The 500 - #374 - Siren - Roxy Music

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

Album # 374

Album Title: Siren
Artist: Roxy Music

Genre: Art Rock, Glam Rock, Art Pop
Recorded: AIR Studios, London
Released: October, 1975
My age at release: 10 (Guest blogger, Doug Hampson, was 16)
How familiar was I with it before this week: One Song
Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Love Is The Drug

Last November, posted about album #396 on The 500, For Your Pleasure, by British Art Rock band Roxy Music. The post included a contribution from my long-time friend Bill Gudgeon who worked as an FM Radio disc jockey and band manager in the 1970s. Within minutes of the blog hitting my social media feed, I received a call from Doug, a friend I met 20 years ago through Bill.

Doug Hampson enjoying his favourite pasttime.

"I just read your Roxy Music post," Doug began, "I have a great story about that band." As he shared his tale with me, I quickly looked at The 500 List to discover that Roxy Music had another record, Siren, their fifth release, at position #374.

"Would you be willing to share that story next April, Doug?" I asked.

"Absolutely," he replied enthusiastically and, even through the phone line, I could imagine his face with the familiar grin my friends and I have all come to love from the guy we call "Dougie".  

Doug plying the waters of Ontario

From Doug:

On February 8, 1975, at the tender age of 16, I went to my first real concert. It was Roxy Music at the London Arena in London, Ontario. The only thing I knew about the group was the song Mother of Pearl from their third record, 1973's Stranded.

Album Cover for Stranded by Roxy Music (1973)

During the winter of 1975 I was a member of a local Boy Scout troop. Our fearless leader, Scout Master Larry, announced he was working security for the upcoming Roxy Music concert. He suggested that the concert would be an excellent outing for our troop and he would be able to monitor our safety while working at the show.

London Arena (1920) from The Western Archives

We couldn’t believe we were going to have this opportunity. We had to make preparations and began saving money in earnest. As luck would have it, we ended up with enough cash for our tickets, with money to spare. 

A partial ticket stub from the London show 

So, we did what most teenagers in the 1970s would do; we bought a bag of marijuana. One of the more experienced members of our group rolled the entire contents into doobies (marijuana cigarettes) and, after sneaking it past security, we each received three joints. 

With the passage of time, and perhaps those three joints, my memory about the event is a bit of a blur. However, I vividly remember the start of the show. The house lights dimmed and Roxy Music took the stage. The first five members were long-haired and freaky-looking. They went to their respective instruments and began playing. After a minute or two, out strolled a dashing man in a tuxedo. All I could think was, "Who the hell is this guy?"

Roxy Music (1975)

Then he started singing. What a voice! I later learned this was Bryan Ferry, founder, lead singer and principal songwriter for Roxy Music. But, I wasn't interested in details at the time; I was too busy having the time of my life on this "scout-sanctioned" outing. That feeling of excitement about live performances has never gone away. I still experience the same anticipation and electric delight when I attend a concert to this day.  Thanks, Larry.

More from me:

Roxy Music went on to release this week's album, Siren, eight months after the London performance. It featured one of their biggest hits, Love Is The Drug, which peaked at #2 in the UK and #3 in Canada. The video features Ferry dressed in a British air pilot's uniform, while sporting a gold and black eye-patch. This wasn't a fashion choice. Ferry had injured the eye a few days before the scheduled video shoot. Regardless, it created a buzz among Roxy Music devotees and many began to arrive at their concerts wearing the eye-patch as an accessory. 

Bryan Ferry in the Love Is A Drug video

Roxy Music released eight records between 1972 and 1982 before disbanding. Ferry continued with a successful solo career, while the other members found success with other bands. The group would reunite multiple times between 2001 and 2011 before declaring that they were disbanding permanently.

Roxy Music inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 2014, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by John Taylor and Simon Le Bon of the group Duran Duran, who, like dozens of other artists, cite Roxy Music as a formative influence. 

The 500 - #396 - For Your Pleasure - Roxy Music

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

Album # 396

Album Title: For Your Pleasure
Artist: Roxy Music
Genre: Art Rock, Glam Rock, Art Pop
Recorded: AIR Studios, London, UK
Released: March, 1973
My age at release: 7
How familiar was I with it before this week: Not at all
Song I am putting on my Spotify Mix: Do The Strand

For Your Pleasure is the sophomore record for English experimental, art-rock band Roxy Music. The group's founder and lead singer, charismatic crooner Bryan Ferry, is the most recognizable member. However, it is another Brian, synthesizer and sound specialist Brian Eno, who may be the most interesting, if not for his songwriting then certainly for his flamboyant early 70's attire.

Roxy Music (1973) Brian Eno - far left Bryan Ferry - center

Those who have followed my blogs may recognize Eno's name from two records on The 500 list: the 1973 Album Here Come The Warm Jets at position #432 or Another Green World at #429. I wrote about both a few weeks apart last spring.

Throughout the production of For Your Pleasure, artistic temperaments were tested. Eno was increasingly interested in more experimental sounds, while Ferry was drawn toward the New Wave and Punk sounds emerging from London's underground music scene. Additionally, guitarist Phil Manzenara was somewhat shut-out of the writing process dominated by Ferry and Eno. Indeed, Eno left the band shortly after the record's release to work on the aforementioned Here Come The Warm Jets, released the same year. In Eno's absence, Ferry and Manzenara collaborated on six additional studio releases over the next nine years.

This was my first exposure to the record and I'll admit that, during the first two plays, I found it odd and cacophonous. I was not deterred. There are many records I have learned to love that I found jarring or inharmonious on first listen. For my third spin, I put on my headphones and found a quiet spot. As I suspected, For Your Pleasure began to grow on me. I immediately thought of my good friend Bill. Bill worked as an FM disc jockey and managed bands throughout the late 70s and early 80s. This seemed like a record he would love, so I reached out with a text to ask him if he was familiar and he shared the following:

"One of the most influential discs in my life. Good eye. I played it heavily on FM96 (a London, Ontario, radio station) and the band I managed covered two tunes from this album."

"Would you care to share some thoughts as a guest blogger?", I asked. He agreed, despite a busy schedule, and the following appeared in my message box shortly after:

"For Your Pleasure was Roxy Music's second album, coming out in 1973. The album cover had Bryan Ferry's then-girlfriend, Amanda Lear on the cover, and he was on the back. Not only was she a singer and model, she later became surrealistic painter Salvador Dali's confidant and muse."

Bryan Ferry on the back Cover to For Your Pleasure

"There is such a commotion of sounds on that record. It is glam, punk, pop, jazz and sometimes just noise. In the early 80s I managed a band called Second Thoughts. They did a cover of the opening track, Do the Strand, that never failed to pump-up the audience. This was a great experimental album which launched an extraordinary and eclectic band. It will always be one of my very faves."