The Studebaker Company was formed in 1852 manufacturing horse drawn carriages and wagons.
It can lay claim to a number of firsts in the automobile industry, namely:
- first electric car (1910)
- first labour strike in the industry (1913)
- first manufacturer to build it's own development track (1925)
- first to go into receivership (1933 - it did survive for another 33 years though)
The Studebaker is not mentioned much in popular culture though - The Muppets had a 1951 Studebaker Commander in 1979s Muppet Movie, but no other major film outing that I know of.
And song wise? The vehicle is mentioned in some songs, and obvious one being Billy Joels's "We Didn't Start The Fire". Steve Miller went down to Mexico in one, but the Studebaker references are few and far between. And certainly not in the UK. Or is that true ...
It is possibly one of the greatest debut singles, and the songs itself is one of those that doesn't mention the title until the very last words.
The greatness of Roxy Music can be divined as to when you first heard them. If you caught them at their debut album, or the couple after then they were probably the most exciting bands out there, and not simple to pigeon-hole (are they Glam? are they Prog? are they Art Rock? Is that a bit of Jazz in there somewhere?).
If however it was later on when Bryan Ferry was in full lounge lizard mode (circa "Jealous Guy" / "Avalon") then there's a chance that Roxy Music would be re-defined as Poxy Music and generally laughed off.
1980s Roxy Music (Ferry, Manzenera, and Mackay) can also lay claim to be possibly the oddest inclusion in the Smash Hits Sticker Book . The 3 stickers of them showing them standing (almost accountant-like) on a South Of France beach, just seemed out of place alongside Culture Club, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet (mind you, The Fall, Cliff Richard, and David Essex were also in there)
Hearing "Street Life" rectified my stupidity, and I scurried backwards and found myself feeling a proper fool
Formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay and Brian Eno (a self-confessed non-musicain, but he owned a synthesizer and joined a a Technical Consultant). The line-up was completed by Phil Manzanera and Paul Thompson.
Ferry had previously auditioned for the vacant vocalist slot in King Crimson - he was not successfful, but King Crimson were impressed enough to get EG Management to handle him. And it was EG that funded the recording of the debut album, and then placed Roxy Music with Island Records for release in 1972.
With Island's backing "Virginia Plain" was recorded as a stand-alone single to promote the album.
It's fair to say that their appearance on Top Of The Pops was one of those iconic "stop the world" moments, and pretty much assured Roxy's legend and legacy.
'For Your Pleasure' picks up where the eponymous debut leaves off, and in no way suffers from Second Album Syndrome. If I'm pushed, I prefer 'For Your Pleasure' (probably more due to the presence of "In Every Dream Home A Heartache", than any specific artistic or technical merit)
However it was to be the last album with Brian Eno, who left to pursue a solo career citing artisitic and personality differences with Bryan Ferry. Others in the band were also experiencing similar, but decided to stick with it.
The loss of Eno may have left a hole in the experimental tendencies, but in no way affected their commercial appeal. The next 2 albums 'Stranded' and 'Country Life' may well be their peak outings. Maybe not as experimental or eclectic as previous 2, but no less essential. Roxy at full pomp.
'Siren' rounds off Phase 1 in no little style - some critics cite 'Siren' as the best of the bunch. It is a very very good album, but I can't find enough to place it above the first 4.
They split in 1976 (at the end of the tour) and pursued their own Projects and diversions, before re-uniting again.
Roxy returned in 1979 with 'Manifesto' - the bombast of old has been smoothed, and the feel is more an extension of Bryan Ferry's solo world. There is no doubt Ferry is calling the shots - 'Manifesto' just doesn't feel as complete. This state of affairs continues with 'Flesh + Blood' (although I think this album is slightly better)
'Avalon' though is stronger again, but listening in retrospect one can't help note that this is a band running to a standstill - they can't just replicate past glories, but attempts to move into new sounds find them softening and almost trying too hard.
Virginia Plain
Like any truly iconic moment, it's one that is ripe for comparison, tribute, and even gentle ribbing
Vic Reeves & Bob Mortimer (both big Roxy Music fans themselves) perform Virginia Plain
No comments:
Post a Comment