BRYAN FERRY: "Olympia"

Original released on CD Virgin 5099990642821

(EU 2010, October 22)

There are two headlines for "Olympia", Bryan Ferry’s 13th solo album. The first is that it’s Ferry’s first collection of primarily original material since 1994’s "Mamouna" - of the ten songs only Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren" and Traffic's "No Face, No Name, No Number" are from another author - the second is that among the many collaborators here are Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera, and Andy MacKay, all original members of Roxy Music, their presence suggesting a return to the chilly art of Roxy’s earliest records. Neither headline tells the real story: "Olympia" is Ferry’s most seductive album since "Avalon", a luxurious collection of softly stylized sophistication. Instead of pushing into new territory, Ferry focuses on refinement, polishing his signatures - primarily songs so slow they seem to float, and also the occasional high-end piece of pristine pop-funk - until they’re seamless, the textures shifting so subtly that when the chorus of "Heartache by Numbers" turns eerie, the change in atmosphere is almost subliminal. Such command of mood is a tell-tale sign of a quiet perfectionist, but "Olympia" doesn’t feel fussy; it’s unruffled and casually elegant, its pleasing familiarity reflecting the persistence of an old master honing his craft. (Stephen Erlewine in AllMusic)

"You Must Remember This..."

Original released on LP Virgin 8482711

(EU 1999, October 19)

Bryan Ferry invests considerable time and energy in cover albums (he should, considering that they compose a good portion of his solo catalog), treating them with as much care as a record of original material. He's always found ways to radically reinvent the songs he sings, so it's easy to expect that his collection of pop standards, "As Time Goes By", would re-imagine the familiar. Instead, "As Time Goes By" is his first classicist album, containing non-ironic, neo-traditionalist arrangements of songs associated with the '30s. That doesn't mean it's a lavish affair, dripping with lush orchestras - it's considerably more intimate than that. Even when strings surface, they're understated, part of a small live combo that supports Ferry throughout the record. He's made the music as faithful to its era as possible, yet instead of rigidly replicating the sounds of the '30s, he's blended Billie Holiday, cabaret pop, and movie musicals into an evocative pastiche. Ferry is at his best when he's exploring the possibilities within a specific theory or concept; with "As Time Goes By", he eases into these standards and old-fashioned settings like an actor adopting a new persona. Since Ferry has always been a crooner, the transition is smooth and suave. He makes no attempt to alter his tremulous style, yet it rarely sounds incongruous - he may sound a little vampirish on "You Do Something to Me," but that's the rare case where he doesn't seamlessly mesh with his romantic, sepia-toned surroundings. On the surface, it may seem like a departure for Ferry, but in the end, it's entirely of a piece with his body of work. True, it may not be a major album in the scheme of things, but it's easy to be seduced by its casual elegance. (Thomas Erlewine in AllMusic)

BRYAN FERRY: "Another Time Another Place"

Original released on LP Island ILPS 9284

(UK 1974, July 5)

Ferry's second excursion into covers-ville sees him concentrate on 60's soul, country and Tin Pan Alley standards with variable results. When it's good, like on the crunching version of "The In Crowd" and the grandiose version of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", it's very good, but elsewhere he falters, his vocal stylings completely unsuited to country tracks like "Walk A Mile In My Shoes" and especially "Help Me Make It Through The Night". Worse yet is the turgid, overlong "You Are My Sunshine" and quite why one of the sunniest songs ever written, Sam Cooke's "Wonderful World" starts like Roxy's sinister "In Every Dream Home A Heartache" I can't guess. Thankfully Ferry goes a long way towards redeeming himself with the scintillating title-track original, but on the whole this is a slightly less satisfying set than "These Foolish Things", with less tracks too. It's always surprising to hear how often a Roxy/Bryan Ferry tune pops up either on the radio or some tv ad, I've recently heard the start of "The In Crowd" used in promoting F1 car racing. (in RateYourMusic)

BRYAN FERRY Debut Album

Original released on LP Island ILPS 9249

(UK, September 1973)

Much like his contemporary David Bowie, Ferry consolidated his glam-era success with a covers album, his first full solo effort even while Roxy Music was still going full steam. Whereas Bowie on "Pin-Ups" focused on British beat and psych treasures, Ferry for the most part looked to America, touching on everything from Motown to the early jazz standard that gave the collection its name. Just about everyone in Roxy Music at the time helped out on the album -- notable exceptions being Andy Mackay and Brian Eno. The outrageous take on Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," with Ferry vamping over brassy female vocals, sets the tone for things from the start. All this said, many of the covers aim for an elegant late-night feeling not far off from the well-sculpted Ferry persona of the '80s and beyond, though perhaps a touch less bloodless and moody in comparison. In terms of sheer selection alone, meanwhile, Ferry's taste is downright impeccable. There's Leiber & Stoller via Elvis' "Baby I Don't Care," Lesley Gore's "It's My Party" (with narrative gender unchanged!), Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' "The Tracks of My Tears," and more, all treated with affection without undue reverence, a great combination. Ferry's U.K. background isn't entirely ignored, though, thanks to two of the album's best efforts - the Beatles' "You Won't See Me" and the Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil." Throughout Ferry's instantly recognizable croon carries everything to a tee, and the overall mood is playful and celebratory. Wrapping up with a grand take on "These Foolish Things" itself, this album is one of the best of its kind by any artist. (Ned Raggett in AllMusic)

BRYAN FERRY: "Bitter-Sweet"

Original released on CD BMG 538448222

(UK 2018, November 30)