From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V4 #325 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Saturday, October 23 1999 Volume 04 : Number 325 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [AVALON] UK Tour [axelbartoli@cheerful.com] [AVALON] Times [Peter Dewey ] [AVALON] The Tour [JObinv01@aol.com] Re: [AVALON] UK tour tickets Go Go Go! ["Robert Whiteford" ] Re: [AVALON] VU [Heather Marie Buch ] Re: [AVALON] ATGB/Career move [FeliciaRen@aol.com] Re: [AVALON] VU ["Dawne A. Streutker" ] Re: [AVALON] atgb ["Killip family" ] Re: [AVALON] atgb ["Robert Whiteford" ] [AVALON] agtsergffs [MonquiBoy@aol.com] Re: [AVALON] atgb ["Robert Whiteford" ] [AVALON] A FINE review of ATGB ["Chan" ] [AVALON] Re : A thought ["johnny reece" ] [AVALON] Gettin' Sentimental...With Bryan ["Dawne A. Streutker" ] Re: [AVALON] A Thought [Heather Marie Buch ] Re: [AVALON] atgb ["tfagan" ] Re: [AVALON] atgb ["Robert Whiteford" ] Re: [AVALON] A Thought ...and to you Heather. ["Dawne A. Streutker" ] Re: [AVALON] Always the last to know ["Dawne A. Streutker" ] To leave the list, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon-digest ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 07:27:53 -0400 (EDT) From: axelbartoli@cheerful.com Subject: [AVALON] UK Tour Please help. I have growing fears that there is to be no Midlands venue for the tour (e.g. Birmingham/Wolverhampton). For an impoverished student with no motor this is not good. If anybody knows anything, please reveal all. Thanks, Alex. - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 12:39:53 +0100 From: Peter Dewey Subject: [AVALON] Times Short album review in today's Times I won't spoil your anticipation, so if you don't want to read it, then don't page down! No review in the Telegraph. Review by Nigel Williamson BF, ATGB, 2/10 The recent re-releases of the first five RM albums were a reminder of the brilliance of the youthful BF. They also serve to emphasise just what an embarassing record he has made with this collection of 30's standards. Ferry has tried his hand with some success at pre-rock numbers in the past (Smoke Gets In Your Eyes) but here there is both a lack of emotional engagement and the sad fact that his voice is shot to pieces. The old smouldering sensuality, which should have made him a natural on songs such as I'm In The Mood For Love, has deserted him, leaving only crass mannerisms. Falling in Love Again is the nadir but Miss Otis Regrets and others are almost as awful. Marianne Faithfull does this sort of thing much better. How the mighty have fallen. Ouch. - -- Peter Dewey - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 07:59:19 EDT From: JObinv01@aol.com Subject: [AVALON] The Tour I have got tickets for Liverpool, Sheffield, London (Possibly), Glasgow & Newcastle. Who's all going to these shows??? maybe we can meet. Maybe we can share transport if required. John O'Brien - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 12:27:47 +0100 From: "Robert Whiteford" Subject: Re: [AVALON] UK tour tickets Go Go Go! Seems the fourth row will consist entirely of people on this list ! Rob - ----- Original Message ----- From: Jason Gibbs To: Sent: 22 October 1999 14:20 Subject: Re: [AVALON] UK tour tickets Go Go Go! > > > >Box office 'phone numbers: > > > >Royal Festival Hall, London DEC 14th. 0171 960 4242 > > > Going fast . . . just bought two expensive ones at 40 pounds each, 4th > row. Hurry everybody!! > > The lady did 'warn' me he is singing classics from the 30s . > > Jason > > > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 14:22:30 +0100 From: "Robert Whiteford" Subject: Re: [AVALON] A Thought Forgive me for replicating so much text below from Martin Stockman but it's so well written I hope no one minds. I agree with most of it but would say the following.... Ferry has to a large extent himself to blame for the commercial position he now finds himself in. It was 14 years ago when Boys and Girls stood poudly at the top of the album chart. It seemed my favourite pop star was going to break free of Roxy and go on to become the solo sucess his talent undoubtedly deserves. Three singles , Slave to Love getting to no 10 in the UK (and still most people sing along to it - they KNOW it) and the joy of having music as beautiful as Windswept on an album at no 1 in the charts. No I know this will go down like a lead balloon on here but Bete Noire was the beginning of the end. It wasn't promoted very well by Virgin (who must be disappointed with his output for them) and it although it had some great tracks it wasn't immediately accessible. It wasn't as good as Boys and Girls either. Stuff like The Name of the