Roxy Music (1972)

I received Roxy Music's eponymous debut album as a Christmas gift from my mother a few years ago, apparently it wasn't easy to find it in my then-hometown of Uppsala (Sweden). It's a German release from 1977, according to my online Sherlock Holmes investigation (nah, discogs of course, it was easy). It's a gatefold, and the band's first bassist Graham Simpson is featured on photo, and the single Virginia Plains, released shortly after the album, has not been added to the album. On the American original release, the bassist Rik Kenton was instead found on photo, he played bass on Virginia Plains, a song that had been added to the US albums. Graham Simpson had at that time left the band, and as I understand it, Roxy Music hasn't had a steady bassist since then.

It's a good album, a debut to respect. It was produced by Peter Sinfield, who just had left King Crimson where he had been the lyricist. In several articles, I have read that the musicians at this time weren't particularly skilled, except for the drummer Paul Thompson, but I can't say I've noticed anything bad. It is an eclectic mix of rock'n'roll, glam and avantgarde. Brian Eno was a member of the band in the first years, and he was the most important part of the band's openness towards art and avantgarde. And personally, that's what I like best. So the loud opening song Re-Make / Re-Model, which lots of people like, I think is so so. Instead, I'm drawn towards calmer songs like Ladytron, 2HB or the seven-minute Sea Breezes. These are not difficult songs, not at all, instead they are beautiful songs with a slightly different sound, often thanks to Eno's electronic magic. The singer Bryan Ferry has written all the songs, and he is a talented song writer.

I believe side A is easiest to embrace instantly. Side B contains somewhat more difficult songs, and you'll need a little more time to get to know them. It's not Roxy Music's best album, but a really good debut that is definitely worth having in the collection. It can be mentioned that the woman on the cover for once wasn't Brian Ferry's girlfriend at the moment, she is the model Kari-Ann Muller, who later married Mick Jagger's brother Chris Jagger.


Tracklist

Side A
1. Re-Make / Re-Model 5:14
2. Ladytron 4:26
3. If There Is Something 6:34
4. 2HB 4:30

Side B
1. The Bob (Medley) 5:48
2. Chance Meeting 3:08
3. Would You Believe? 3:53
4. Sea Breezes 7:03
5. Bitters End 2:03