The Drug Both Ends Burning Let's Stick Together (Let's Work Together) The Price Of Lo...
A review by John1958 on Platinum Collection, The - Roxy Music & Bryan Ferry June 24th, 2004
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Good
Value for Money
Advantages:
45 Roxy & Bryan Ferry tracks
Disadvantages:
Another Compilation
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
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 with Roxy Music, their music is a blend of rock and roll, some at the progressive end of this genre (mainly those with input from Brian Eno, in my view).
Add to this a smattering of romantic ballads - many of the best coming around the time of Bryan Ferry's relationship with leggy model Jerry Hall - pre Mick Jagger. Interestingly many of the most romantic came just after they split!
The majority of Ferry's earlier solo efforts were covers of songs by a variety of other artists. I'm not usualy a lover of cover versions. However, I have to say that I honestly think BF did each and every one justice - in many cases adding something the original never had for me. Later albums included more of his own works.
Favourites: Roxy Music
Virginia Plain - classic debut single. How this never made number one is beyond me. Upbeat 70's rock anthem.
Do The Strand - from the album For Your Pleasure. Another 70s upbeat rock anthem. Interestingly this was planned as a single with a track 'War brides' as the b-side but was withdrawn. It was later released in 1976. Wierd?
Street Life - probably the most played of all the Roxy singles. I never thought it was their best single - although very good - but I guess others did given the amount of airtime it got.
Avalon - moody, mystic, Arthurian romantic melody from the album of the same name.
Oh yeah (On The Radio) - post Jerry Hall, wonderfully romantically, tearjerking melody of love lost and man spurned.
Jealous Guy - the one and only Roxy Music number one record ever. This was a John Lennon tribute (song written by JL) and released soon after his tragic violent death. Excellent romantic melody which Bryan Ferry more than did tribute to, showing his more than adequate vocal skills - and an ability to whistle tunefully!
Favourites: Bryan Ferry
A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall - wonderful cover of a Bob Dylan number. Again a rock and roll star!
Carrickfergus - Bryan Ferry reworking of a traditional Irish folk song. Still folksy but with some BF panache...
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - a real oldie - I think this was orginally a Platter's recording (but I'm happy to be corrected on this).
This Is Tomorrow - not a cover version - from the album In Your Mind. Reminiscent of earlier Roxy stuff very much a rock anthem type.
All Over Now Baby Blue - absolutely brilliant cover of Bob Dylan song. This was released as a single 2 years ago introducing yet another generation to the wonders of Bryan Ferry. Great upbeat rock track.
I could go on and on, but I promised I would not, so finally: how would you class Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry in respect of genre?
You don't. They don't fit one genre. They span many at once and on various occasions - they're sometimes rock and roll, sometimes progressive rock, sometimes blues, but always easy listening!
They are not hip hop, rap, ska, reggae, country and western.
They are emininetly listenable, over and over again...
Released by: EMI Catologue Number: BFRM1 ASIN: B00022LZYQ Available From: Amazon Price: £15.99 - a bargain!
Album Notes: Liner Note Author: Michael Bracewell. THE PLATINUM COLLECTION, a three-disc retrospective box set that puts Roxy Music's singles alongside frontman Bryan Ferry's solo work, illustrates how Ferry's sensibility, in many ways, defined Roxy Music from the outset, and determined its subsequent direction. The compilation proves Ferry a premiere art-rock conceptualist--the success of his style-conscious presentations, his penchant for soulful grooves, and his sophisticated, often orchestral approach to composition have been borne out by his long career. Sequenced chronologically, THE PLATINUM COLLECTION begins with "Virginia Plain" from Roxy Music's 1972 debut and ends with Ferry's 2002 single "A Fool for Love." Even on the early glam material, Ferry's interest in American soul and R&B is apparent (see the quirky, gospel-ized version of Dylan's "Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," his first solo single). Roxy Music's later work (FLESH & BLOOD, AVALON) continues the trend, with an increasing allegiance to romantic pop, lush productions, and smooth crooning. Ferry's solo career, which paralleled Roxy Music's almost from the beginning, reflects these tendencies, whether in choice of covers ("Smoke Gets in Your Eyes") or his memorable originals ("Slave to Love"). All told, the 45 tracks assembled here are a definitive overview of Ferry's work and a testament to his vision and achievement.
Album Reviews: Rolling Stone (p.192) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[THE] PLATINUM COLLECTION includes Roxy tunes that demonstrate this deeply skilled band's delicious development from thrashing rock to crystal-clear pop."
Titles on disc 1
1.: Virginia Plain - Roxy Music
2.: Pyjamarama - Roxy Music
3.: Do The Strand - Roxy Music
4.: Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall
5.: Street Life - Roxy Music
6.: All I Want Is You - Roxy Music
7.: In Crowd
8.: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
9.: You Go To My Head
10.: Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music
11.: Both Ends Burning - Roxy Music
12.: Let's Stick Together
13.: Price Of Love
14.: This Is Tomorrow
15.: Tokyo Joe
Titles on disc 2
1.: Sign Of The Times
2.: What Goes On
3.: Carrickfergus
4.: Trash - Roxy Music
5.: Dance Away - Roxy Music
6.: Angel Eyes - Roxy Music
7.: Over You - Roxy Music
8.: Oh Yeah - Roxy Music
9.: Same Old Scene - Roxy Music
10.: Jealous Guy (edit) - Roxy Music
11.: More Than This - Roxy Music
12.: Avalon - Roxy Music
13.: Take A Chance With Me - Roxy Music
14.: Don't Stop The Dance
15.: Windswept
Titles on disc 3
1.: Slave To Love
2.: Is Your Love Strong Enough
3.: Right Stuff
4.: Kiss And Tell
5.: Limbo
6.: He'll Have To Go
7.: I Put A Spell On You
8.: Will You Love Me Tomorrow
9.: Girl Of My Best Friend
10.: Your Painted Smile
11.: Mamouna
12.: As Time Goes By
13.: Goddess Of Love
14.: It's All Over Now Baby Blue
15.: Fool For Love
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