From My Instagram Feed, 4/22/24, With A Few Tweaks

 

I think "Manifesto" is the secret weapon of the Roxy Music catalogue. It's an album I find far more interesting than “Avalon.”

Many years ago, just as compact disc players were hitting the market, there would be demonstrations of the machine right before the Concerts At Pier 84 in NYC began. A young guy would come out and start chatting up the crowd about audio quality and stereo equipment and then he'd A/B a song to show the difference between a cassette and a CD. The title track of Roxy Music's “Manifesto,” with that incredible Alan Spenner bass line and drummer Paul Thompson’s heavy foot and thunderclap snare, would be the song he’d always play. Even from the very back of the pier, the sound was extraordinary. I remember thinking that song never sounded better. And so, I bought a no frills Yamaha CD player for $600 in 1984. It had four buttons: play, stop, last and next. That was it. There was no remote. Just a box and a tray and mind blowing sound. Of course, “Manifesto” was not commercially available on CD yet. Very little was. So I had to settle for an Alien Sex Fiend CD and Steve Winwood’s “Arc Of A Diver" as my first two CD purchases.

 

 

First Comment: Avalon is a snoozefest.

 

My Reply: "Ava-YAWN." I once said it was a really good Bryan Ferry solo record but a mediocre Roxy record and of course, that annoyed a bunch of people.

 

Second Comment From A Different Person: It annoys me. Manifesto is certainly more interesting, but Avalon is like long, slow brilliant sex. Debating which is better is like arguing over Abbey Road and The White Album or Let it Bleed and Sticky Fingers.

 

My Reply To Second Comment: Well, my post wasn't about debating the two Roxy records. I only mentioned "Avalon" because people love that record, while showing complete disregard for "Manifesto." My post was about my memory. But I don't agree with you regarding the two Beatles or Stones records.  

 

"Avalon" arguably became a hit with people who just came on board thanks to MTV; like those who think DSOM is the first Pink Floyd record. I like "Avalon." But I can't call it a Roxy album anymore than I can call "Ringo" a Beatles album just because all four Fabs are on it and wrote songs for it. "Ringo" is a great Ringo album, but would be probably be considered a shitty Beatles album. No one ever considered that concept with those two Stones or Beatles records you mentioned. Those four records all happened within four years, while both bands were active. Roxy's "Siren" came out in 1975. There was a four year hiatus. "Manifesto" came out in 1979 with additional personnel. After another three year hiatus and more personnel changes, including the loss of original drummer Thompson, "Avalon" gets released in 1982. I think you absolutely can debate "Manifesto" and "Avalon," though I swear, that was not my intention.

 

Second Commenter's Reply To Me: I get why you say its a Ferry solo- no Paul Thompson clobbering the drums and no weird sounds- but Andy Mackay and Phil Manzanera were there - and not in a Ringo way - so thats pretty Roxy to me. Its always been my favorite Roxy, just ahead of Manifesto - tho in my old age Manifesto is moving ahead. BTW that Ringo album is pretty brilliant.

 

END OF INSTGRAM POST

 

 

After sleeping on it, I think my friend Geoff, the second commenter, made a decent point regarding the difference between the Fabs involvement on the "Ringo" album in 1973 versus the band's involvement on Roxy's "Avalon" in 1982, though it doesn't change my feelings on the latter. "Weird sounds" and Paul Thompson's "clobbering drums" were just as essential to the classic Roxy sound as Beatles' harmonies were to their sound, or Charlie's drumming was to the Stones sound. This is why I think "Avalon" sounds nothing at all like what came before, but just happens to sound like every Bryan Ferry solo record since.

 

 

A different thread, not mine, from a few days earlier was about concerts, and if seeing The Sex Pistols on the reunion tour with Glen Matlock counts. One person insisted that it did not, because without Sid Vicious, it isn't the Sex Pistols. At that point, everyone let loose. 

 

"Is it The Who without Keith Moon?"
"Is it The Who without Keith Moon and John Entwistle?"
"Is it Metallica without Cliff Burton?"
"Is it Foreigner without ANYONE?"

 

I certainly think if you've got the original singer and the guy who wrote all the songs in the band, you're on your way. The fact that Zak Starkey was taught how to play by Keith Moon and does a fine job of recreating those Moonerisms live certainly helps. Though I know bass players who think Pino Palladino is a terrible replacement for The Ox. I get that because, as a drummer, Steve Gorman, at times, felt like the secret weapon of The Black Crowes live.

 

A lot to consider here.