Game was just plain drivel. The Right Stuff was great but peaked at No 37 and I wonder just how much that contributed ..........if you can't get a hit with that what would have done well. ? And like it or lump it Bryan Ferry will not have no 1 albums without hit singles to promote them. And it seems to me he is now unwilling to make the sort of records that will be hits. And if he does make them (Gemini Moon, Mamouna, Wildcat Days) he won't release it . The choice of the last two singles from Taxi was very odd as well. OK so following the commercial failure of the Bete Noire Ferry goes on the "Limbo" tour. I saw this in Glasgow 1988. It was brilliant. He still had a huge audience and a powerful presence. A real star. He came off of this tour "buzzing" in his own words...and then what?...........nothing that's what. Five years later he emerges with the Taxi record and although I like it because it's Ferry you could hardly call it spectacular even as a diehard fan. This did get to number 2 in the album charts - mainly because I put a Spell on You was a top twenty hit I think. Ironically given some of the emails about american taste on the list it was kept off number 1 by ....wait for it.....Depeche Mode. But how many who bought that would have gone on to buy Mamouna. ? Not all of them judging by the sales of Mamouna. Mamouna was surely his best effort since Boys and Girls but the lack of a hit single killed it commercially. Your Painted Smile - beautiful but NEVER a single. And now , another 5 years , another covers album. Of 30's standards. "Ding Dong the witch is dead" someone on here hilariously pointed out. Now I'm off to buy this album on Monday , on CD and Vinyl !, I'll always buy his stuff because it's him. Lot's of you will. But the record buying public probably won't. And I say you can't blame them - blame Ferry's meagre output. Some comment has been made about Bowies output not being of the standard of old, but is Taxi as good as Stranded ? I'm really sorry if he's lost his confidence-someone who had that sort of audience and who got where he did from his humble beginnings should believe in themselves. And I wish he would ........... I'm interested to hear what others think? Rob Whiteford - ----- Original Message ----- From: Martin Stockman To: Sent: 20 October 1999 17:08 Subject: Re: [AVALON] Is It Just Me Or Does JFROXY Post About 1,000, 000TimesA Day? > Now Gene and others have got hot under the collar about the latest pearl > that Bryan has laid upon our pashmina pillows. Why ? Do you perceive that > the wayward genius is selling us short ? These are beautifully crafted > interpretations of some of the loveliest songs ever written. His velvet > larynx emits perfumed sighs. The occasional nervous falsetto reflects the > lovelorn nature of much of the material. > > As Gareth and I stared at the midnight blue Thames after the Nick Cave > evening at the RFH we wondered if Bryan had suffered a terminal loss of > confidence. Remember how the eight attending Avalonions had been cornered by > successive A&R men with tales of a backstage maestro petrified with > stage-fright, how record companies were loathe to touch his self-penned > material, that the Dave Stewart collaboration was inlistenable. And as for > the performance : a subdued Byron hunched over the piano, two strange > country songs, a quite startling harmonica solo, an almost apologetic wave > and he was gone. Contrast this with the SWAGGER of old. The audacious > entrances, the crazy outfits, the glamour. Up to and including the Bete > Noire tour his self-confidence shone across the footlights. I believe that > the early nineties hiatus, however, marked a turning point. Commercial > failure, artistic block, family life, the charts full of "raucous rap," all > combined to make him wonder if he still had an audience. Taxi and Mamouna, > full of fabulous jewels and the odd fake tiara, and the tour that followed > saw a performer showing signs of doubt. Check all the interviews. The way he > feels compelled to drop Eno's name all the time. That one where he'd just > read a slating review of Mamouna and turned to the interviewer and said.."Am > I really that bad." Oh my aching heart. > > We can be sure of two things, regardless of how ATGB fares. Bryan is rich > (by most people's standards) and he will always have an audience. The > question is how rich and how big an audience. Do we care ? I don't. I prefer > Ferry as a cult figure. Stateside Avalonions enjoy, I guess, the fact that > he has such a low profile. He is their secret. Over here, however, people > will always know him as part of the nation's folklore in the 70s and 80s. > That's why a friend accosted me at a drinks party last Saturday with "What > the hell's your mate Ferry up to now ; I heard he's covering old movie hits > now." Yeah, we Brits are good at building 'em up and knocking 'em down. The > Germans call it "Schadenfreude", the malicious enjoyment of another's > (perceived) misfortunes. > > These new songs stand up. I urge the likes of Gene to approach them with an > open mind. And if you don't like them, then fine. As for his > "soon-to-be-released" own stuff, (easy Colleen !), well, it would be quite > mad to expect him to knock out stret-burning, rebel-rousing hits any more. I > think "Kiss and Tell" will go down as his last heroic bid for that market. > No. Expect more reflective lyrics, more layered soundscapes, more tremulous > vocals. That is where he's at. And I for one love it. > > Regards all > > Martino > > > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 10:18:08 -0400 (EDT) From: Colleen Matan Subject: Re: [AVALON] yet another opinion On Fri, 22 Oct 1999, eRacerX wrote: [...] > Should the early concert goers post the set list and reviews? or should we > wait until everyone has had a chance to experience the 30's version of BF > for themselves? Perhaps they could be marked as "spolier" or "review" and that way interested folks could read then and the rest could avoid them. Colleen - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 10:21:13 -0400 (EDT) From: Colleen Matan Subject: Re: [AVALON] ATGB/Career move On Fri, 22 Oct 1999 Gal410@aol.com wrote: > p.s.- I am very apprehensive about seeing him in concert in 2 weeks. I don't > wan't to see him at his least desirable, only crooning to 30's music. He Actually I'm not apprehensive about it in the least--as Robert Whiteford wrote in his very interesting post, Ferry is "a real star." I actually think the live versions of these songs may redeem the album in my eyes. I don't think that he was at his best on the excerpts I saw on from the Jools Holland appearance, and I don't think it's fair to judge him based on that alone. Colleen - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 10:35:27 -0400 (EDT) From: Colleen Matan Subject: [AVALON] The Tempest (in a teapot) Good morning Avalonions, I'm on one of the saddest excuses for a music mailing list you could ever imagine. It's run by a woman who is so monomaniacal and insane that she gives the guys who run the ABBA list a run for their money. She has outlawed sarcasm in the 12K of her list "rules and regulations", and has demanded that any posts meant to be funny be clearly marked as "HUMOUR" (although she is American, she spells like that because she says that way "more English speaking people around the world understand her." Trust me--she could write in ancient Sanskrit and we'd understand her just the same.). The denizens of her list think a string of pedestrian profanity is a suitable and sophisticaed way to respond to someone's critical analysis of a situation. Naturally, all profanity is outlawed on the list. (And she polices all 12K of her rules in private email.) Thank God that's not the case in Avalonia, where, for the most part, disagreements are conducted with a lot of style and a minimum of mindless swearing. And maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't mind it when tempers flare a bit and passions are running high--that's what this is all about, isn't it? And nobody really took all that too seriously yesterday, did they? Colleen - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 16:52:33 +0100 From: morvillier Subject: [AVALON] atgb whatever could be said about atgb or any other bryan ferry production, the result is always excellent, because such an efficiency in music performance has never been reached and will never be (listen to same old scene, mother of pearl, windswept or in every dreamhome ). Please compare covers with covers, and originals with originals! Mr Ferry is the best, so simple as that. Thank you to the five most reliable members of this list, who provide interesting information continuously. Luc - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 07:41:39 -0400 (EDT) From: Heather Marie Buch Subject: Re: [AVALON] VU And one came from Germany. This is all true, but I don't think it would have come out of them had they not been in the disgustly, gloriously overcrowded capitalist madness of New York. By the way, I'm not saying that America is so wonderful. I'm totally against the American capitalist economic system. I hate it. There's so much suffering. Conversely, I think this kind of suffering is also what fuels subversive social movements such as that which took place in the 60's, and artists which arise from these movements, such as the Velvet Underground. So it's a double-sided coin, the worse the political system, the better the culture. Heather On Fri, 22 Oct 1999, David Squires wrote: > Heather wrote (a while back now): > > > I don't think something like the Velvet Underground > > could have happened in Europe. > > Fair enough comment. But don't forget that a quarter of the VU came from > Wales, with the strangely conflicting celtic tendancy to veer from the pastoral > to the psychotic. An essential element. > > Dioch yn fawr, > > David > -- > David Squires > Wimbotsham > Norfolk > UK > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > http://home.uchicago.edu/~asbuch/ Heather Marie Buch asbuch@midway.uchicago.edu - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 11:54:45 EDT From: FeliciaRen@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] ATGB/Career move In a message dated 10/22/99 1:55:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time, will@execpc.com writes: << Better to cover Night Ranger or Bon Jovi or soething equally as silly. >> OK kids, place nice....my husband is partly responsible for some of that early Bon Jovi "silliness". - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 09:29:16 -0700 From: "Dawne A. Streutker" Subject: Re: [AVALON] VU Heather wrote the following.... <> Heather, because you are in the delicate state of maternity, I am gonna let you get aaway with that one. Dawne - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 17:45:16 +0100 From: "Killip family" Subject: Re: [AVALON] atgb Well said Luc! Obviously you've never eaten any British beef. David - ---------- > From: morvillier > To: avalon@smoe.org > Subject: [AVALON] atgb > Date: 23 October 1999 16:52 > > whatever could be said about atgb or any other bryan ferry production, the result is always excellent, because such an efficiency in music performance has never been reached and will never be (listen to same old scene, mother of pearl, windswept or in every dreamhome ). > Please compare covers with covers, and originals with originals! > Mr Ferry is the best, so simple as that. > Thank you to the five most reliable members of this list, who provide interesting information continuously. > > Luc > > > > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 17:53:47 +0100 From: "Robert Whiteford" Subject: Re: [AVALON] atgb It it sometimes hard not not compare him with what he used to be ........isn't it? - ----- Original Message ----- From: Killip family To: Sent: 23 October 1999 17:45 Subject: Re: [AVALON] atgb > Well said Luc! > > Obviously you've never eaten any British beef. > > David > > ---------- > > From: morvillier > > To: avalon@smoe.org > > Subject: [AVALON] atgb > > Date: 23 October 1999 16:52 > > > > whatever could be said about atgb or any other bryan ferry production, > the result is always excellent, because such an efficiency in music > performance has never been reached and will never be (listen to same old > scene, mother of pearl, windswept or in every dreamhome ). > > Please compare covers with covers, and originals with originals! > > Mr Ferry is the best, so simple as that. > > Thank you to the five most reliable members of this list, who provide > interesting information continuously. > > > > Luc > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -------------------- > > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > > unsubscribe avalon > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 12:48:52 EDT From: MonquiBoy@aol.com Subject: [AVALON] agtsergffs >>Thank you to the five most reliable members of this list, who provide interesting information continuously. Luc<< what a nise complimen your welcom luc glad be of servic I will babysit, Header Digipak Frenly Abalo Monke - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 18:01:45 +0100 From: "Robert Whiteford" Subject: Re: [AVALON] atgb ATGB now mumber 9 at Amazon.com. Which countries buy from here? - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 10:05:46 -0700 From: "Chan" Subject: [AVALON] A FINE review of ATGB This is a very good review of ATGB from addictedtonoise.com . For people who don't favor his "mini" venture on ATGB, just return the cd and wait for his next one to come out. Bryan goes through writer's block like any normal musician would and this CD is just a minor step to get him back on his feet again for an album of new materials. He's done it before - maybe not to this extreme - so why are people so surprised? Chan depmode@earthlink.net "Beneath my hands your small breasts are the upturned bellies of breathing fallen sparrows." - Leonard Cohen As Time Goes By, Bryan Ferry (Virgin) Sympathy For The Dandy With such standards as "I'm In The Mood For Love" and "Falling In Love Again." By Johnny Walker The late Anton Szandor LaVey, High Priest of the Church of Satan, famously contended that the heavy-metal music of groups like AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Slayer, and all the rest was not, to his mind, "satanic" music at all. No, in LaVey's world, it was the music of the past — music that had once been popular but that was now for the most part dormant and forgotten — that contained "satanic" power. He thought that by rescuing such songs from their obscure and forlorn fate and resuscitating them, one could obtain a magical jolt, a pure hit of the emotional power that had been placed in them by artists and their adoring audiences long ago. Does that make Bryan Ferry — who gives just such a breath of life to 15 numbers from the 1930s on his latest, As Time Goes By — a Satanist? Well, the ex-Roxy Music main man did do a mind-blowingly fine cover of The Rolling Stones' "Sympathy For The Devil" on his first solo album, These Foolish Things, back in 1973. Not to mention the fact that dandies always seem attracted to the dark side (Baudelaire, anyone?), and Ferry is, after all, along with his labelmate David Bowie (himself a fan of Aleister Crowley ... hmmm) one of rock and roll's premier manifestations of that peculiarly aloof, glammy personage. More than likely, though, our man Bryan, suffering as usual from writer's block and an addiction to perfectionism, has resorted to covering 1930s tunes because, well, time does indeed go by — five years since his last one, the sleek and underrated Mamouna, itself immediately preceded by a contemporary covers collection, Taxi — and people need to be reminded that the old boy's still around before he unveils the new studio album with ex-Roxy cohort Brian Eno, promised (ahem) for 2000. Yet it is also obvious that, once so embarked, Ferry took this project to heart. Ferry's dandified persona, unlike David Bowie's, has always relied upon nostalgia (think of his gorgeous ode to Humphrey Bogart, "2HB," for instance), so his retro outing here seems to seamlessly mesh with his overall artistic oeuvre. On As Time Goes By, Ferry's golden crooner's throat seems for the first time a little worn by time and ciggies, but this only adds to the overall atmosphere of the delicious 3 a.m. ennui that wafts from this disc like the clouds of incense Ferry engulfs himself in onstage. Not that he's Marianne Faithfull yet, but on tunes like the title track, Cole Porter's murder ballad "Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable To Have Lunch Today)" (RealAudio excerpt) and the weary Marlene Dietrich classic "Falling In Love Again" (RealAudio excerpt), Ferry sounds slightly wounded and vulnerable, raspy and rawer than we've ever heard him before — and the effect is beguiling. Unlike on his past all-covers efforts, Ferry resists the urge to bend these songs into new shapes, sticking mainly to unobtrusive acoustic backing; only on "I'm In The Mood For Love" (RealAudio excerpt) does he "Ferryize" the arrangement somewhat with a catchy, Latin-tinged R&B arrangement. One gets the sense that these songs mean too much to Ferry for him to risk messing with them. As Time Goes By is thus the work of a new, more human Bryan Ferry: Sympathy for the Dandy, indeed. [Thurs., October 21, 12:05 AM EDT] - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 18:06:05 +0100 From: "johnny reece" Subject: [AVALON] Re : A thought Interesting points made by Rob Whiteford, and being a RM/BF Fan for so long, it does pain me slightly to agree with what you say, Rob. Sometimes, the truth hurts ! Every single one of us is on this list because we admire the Man and his Music, usually in whatever form it takes. I for one am glad there is so much debate on the new Album - as this list wouldn't be very interesting if we all loved everything he did, would it ? I was hoping the non-promotion of Bete Noire was a 'blip' but recent work by Virgin has, sadly, proved otherwise. A good case in point (though I hate to admit it) was recently when playing 'Mamouna' in my record shop - a customer came up and asked 'is that Bryan Ferry' ? - and I told him about the Album , Tour, upcoming Album etc. "I didn't know he was still making records" was the reply. Ouch ! - but it does give an indication of the sort of promotion he has received, although his output of just 1 Album of original songs in 12 years is 'asking for it' rather, don't you think ? I do wonder sometimes if he has only himself to blame. After 2 breaks of 5 years between Albums I am disappointed it's a 'covers' Album - but will of course buy both CD and Vinyl, just as I have all the re-masters etc etc - it's a case of loyalty (don't think i'm alone on this one somehow). I for one hope that I will love ATGB - but only time will tell - it took a while for me to like'Mamouna' but after a few months I adored it. Having said that, i've always preferred his own material. Some horrendous choices of promotion have been made along the way - YPS as a Single - now apparently it's ATGB - one week AFTER the release of the Album. Strange indeed. I'd really hate to think he is 'finished' as a major force in Music - trouble is - there are many who think that happened some time ago. I do hope things change - and I must say I would not be surprised at all if, next year, there was to be a Roxy reunion - of sorts - as Bry seems to be making such a point in every single recent interview of how it would be 'fun' and mentioning the tracks already 'in the can' which he will go back to after the current Tour is over. I don't want to wait another 5 years though, which could well happen, on recent form. Nobody likes to see their idols 'getting old' as seems to be happening, re the recent Times review. But it just might be happening - but I sincerely hope not, as I believe there is no better Songwriter than Bry - and there has never been a better band than Roxy - so I do await a 'following' Album impatiently. For now, I'm happy that the Tour is about to happen - it's been too long a wait - but I'd hate to think I wouldn't get to see the likes of 'Dream Home' etc 'Live' again. But that's one for next year, hopefully. Am I the only one so far who thinks 'I'm in the mood for love' is very similar to the title track of 'Bete Noire' (but in a very good way) ? Incidentally, it would be nice to meet up with a few Avalonians at some Gigs - I've got 2nd row for RFH, and (I think) about 10th row for Glasgow (always go back there as it's my 'hometown Gig') but no others as yet due to difficulty with getting away from work for the likes of Sheffield etc - but I'm working on it. Sincerely though, despite my very obvious 'Brys own material' biase, I hope ATGB does very, very well. Out of sheer loyalty, everyone should buy it ! Should make the cognoscenti think. Johnny Reece - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 15:47:23 -0700 From: "Dawne A. Streutker" Subject: [AVALON] Gettin' Sentimental...With Bryan Hey Gang, Having just gone out and checked Saturday's delivery of mail, I found my most recent order off of CDNow...of course, that would be "As Time Goes By." Naturally, I tore open the box and popped in the CD....and I really have to say that I was expected this totally dreadful work of music, judging only from what some on the list have been saying as of late.... I for one happen to Love music (and movies for that matter) from the 1930's.....I find this latest offering from the Maestro utterly delightful....such a refreshing sound... Some of this music is reminiscent of the kind of music I go and hear in cool jazz clubs in the Financial District in San Francisco....This is music I already love. I did not go into this expecting to hear an album like 'Stranded,' and I would not want that at this time... Ferry already DID that....He is, undeniably, a musical innovator that we are lucky to number among our generation. I would much rather hear Ferry re-interpret old classics than to see him muck up his stuff, say from the '70's with some re-mix a la 90's grunge crap...Like all of you, I am anxiously awaiting His Original Material. True, Ferry is no Sinatra... But come on, that is stating the obvious...If I want Nat King Cole or Frank Sinatra or Ella, I will pop those CD's in, thank you. And I love and collect all their stuff, btw. I have these identical songs from other artists....and as a Non-artist Myself, I have a deep appreciation for anyone who can make these songs their own...as Ferry has. Who was it that said that Bryan Ferry was more of a 'stylist' than a singer....hmmm, or was that some online review of ATGB?? I agree with that, to a certain extent. And let's put it this way: Could any of you picture Frank or Nat or Ella belting out Mother of Pearl, or Stranded? I could actually picture Frank doing 'Both Ends Burning,' but that is beside the point..... I am not here to change all your minds and have you fall in love with ATGB.....but I think it is to Mr. Bryan Ferry's credit that he IS CAPABLE of 'cross-over' music.....but not all crooners all capable of crossing over to the Wild Glam of the '70's that Ferry created. So Bryan, if you are out there, somewhere in cyberspace besides bryanferrydirect.com, and If you read this.....Please know I am thrilled to have ATGB as part of my treasured collection of your music... I love the emotion and style you give to these songs....How nice to have YOUR voice singing songs that I have grown up hearing the Old Guard singing. I can't wait to hear it live. By the way, if any of you truly dig this era of music as I do, Check out on CDnow or amazon.com a 4 cd collection of 30's tunes, entitled, "Gettin' Sentimental," with original artists and recordings (so it is not all that sharp, but still good nonetheless). We play it out our dental office...on the CD carousel...My Dad's and my dental office is so "Mom n' Pop," not all high tech, but Tech Enough... The music really suits the attitude and feel of the office...matches my art deco private office, too. Patients love it, esp. the senior citizens...they think I am cool cuz I choose to play Their Music....Now I gotta buy a second CD to have at the office. See you there, at least some of you, at the Shows... Loving ATGB at this very moment, Best Regards, Dawne - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 15:52:13 -0700 From: "Dawne A. Streutker" Subject: [AVALON] Ferry Climbs the Charts!!! Good God, Even I am surprised!!!! ATGB is up to #7 on Amazon!!! http://www.amazon.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 16:10:06 -0700 From: "Alison Brown" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Ferry Climbs the Charts!!! > Good God, Even I am surprised!!!! > > ATGB is up to #7 on Amazon!!! > http://www.amazon.com What I find interesting in light of the recent Bowie/Ferry comparisons is that "hours..." is down to #57. Hmm.... Alison - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 19:20:24 -0400 From: "Decophile" Subject: Re: [AVALON] A Thought - -----Original Message----- From: Robert Whiteford To: avalon@smoe.org Date: Saturday, October 23, 1999 9:20 AM Subject: Re: [AVALON] A Thought >I'm really sorry if he's lost his confidence-someone who had that sort of >audience and who got where he did from his humble beginnings should believe >in themselves. And I wish he would ........... > >I'm interested to hear what others think? > >Rob Whiteford > There`s nothing wrong with Ferry that a good, solid band that`s allowed to lend to the creative process can cure. Ferry`s solo material was never better than Roxy, IMO. Gene - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 15:56:06 -0400 (EDT) From: Heather Marie Buch Subject: Re: [AVALON] A Thought On Sat, 23 Oct 1999, Decophile wrote: > There`s nothing wrong with Ferry that a good, solid band that`s allowed to > lend to the creative process can cure. Ferry`s solo material was never > better than Roxy, IMO. > I have to say I completely agree with this. I haven't heard ATGB yet, but the rest of the solo material is a compromise when compared to the Roxy stuff. The Roxy Music moment was one which never will be again. They were so singular in their style, that mix of high glamour and camp, fashion-model beauty and new wave trash culture. The lyrics were the vehicle for all this style and as is usually that case, the lyrics were central to the music. But no one can bring back the 1970's. Rodney Bingenheimer has been trying to since the early 80's! I have to say that of Bryan's solo stuff, the later, 80's material is a lot like Sade to me, sort of an adult contemporary thing, nice and unoffensive. Certain songs are great, such as "Kiss and Tell." I love the images those lyrics evoke, "one public face/in a private limosine/flash photograph/it's the only light you see." On the other hand, I find most the lyrics from Mamouma uninspired or silly. For example, "where do we go from here" just doesn't mean much for me, and I agree with that critic who wrote that "your perfumed sigh" is a repulsive image. Anyway, I don't mind the idea of Ferry releasing a covers album. It seems an appropriate thing to do. The lyrics to those old songs he is covering are really beautiful, so if he can't write anything, it's best that he cover some well-written songs instead of giving us Mamouma all over again. I've heard that if someone listens to something long enough, they can force themselves to like anything. I think that's probably true for me. Luckily, nobody plays Garth Brooks in my office or I'd be in trouble. I will buy ATGB, just as I buy the other Ferry material, not because my hopes are as high as they were during the Roxy days, but because I know that the little similarities will make it worthwhile. Ciao! Heather (who couldn't write lyrics to save her life so probably shouldn't be saying all this) - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 20:55:16 -0400 From: "tfagan" Subject: Re: [AVALON] atgb Anyone can buy from Amazon but is it is site in the US -- the UK version doesn't sell music, yet. Plenty of good fan reviews of ATGB on the site (it's got 4-1/2 stars out of five as an average rating of swellness). - --TriTri - -----Original Message----- From: Robert Whiteford >ATGB now number 9 at Amazon.com. Which countries buy from here? > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 24 Oct 1999 02:49:02 +0100 From: "Robert Whiteford" Subject: Re: [AVALON] atgb Thanks fot this. I was just hoping against hope - does this mean that Ferry has the seventh best selling Cd through the internet in the US ? Surely not but I for one will be very pleased if this record - of all things - breaks him in the US. Is it true !? Rob - ----- Original Message ----- From: tfagan To: Sent: 24 October 1999 01:55 Subject: Re: [AVALON] atgb > Anyone can buy from Amazon but is it is site in the US -- the UK version > doesn't sell music, yet. Plenty of good fan reviews of ATGB on the site > (it's got 4-1/2 stars out of five as an average rating of swellness). > > --TriTri > > -----Original Message----- > From: Robert Whiteford > > > >ATGB now number 9 at Amazon.com. Which countries buy from here? > > > > > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 19:24:47 -0700 From: "Dawne A. Streutker" Subject: Re: [AVALON] A Thought ...and to you Heather. You know, I have been rather silent for several months now, but this new release (I know, I know, just covers) and the upcoming chance to see Mr. Ferry in the flesh and blood has brought me out of the lurking shadows... Heather, I am totally not picking on you, but I am a stickler for details.... I think the lyric you mentioned was actually (and in the context of the previous phrase it really works), Don't talk to me, Your perfume sighs..." Funny, I had always thought that was such a lovely lyric... I will write more to you later, but now I must go. Best, Dawne - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 22:19:59 -0400 From: "tfagan" Subject: [AVALON] Always the last to know I just saw this on eBay -- anyone hear of this release? BRYAN FERRY + ROXY MUSIC The Video Collection - ---> Just released this past week on Virgin <---- 24 classic videos such as "Kiss And Tell", "Limbo", "Your Painted Smile" and "Angel Eyes". 98 minutes! - --TriTri - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 19:50:13 -0700 From: "Dawne A. Streutker" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Always the last to know Tri, this sounds good. Do we have to duke it out at eBay, or can we buy it through Virgin?? Dawne - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 22:31:51 -0400 From: "Heather James" Subject: RE: [AVALON] atgb I don't know, Robert ... I'll be pretty depressed if it takes this Record, at this point in his career for record sales to push him over the top. And I can't help think it won't make Brian too happy either. I'm sure he knows the difference between the old days when he was in his prime compared to the "tiny tim tones" of some of this material. I just don't see me playing a cut from it as I do with cuts like "Song for Europe" or "This Island Earth" - I don't think the 20+ years have been that kind to Brian ... I'll be honest, I do like the material in ATGB - but its a different "like" than when I was younger, and a Roxy Music show was the hottest show of the year. Its something I'll pull out now and then, just as I pull out Hoagy Carmichael now and then ... but Hoagy doesn't speak to me, and the new Brian Ferry album doesn't speak to me either.   -= )-(eather =- - -----Original Message----- From: owner-avalon@smoe.org [mailto:owner-avalon@smoe.org]On Behalf Of Robert Whiteford Sent: Saturday, October 23, 1999 9:49 PM To: avalon@smoe.org Subject: Re: [AVALON] atgb Thanks fot this. I was just hoping against hope - does this mean that Ferry has the seventh best selling Cd through the internet in the US ? Surely not but I for one will be very pleased if this record - of all things - breaks him in the US. Is it true !? Rob - ----- Original Message ----- From: tfagan To: Sent: 24 October 1999 01:55 Subject: Re: [AVALON] atgb > Anyone can buy from Amazon but is it is site in the US -- the UK version > doesn't sell music, yet. Plenty of good fan reviews of ATGB on the site > (it's got 4-1/2 stars out of five as an average rating of swellness). > > --TriTri > > -----Original Message----- > From: Robert Whiteford > > > >ATGB now number 9 at Amazon.com. Which countries buy from here? > > > > > > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V4 #325 **************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest