From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V4 #285 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Sunday, September 26 1999 Volume 04 : Number 285 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [AVALON] Re:Mike Nelson is Bryan Ferry [ferryman@freeuk.com (Chris Turner] Re: [AVALON] Re:Mike Nelson is Bryan Ferry [Neil Ashar ] [AVALON] BBC Poll for Nation's favourite lyric ["Richard" ] Re: [AVALON] QuestionsQuestions [jspellman ] Re: [AVALON] ATGB at Amazon.com [William Sommers ] [AVALON] BBC Radio 2 ["Richard" ] Re: [AVALON] Some perspective on Ferry's career. ["Richard" ] [AVALON] Now playing on BF's CD player [Noam ] Re: [AVALON] Life's pattern drawn in sand [f2hb@casema.net] [AVALON] Impromtu Review: Boys and Girls ["Gregory A. Koettiing" Cheers Chris P.S. Should have The Bryan Ferry Story on CD by Sunday night. - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 03:42:30 -0700 (PDT) From: Neil Ashar Subject: Re: [AVALON] Re:Mike Nelson is Bryan Ferry I wonder what Ferry songs he "performs." His haircut's out of date now, though... - --- Chris Turner wrote: > Hello All, > > By a weird coincidence, I come from the small town (Warminster in > Wiltshire) which is quoted as > being the home of Mike Nelson's agent. The next time I'm home I'll > communicate (on all levels of > course!) with them and see if I can get a list of his forthcoming > gigs. There may be curious list > members in the UK who would like to check out this "remarkable > communicator" > > I'll find out the cost for you Arnie! > > Cheers > > Chris > > P.S. Should have The Bryan Ferry Story on CD by Sunday night. > > > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 07:35:10 EDT From: ASchulberg@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] Re:Mike Nelson is Bryan Ferry In a message dated 09/25/1999 6:37:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time, ferryman@freeuk.com writes: << By a weird coincidence, I come from the small town (Warminster in Wiltshire) which is quoted as being the home of Mike Nelson's agent. The next time I'm home I'll communicate (on all levels of course!) with them and see if I can get a list of his forthcoming gigs. There may be curious list members in the UK who would like to check out this "remarkable communicator" >> Wouldn't it be wild if Mike Nelson had his own mailing list??? Arnie - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 09:46:31 -0400 From: jspellman Subject: Re: [AVALON] Fwd: "Is Your Love Strong Enough" FeliciaRen@aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 9/24/99 1:47:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time, > ASchulberg@aol.com writes: > > << Does anyone have the answer to this? > > Arnie >> > I have a guess....if it was recorded during "Boys and Girls" could it be > David Sanborn? My guess is no. Sanborn's style is one of the easiest to recognize. Listen to "Don't Stop the Dance" or "Young Americans" or Carly Simon's "You Belong to Me", that's the Sanborn sound, often imitated but.... Then listen to Sting's (yuk) cover of Little Wing from the mid 80's. A nice soprano sax solo by Branford, sounds much like IYLSE. Just guessing of coarse. Jim - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 09:56:22 -0400 From: jspellman Subject: Re: [AVALON] QuestionsQuestions Kicki wrote > 4) During the last 15 years or so, songwriting and recording has obviously > become a very slow process for Ferry. Why? How could he produce such an > amount of material in the first five years in the 70's? Did he have a much > clearer image then of what he wanted to put on record or what? > If I count right, he put out 7 albums in 4 years, on top of singles and B-sides. What a stretch. Nobody does this anymore. As I said before, I think the songwriting skills are the first to go for any artist. Ferry extended himself by evolving so much, he kept hitting the nail with great songs and changing his sound instead of repeating the formula but w/ an inferior product like so many others. In the last 10 years or so, he may have not been able to crank out the songs, and because he holds himself to such a high standard, is apprehensive about releasing anything but the best. I say don't worry about it. Give us the best you got and most of us will love it just the same. Jim - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 15:19:24 +0100 From: "Richard" Subject: [AVALON] BBC Poll for Nation's favourite lyric The BBC are polling to find out the nation's favourite song lyric. You have to quote the particular line, not just the song and UK list members can vote on line at http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/poetry/npd_vote.shtml There's obviously a lot of scope for Ferry / Roxy songs but I have voted for the opening of Avalon, partly because it is one of my favourite Ferry lyrics (and is so poetical) but also I assume that quite a lot of other Ferry fans would vote for this too, increasing the chances of some success(??). You can vote on line until 6.00 p.m. on 6 October 1999. Regards, Richard - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 11:15:39 -0400 (EDT) From: panama7@webtv.net Subject: Re: [AVALON] SNL/Jerry Hall In a previous post, someone mentioned Robert Fripp beginning his mission as playing at bar mits and weddings... when someone on here (already one of the best mailists in the universe) mentions Fripp/King Crimson, I stand in awe and salute ya all. Speaking of "Kings": "King Tut' by Steve Martin - and I know, I know - you probably had to 'be there' - when it was first broadcast, and we were a wee bit younger and prone to a bit of light substance abuse (read:reefer) AND THE WHOLE U.S. was in the strangely curious throes of the Traveling Tut Exhibit was.... the funniest and wittiest thing we'd ever seen on American TV. (this was before the most outstanding moment in American TV happened- a few years later, in "Wiseguy", Sonny Steelgrave/Ray Sharkey did his version of the Rascal's "Good Lovin" high- performance in the roadhouse, (with Ken Wahl/ Vinnie - who lonely mobbed-up Sonny thought was his best friend, but finds out that Vinnie is a deep undercover FBI agent- ah! the enemy!), done right before Sonny electrocuted himself before the Feds got him)...ANYWAY ('scuse the rant) "King Tut" had 15 of my Sat. night pals, (back in those days - we all made sure we were around a tv at ll:30 on Sat. nite) including me, actually rolling on the floor laughing our delicious Italian asses off. ALTHO: IMHO -"KING TUT" RATES #2 in all-time all-American (wink) TV moments. Ok - are you all going to visit me with cheers of 'reality' or bash me 2 times until I raise up no more? Here we go - Back in "For Your Pleasure" days, I and many others in the rag biz, were always fascinated by Amanda Lear ("is she or isn't she?"), (when you loook that good does it really matter?) yet, I was TWICE as fascinated by Jerry Hall being entwined with Bryan - I knew the male look-alike counterpart of Jerry Hall - oh boy, we called him 'HORSEFACE'. As many did call Jerry (never to her face) in the fashion industry in NY (was there)- not to be unkind- but in the true annals of beauty, J. Hall (ok - great legs, hair) may get a mere footnote. AND:The "Siren" cover was one of the most ungodly drag-queen looks ever perpetrated on a Roxy fan. WHAT WAS THIS CREATURE? And did not we- especially from Roxy Music/Ferry's art direction on previous LP covers- expect some sort of beauty(s) - ala Ulysesses, at least...but, on this cover, got served this "horror on a rock"? Then - the fact that this horsefaced girl actually LEFT BRYAN FERRY for Mick Jagger (ooo- horseface and frog face!).... (altho, in all fairness to Jerry, after having read her auto-bio "Tall Tales" , which gave us a good look into her simple, but funny, mindset, I got the picture..) YET: I must disagree: Jerry Hall today, after fame, riches and some excellent plastic surgery, looks MUCH better than she did way back on her SNL gig. TODAY: she actually kinda fascinates me with her so-much-better look...her older daughter is also a stunner. (SO funny that dirty ol' Mick did'nt want "his" daughter in the fashion industry, catwalking along with Mom in Paris - while he's out impregnating the Brazilian youngster. But, once being crowded into an elevator with Mick, Keef, et al, in Cleveland, I can attest to the fact he's a full foot shorter than Jerry- he was probably just jealous that older daughter was out on catwalk, and not he! HA!) Whoa- way off topic - forgive me.....but funny! My glimpse at the remark made herein re: Hall's physical persona ('they just don't make 'em like that anymore") just kinda tickled me, and once tickled, I just could not resist. My apologies to all - and I'm not male, so I guess 'beauty is always in eye of beholder'- but geez: Amanda Lear (even with sex question), I could understand - but Jerry Hall with Bry was like 'Beauty & the Beast". Endlessly and utterly fascinating. (actually I've been a musician/studio owner for many more years than I was a model- it's just this 'chick thing' that spurred me on today, I guess... sorry for this silly rant but could NOT resist! Shame on me! I must go punish myself now). Panama (and named that WAY before Van Halen's opus of same, so no racy remarks here! oh - ok, maybe one or two.) I'll quit wasting bandwidth right now. (ah- the dilemma - having written this silly thing, do I send it or delete it? ) - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 12:53:28 EDT From: JFROXY@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] BBC Poll for Nation's favourite lyric In a message dated 25/09/99 03:19:44 GMT Daylight Time, Richard@m2960.freeserve.co.uk writes: << The BBC are polling to find out the nation's favourite song lyric. mmm, I wonder who will win that?????? - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 15:23:10 EDT From: ASchulberg@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] Fwd: "Is Your Love Strong Enough" In a message dated 09/25/1999 9:48:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time, jspellman@banet.net writes: << My guess is no. Sanborn's style is one of the easiest to recognize. Listen to "Don't Stop the Dance" or "Young Americans" or Carly Simon's "You Belong to Me", that's the Sanborn sound, often imitated but.... Then listen to Sting's (yuk) cover of Little Wing from the mid 80's. A nice soprano sax solo by Branford, sounds much like IYLSE. Just guessing of coarse. >> Branford is my guess too; I'd just like someone to confirm that. Arnie - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 21:28:09 GMT From: ferryman@freeuk.com (Chris Turner) Subject: [AVALON] Some perspective on Ferry's career. Hello all, A perspective on Ferry's career. Today (Sunday) is Bryan Ferry's 54th Birthday. He made his first record at 26, so he has now spent over half his life in the music business. Chronologically, the approximate half-way point of his career was Live Aid in 1985. Live Aid was fourteen years ago, fourteen before that, the birth of Roxy, and fourteen before that was 1957, virtually the birth of rock and roll. BF has therefore spent two thirds of the modern music idiom in the public eye. Before Live Aid he produced 14 studio albums (8 Roxy, 6 solo) on 11 of which he wrote the majority of the material. In 1973 alone he produced 3 albums (2 Roxy, 1 solo) of which he wrote the material for two. Additionally he followed a punishing schedule of touring, both Roxy and solo between 1972 and the end of Roxy in 1982. During this period he had 15 UK Top Ten singles. The last two albums of this period, Avalon and Boys and Girls were both critical and commercial successes, and perhaps represented the peak of his output. Even the notoriously self critical Ferry was quite pleased with B+G. After Live Aid he has produced 3 albums of which he wrote the material for two. There have been only two major tours in this time, after Bete Noire, and again after Mamouna. During this time there have been no UK Top Ten singles. There is of course a new album imminent, and apparently a store of unreleased material. For me, these comparisons, even allowing for slowing down with age, show that BF's best output has always been under the pressure of time, rather than the indulgence of years in multi-track hell. Even Bryan seems to acknowledge this. I have many issues with Bryan's reluctance to push himself to commit to record, his repeated claims of his 'workaholism' in the light of other evidence, and his insistence on artistic control whilst exercising little such self control. However with all this being said, and for all his foibles, the frustrations, the broken promises and the false dawns, the man has consistently created some of the most moving, innovative, inventive and intense music of the past 30 years. He has constantly surprised and entertained and repeatedly reinvented himself. I now can't wait for the new album, having been at first unimpressed at the idea of another retro album, I've warmed to it. Taxi has become my favourite of his recent work, having initially taken two years to grow on me. I also appreciate the move away from BF's recent obsession with dance rhythms. Even with his restricted recent output, the occasional exquisite gem of the quality of Windswept, or Will you Love Me Tomorrow or The Only Face, make the wait worthwhile, and proves he still has it in him. Like many of you, I am an unashamed fan and will always continue to be. In my view Ferry's work is like sex...even when it's not good, it's still bloody marvelous. Happy Birthday Bryan. Chris - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 17:30:28 -0400 From: jspellman Subject: Re: [AVALON] SNL/Jerry Hall panama7@webtv.net wrote: > ....... I knew the male look-alike counterpart of Jerry > Hall - oh boy, we called him 'HORSEFACE'. As many did call Jerry (never > to her face) in the fashion industry in NY (was there)- not to be > unkind- but in the true annals of beauty, J. Hall (ok - great legs, > hair) may get a mere footnote. ......... > .... Then - the fact that this horsefaced girl actually LEFT BRYAN > FERRY for Mick Jagger (ooo- horseface and frog face!).... (altho, in all > fairness to Jerry, after having read her auto-bio "Tall Tales" , which > gave us a good look into her simple, but funny, mindset, I got the > picture..) ......Hall's physical persona ('they just don't make 'em like > that anymore") > just kinda tickled me, and once tickled, I just could not resist. My > apologies to all - ........ Pamela, no apology needed here. Everyone has different taste.Oddly enough, I find most models don't have pretty faces. With JH, it goes beyond looks. She doesn't try to be "good". Something different about her persona. She still gets lots of space in the media and doesn't come off as the jealous, nose thumbing, shallow type, only seen from a distance though. I can't think of any model today that had what she did, a certain, as the French say, "I don't know what", and to score Bry and Mick, she must have been doing something right in the sack. Just different opinions, everyone's right, no one's wrong. Best, Jim I how Vapor feels about Jerry? - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 17:35:11 -0400 From: jspellman Subject: Re: [AVALON] QuestionsQuestions Another question, but I'm sure someone out there knows, - - Who played the sparse but tasteful guitar solo at the end of "More Than This"? It sounds like Neil Hubbard, but the album credits just say "guitar". F&B made the difference in rhythm and lead, but not on Avalon. (Why?) The last minute and a half or so of this tune is as enjoyable as any music I've ever heard. Thanks, Jim - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 14:37:33 -0700 From: William Sommers Subject: Re: [AVALON] ATGB at Amazon.com At 08:19 PM 9/24/99 -0700, alegna wrote: > Thanks. CDNOW has it for $12.49 also. And FYP, should anybody be on a More Than (just) This shopping spree... *-------------------------------------------------------------* Get $10 off anything @ CDNOW today! Choose from over 500,000 titles, and be sure to check out the sound samples and the latest music news and reviews. Just go to: http://www.sixdegrees.com/redirect/goto.asp?to=cdnow1 Limit one coupon per customer. Coupons can not be combined with other CDNOW offers. Min. order of $14.99 (taxes, shipping & handling not included). Expires 10/11/99. *-------------------------------------------------------------* -wfs - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 23:11:35 +0100 From: "Richard" Subject: [AVALON] BBC Radio 2 Just come in from the pub and listened to the tail end of this evening's BBC Radio 2 programme ("Bryan Ferry Solo") to hear what there is from the new album. Some of the earlier interview material may be from "The Bryan Ferry Story" - not sure until I sit down and listen to it more carefully but there is a new interview talking about the new album. The programme also included an extract from "Easy Living" which sounded brilliant - apart from being crackle free, it had a really authentic 30s sound, and although I'm not familiar with the original of this one, I guess it's very faithful indeed. The backing orchestra really captures the era from which the song originates. "Where or When" was also featured in part - mainly strings and piano accompaniment with Bryan's voice very much to the fore. "As Time Goes By" - very faithful, nice piano accompaniment and soft drums - very sedate and laid back, just like the original. This all bodes well for the album as a whole - expect something completely different to all that's gone before! I think it was the recent "GQ" article that referred to a record executive's ruse about playing the album to some sort of society function in New York and convincing people this was some long lost treasure by an artist of the time. Having heard the arrangement on "Easy Living" I can begin to imagine how they were so easily conned! Richard - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 23:23:49 +0100 From: "Richard" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Some perspective on Ferry's career. Chris - A nice message balancing the frustrations we all share with our long standing admiration for the man and his music. Have you had an opportunity to read the recent GQ article because it's here that Bryan acknowledges (not for the first time I seem to recall) the mistakes he's made in his career - chiefly post "Boys and Girls" - which he attributes to trying to produce his own material. Even though the new album is quite unlike anything he's done before and, being acoustic was undoubtedly easier to produce / mix etc, his return to producer Rhett Davies is probably testimony to what he can do with a producer that takes control. I suppose what I'm saying is that there's probably little in what you say with which Bryan himself would disagree. Regards, Richard - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 20:13:57 -0400 (EDT) From: panama7@webtv.net Subject: Re: [AVALON] Life's pattern drawn in sand Jim - thanks for not beating me up re" my comment re: Jerry Hall. You're very right in what you say. Frank: you posed query 'was VHS actually best global system?' Hmm.. obviously you know and I know(?) (and only 'cause I was so involved in that industry at that time,long ago) BETA seemed the vastly superior video/record-play system. Still don't know why VHS was so overwhelmingly promo'd, propaganda-ed, and ultimately chosen over Beta. Do you? Forgive the off-topic..but this may be the last chance I get to ask someone perhaps knowledgable on a subject I was always curious about. (altho I've asked before, my curiosity remains unquenched to this day). Tanks a'million... P7 - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 18:26:52 -0700 (PDT) From: Noam Subject: [AVALON] Re: --VHS (OT) - --- panama7@webtv.net wrote: > superior video/record-play system. Still don't know > why VHS was so > overwhelmingly promo'd, propaganda-ed, and > ultimately chosen over Beta. > Do you? I was in the biz back then too; my understanding is that the Matsushita conglomerate basically decided that, rather than pay Sony the royalties to make Beta, they'd develop a cheap knock-off followed by a smear campaign - the jist of the campaign being that Beta was on its' way out... and this of course became a self fulfilling prophecy. They never even dared to claim any technical benefits - only a longer tape run time. It's possible that Sony, while ahead in innovations, were not the marketing geniuses (read ruthless assholes) that they later became. They should have seen it coming but who knows, that's about all I know. As a young kid working in a video/stereo shop, I remember reluctantly telling every consumer that asked me, that yes VHS would probably be the only eventual system, even though Beta was clearly superior... (I got out of that racket before I'd have to go through the same thing with CD & vinyl - but don't get me started!) - -N ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 18:38:49 -0700 (PDT) From: Noam Subject: [AVALON] Now playing on BF's CD player According to Toronto's NOW magazine: "The Best Of Leadbelly" "Louis Armstrong And His Hot Fives" "The Shape Of Jazz To Come" (Ornette Coleman) I'll scan/post this small clipping (has a rather interesting pic) when I'm back in the office. - -Noam ...does this answer the q of what contemporary music he's listening to? ;) ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 23:13:47 -0400 (EDT) From: f2hb@casema.net Subject: Re: [AVALON] Life's pattern drawn in sand panama7@webtv.net WROTE: ======================= >Jim - thanks for not beating me up re" my comment re: Jerry Hall. >You're very right in what you say. >Frank: > you posed query 'was VHS actually best global system?' >Hmm.. obviously you know and I know(?) (and only 'cause I was so >involved in that industry at that time,long ago) BETA seemed the vastly >superior video/record-play system. Still don't know why VHS was so >overwhelmingly promo'd, propaganda-ed, and ultimately chosen over Beta. >Do you? >Forgive the off-topic..but this may be the last chance I get to ask >someone perhaps knowledgable on a subject I was always curious about. >(altho I've asked before, my curiosity remains unquenched to this day). >Tanks a'million... >P7 ................... Panama, one way or another I got a feeling I know you of other channels on the Internet...anyway... Much superior to BETA was Philips-2000 system (wow, what's in the name?) They got that 'reversible' 4hrs-cassette that gave 8hrs playtime total + much superior picture quality to that of BETA. It got the same idea as another Philips invention aka Audio-cassette. The Japanese won the battle like mr.Gates (aah..him again) by mass- marketing. But!...it was those same Japanese too that helped Philips to better market their invention aka the CD. If they hadn't done so, probably we (global) would never have heard of CD, CD-R, etc. Back in the late 70's, I could have laid my hand on a demo CD, which would have cost me over 50 bucks! As far as I can recall a compilation with one Roxy song. Behind the scenes, Philips is still busy upgrading the data-storage on CD by way of using each and every light-frequency out of the whole color spectrum (remember Pink Floyd's cover?) to burn the data on disc. They just started with RGB (red,green,blue),imagine, the possibilities are enormous!! Despite all this another phenomena(I like female better ;-) is taking over our daily life, which is MP3 (regarding audio). No spinning discs or moving parts, just bits&bytes sitting in their place and electrons running back&forth. Less wear&tear. It's not really new, some of you might know the rom-cards that feed the synths, same idea but MP3 can hold human voice too, reduced to stamp size format.(as in your GSM) ok Panama hope I quenched you today... N.B. I still can't access Roxy on Philips VCR prior to System2000, 'cause I simply still own that machine, but out of order. :-(( Frank ..................................................................... "To see the World in a grain of sand and Heaven in a wild flower, Takes the Univers in the palm of your hand and Eternity in an hour." - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 03:01:30 -0400 From: "Gregory A. Koettiing" Subject: [AVALON] Impromtu Review: Boys and Girls With the upcoming release of Bryan Ferry's new album, I have tried to listen a little more carefully to his older solo albums. I must confess that I am more excited about this new album more than say "Mamouna" or "Taxi." When "Taxi" was announced, I think most of us were thrilled with the idea that Bryan Ferry was still cutting records... what was it- the wait from 1987 to 1993!!!!! And although I do very much like "Taxi," when "Mamouna" was released, it was more anti-climactic even as some now say it to be a 'critical' success. I like "Mamouna," but the tunes just don't catch me as easily.. Well, as I remember it, "Boys and Girls" was the very first Bryan Ferry solo album I bought way back in 1985. I was in college at the time and I was just really beginning to explore possibilities in listening to music that seemed to better fit my emotional timbre. I have always felt that I am a bit of a hopeless romantic, but I have a bit of an ego and perhaps a rebellious side of me that prevents me from going with the rest of the crowd a lot of times... Anyway- the only Bryan Ferry that I had heard previously was "Love is the Drug" and "Avalon" and "More Than This." "Love is the Drug" was mostly AM radio stuff and I didn't care for it much. I did, however, LOVE the Avalon singles. I think that even now the last couple of minutes of "More Than This" are a musical nirvana. It wasn't until a few years later that I recognized "Virginia Plain" and "Dance Away" as Ferry/Roxy songs... At the time I thought I might like ABC and Spandau Ballet more, yet I liked the whole idea of Bryan Ferry being on his own. Dunno why- Guess I thought it was be more of an introspective work. A word about the cover and artwork of "Boys and Girls:" the cover art is OK, yet I haven't a clue as to who the models are- is that Simon LeBon and Siouxie Sue??? :) The portrait of Ferry in "Boys and Girls" is the best portrait of him, hands down. No question, no doubt.. Anyway- on with song reviews... 1. Sensation- first of all, the lyrics to this song are as banal as he's ever written. This ain't no "Manifesto," that's for sure... This song and its polished medium tempo dance rhythm will set the tempo for the rest of Bryan Ferry's next couple of albums, even if it doesn't retain the same spit shine polish... I do like the strings and the cello action, though. 2. Slave to Love- oooh. mmmhh-hmmm! I LOVE this song- there's so much in this- the thunder, the perfect Ferry 'hope against hopelessness' song- the lyrics are pure pop, the formula of verse, verse, chorus, verse verse, chorus is tired, but yet, (I don't know how he does it) everything is so well 'colored' with beautiful synths and keyboards, an appropriately rubbery bass line, fabulous backing girls, and all that I can't quite describe. It's a song for a sunset. It's a song that the emotional becomes physical. 3. Don't Stop the Dance- uh-ohh.. this song sure seems... POLISHED.. I have tried to like this song, but it just bores me. It is the evil stepdaughter of "Slave to Love." The guitar is great, though, and the somehow 'distant' sounding sax is marvelous, but they cannot revive this one. 4. A Wasteland- can a songs' title be considered as 'eponymous' with its description? 5. Windswept- This one is a big favorite of mine- again, great cello action- a lot of the romantic side of Ferry, and the catchy guitars are cool. The melody is very breezy.. And that sax is soooo emotive... 6. The Chosen One- I NEVER listen to this song- too strong on bass and guitar and the lyrics are silly. Surely the most forgettable song on the album. 7. Valentine- here's some atmosphere for ya.. the lyrics are again, silly, but there's a weird sort of environment here- this is the most reminiscent of early Roxy to me- the peculier blend of noises and Ferry's falsetto. 8. Stone Woman- can you say 'filler?' 9. Boys and Girls- an exotic gem. Something that isn't "Tiffany's," but more like something from the store of the royal jewels from Iran. This song is so dark and yet has a unique shimmer to it. The lyrics are again rather uninspiring, but the song traverses well regardless. The double vocals- the damp atmosphere, the demanding sax, and the haunting synths make this song... Thanks for listening... greggie/atlanta "we're the restless hearted, not the chained and bound" - -bryan ferry 1985 - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 03:53:36 -0400 From: "Gregory A. Koetting" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Impromtu Review: Boys and Girls uh.. I meant 'impromptu' - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 04:08:57 -0400 From: "Gregory A. Koetting" Subject: [AVALON] Impromptu Review: "Another Time, Another Place" Hello List. I have decided to give you all an impromptu review of "Another Time, Another Place." Why? I dunno- except to say that no one ever talks about this album and I've been listening to it more these days since I've got a new cd player for th car.... And besides what with the new album coming out made froom older songs I thought it'd be fun to revisit one of his oldies of oldies... First- let me say this is the only Bryan Ferry album that truly makes me smile. In its organic whole it's very fun, campy, silly, but yet so well made. And considering that this album came out during one of Ferry's most prolific years in recording, it's even more amazing how well it has aged.. After all of these years I'm still scratching my head as to why he chose these particular songs to cover for this album. When the album was released, I was only 7 years old. I don't pretend to know who Ferry's idols and influences were but a more eclectic mix you really couldn't get from an album of covers.. Les'see- we got Dylan, Kristofferson, Ike Turner... About the album cover- I always smile when I see this cover because it sooo reminds me of my childhood as my family moved to little Marco Island, Florida in '75. The pool, the lush tropical plants, the whole 'resort' look is what I remember. Dad worked in a hotel with a look just like the album cover. Grandma looked *just* like the old lady with the pant suit on the back cover and Mom may have looked just like that young lass, too. (What is that guy looking at? Mom's ankles?) And of the maestro himself- let's just say I grew up knowing way too many guys who played the electric piano with full vibrato who looked pretty close to Ferry a la '74.... And they all smoked back then. ('cept Grandma) OK- Tunes, now... 1. The "In" Crowd- I've never been fond of this song- from the gruesome electric piano to the harsh guitars and the faux-rock vocals. Wonder what Eno could have done with this... 2. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes- Ooh- sugary.. n'est-ce pas? But I LOVE it! I wouldn't DARE play this in front of any of my friends, though. His rendition is sooo campy it defies anyone who doesn't understand the Ferry 'code.' 3. Walk a Mile In My Shoes- Fun song- great beat (especially with the dancin' trombones)! But Ferry doesn't sing a song with a moral quite the way anyone can. I guess because I think I know a little bit about Ferry's image I think I can see him sort of lightly mocking the original singer without being overly patronizing. 4. Funny How Time Slips Away- well, better than most of the stuff on "Bride Stripped Bare," if only because it seems a little more lively and less contrived. Only an ok song. 5. You Are My Sunshine- I could write pages on this song alone. Wow. So you take a silly song and stretch it to a silly 7 (!) minute song and treat it with all the improbable accompianments and you've got this monster which is indefinite and yet... such a lullaby in the end. Ferry NEVER sounded so obtusely grave... And the whole sound which to me sounds like a New Orleans funeral dirge- And even though he obviously is the main singer- the chorus of girls sounds so 'close' to him, and much closer than back up singers in his future albums would be. This is my favorite song on the whole album, and one of my very favorite in Ferry's entire repertoire. 6. (What a) Wonderful World- This is the song that makes me smile the most- what's up with those great steel drums?? And that harmonica.. Those staccato trumpets are great too! I think this song reflects well his whole 'hope against hopelessness' image.. This would be too fun too see live- could you see the crowd getting into this? 7. It Ain't Me Babe- I'm a little prejudiced- after seeing him do this song on TV I really started to enjoy this song a lot more- On its own non-video merits it's a little cold, but I'm fond of the organ and piano in this song. 8. Fingerpoppin'- yuck. I skip over this one every time. 9. Help Me Make It Through The Night- ooh this one is too cool. A private indulgence. Ferry and the bass... you get a full 50 seconds of foreplay here... Oh but for the oooohhh's in this song- I see Lawrence Welk bubbles and I can see myself on a cliff singing into the valley (such a precious karaoke) and I feel the wind blow into my face as the chords change dramatically. Oh he sounds like he really needs me- let me be your friend... (you don't have to be alone, Bryan).. and that dramatic, long ending (who could afford that orchestra??)... that last chord as the sad denouement to, alas, an excruciatingly lost and lonely night.... I love this song... 10. Another Time, Another Place- I think it's campy alone in the double entendre of having his singular self-effort mixed in with the rest of the bunch. I sure do like this song- I love the simple suffient lyrics and the sort of Roxy-esque sounds put into it- the singing the melody together both high and low at the same time, the displacement of sung lyrics parts, etc.... Wow. If you have actually have made it through my silly little review- pat yourself on the back.. I'll buy you a drink if you ever come to Atlanta.... Take care, greggie/atlanta "I knew there's be times like this when I'd sit at home and reminisce" - -Bryan Ferry 1974 - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V4 #285 **************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest