HEART STILL BEATING

Review Nº 906

"Heart Still Beating" is the second live album of Roxy Music that was only released in 1990. While the album's sleeve states that the album was recorded at Fréjus, France in 1982, it's in reality a mixture of shows from several locals and dates in Europe in 1982 and 1983 when Roxy Music made their Avalon's Tour and was mixed together as only one live show. It's interesting to note that, unlike most bands of that time, Roxy Music has very few live albums. At that time, beyond "Viva! Roxy Music" released in 1976, Roxy Music had only released their four track live EP "The High Road".

Relatively to the line up on "Heart Still Beating" and in addition to the only three founding members that remaining on the group Bryan Ferry (vocals and keyboards), Phil Manzanera (guitars) and Andy MacKay (saxophone and oboe), there are several additional musicians on "Heart Still Beating". So, we also have Neil Hubbard (guitar), Alan Spenner (bass), Guy Fletcher (keyboards), Andy Newmark (drums) and Jimmy Maelen (percussion). We still also have Fonzi Thornton, Mitchelle Cobbs and Tawatha Agee (backing vocals.

"Heart Still Beating" has fourteen tracks. The first track "India" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Avalon". The second track "Can't Let Go" isn't a Roxy Music's track. It's a Ferry's track. It was originally released on his album "The Bride Stripped Bare". The third track, which gave its name to the album, "While My Heart Is Still Beating" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Avalon". The fourth track "Out Of The Blue" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Country Live". The fifth track "Dance Away" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Manifesto". The sixth track "Impossible Guitar" isn't a Roxy Music's track. It's a Manzanera's track. It was originally released on his album "Primitive Guitars". The seventh track "A Song For Europe" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Stranded". The eighth track "Love Is The Drug" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Siren". The ninth track "Like A Hurricane" isn't a Roxy Music's track. It's a Neil Young's track. It was originally released on his album "American Stars 'n Bars". The tenth track "My Only Love" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Flesh + Blood". The eleventh track "Both Ends Burning" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Siren". The twelfth track "Avalon" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "Avalon". The thirteenth track "Editions Of You" was originally released on Roxy Music's album "For Your Pleasure". The fourteenth track "Jealous Guy" isn't a Roxy Music's track. It's a John Lennon's track. It was originally released on his album "Imagine".

So, "Heart Still Beating" was Roxy Music's second live album, following the 1976's "Viva! Roxy Music". When the album came out, the band hadn't existed for a few years. The fourteen tracks were recorded in 1982 but not released until 1990. This period of eight years shows how fresh and timeless the band's music sounds. Even today, the pieces don't seem to me a bit dusty. Musically, Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera and Andy MacKay offer a journey through the albums "Stranded", "Country Life", "Siren", "Manifesto", "Flesh + Blood" and "Avalon". Alongside the hits "Editions Of You", "Love Is The Drug", "Both Ends Burning", "Dance Away", "My Only Love", "Jealous Guy" and "Avalon". "Heart Still Beating" also includes interesting interpretations of "A Song For Europe", "Out Of The Blue" and "While My Heart Is Still Beating". As a treat, there are some extra tracks here. Tracks don't belong to Roxy Music. So, we have "Impossible Guitar" by Manzanera, "Like A Hurricane" by Neil Young and "Jealous Guy" by John Lennon. The band comes closer to a mainstream rock sound with enjoyable interpretations of "Like A Hurricane" and "Jealous Guy", but even then, the distinctive band's art-rock tendencies remain faithful. All in all, "Heart Still Beating" is an absolute listening pleasure.

Conclusion: I almost agree with Raff when he says this album is a little bit cold. This is true in the beginning of the album but as the concert advances it will become warmer. That is especially true from "A Song For Europe", eventually being brilliant, in certain moments, like "Like A Hurricane", "My Only Love" and particularly "Jealous Guy". However, I think this album has a different problem. The problem isn't with Ferry, MacKay or Manzanera, because they're excellent as always. Manzanera features some of his best guitar solos as a Roxy Music member. The problems are with the additional musicians because they're all good but not as great as they must be. The main problem is on the keyboards where the sound is a bit faint, failing to fill the concert with its sound. I'm convinced that if Eddie Jobson was still in the band this live album could be a masterpiece. Still and despite all I said before, I decided to rate this album with 4 stars. The track list of the album is great, the live performances are in general very good, the sound quality is excellent, particularly my CD because it's a HDCD version and finally because there are so few live albums of the band. So, I think it's necessary to have it. All of this makes it an excellent addition to any Roxy Music's decent music collection.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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