MORE THAN THIS, THE BEST OF BRYAN FERRY + ROXY MUSIC

This is the second hybrid compilation effort (half Roxy, half Ferry). The first one was "Street Life 20 Great Hits" released in 1986. Since it peaked at the first spot in the UK charts, I guess that it was a great kick to produce a second one. The major problem with is that we are almost confronted to a carbon copy. Each Ferry song being the same until 1985.

So, in terms of "new" Ferry songs, we'll get : "Dont Stop The Dance" from "Boys & Girls (85). This well-known song is very similar of the second Roxy period ("Manifesto" till "Avalon"); which was IMO far to reach the quality of their glorious days. There is a non-album song here : "Is Your Love Strong Enough" (released in 1986). It was part of the soundtrack for the movie "Legend" from Ridley Scott and peaked at the 22nd in the UK chart. Nothing to be remembered though.

"Kiss And Tell" comes from the album "Bête Noire" (ah, this Bryan love for Frenchy stuff !). At times it reminds "Ain't That So", but the mood here is even more disco oriented. Not essential of course.

We'll jump a bit in time to have one number from the album "Taxi" (1993). It will be a cover version form "I Put A Spell On You". I can tell you that with this infect version, dear Bryan won't put the spell on anybody. The original and fanstastic song from Creedence (Clearwater Revival) is one of their best and a very old one (featured on their debut album in 1968). It was a true rock song with a fabulous guitar solo from John (Forgerty). This version is a syrupous and infamous joke. A real massacre. Forget it, immediately.

The closing number "Your Painted Smile" comes from the last Bryan album available (Mamouna, 1994). It is a mellow & dull rock ballad. Not worse than most of the songs featured here.

In terms of Ferry songs available on the previous compilation only " A Hard Rain's A- Gonna Fall" and "Let's Stick Together" can compete with the great Roxy songs. Two very good and very well known songs. These are from the best ones you will get here.

Now, the pure Roxy ones. From the golden era, three songs (all featured already on "Street Life 20 Great Hits").

The remaining seven being, unfortunately, taken from their later repertoire with two songs from "Manifesto" (the commercial ones : "Dance Away" and "Angel Eyes"), two from "Flesh+Blood" of which one great song ("Same Old Scene") and the insipid "Oh Yeah", and two from "Avalon". The title track and "More Than This" which will give its title to this compilation and which was the opener on the "Avalon" album. It reached number six in the UK charts and has the typical poppish/disco sound of Roxy in those days.

There will be a non-Roxy album song : "Jealous Guy". A tribute to one of the greatest song writer of the music history. This song was written in 1981, juut after the murder of John Lennon. It is, to date, the only Roxy single to peak at the first spot of the British charts. It is one of the longest song (over six minutes) to reach that spot in the charts as well. It is indeed a great number. The version featured here is an edit (the same actually than on the previous compilation of this genre).

This album will be released in the US in 1999. "I'm In The Mood For Love" (1999) will replace "Is Your Love Strong Enough" and "Your Painted Smile". As you have understood, this is absolutely not a must own. Shame on you Bryan.

Two stars (because of the three RM classics, "Jealous Guy" and two great BF songs : "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" and "Let's Stick Together".

Review Nº 761

"More Than This, The Best Of Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music" is a compilation album of Roxy Music that was released in 1995. This is a compilation album featuring music of some songs of Roxy Music and music of the band's lead member and singer Bryan Ferry with some songs as a solo artist. The name of this compilation album was taken from the song "More Than This", one of the songs of the eighth Roxy Music's studio album "Avalon", which was released in 1982.

This is the second hybrid compilation album published by Roxy Music. The first one was "Street Life: 20 Great Hits" released in 1986. As I mentioned before, when I reviewed that previous compilation album, Roxy Music always was a singles' band where many were more successful than the singles of the majority of the bands on this site. On the other hand, with the passing of time, especially when Brian Eno left the band, Ferry has become synonymous of Roxy Music and vice versa. So, it isn't strange that compilation albums of Roxy Music appear with songs of Ferry's solo repertoire.

"More Than This, The Best Of Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music" has twenty tracks, ten from Roxy Music and ten from Bryan Ferry. About the Roxy Music's tracks, "Virginia Plain" was their debut single. It wasn't recorded on the original version of their debut album "Roxy Music". Still, after the success of their debut album it was included on later reissues. It was released as a new single with "Pyjamarama" in 1977. It was made to be a hit single. It has interesting appointments by Eno. "Street Life" is from "Stranded". It's an enjoyable song in the pop/rock style and made in the commercial vein. It's well performed and Ferry's vocal style is good. "Love Is The Drug" is from "Siren". It's an incredible song, melodic and with good quality. It has an incredible performance. MacKay and his saxophone are great, Manzanera and his guitar work is great too and Ferry and his vocals are fantastic, as always. "Dance Away" is from "Manifesto". Despite it has nothing of progressive, it has good simple lyrics, a fantastic melody and a great dancing rhythm. I always loved this song. This is, for me, one of the greatest pop songs ever written. "Angel Eyes" is also from "Manifesto". It's a pop oriented song featuring a rock style. It's better than many songs on "Manifesto". It's well performed, in spite of be a normal simple song. "Oh Yeah" is from "Flesh + Blood". It's a catchy pop song, well made and that improves the good commercial quality of the song writing on "Flesh + Blood". "Same Old Scene" is also from "Flesh + Blood". It has a strong bass line, nice vocals, great keyboards, and especially it has a fantastic saxophone work by MacKay. This is a great Roxy Music's song. "Jealous Guy" is a cover song of Lennon. It was originally released on "Imagine" of Lennon in 1971. It was only released as a single, and was made after the dead of Lennon as a tribute to him. This is a great version of a fantastic song, a perfect fit for Ferry's persona and Roxy Music's adult rock. "More Than This" is from "Avalon". It's a good commercial pop song made for an easy radio listening. We may say this is a perfect hit pop song of the 80's. "Avalon" is also from "Avalon". It has good lyrics and the music is perfect and invites you to dance slowly like when the party is over. The voice of Ferry is fantastic and the female chorus voices are warm with a nice touch.

About Bryan Ferry's tracks, "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is of "These Foolish Things". It's a cover song of Bob Dylan. "These Foolish Things" is also of "These Foolish Things". It's a cover song of Harry Link, Holt Marvell and Jack Strachey. "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" is of "Another Time, Another Place". It's a cover song of Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach. "Let's Stick Together" is of "Let's Stick Together". It's a cover song of Wilbert Harrison. "Slave To Love" is a Ferry's song of "Boys And Girls". "Don't Stop The Dance" is also of "Boys And Girls". It's a Ferry and a Rhett Davies song. "Is Your Love Strong Enough?" is a Ferry's song. It was taken from the soundtrack of "Legend", a film of Ridley Scott of 1986. "Legend" is a soundtrack album of Tangerine Dream with its music by Ferry and music with lyrics by Jon Anderson, "Loved By The Sun". It was never released on any studio album of Ferry. "Kiss And Tell" is a Ferry's song of "Bete Noire". "I Put A Sell On You" is of "Taxi". It's a cover song of Screamin' Jay Hawkins. "Your Painted Smile" is a Ferry's song of "Mamouna". These are all great tracks but aren't progressive. So, I'm not going to review them here.

Conclusion: "More Than This, The Best Of Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music" is a hybrid compilation album like "Street Life: 20 Great Hits" compilation is. Still, while "Street Life: 20 Great Hits" has more Roxy Music's tracks than Ferry's tracks, "More Than This, The Best Of Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music" is a compilation album perfectly balanced between Roxy Music and Ferry's tracks, with ten tracks from each. By the other hand, fifteen tracks on "More Than This, The Best Of Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music" are also present on "Street Life: 20 Great Hits". The only five new tracks are all from Ferry's solo work. So, in a Roxy Music and progressive point of view, "More Than This, The Best Of Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music" is less interesting than "Street Life: 20 Great Hits" is. So, "Street Life: 20 Great Hits" is a better option. However, if you don't know yet Ferry's solo career "More Than This, The Best Of Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music" is probably a better option.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)