The Very Best of Roxy Music has arrived on 18 tracks spread over two albums of double vinyl for the first time in support of a tour that will reach Scotland next week.
Originally a 2001 CD release it’s the lesser-known tracks such as the glam rock stomp of All I Want Is You and the killer chorus of Street Life from 1973’s Stranded that remain the most arresting on this vinyl half-speed remaster presentation by Miles Showell at Abbey Road. The set is complete with stunning artwork and lyric sheets. When the needle drops on the start of Side Three for Love Is The Drug the space that contains your record player will immediately turn into a home disco.
Like David Bowie’s Nothing Has Changed compilation the album moves backwards through time making for a strange listening experience. Mother Of Pearl sounds refreshingly modern whereas more recent tracks such as Avalon and their cover of John Lennon’s Jealous Guy feel very much of their time. That’s no bad thing, the tracks remain richly evocative. Virginia Plain soars on this vinyl reissue, that said it is great to hear the poppy Pyjamarama and Re-Make/Re-Model included, more attentions deserves to be given to this early work.
The latter is still a knockout and has never sounded better on vinyl. The lauded Brian Eno period finally gets the treatment it deserves and only makes you want to delve deeper into the other single album reissues. It’s been over a decade since the band has toured with the lineup featuring Brian Ferry, Andy Mackay, Phil Manzanera and Paul Thompson. This rare appearance in Glasgow is the one not to miss this autumn.
‘THE BEST OF ROXY MUSIC’ RELEASED ON VINYL FOR THE FIRST TIME
AVAILABLE NOW STREAM / ORDER HERE https://roxymusic.lnk.to/TBORM2022
Roxy Music, OVO Hydro – Glasgow, 10 October
