From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V3 #301 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Thursday, December 10 1998 Volume 03 : Number 301 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [AVALON] RM before and after '79 ["M.R.Humphrey" ] Re: [AVALON] RM before and after '79 [jspellma@techadvisers.com] [AVALON] experimentation -Reply [Kimberly Shell ] Re: [AVALON] experimentation -Reply [jspellma@techadvisers.com] [AVALON] Golden years ["Vicente Dobroruka" ] [AVALON] Avalon Post members - Getting to know you. [Helchat@aol.com] [AVALON] Avalon Post members - Getting to know you. -Reply [Kimberly Shel] Re: [AVALON] Compilation tape/ Video Transfers [RODEISLRED@aol.com] RE: [AVALON] RM before and after '79 ["Robert Fedder" ] To leave the list, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon-digest ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 04:07:18 +0000 From: "M.R.Humphrey" Subject: Re: [AVALON] RM before and after '79 Vicente wrote.............. > Sorry to disagree. IMHO RM after '79 runs much smoother and safer - also > not ground-breaking, but I never cared for that. In this respect, other > artists always discovered new fields in more creative ways (e.g. King > Crimson, Eno, Bowie). The myth of "Roxy golden five albums" never caught me. I have to agree with Kicki on this one, the pre '79 Roxy material was, for me anyway, so much better than the stuff they did towards the end. I loved those first five albums, I loved most of the Manifesto album but the changes were there in that album, a taste of things to come. Roxy were to become smoother, more laid back and IMHO much more mainstream. > I found the first one especially unpleasant, with all the noise Eno made - > IMHO, only "Sea Breezes" was worth the price. IMHO the "Roxy Music" album was probably the best debut album by any band, ever. It still is my favourite Roxy album. Maybe you had to be there Vicente, those live shows back in '72, Ladytron, 2HB, Bryan's vocals on If There Is Something and Remake/Remodel definitely the best "encore" song of all time. > Anyway, I know I am not alone > in this list in preferring the last 3 to the first 5 albums. Experiemtation > is not everything in this field... But it wasn't just the _experimentation_, it was the energy. > Anyway, one thing I have to agree with you, Kicki: reunions are always > pathetic, and RM's will also be this way. I would prefer to see BF solo > again - even if I am mad about him, it is quite different to see him fail > than to see a whole band with RM's reputation. I would pay anything to see the "early" Roxy perform again, but it can never happen. Reunions are generally big disapointments and I honestly think that a Roxy reunion will be no exception to that rule. > I think in more or less 300 issues of AD no one ever talked about "Flesh > & Blood". This is great RM for me, especially "Over You" and "My Only Love". > Anyone agrees? I still went out and bought all the post '79 Roxy albums, Flesh and Blood is the only one I was really disapointed with. It just goes to show, we all have something in common, yet we can all be so very different. Mick Humphrey. Toronto, Canada. M.R.Humphrey@myna.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 08:39:16 EST From: ASchulberg@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] Rumours on Fest's Official WebSite In a message dated 98-12-07 18:29:31 EST, you write: << So, just to recap, in the next 6 months we have a new Ferry album and tour, and also a Roxy reunion, new Roxy album with the original five and a tour including Eno and 2 drummers. All this with crumpled khakis. >> Given the maestro's normal level of activity, it seems to be he must now be in possession of a cache of amphetamines and Viagara. Arnie - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 08:38:56 EST From: ASchulberg@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] The Thrill of It All In a message dated 98-12-07 14:55:35 EST, you write: << Does anyone else have a similar strategy for how not to get sick of Roxy Music? >> I often worry about "overdosing" on my favorite bands so I make sure that after getting stuck on one band for a while I rotate some tapes or cds from the back of the drawer and listen to *them* for a bit. For example, just yesterday I listened to Warren Zevon's "Sentimental Hygiene" for the first time in a very long time and was bowled over by what a good album it is. Also highly recommended, at any time, is "The Who Live at Leeds," my candidate for greatest live album of all time. Arnie - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 08:19:14 -0600 From: Kimberly Shell Subject: Re: [AVALON] Rumours on Fest's Official WebSite -Reply whatever it takes!! kim >>> 12/10/98 07:39am >>> In a message dated 98-12-07 18:29:31 EST, you write: << So, just to recap, in the next 6 months we have a new Ferry album and tour, and also a Roxy reunion, new Roxy album with the original five and a tour including Eno and 2 drummers. All this with crumpled khakis. >> Given the maestro's normal level of activity, it seems to be he must now be in possession of a cache of amphetamines and Viagara. Arnie - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 15:31:11 +0100 From: Kicki Gustafsson Subject: Re: [AVALON] "Unknown" Pleasures >I the most hilarious booboo was >presenting Bryan & Lucy with a bouncing baby phantom daughter! (poor Tara) >but the worst part is the photo section -- sheesh. it's the worst. He is really trying to be cool, isn't he? Poor Paul Stump, he's really just a poser, that's for sure. > >PS to Kicki -- I was a member of the Peter Leay version of the RM/BF fan >club. beautiful newsletters and REALLY COOL merchandise. I treasure my Siren >Tour sleeve patches, an Eddie Rifff t-shirt, a Baby's on Fire T-shirt ... Wow! Let's stick together, huh? ;-) /Kicki G - --------------------------- Kicki Gustafsson http://www.torget.se/users/k/KickiG kicki.gustafsson@op.se - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 15:33:45 +0100 From: Kicki Gustafsson Subject: Re: [AVALON] RM before and after '79 Mick wrote: >I have to agree with Kicki on this one, the pre '79 Roxy material >was, for me anyway, so much better than the stuff they did towards >the end. I loved those first five albums, I loved most of the >Manifesto album but the changes were there in that album, a taste of >things to come. Roxy were to become smoother, more laid back and IMHO >much more mainstream. To put it bluntly: Roxy after Manifesto isn't even the same band. I also really liked Manifesto when it was released, but I think I was a bit blinded by the joyous fact that the guys had actually started working together again. I listened to it just recently (thanks to this list) and was baffled: it sounds so disco! Did I really like this? When Avalon was released I remember thinking that it was a masterpiece and one of their best records ever, but when I listen to it now...The titletrack is of course still beautiful, but the rest just seems so anonymous. This slick, wall of sound that has ever since preoccupied Ferry. And which I find dull and tedious. (Please note that I'm only stating _my opinion_ ) To me, the most complete Roxy album is Stranded, followed by Country Life and Viva. > >> Anyway, I know I am not alone >> in this list in preferring the last 3 to the first 5 albums. Experiemtation >> is not everything in this field... > >But it wasn't just the _experimentation_, it was the energy. For me, it was also Ferry's voice. On those FirstFive his voice was deeper, darker, bigger and had this wonderful masculine quality about it. None of that whimperish quivering of later years (again, these are MY opinions, I'm not saying that anyone who thinks differently is a moron). > >I would pay anything to see the "early" Roxy perform again, but it >can never happen. Haven't we all wished the same? Rainbow 73! (when I was only 10...) Reunions are generally big disapointments and I >honestly think that a Roxy reunion will be no exception to that rule. Wisely spoken. /Kicki G - --------------------------- Kicki Gustafsson http://www.torget.se/users/k/KickiG kicki.gustafsson@op.se - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 08:48:51 -0600 From: Kimberly Shell Subject: Re: [AVALON] RM before and after '79 -Reply Well - everyone has an opinion - right? Blunt or otherwise. Kim >>> Kicki Gustafsson 12/10/98 08:33am >>> Mick wrote: >I have to agree with Kicki on this one, the pre '79 Roxy material >was, for me anyway, so much better than the stuff they did towards >the end. I loved those first five albums, I loved most of the >Manifesto album but the changes were there in that album, a taste of >things to come. Roxy were to become smoother, more laid back and IMHO >much more mainstream. To put it bluntly: Roxy after Manifesto isn't even the same band. I also really liked Manifesto when it was released, but I think I was a bit blinded by the joyous fact that the guys had actually started working together again. I listened to it just recently (thanks to this list) and was baffled: it sounds so disco! Did I really like this? When Avalon was released I remember thinking that it was a masterpiece and one of their best records ever, but when I listen to it now...The titletrack is of course still beautiful, but the rest just seems so anonymous. This slick, wall of sound that has ever since preoccupied Ferry. And which I find dull and tedious. (Please note that I'm only stating _my opinion_ ) To me, the most complete Roxy album is Stranded, followed by Country Life and Viva. > >> Anyway, I know I am not alone >> in this list in preferring the last 3 to the first 5 albums. Experiemtation >> is not everything in this field... > >But it wasn't just the _experimentation_, it was the energy. For me, it was also Ferry's voice. On those FirstFive his voice was deeper, darker, bigger and had this wonderful masculine quality about it. None of that whimperish quivering of later years (again, these are MY opinions, I'm not saying that anyone who thinks differently is a moron). > >I would pay anything to see the "early" Roxy perform again, but it >can never happen. Haven't we all wished the same? Rainbow 73! (when I was only 10...) Reunions are generally big disapointments and I >honestly think that a Roxy reunion will be no exception to that rule. Wisely spoken. /Kicki G - --------------------------- Kicki Gustafsson http://www.torget.se/users/k/KickiG kicki.gustafsson@op.se - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 10:01:41 EST From: ASchulberg@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] All Styles Served Here... << So of course I'll do as you do, Dawne, and just listen to other music from time to time, to fill in the spaces when I can't stand to listen to Roxy Music. >> Gee, Heather, does it get THAT bad? Sometimes we overindulge and need a respite but "can't stand" to listen? Except for "Love Is The Drug" which I often can't stand to listen to. Arnie - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 08:35:51 PST From: "mark shanahan" Subject: [AVALON] experimentation hi everyone: thanks for the welcome(s)! well, the one and only time i saw ferry was in '94 (mamouna) at the fox theatre in detroit, michigan-usa (good they saved something of beauty in detroit). ferry seemed pretty relaxed, came out suave as per ususal, started w/'spell' and was sprinking 'glitter dust' from the pockets of his double-breasted coat ... it was a good show and i was glad to finally get to see him live. a great show, but i guess it left me with the feeling that it was really over-produced in terms of the sound and the arrangements. something like his solo work, in a way. no differentiation in the instrumentation. i thought this was sad, for an artist of ferry's stature. i don't think it was the venue; i've seen others there and it seems to have decent acoustics. my point being, i think 'ol bryan can be a bit too slick for his own good. i personally wish he'd do MORE in the way of experimentation. i feel that he's really cutting in/at his best when he's at his sparsest, sort of in the ether, w/a LOT of feeling. witness 'boys & girls', 'painted smile', 'zamba', 'the only face'. not that you can do a whole album of 'zamba', but point again being more impressionistic wouldn't hurt. maybe he ought to try starting an album with just improv ideas. like that would ever happen ... i love bryan's work, but all those sound layers *sometimes* seem to create an ear-numbing 'shell', if you will. and it seems harder to get at the core truth of the song, IMO, of course. but, it depends. on the other hand, i don't happen to know a lot of bryan's early solo stuff, whereas i know early and late roxy stuff well. btw, i make a distinction between the two periods (roxy) and i actually love both. each has its charm, to me. the earlier stuff is more fun (without taking anything away from the music) where the later stuff is sweeping/orchestral almost, comparitively speaking. i think the later vocals are more plaintive, desperate. i guess it's safe to say that bryan's not going to do an album of leadbelly covers -- at any rate. probably no chance of the 'busker' approach to touring either (can't you see bryan w/guitar & harmonica a la dylan?!). bryan likes his production ... re: new roxy ... well, if it does happen, i think it could be done well. YES, some reunions have been pathetic and where it seemed obvious money had *something* to do with it (i'm being polite). can anyone say "filthy lucre" (sex pistols)? on the other side of the coin, look at bauhaus' return ... i didn't see it, but by all accounts, it was well done with integrity, the sound was good, shows were good. and, speaking of japan, how about 'rain tree crow'? granted, no tour, but (i think) a very well done album. and, hey, if _the stones_ can still be out there, don't you think *roxy* deserve a chance? lastly, everyone's human (well, we think ...), but i don't see anyone formerly involved w/roxy who would be doing any kind of reunion for money. IMO, i just don't see it. anyway, i'd definitely support it, if it happens. and heather marie: i learned of sylvian in about '86, japan subequently. i know the early stuff, but can't really get into much prior to quiet life. although, once i read about what david's lyrics were really about, i was impressed. i mean, i think like he does: the first two albums are trash, but he *was* thinking - lyrically. his solo stuff is just art, IMO. no two ways about it. same w/bryan. it's true stand alone stuff. btw, i would assume you know about the new sylvian in february and the tour (he wants to start it in march ...). thanks for relating your experience! well, apologies for the length. hope some of you can relate. best ms ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 11:47:15 -0500 From: jspellma@techadvisers.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] RM before and after '79 Decophile wrote: >>..... It seems to peak in '75 (listen to the New York/London boot) but by '76, (as heard on the Stockholm show) it`s very polished and laid back but not to a point that makes them boring....<< Gene, so well said. Another album and tour and I think it would have been boring. The BBC sessions say it all as far as doing it live.And "Mother of Pearl" and "She Sells" on the '75 NY/London is still the best thing I ever heard from any version of Roxy. >>...When Roxy reformed in '79, they've seemed to have lost the edge and their sound is too polished for my taste. I find the big band sound almost unlistenable or like was pointed out above.... Safer. Roxy didn't form to be safe. IMO, Safe is boring and so were the later albums..... << As someone who likes Bryan's later work, I still can't deny any of this. I think he starting losing that edge on the "Siren" album. But, I admire him for going in a different direction. Safe was probably dangerous for him. I believe his change in direction pointed him towards a style that is cool for a guy in his 50's to be singing. Just wish he would do it once in a while. Jim - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 10:59:49 -0600 From: Kimberly Shell Subject: [AVALON] experimentation -Reply Hey - Mark - are you in Detroit - that's where I'm from - in Chicago now and I saw the Mamouna show in Orlando - loved it! (love ANYTHING he does basically!) Hey friends - Re; our compilation tape - my lawyer friend says to check out a UK copyright lawyer or the Internet, because their laws may be different, since it would be MADE there. If it were to be made here - she thinks it's borderline - but probably a no-no. Kim >>> "mark shanahan" 12/10/98 10:35am >>> hi everyone: thanks for the welcome(s)! well, the one and only time i saw ferry was in '94 (mamouna) at the fox theatre in detroit, michigan-usa (good they saved something of beauty in detroit). ferry seemed pretty relaxed, came out suave as per ususal, started w/'spell' and was sprinking 'glitter dust' from the pockets of his double-breasted coat ... it was a good show and i was glad to finally get to see him live. a great show, but i guess it left me with the feeling that it was really over-produced in terms of the sound and the arrangements. something like his solo work, in a way. no differentiation in the instrumentation. i thought this was sad, for an artist of ferry's stature. i don't think it was the venue; i've seen others there and it seems to have decent acoustics. my point being, i think 'ol bryan can be a bit too slick for his own good. i personally wish he'd do MORE in the way of experimentation. i feel that he's really cutting in/at his best when he's at his sparsest, sort of in the ether, w/a LOT of feeling. witness 'boys & girls', 'painted smile', 'zamba', 'the only face'. not that you can do a whole album of 'zamba', but point again being more impressionistic wouldn't hurt. maybe he ought to try starting an album with just improv ideas. like that would ever happen ... i love bryan's work, but all those sound layers *sometimes* seem to create an ear-numbing 'shell', if you will. and it seems harder to get at the core truth of the song, IMO, of course. but, it depends. on the other hand, i don't happen to know a lot of bryan's early solo stuff, whereas i know early and late roxy stuff well. btw, i make a distinction between the two periods (roxy) and i actually love both. each has its charm, to me. the earlier stuff is more fun (without taking anything away from the music) where the later stuff is sweeping/orchestral almost, comparitively speaking. i think the later vocals are more plaintive, desperate. i guess it's safe to say that bryan's not going to do an album of leadbelly covers -- at any rate. probably no chance of the 'busker' approach to touring either (can't you see bryan w/guitar & harmonica a la dylan?!). bryan likes his production ... re: new roxy ... well, if it does happen, i think it could be done well. YES, some reunions have been pathetic and where it seemed obvious money had *something* to do with it (i'm being polite). can anyone say "filthy lucre" (sex pistols)? on the other side of the coin, look at bauhaus' return ... i didn't see it, but by all accounts, it was well done with integrity, the sound was good, shows were good. and, speaking of japan, how about 'rain tree crow'? granted, no tour, but (i think) a very well done album. and, hey, if _the stones_ can still be out there, don't you think *roxy* deserve a chance? lastly, everyone's human (well, we think ...), but i don't see anyone formerly involved w/roxy who would be doing any kind of reunion for money. IMO, i just don't see it. anyway, i'd definitely support it, if it happens. and heather marie: i learned of sylvian in about '86, japan subequently. i know the early stuff, but can't really get into much prior to quiet life. although, once i read about what david's lyrics were really about, i was impressed. i mean, i think like he does: the first two albums are trash, but he *was* thinking - lyrically. his solo stuff is just art, IMO. no two ways about it. same w/bryan. it's true stand alone stuff. btw, i would assume you know about the new sylvian in february and the tour (he wants to start it in march ...). thanks for relating your experience! well, apologies for the length. hope some of you can relate. best ms ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 09:26:10 PST From: "mark shanahan" Subject: [AVALON] a good pairing? this may seem to come from left field, but what about bryan getting together with ryuichi sakamoto? i think that would be an interesting match up. just an idea ... ms ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 13:25:49 -0500 From: jspellma@techadvisers.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] experimentation -Reply >Hey - Mark - are you in Detroit - that's where I'm from - in >Chicago now and I saw the Mamouna show in Orlando - loved >it! (love ANYTHING he does basically!) >Hey friends - Re; our compilation tape - my lawyer friend says >to check out a UK copyright lawyer or the Internet, because >their laws may be different, since it would be MADE there. If >it were to be made here - she thinks it's borderline - but >probably a no-no. >Kim I see no harm, nobody is making a profit, and no one is losing video sales because the material is not for sale anywhere. I've made/received Video's/CD's with others on the list and thought nothing of it. It's not like we are making copies of the Mamouna album or Newtown video. And as my former boss used to say "It's sometimes easier to beg for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission" Jim - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 11:16:25 -0800 From: "Vicente Dobroruka" Subject: [AVALON] Golden years Bahi, yes, I fully agree with you - Boys and Girls is fascinating and, IMHO, much niver than the first RM album. Taxi is really underrated, and "The girl of my best friend" is Bryan at his best. "The first two Roxy LPs seem like inspired examples of pop art. They're just brilliant - often poetic, sometimes unnerving, always complex". Maybe too much complexity and not enough maturity, as one would expect from a beginning band. As for Gene's reflection, "Keep in mind that experimentation was everything at the time of the first 5. The whole point was to break away from that peace/love hippie s**t and bring fun back into music with a style that was fresh and original". Yes it broke off with this hippie s**t... Just remember that those worlds were never so apart as they seem now to us. Fripp also broke off with it in one way or the other, and had Greg Lake with him on 2 records - since Ferry tried but never joined KC. What about Pete Sinfield - it seems he was also on the other side of the coin. Anyway, it seems to me that many others tried experimentation better tahn RM ever did. And experiemnting is something that makes sense for a while - if you go on with this all the way, "experimenting" will become a routine - bizarre paradox. RM matured and got safer - only, IMHO, to make their 3 great last albums. Sorry if all those opinions offended anyone, but it is still great to see the depth and ferryesque politeness we Avalonians still have... Best wishes for all, completing our 300 #! Vicente - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 15:30:42 EST From: Helchat@aol.com Subject: [AVALON] Avalon Post members - Getting to know you. Dear Friends: This is Helene. I am one of the "new blood" to the list and thought something up. If you are not interested in participating, skip it. I thought it would be a good idea for us to get to know each other a little better by telling each other how we became the damn fine fans we are today! Although we are basically the same in that respect, I thought it would be interesting to share our different experiences and identify ourselves through our diverse regions. I go first since it is my idea. Will try to keep it short. I had cut my classes to go to Berkeley, California. It was June, 1980, the last day of my freshman year in high school. I was with my two best girlfriends, one of whom I still keep in touch with. We were just hanging out when I found a button pin in a music store that I had to have. It was blue with a mermaid on it. My one friend got mad because I used my last $2.00 to get it when I could have used the money for lunch! Ha. I still have it to this day. Forward nine months, still living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Driving around with a friend and he is playing a cassette in his truck. I ask him what it is and he says, "Country Life by Roxy Music." I make a face and say, "I hate country music." He laughs and says it again, Album name, Band name. (He used to have an original uncensored huge poster of Country Life. The last time I saw it was 1983). Now go forward to October 31, 1983. I am in Berkeley again with "my latest flame." We are in the same music store I was in my freshman year (scary?) and he buys a cassette tape on sale. He told me years later that he only bought it because of the tape cover ("Country Life" uncensored). What a man! In any event, we listened to it for weeks. I especially liked Cassanova and Out of the Blue. From that day forward, I decided that I liked this Roxy Music and started collecting all their albums starting with Country Life and of course Siren. Saw Bryan Ferry at the Sacramento Community Theater in 1988. He was good, but ??? I can't explain it. Life went on. Fast forward to 1992. I was dating my husband, a non-Roxy fan, when one day, when we were lounging around he spoke/sang to me "you're heart is like a drum . . . . . . . will it stop?" I knew that day that my dating days were over! And here we are now! Fans Happily Ever After! Reunion? No reunion? Either way, they are/were the best band I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. Helene - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 15:44:13 -0600 From: Kimberly Shell Subject: [AVALON] Avalon Post members - Getting to know you. -Reply Helene - you're singing my tune girl!! My story - it was 1984, my freshman year of high school (also!) and my friend and I (she's my roommate now! and the lawyer I've been consulting on the compilation video we want to do!) went to see her dad in Longboat Key, FL. Her dad is an astrologer and had this HUGE Dodge Ram van and he used to play his tunes for us whilst driving us around everywhere. One day I he middle of our week long stay, I heard this great song - turns out it was the title track of the tape he was playing - Avalon. I was HOOKED! I stole the tape from him and listened to it constantly until we had to leave. I went home and bought the tape and did a little research - I was crushed when I learned that the group had just broken up! However Bryan came out with Boys and Girls soon after! Then started the publicity for B&G and I was in heaven! Really got into Bryan and the group and it's history - and Avalon is STILL my all time favorite album. It's flawless if you ask me! (B&G is pretty outstanding too though!) Now, I have a 5' tall, HUGE poster of Bryan shrink wrapped to a huge piece of board in my room in my apartment and he watches me sleep every night! I've seen him twice and am SO thrilled at the thought of a REUNION and TOUR! Here's to hope and all of you fellow fans!! We ARE damn fine fans, eh? Kim >>> 12/10/98 02:30pm >>> Dear Friends: This is Helene. I am one of the "new blood" to the list and thought something up. If you are not interested in participating, skip it. I thought it would be a good idea for us to get to know each other a little better by telling each other how we became the damn fine fans we are today! Although we are basically the same in that respect, I thought it would be interesting to share our different experiences and identify ourselves through our diverse regions. I go first since it is my idea. Will try to keep it short. I had cut my classes to go to Berkeley, California. It was June, 1980, the last day of my freshman year in high school. I was with my two best girlfriends, one of whom I still keep in touch with. We were just hanging out when I found a button pin in a music store that I had to have. It was blue with a mermaid on it. My one friend got mad because I used my last $2.00 to get it when I could have used the money for lunch! Ha. I still have it to this day. Forward nine months, still living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Driving around with a friend and he is playing a cassette in his truck. I ask him what it is and he says, "Country Life by Roxy Music." I make a face and say, "I hate country music." He laughs and says it again, Album name, Band name. (He used to have an original uncensored huge poster of Country Life. The last time I saw it was 1983). Now go forward to October 31, 1983. I am in Berkeley again with "my latest flame." We are in the same music store I was in my freshman year (scary?) and he buys a cassette tape on sale. He told me years later that he only bought it because of the tape cover ("Country Life" uncensored). What a man! In any event, we listened to it for weeks. I especially liked Cassanova and Out of the Blue. From that day forward, I decided that I liked this Roxy Music and started collecting all their albums starting with Country Life and of course Siren. Saw Bryan Ferry at the Sacramento Community Theater in 1988. He was good, but ??? I can't explain it. Life went on. Fast forward to 1992. I was dating my husband, a non-Roxy fan, when one day, when we were lounging around he spoke/sang to me "you're heart is like a drum . . . . . . . will it stop?" I knew that day that my dating days were over! And here we are now! Fans Happily Ever After! Reunion? No reunion? Either way, they are/were the best band I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. Helene - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 16:41:34 EST From: RODEISLRED@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] Compilation tape/ Video Transfers Don't know if this has been covered or not, but I am able to do video transfers to/from any format at my job. Let me know if my services are needed. Red - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 98 21:56:05 UT From: "Robert Fedder" Subject: RE: [AVALON] RM before and after '79 The best Roxy is definitely the next Roxy - you know, the Roxy 2000 with Eno, Thompson, 2 extra drummers, Dave Stewart, Rolf Harris and accompanying double album of new material. Just for the record, the next best Roxy/Ferry is to be found on Album 1-4, bits of Siren, Manifesto East Side, most of Bryan's stuff, particularly the darker, more abstract stuff since, and including Bete Noire. Let's face it , few artists have ever been so compelling in so many different genres. - ---------- Vicente wrote.............. > Sorry to disagree. IMHO RM after '79 runs much smoother and safer - also > not ground-breaking, but I never cared for that. In this respect, other > artists always discovered new fields in more creative ways (e.g. King > Crimson, Eno, Bowie). The myth of "Roxy golden five albums" never caught me. I have to agree with Kicki on this one, the pre '79 Roxy material was, for me anyway, so much better than the stuff they did towards the end. I loved those first five albums, I loved most of the Manifesto album but the changes were there in that album, a taste of things to come. Roxy were to become smoother, more laid back and IMHO much more mainstream. > I found the first one especially unpleasant, with all the noise Eno made - > IMHO, only "Sea Breezes" was worth the price. IMHO the "Roxy Music" album was probably the best debut album by any band, ever. It still is my favourite Roxy album. Maybe you had to be there Vicente, those live shows back in '72, Ladytron, 2HB, Bryan's vocals on If There Is Something and Remake/Remodel definitely the best "encore" song of all time. > Anyway, I know I am not alone > in this list in preferring the last 3 to the first 5 albums. Experiemtation > is not everything in this field... But it wasn't just the _experimentation_, it was the energy. > Anyway, one thing I have to agree with you, Kicki: reunions are always > pathetic, and RM's will also be this way. I would prefer to see BF solo > again - even if I am mad about him, it is quite different to see him fail > than to see a whole band with RM's reputation. I would pay anything to see the "early" Roxy perform again, but it can never happen. Reunions are generally big disapointments and I honestly think that a Roxy reunion will be no exception to that rule. > I think in more or less 300 issues of AD no one ever talked about "Flesh > & Blood". This is great RM for me, especially "Over You" and "My Only Love". > Anyone agrees? I still went out and bought all the post '79 Roxy albums, Flesh and Blood is the only one I was really disapointed with. It just goes to show, we all have something in common, yet we can all be so very different. Mick Humphrey. Toronto, Canada. M.R.Humphrey@myna.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 98 22:00:41 UT From: "Robert Fedder" Subject: RE: [AVALON] experimentation I saw two versions of the Mamouna tour in London - one in 94, another in March 95 (I think). The latter junked a couple of players including Hubbard, added Trower, and sounded starker, tighter, more interesting. Oh yeah, this is of course, just my opinion, in case anyone takes offence... - ---------- hi everyone: thanks for the welcome(s)! well, the one and only time i saw ferry was in '94 (mamouna) at the fox theatre in detroit, michigan-usa (good they saved something of beauty in detroit). ferry seemed pretty relaxed, came out suave as per ususal, started w/'spell' and was sprinking 'glitter dust' from the pockets of his double-breasted coat ... it was a good show and i was glad to finally get to see him live. a great show, but i guess it left me with the feeling that it was really over-produced in terms of the sound and the arrangements. something like his solo work, in a way. no differentiation in the instrumentation. i thought this was sad, for an artist of ferry's stature. i don't think it was the venue; i've seen others there and it seems to have decent acoustics. my point being, i think 'ol bryan can be a bit too slick for his own good. i personally wish he'd do MORE in the way of experimentation. i feel that he's really cutting in/at his best when he's at his sparsest, sort of in the ether, w/a LOT of feeling. witness 'boys & girls', 'painted smile', 'zamba', 'the only face'. not that you can do a whole album of 'zamba', but point again being more impressionistic wouldn't hurt. maybe he ought to try starting an album with just improv ideas. like that would ever happen ... i love bryan's work, but all those sound layers *sometimes* seem to create an ear-numbing 'shell', if you will. and it seems harder to get at the core truth of the song, IMO, of course. but, it depends. on the other hand, i don't happen to know a lot of bryan's early solo stuff, whereas i know early and late roxy stuff well. btw, i make a distinction between the two periods (roxy) and i actually love both. each has its charm, to me. the earlier stuff is more fun (without taking anything away from the music) where the later stuff is sweeping/orchestral almost, comparitively speaking. i think the later vocals are more plaintive, desperate. i guess it's safe to say that bryan's not going to do an album of leadbelly covers -- at any rate. probably no chance of the 'busker' approach to touring either (can't you see bryan w/guitar & harmonica a la dylan?!). bryan likes his production ... re: new roxy ... well, if it does happen, i think it could be done well. YES, some reunions have been pathetic and where it seemed obvious money had *something* to do with it (i'm being polite). can anyone say "filthy lucre" (sex pistols)? on the other side of the coin, look at bauhaus' return ... i didn't see it, but by all accounts, it was well done with integrity, the sound was good, shows were good. and, speaking of japan, how about 'rain tree crow'? granted, no tour, but (i think) a very well done album. and, hey, if _the stones_ can still be out there, don't you think *roxy* deserve a chance? lastly, everyone's human (well, we think ...), but i don't see anyone formerly involved w/roxy who would be doing any kind of reunion for money. IMO, i just don't see it. anyway, i'd definitely support it, if it happens. and heather marie: i learned of sylvian in about '86, japan subequently. i know the early stuff, but can't really get into much prior to quiet life. although, once i read about what david's lyrics were really about, i was impressed. i mean, i think like he does: the first two albums are trash, but he *was* thinking - lyrically. his solo stuff is just art, IMO. no two ways about it. same w/bryan. it's true stand alone stuff. btw, i would assume you know about the new sylvian in february and the tour (he wants to start it in march ...). thanks for relating your experience! well, apologies for the length. hope some of you can relate. best ms ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V3 #301 **************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest