From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V15 #3 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Saturday, January 8 2011 Volume 15 : Number 003 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [AVALON] Olympia and new Roxy material... [kwil632057@aol.com] Re: [AVALON] Olympia and new Roxy material... [Victor Hastings ] To leave the list, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon-digest ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2011 11:41:07 -0500 From: kwil632057@aol.com Subject: [AVALON] Olympia and new Roxy material... The Uncut feature has some interesting things to say about the aborted Roxy project. Apparently the band laid down instrumentals with the idea that Ferry would provide lyrics at a later date. In between tracks being recorded and the wait for lyrics, various band members gave interviews about the project leaving Ferry feeling pressured and resistant to the project. Nobody in the band was that thrilled with the 'Roxy' material that found it's way to Olympia and Ferry only really liked one of the slower numbers they recorded. The article concludes with Ferry teasing that a new Roxy Music might happen, but given the noises made in the rest of the article, it seems as likely as Eno, O'List and Simpson returning to the lineup. Missed opportunity or mystique shattering bullet dodged? You decide. Ferry mentions that a couple of the 'more obscure tracks from FYP' are being practiced for the forthcoming tour so let's not rule out Strictly Confidential or Beauty Queen just yet... The failure of Olympia to pierce the top ten seems to be being placed at the door of the supermarkets in the feature (Tesco being singled out for failing in the 'every little bit helps' mantra for Ferry). Speaking of which, now that the initial honeymoon period is over, what's your opinion on the new album? For me, there are a couple of classics (Reason or Rhyme, Shameless and Me Oh My being the standouts) but the rest is passable rather than outstanding. J ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 09:24:57 -0800 (PST) From: Victor Hastings Subject: Re: [AVALON] Olympia and new Roxy material... > The Uncut feature has some interesting things to say about the aborted Roxy > project. Apparently the band laid down instrumentals with the idea that Ferry > would provide lyrics at a later date. In between tracks being recorded and > the wait for lyrics, various band members gave interviews about the project > leaving Ferry feeling pressured and resistant to the project. I'm hard pressed to remember a project on which Ferry DIDN'T feel pressured and resistant. > Nobody in the band was that thrilled with the 'Roxy' material that found it's > way to Olympia and Ferry only really liked one of the slower numbers they > recorded. The article concludes with Ferry teasing that a new Roxy Music might > happen, but given the noises made in the rest of the article, it seems as > likely as Eno, O'List and Simpson returning to the lineup. Missed opportunity > or mystique shattering bullet dodged? You decide. I'd rather have no new Roxy material than bad new Roxy. Guy Ritchie should have retired after Snatch. > > Ferry mentions that a couple of the 'more obscure tracks from FYP' are being > practiced for the forthcoming tour so let's not rule out Strictly Confidential > or Beauty Queen just yet... Hope he wasn't referring to The Bogus Man. > The failure of Olympia to pierce the top ten seems to be being placed at the > door of the supermarkets in the feature (Tesco being singled out for failing > in the 'every little bit helps' mantra for Ferry). > > Speaking of which, now that the initial honeymoon period is over, what's your > opinion on the new album? For me, there are a couple of classics (Reason or > Rhyme, Shameless and Me Oh My being the standouts) but the rest is passable > rather than outstanding. Tender is the Night is a classic. You Can Dance has grown on me in a hurry. Alphaville is really good. Song to the Siren is as good a rework as Ferry has ever done. I can do without BF Bass and No Face No Name No Number. I became a devoted Roxy/Ferry fan in 1978 and Olympia is the best thing Ferry has done since then, with the arguable exception of Avalon. And the best stuff on Olympia is better than the peaks of Avalon. ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:59:36 +0000 From: Richard Evans Subject: Re: [AVALON] Olympia and new Roxy material... I thought the article was very good really - and interesting to see the pics of the band recording the first album and the 2006 sessions I always hope they will do another album - its seems to me Ferry didn't really want to do it and wanted to see what the band could bring to his material although what that was is anybody's guess - the only track on Olympia that is new new is BF BASS I think. I am very hopeful the new setlist will have some surprises in it As for Olympia - it still disappoints - I feel it could have been better if there weren't so many guitar players on every track - it sort of gets lost in its complexity and doesn't really grab you. That said Song for the Siren is tremendous and parts of various songs are stunningly beautiful in places. As for comparing it with Avalon - sorry Avalon is streets ahead of Olympia Richard On 7 Jan 2011, at 16:41, kwil632057@aol.com wrote: > The Uncut feature has some interesting things to say about the aborted Roxy > project. Apparently the band laid down instrumentals with the idea that Ferry > would provide lyrics at a later date. In between tracks being recorded and > the wait for lyrics, various band members gave interviews about the project > leaving Ferry feeling pressured and resistant to the project. > Nobody in the band was that thrilled with the 'Roxy' material that found it's > way to Olympia and Ferry only really liked one of the slower numbers they > recorded. The article concludes with Ferry teasing that a new Roxy Music might > happen, but given the noises made in the rest of the article, it seems as > likely as Eno, O'List and Simpson returning to the lineup. Missed opportunity > or mystique shattering bullet dodged? You decide. > > Ferry mentions that a couple of the 'more obscure tracks from FYP' are being > practiced for the forthcoming tour so let's not rule out Strictly Confidential > or Beauty Queen just yet... > > The failure of Olympia to pierce the top ten seems to be being placed at the > door of the supermarkets in the feature (Tesco being singled out for failing > in the 'every little bit helps' mantra for Ferry). > > Speaking of which, now that the initial honeymoon period is over, what's your > opinion on the new album? For me, there are a couple of classics (Reason or > Rhyme, Shameless and Me Oh My being the standouts) but the rest is passable > rather than outstanding. > > J > > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:21:16 -0500 From: kwil632057@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] Selling Olympia The failure of Olympia to crack the top ten is fascinating. I think it's a fine, and on occasion very good album, but I wonder why it made such a brief UK chart appearnce? Are the supermarkets to blame for not stocking it or are there other factors such as: - - The obsession with a tonne of remixes (of Shameless in particular). I don't think they set the clubworld alight and aren't a part of many fans playlists I'd guess. Yet every five minutes there was a new and wholly unneccesary remix. Ferry embarking on this weird clubland trail will be seen as a massive red herring in years to come, if not already? - - Too much You Can Dance? It's not a bad track, but it seemed liked the only one he'd do for a long time (til Later... with Jools Holland unleashed Shameless and STTS). It's hardly a crowdpleaser like STL or LST. - - Overdependance on Kate Moss. Kate doesn't really sell records any more than Jerry Hall or the ladies with spears do. It's the music that's key to sales. Getting Kate was a coup, but she's in lots of magazines should the public want lto see her and isn't a selling point alone. - - Too much publicity? Were people sick of hearing about the album after such a heavy and sustained push? - -Was the release date too close to Christmas? Did the album get lost in the pre-Christmas rush as various greatest hits hit the shelves? - - No tour to support album. He seems to be expressing regret about this already, but I wonder if a tour to support the lp would have got the public interested immediately after hearing a diverse assortment of tracks? Any thoughts? J - -----Original Message----- From: Richard Evans To: kwil632057@aol.com CC: avalon@smoe.org Sent: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 17:59 Subject: Re: [AVALON] Olympia and new Roxy material... I thought the article was very good really - and interesting to see the pics of he band recording the first album and the 2006 sessions I always hope they will do another album - its seems to me Ferry didn't really ant to do it and wanted to see what the band could bring to his material lthough what that was is anybody's guess - the only track on Olympia that is ew new is BF BASS I think. I am very hopeful the new setlist will have some surprises in it As for Olympia - it still disappoints - I feel it could have been better if here weren't so many guitar players on every track - it sort of gets lost in ts complexity and doesn't really grab you. That said Song for the Siren is tremendous and parts of various songs are tunningly beautiful in places. As for comparing it with Avalon - sorry Avalon is streets ahead of Olympia Richard n 7 Jan 2011, at 16:41, kwil632057@aol.com wrote: > The Uncut feature has some interesting things to say about the aborted Roxy project. Apparently the band laid down instrumentals with the idea that Ferry would provide lyrics at a later date. In between tracks being recorded and the wait for lyrics, various band members gave interviews about the project leaving Ferry feeling pressured and resistant to the project. Nobody in the band was that thrilled with the 'Roxy' material that found it's way to Olympia and Ferry only really liked one of the slower numbers they recorded. The article concludes with Ferry teasing that a new Roxy Music might happen, but given the noises made in the rest of the article, it seems as likely as Eno, O'List and Simpson returning to the lineup. Missed opportunity or mystique shattering bullet dodged? You decide. Ferry mentions that a couple of the 'more obscure tracks from FYP' are being practiced for the forthcoming tour so let's not rule out Strictly Confidential or Beauty Queen just yet... The failure of Olympia to pierce the top ten seems to be being placed at the door of the supermarkets in the feature (Tesco being singled out for failing in the 'every little bit helps' mantra for Ferry). Speaking of which, now that the initial honeymoon period is over, what's your opinion on the new album? For me, there are a couple of classics (Reason or Rhyme, Shameless and Me Oh My being the standouts) but the rest is passable rather than outstanding. J ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:12:59 +0000 From: Richard Evans Subject: Re: [AVALON] Selling Olympia To be honest the content wasn't that great and he should have toured it Richard Evans On 7 Jan 2011, at 19:21, kwil632057@aol.com wrote: > The failure of Olympia to crack the top ten is fascinating. I think it's a > fine, and on occasion very good album, but I wonder why it made such a brief > UK chart appearnce? > Are the supermarkets to blame for not stocking it or are there other factors > such as: > > - The obsession with a tonne of remixes (of Shameless in particular). I don't > think they set the clubworld alight and aren't a part of many fans playlists > I'd guess. Yet every five minutes there was a new and wholly unneccesary > remix. Ferry embarking on this weird clubland trail will be seen as a massive > red herring in years to come, if not already? > - Too much You Can Dance? It's not a bad track, but it seemed liked the only > one he'd do for a long time (til Later... with Jools Holland unleashed > Shameless and STTS). It's hardly a crowdpleaser like STL or LST. > - Overdependance on Kate Moss. Kate doesn't really sell records any more than > Jerry Hall or the ladies with spears do. It's the music that's key to sales. > Getting Kate was a coup, but she's in lots of magazines should the public want > lto see her and isn't a selling point alone. > - Too much publicity? Were people sick of hearing about the album after such a > heavy and sustained push? > -Was the release date too close to Christmas? Did the album get lost in the > pre-Christmas rush as various greatest hits hit the shelves? > - No tour to support album. He seems to be expressing regret about this > already, but I wonder if a tour to support the lp would have got the public > interested immediately after hearing a diverse assortment of tracks? > > Any thoughts? > > J > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Richard Evans > To: kwil632057@aol.com > CC: avalon@smoe.org > Sent: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 17:59 > Subject: Re: [AVALON] Olympia and new Roxy material... > > > I thought the article was very good really - and interesting to see the pics > of > he band recording the first album and the 2006 sessions > I always hope they will do another album - its seems to me Ferry didn't really > ant to do it and wanted to see what the band could bring to his material > lthough what that was is anybody's guess - the only track on Olympia that is > ew new is BF BASS I think. > I am very hopeful the new setlist will have some surprises in it > As for Olympia - it still disappoints - I feel it could have been better if > here weren't so many guitar players on every track - it sort of gets lost in > ts complexity and doesn't really grab you. > That said Song for the Siren is tremendous and parts of various songs are > tunningly beautiful in places. > As for comparing it with Avalon - sorry Avalon is streets ahead of Olympia > Richard > > n 7 Jan 2011, at 16:41, kwil632057@aol.com wrote: >> The Uncut feature has some interesting things to say about the aborted Roxy > project. Apparently the band laid down instrumentals with the idea that > Ferry > would provide lyrics at a later date. In between tracks being recorded and > the wait for lyrics, various band members gave interviews about the project > leaving Ferry feeling pressured and resistant to the project. > Nobody in the band was that thrilled with the 'Roxy' material that found > it's > way to Olympia and Ferry only really liked one of the slower numbers they > recorded. The article concludes with Ferry teasing that a new Roxy Music > might > happen, but given the noises made in the rest of the article, it seems as > likely as Eno, O'List and Simpson returning to the lineup. Missed > opportunity > or mystique shattering bullet dodged? You decide. > > Ferry mentions that a couple of the 'more obscure tracks from FYP' are being > practiced for the forthcoming tour so let's not rule out Strictly > Confidential > or Beauty Queen just yet... > > The failure of Olympia to pierce the top ten seems to be being placed at the > door of the supermarkets in the feature (Tesco being singled out for failing > in the 'every little bit helps' mantra for Ferry). > > Speaking of which, now that the initial honeymoon period is over, what's > your > opinion on the new album? For me, there are a couple of classics (Reason or > Rhyme, Shameless and Me Oh My being the standouts) but the rest is passable > rather than outstanding. > > J > > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon > > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V15 #3 *************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest