From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V6 #281 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Wednesday, July 4 2001 Volume 06 : Number 281 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [AVALON] Magical Moment: The spell it is breaking ["A.L. Jepson" ] Re: [AVALON] Roxy Tour Photos [KB Porter ] [AVALON] The sidewalk papers gutter-press you down . . . ["Grant Goggans"] Re: [AVALON] In Your Mind ["Grant Goggans" ] Re: [AVALON] Magical Moment: The spell it is breaking ["A.L. Jepson" ] RE: [AVALON] Artikel in der WELT vom 01. Juli [Michael Hill ] [AVALON] advice please [S.J.Batie@open.ac.uk] Re: [AVALON] New Date: ROXY MUSIC to Play Antwerp in Sept [Colleen Matan ] Re: [AVALON] New Date: ROXY MUSIC to Play Antwerp in Sept ["A.L. Jepson" ] [AVALON] Boys and Girls ["PeteK" ] Re: [AVALON] Boys and Girls [David Firmin ] Re: [AVALON] New Date: ROXY MUSIC to Play Antwerp in Sept [William Sommer] [AVALON] Artikel in der WELT vom 01. Juli ["Paul Bodine" ] Re: [AVALON] In Your Mind [Artman1@aol.com] Re: [AVALON] New Date: ROXY MUSIC to Play Antwerp in Sept ["A.L. Jepson" ] To leave the list, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon-digest ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 10:29:43 +0100 From: "A.L. Jepson" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Magical Moment: The spell it is breaking David I was only joking about what was written. I didn't mean to be rude. It's just that when I read it, it came across as a bit strange and way out. Therefore, I couldn't resist poking fun at it. I wasn't being malicious or anything even though it may have accidentally come across that way. There could be a chance of an improvement in my rudeness soon. Alan David Squires wrote: > > On 30 Jun 2001, at 22:18, A.L. Jepson wrote: > > > What medication are you taking or have you forgotten to take it? My > > advice is to stop raiding the medicine cabinet. > > Alan > > You've been around here for a couple of weeks now. Tell me, are you > always so charmlessly rude? Any chance of an improvement soon? > > David > > -- > David Squires, Wimbotsham, Norfolk, UK > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > The subliminable footer says: > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 06:22:53 EDT From: LeeSullivn@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] Magical Moment: The spell it is breaking In a message dated 7/4/01 10:36:21 AM GMT Daylight Time, p0d26@pgd.keele.ac.uk writes: > There could be a chance of an improvement in my rudeness soon. > > Alan > > Well said - and to Betsy (who started this whole thing off), I thought it a hoot! Especially you being a califorlornian . . . Lee the Artisan ____________________________________________ Easily distracted? Displacement activity a problem? Me too. Going to: www.LeeSullivan.co.uk won't help either . . . ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 11:29:38 +0100 From: Leonard_Thomson@firstbs.com Subject: [AVALON] Glasgow title Throwing my hat into the ring, i suggest, 'Help Yourself To One More Drink' Len ******************************************************************************** The information contained in this message is confidential and is intended for the addressee only. If you have received this message in error or there are any problems please notify the originator immediately. The unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or alteration of this message is strictly forbidden. This mail and any attachments have been scanned for viruses prior to leaving the Bank of Scotland Group network. Bank of Scotland Group will not be liable for direct, special, indirect or consequential damages arising from alteration of the contents of this message by a third party or as a result of any virus being passed on. Bank of Scotland Group reserves the right to monitor and record e-mail messages sent to and from this address for the purposes of investigating or detecting any unauthorised use of its system and ensuring its effective operation. ******************************************************************************** ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 07:32:09 -0400 From: KB Porter Subject: Re: [AVALON] In Your Mind Terry O'Connor wrote: "...the sanitised presence that is Boys and Girls, which is where Ferry's downward spiral into style over substance began..." Terry, I'm curious as to what, exactly, you mean by the above statement. Over time, I've read several negative remarks from posters about this Ferry era and I don't quite understand why these comments are made. Personally, I find Boys And Girls, Bete Noire, and Mamouna very intense lyrically and musically. The multi-layered tracks produce a very rich 'canvas' of sound, this texture is essential to the mood, and none of the sound is gratuitous or unnecessary. I remember the first time I listened to each of these album I was struck by the absence of 'gratuitous noise', impressed and intrigued with the overall effect the work had upon me. I was left with a need to listen again and again and... Is it the 'perfection' exhibited in this phase of Ferry's work which constitutes the "downward spiral into style over substance"? KBP ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 08:03:03 -0400 From: KB Porter Subject: Re: [AVALON] Roxy Tour Photos "Hats off to Mr. Bill MacCormick for his fine camera work." Indeed! The pics are the best I've seen of this tour, to date. Thar's sum life'n dem der Boyz! Thanks for the info, John - in fact, thank you for ALL the information you have been sharing with Avalon List. I, for one, remain in your debt. Best wishes. KBP ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 08:01:03 -0400 From: "Grant Goggans" Subject: [AVALON] The sidewalk papers gutter-press you down . . . >Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 21:41:31 -0500 >From: "Paul Bodine" >Subject: [AVALON] The sidewalk papers gutter-press you down . . . > >Thanks for the generous comments on my article. Maybe it'll move some >tickets >for the Maestro! Hey, Paul -- You want me to put a copy of it up on my site? - --G. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 08:31:38 -0400 From: "Grant Goggans" Subject: Re: [AVALON] In Your Mind >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 09:56:55 +0100 >From: "C. H. Soetemann" >Subject: Re: [AVALON] In Your Mind >I may stand alone (or with a mere few) here, but I really prefer 90s Ferry >to IYM, especially Mamouna. I find it very likeable if people sound a bit >reflective and not entirely self-confident all the way through, a thread >often evident in Ferry's work and probably what we get to see and hear of >his personality as well. I'm very happy that I agree with Thom W. on at least one thing -- the mixing of IYM is horrible. Lyrically, it's **fantastic**, but Ferry's vocals are buried so deeply, I could never understand most of what he was singing until I consulted the lyric sheet. And about those vocals -- I really can't stand his faux soul approach to "One Kiss" and "This is Tomorrow." Worst of all are the backing vocals, especially on "Tomorrow" and "All Night Operator." Some of the music's pretty good, but for the most part it's so damn ordinary. I doesn't sound like Bry was being himself anymore; he was trying to sound like any corporate American artist on Atlantic. (I don't know why he didn't want to work with Richard Perry when so much of this material, and parts of TBSB and Manifesto, sounds like the stuff that Perry would have arranged.) The exceptions are "Love Me Madly Again" and "In Your Mind," I like the playing on those, and they both seem very original to me. 90s Ferry doesn't sound like anybody else. Mamouna, while not absolutely successful to me, still sounds like music from another planet: completely original, wonderful music with fabulous vocals, and, as was proved when WNNX played the heck out of the title track that autumn, wholly unlike anything else on the radio. The only reason I think that IYM failed in America is because the DJs and program directors at radio said "Oh yeah, he's in that weeerd Ainglish band" and binned the record unplayed, not knowing that IYM sounded just like everything else on the air in 1977. Oh, and the sleeve art -- what the *hell* was he thinking? Grant Goggans It's LORD PETER WIMSEY month at POPocalypse: http://www.geocities.com/gmslegion _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 14:05:18 +0100 From: "A.L. Jepson" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Magical Moment: The spell it is breaking I thought it was a hoot too. It was rather flattering in a way to be referred to as 'charmlessly rude'. It makes a change from being referred to as a nice person all the time. Alan LeeSullivn@aol.com wrote: > > In a message dated 7/4/01 10:36:21 AM GMT Daylight Time, > p0d26@pgd.keele.ac.uk writes: > > > There could be a chance of an improvement in my rudeness soon. > > > > Alan > > > > > > Well said - and to Betsy (who started this whole thing off), I thought it a > hoot! Especially you being a califorlornian . . . > Lee the Artisan > > ____________________________________________ > Easily distracted? Displacement activity a problem? > Me too. Going to: > > www.LeeSullivan.co.uk > > won't help either . . . > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > The subliminable footer says: > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 14:11:35 +0100 From: Michael Hill Subject: RE: [AVALON] In Your Mind There do seem to be a great mix of opinions on Bryan's changing voice,but personally, I have to say that I consider Bryan to have the most beautiful voice I have ever heard. I say that about the 1972 voice just as much as the 2001 voice. Roxy were always about change and evolution, and in natural terms, Bryan's vocals have clearly evolved. This is a good thing though, as his voice is more haunting and soulful now, which suits the direction of his music. I mean, could Mamouna have sounded so rich if Bryan had adopted the almost Sprechgesang sounds of early Roxy? However, judging by the 2001 tour performances, Bry can still sound brash and strident for the louder numbers, which says a lot for his versatility as a singer. This suggests that he could easily pull off some vocally testing, "rougher" material on this new album coming out in October/next year/whenever Bryan manages to control his rampant perfectionism...(!) ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 14:29:12 +0100 From: Michael Hill Subject: RE: [AVALON] Artikel in der WELT vom 01. Juli What a good article! If I have time, I may translate it if no-one has already done so. Love the comments on John Peel's reaction to the Roxy tour-Bryan's fine wit showing through! ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 09:49:49 EDT From: LeeSullivn@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] Magical Moment: The spell it is breaking In a message dated 7/4/01 2:11:49 PM GMT Daylight Time, p0d26@pgd.keele.ac.uk writes: > It makes a change from being > referred to as a nice person all the time. > > Yes - I've always wanted to be thought of as 'dangerous'. And whaddya get? 'Nice'. Lee 'Dangerous' Sullivan ____________________________________________ Easily distracted? Displacement activity a problem? Me too. Going to: www.LeeSullivan.co.uk won't help either . . . ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 10:17:01 -0400 From: jmdillon@mindspring.com Subject: [AVALON] New Date: ROXY MUSIC to Play Antwerp in Sept Good Morning All As has been officially mentioned on Phil's site and for any who may have missed it: Another European date has been added to the: Roxy Music World Tour 2001* _____________________________________________________________________ Antwerp, Friday 14th September 2001 Sportpaleis Tickets are on sale now. To buy on-line go http://goformusic.be/en/tickets/reserveer.asp?id=224 Ticket prices: 1600, 1800 & 2000 BF. _____________________________________________________________________ "Time spent well is so rare." By my calculations this leaves only three or four possible & very precious dates remaining in this 50 date tour. Regards John Dillon *Which, in case I may not have mentioned, is always a Pleasure to type ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 15:38:59 +0100 From: "A.L. Jepson" Subject: Re: [AVALON] New Date: ROXY MUSIC to Play Antwerp in Sept I wonder if the band will add any dates in Prague, Budapest, Moscow etc. Why is the RM tour of the US and Canada so small compared to the amount of cities and dates that other bands play to over there? Is it because RM aren't as popular Stateside as many other bands are and therefore wouldn't be commercially viable to do a big tour of North America? I would imagine that some of the American and Canadian fans will have to travel fro miles to see the band perform. Alan jmdillon@mindspring.com wrote: > > Good Morning All > > As has been officially mentioned on Phil's site and for any who may have > missed it: > > Another European date has been added to the: > > Roxy Music World Tour 2001* > > _____________________________________________________________________ > > Antwerp, Friday 14th September 2001 > Sportpaleis > > Tickets are on sale now. > To buy on-line go > > http://goformusic.be/en/tickets/reserveer.asp?id=224 > > Ticket prices: 1600, 1800 & 2000 BF. > _____________________________________________________________________ > > "Time spent well is so rare." > > By my calculations this leaves only three or four possible & very precious > dates remaining in this 50 date tour. > > Regards > > John Dillon > > *Which, in case I may not have mentioned, is always a Pleasure to type > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > The subliminable footer says: > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 16:27:25 +0200 From: Daniel Atterbom Subject: RE: [AVALON] Treeing and other matters -- a defense At 07.48 +0100 1-07-04, Guy Lawley wrote: > >Daniel, your English is excellent, as all Avalonia will attest!! >And who neds spelchekers? Thank you Guy, you'll just have to take my word that my Swedish is better. :-) As you are a doctor, I ought to consult you on my computerrelated handinjury, but I'll enjoy the nice summer weather instead. NP "Jealous Guy", live in Boston 1999. Daniel "Almost two decades after they kissed their past goodnight, Roxy Music are still, effortlessly, the sound of the future." Sarah Dempster, NME June 2001. ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 16:38:12 +0200 From: Daniel Atterbom Subject: Re: [AVALON] In Your Mind vs Mamouna I'm very happy that I agree with Grant Goggans on prefering Mamouna to In Your Mind. I really looked forward to IYM back then, but I never bought it, and I spend a great deal on money on vinyl in the late 70's, Mamouna is one of my favorite albums of the 90's. It sparked a new intrest in Ferry and Roxy Music for me and I ended up on this list. I know that Mamouna was a difficult album for Ferry to make, but it is one of his best albums. When it comes to lyrics and soundscape it's magnificent. For me, it ranks up there with Curtis Mayfield's A New World Order as one of the best, inventive and boldest album of the last decade. One of the diffrences being that Ferry, presumeably, recorded his vocals standing up and not laying down. Daniel "Almost two decades after they kissed their past goodnight, Roxy Music are still, effortlessly, the sound of the future." Sarah Dempster, NME June 2001. ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 15:47:07 +0100 From: "terrypaulrigz8c" Subject: Re: [AVALON] In Your Mind Before I reply to you on this ongoing issue (which of course we will never agree), as we all got into BF/RM's music at different times and maybe for different reasons, I am going to listen through the back catalogue completely so I can give a balanced view. However as an example from B&G's, The Chosen One comes across as a meandering coda waiting to go somewhere more interesting then fades, this song however was a revelation to me on the Bete Noir tour as it developed into much stronger song without the layers of production to drag it down. - ---- Original Message ----- From: KB Porter To: Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2001 12:32 PM Subject: Re: [AVALON] In Your Mind > Terry O'Connor wrote: "...the sanitised presence that is Boys and > Girls, which is where Ferry's downward spiral into style over substance > began..." > > Terry, I'm curious as to what, exactly, you mean by the above > statement. Over time, I've read several negative remarks from posters > about this Ferry era and I don't quite understand why these comments are > made. Personally, I find Boys And Girls, Bete Noire, and Mamouna very > intense lyrically and musically. The multi-layered tracks produce a > very rich 'canvas' of sound, this texture is essential to the mood, and > none of the sound is gratuitous or unnecessary. I remember the first > time I listened to each of these album I was struck by the absence of > 'gratuitous noise', impressed and intrigued with the overall effect the > work had upon me. I was left with a need to listen again and again > and... Is it the 'perfection' exhibited in this phase of Ferry's work > which constitutes the "downward spiral into style over substance"? > KBP > > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > The subliminable footer says: > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 15:46:23 +0100 From: "A.L. Jepson" Subject: [AVALON] Quiz There was a quiz last night at the Keele Postgraduate Association club, Keele University last night and teams had to name the titles of 9 album covers and which band they belonged to. One of them was Country Life. I wasn't there. Someone else told me about it. I wonder how many Postgraduate students got that particular album cover right? I wish I was there last night. Alan ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 16:01:05 +0100 From: S.J.Batie@open.ac.uk Subject: [AVALON] advice please anticipating the imminent arrival of reecey's package (ahem), i thought i'd catch a view of 'total recall'. unfortunately it's gone ! - i must have lent it out. can anyone suggest where i could get another (vhs) copy ??? steve ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 11:03:00 -0400 (EDT) From: Colleen Matan Subject: Re: [AVALON] New Date: ROXY MUSIC to Play Antwerp in Sept On Wed, 4 Jul 2001, A.L. Jepson wrote: > Why is the RM tour of the US and Canada so small compared to the > amount of cities and dates that other bands play to over there? Is it > because RM aren't as popular Stateside as many other bands are and > therefore wouldn't be commercially viable to do a big tour of North > America? I would imagine that some of the American and Canadian fans > will have to travel fro miles to see the band perform. It's already been explained to you--haven't you been paying attention? It's because Americans know how to "wing it" and therefore that's why the rest of the world hates us. [Happy Independence Day to those so inclined.] Colleen (who always stays/ed awake in class) ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 16:16:42 +0100 From: "A.L. Jepson" Subject: Re: [AVALON] New Date: ROXY MUSIC to Play Antwerp in Sept I suppose I wasn't paying attention. Could you explain it to me again as I am interested to know. Alan (who did not always stay awake in class due to lack of interest in some of the subjects at school and university) Colleen Matan wrote: > > On Wed, 4 Jul 2001, A.L. Jepson wrote: > > > Why is the RM tour of the US and Canada so small compared to the > > amount of cities and dates that other bands play to over there? Is it > > because RM aren't as popular Stateside as many other bands are and > > therefore wouldn't be commercially viable to do a big tour of North > > America? I would imagine that some of the American and Canadian fans > > will have to travel fro miles to see the band perform. > > It's already been explained to you--haven't you been paying attention? > It's because Americans know how to "wing it" and therefore that's why the > rest of the world hates us. > > [Happy Independence Day to those so inclined.] > > Colleen (who always stays/ed awake in class) > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > The subliminable footer says: > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 08:16:42 -0700 From: "PeteK" Subject: [AVALON] Boys and Girls Boys and Girls is a masterpiece. Not one throwaway. Much unlike In your Mind. The supporting musicians are far superior too.IE: David Gilmour, Neil Hubbard, Mark Knopfler, Nile Rodgers, David Sanborn and Fonzi Thorton, to name a few. The layering, The textures. The soulful sound of Sanborn's Sax. The most romantic song ever recorded in "Windswept". IMHO equal or better than anything Roxy has done and FAR superior to any other solo work by Bryan. ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 08:51:30 -0700 (PDT) From: David Firmin Subject: Re: [AVALON] Boys and Girls We all have our preferences and I respect yours, but upon hearing In Your Mind for the first time, I was mesmerized. Every song is exceptional. I remember playing that album over-and-over again and that rarely happens. The musicianship, song-writing and Bryan Ferry are in top form. Every song is great and I'm sorry to say I can't think of a Roxy album that doesn't have one or two throwaways. Maybe IYM isn't the best recorded album, but it doesn't require the layering, the textures and the soulful sound of Sanborn's sax to make it my favorite Ferry album. - --- PeteK wrote: > Boys and Girls is a masterpiece. Not one throwaway. > Much unlike In your Mind. > The supporting musicians are far superior too.IE: > David Gilmour, Neil Hubbard, > Mark Knopfler, Nile Rodgers, David Sanborn and Fonzi > Thorton, to name a few. > The layering, The textures. The soulful sound of > Sanborn's Sax. The most > romantic song ever recorded in "Windswept". IMHO > equal or better than anything > Roxy has done and FAR superior to any other solo > work by Bryan. > > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > The subliminable footer says: > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 09:04:54 -0700 From: William Sommers Subject: Re: [AVALON] New Date: ROXY MUSIC to Play Antwerp in Sept At 03:38 PM 7/4/01 +0100, A.L. Jepson wrote: > Why is the RM tour of the US and Canada so small compared to the > amount of cities and dates that other bands play to over there? 50 shows is not a small tour for any band, much less one whose members are, er, a bit past their metabolic prime. And North America has been graced with a full 30% of the World Tour dates (while their own U.K. gets 22%, as of current announcements). No complaints here. -wfs ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 11:04:55 -0500 From: "Paul Bodine" Subject: [AVALON] Artikel in der WELT vom 01. Juli Here's a translation of the July 1 Ferry interview in "Welt." If I'm not mistaken Ferry comes closer than ever to saying Roxy may record a new album after the tour. The critical sentence is "Mal sehen, ob wir noch eine Roxy-Platte einschieben kvnnen." (Time will tell whether we are able to fit in another Roxy record?) - --Paul in Milwaukee Five Pin-ups on Tour No band was more glamorous than Roxy Music. Now after an 18 year break the five pop musicians shine again from the stage. Interview with Bryan Ferry. Mr. Ferry, is it very difficult to learn old Roxy songs? BF: "For that, one needs more semesters at the music academy. At first glance the songs are simple, but when one listens in more exactly, one recognizes their subtle structure. Also, a Roxy song must produce a certain feeling. That doesn't come through from just playing the notes. I guess that is also the reason why there are hardly acceptable cover versions of our songs." How does it feel to go again jointly on tour after 18 years? BF: "Roxy Music still generates great interest. I think that at that time we quit at the right moment. 'Avalon,' our last album, was so good in quality that people have kept us in memory. But now the expectations are naturally very high." You once described the breakup as a mistake . . . BF: "We had decided we could record the one or other album [noch das eine oder andere Album aufnehmen konnen]. But at that time I felt this urge to work with other people. I am also not unhappy with my decision." You are working a lot since then [Seither arbeiten sie viel]. Is that an act of compensation?" [Kompensationshandlung] BF: "I believe so. I am trying to make up a little ground since the clock is ticking and it makes me nervous. Time will tell whether we can push in [einschieben] another Roxy record." Therefore after the tour there will be the obligatory live album? BF "There are no concrete plans, but we will definitely record some shows live. You can never know. If the tour goes well and we like the reception it is entirely possible." Reunions hold the danger of [ruining?] a myth. [einen Mythos zu lddieren] BF: "I believe that we as a band are quite in a position to fulfull high expectations. The people will see a better band than ever before and the sound will also throw everything previous into the shade. Although I think that the original line-up of 1973 was a very good one-with outstanding musicians like John Porter or Brian Eno." What do you feel when people confront you with photos from the 1970s? BF: "I think that we were a rather colorful bunch. Our outfits were in equal parts futuristic and nostalgic. It had something provocative about it with which the young people could get something going [?immer noch etwas anfangen konnen]. If a band nowadays would dress like that they would certainly get the attention. I mean, kids take pleasure over everything that is different than the standard porridge [Einheitsbrei] that they are served daily." Roxy Music was a reaction to the programlessness [Konzeptlosigkeit] of the late Sixties. BF: "Right. It's hard to reconstruct from today's perspective. We didn't originate from the drawing board of some record company or other and there was also no great plan behind the music. Since then what is denoted as a 'band' is in the final analysis only a thoroughly calculated brand product." Pretty women were a central theme of all the Roxy covers. There was much protest . . . BF: "At some time or other that became self-perpetuating [Selbstlaufer]. With the first album we asked ourselves whether it was necessary to have a photo of the band on the cover. Just five characters looking stupid. Why not a glamorous image like one of the pin-up girls? So that was simple." The British radio guru John Peel has commented on your comeback with the words that it would be quite charming to see a band like Roxy Music in his local parish hall [Gemeindehaus]. BF: "That is a damned clever commentary for someone who earned his money with dog food advertising, but perhaps we should please him and play there." Which luxuries will you treat yourself to on the tour? Some kind of special catering? BF: "That is a strict secret! But to be honest, I don't believe that it will turn out to be especially luxurious." And how wild is one permitted to imagine the daily routine of touring at that time? [Und wie wild darf man sich den damaligen Touralltag vorstellen?] BF: "Wild? We never had decent catering, rather we had to break into the hotel kitchen at night to pick the refrigerator clean. So no comparison to the big rock bands like Led Zeppelin, who held one orgy after another." ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 09:08:46 -0700 (PDT) From: Maggie Curran Subject: Re: [AVALON] In Your Mind Christian: I'm with you! Thanks for your thoughtful rebuttal. Maggie On Wed, 04 Jul 2001 09:56:55 +0100, avalon@smoe.org wrote: > I would agree that Ferry's vox had achieved a maturity around "Siren" that > enabled him to make use of his voice the way he wanted to. Listen to the > glorious harmony vocals on End Of The Line, for example. > Though his voice does indeed seem more fragile now, it's still the most > beautiful voice I have ever heard. The quirky phrasing is still there, and > what the voice may have lost in vocal cord power, it has gained in subtlety. > > As for In Your Mind, it is an album with some very good tracks, and I'll > bore all of you with the fact that the title track was the one to get more > and more into Ferry's music in 87 - but I can understand why Ferry voices > misgivings about it - it was clearly an attempt to do something for the US > mainstream market, and there's too much playing, the clarity gets lost at > times. With TBSB, Ferry was willing to experiment more, and there, the > bleakness does not drift in the background as much. One Kiss may be one of > the songs on IYM to benefit from that "big" production, while "All Night > Operator" does not, honestly. Some things may be dark lyrically, but not the > music. > I may stand alone (or with a mere few) here, but I really prefer 90s Ferry > to IYM, especially Mamouna. I find it very likeable if people sound a bit > reflective and not entirely self-confident all the way through, a thread > often evident in Ferry's work and probably what we get to see and hear of > his personality as well. > > Christian > > ---------- > >Von: "Chris Turner" > >An: > >Betreff: Re: [AVALON] In Your Mind > >Datum: Mit, 4. Jul 2001 3:35 Uhr > > > > >Dark. Yes. Agreed. Wasn't Ferry living out his long-held fantasy of > >Americana during his LA sojourn around this time? And discovering to his > >disappointment that a diet of saccharine leaves you feeling ultimately > >empty. > > > >But there are more prosaic reasons for the quality of this period. Like many > >here I have seen video footage or witnessed all periods of Ferry's career, > >and consider that his performance levels were never higher than at the 75-78 > >Siren/LST/IYM/BSB period. These vocals were not the forced theatricality of > >early Roxy; the faux croonery of TFT and ATAP; the 'one octave too high' > >late Roxy efforts; the lost in the mix solo-career lounge-lizardry, or the > >fragile and sometimes unreliable instrument currently touring the globe. > > > >In particular the Japanese 'Young Music Show' 1977 TV appearance, showed > >Ferry as a uniformed colossus, confident to the brink of cockiness, > >performing material he wrote and believed in, with a voice he could have > >complete faith in, backed by a talented and rocky band. Spedding and Manzo > >in tandem (and in a more appropriate lead/rhythm combo), the solidity and > >reliability of the Thompson/Wetton axis, a funky horn section and the very > >underestimated arrangements and playing of Ann Odell. > > > >It's a joy to watch. How I would have loved to have witnessed that tour > >first-hand. > > > >Chris > > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > The subliminable footer says: > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > _______________________________________________________ Send a cool gift with your E-Card http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/ ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 12:16:00 EDT From: Artman1@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] In Your Mind I definitely agree. While B & G is my favorite of BF's post-Roxy material, IYM has always been my favorite of any of solo works. TBSB has a few good tunes on it but is very weak overall and it deserves whatever criticism it's ever gotten. All of the songs on IYM are unique. The title track is my favorite and is an incredible closer for the disc. I really don't see how anyone could say it sounds like everything else that was on the radio in '77 I know from previous postings on the topic that some(many)people think IYM is badly mixed and overproduced. I've never taken much time to analyze the mixing job although I am listening to it at the moment, having been inspired by the topic! It doesn't sound that bad to me but I don't have a musician's ear. In any event, I've always really enjoyed the string, horn and vocal arrangements of IYM. I guess it's consistent with my fondness for groups like ELP, Genesis, Yes,(hell, even Jane's Addiction!)etc., who can be rather grandiose at times. I just like songs where there's alot happening at once. While B&G, and for that matter, Avalon, were both excellent albums, ithey did mark BF's departure from his rock 'n roll days, which is what I miss. I'd surrender almost any body part to see the man release a disc which could actually be considered good old fashioned rock which could make me move a little bit. Soundscapes are okay in small doses. Come on Bryan, let's rock!!!!! Maybe RM will make my dreams come true after the tour is over(whose arrival in the States I am so anxiously awaiting!). Later everyone! Art P.S. - any opinions on Let's Stick Together? In a message dated 7/3/01 6:07:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time, terrypaulrigz8c@supanet.com writes: > I think it has a great deal more about it (In Your Mind) than the sanitised > presence that is Boys and Girls, which is where Ferry's downward spiral into > style over substance began ( although greater style than anyone I could > name ). > ----- Original Message ----- > From: thom.wallace > To: > Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2001 9:42 PM > Subject: Re: [AVALON] In Your Mind > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: David Firmin > > To: > > Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2001 5:48 PM > > Subject: Re: [AVALON] In Your Mind > > > > > To most Roxy fans "In Your Mind" still burns more fiercely than both > > > Ferry's later solo and group albums. On balance, "In Your Mind" remains > > the ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 17:26:37 +0100 From: "A.L. Jepson" Subject: Re: [AVALON] New Date: ROXY MUSIC to Play Antwerp in Sept Oh no I'm not complaining, just interested as I noticed that the band aren't playing many dates in the South apart from Atlanta. Alan William Sommers wrote: > > At 03:38 PM 7/4/01 +0100, A.L. Jepson wrote: > > > Why is the RM tour of the US and Canada so small compared to the > > amount of cities and dates that other bands play to over there? > > 50 shows is not a small tour for any band, much less one whose members are, > er, a bit past their metabolic prime. > > And North America has been graced with a full 30% of the World Tour dates > (while their own U.K. gets 22%, as of current announcements). No > complaints here. > > -wfs > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > The subliminable footer says: > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ The subliminable footer says: To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V6 #281 **************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest