Roxy Music Manifesto - Abbey Road Half Speed Remaster Audiophile Vinyl

[@paultaylor904]

Great review! I have to agree. I love Manifesto and never really understood why some critics didn't give this album more credit. It is definitely a pleasure.

[@ThePressingMatters]

To me it seems a natural progression - but critics and fans at the time wanted more of the early sound. The danceable grooves probable scared some rock fans. Seems silly now and today we can appreciate it for the refreshing, adventurous change it really was.

[@_Sherlock]

Scott, you hit the nail on the head with your Manifesto review. I had the good fortune of seeing Roxy Music in concert (for their Manifesto and Avalon tours in Chicago). I've always felt Manifesto was one of Roxy's better efforts, but was not appreciated by fans / critics. Your observation on Spin Me round is also spot on. Spin Me Round laid the groundwork for their Avalon album, with a "new romantic" effort a few years before it became a genre of music. I liken Manifesto to David Bowie's Station to Station. Station to Station is one of my favorite Bowie albums (not a bad track on a six track record), but is also under appreciated. Take care Scott. PFW

[@ThePressingMatters]

Paul, thank you so much for your comment. I do regret not being able to see those tours - they must have been amazing. But I'll always treasure seeing the Bete Noir tour, as a matter of fact, I'm listening to it right now. I'd love to see a cleaned up 4K version of the Avalon live film. It's been years since I've seen it and I recall it being on VHS lol! I'm thrilled you liked this video. I really enjoyed revisiting this amazing album. I really hope some of Bryan's post Boys and Girls albums will be reissued soon. Some are very hard to find on vinyl. Thanks for commenting!

[@ConcertBuddie]

Interesting timing of this video - I recently picked up an OG of this record on a whim a few weeks ago. After watching this video I’m even more intrigued to give it a listen. Great content per usual Scott!

[@ThePressingMatters]

Hi Chance! I too had an OG, a promo with timing label on the jacket. I think you will love it, it did sound great. Thank you for your support, and for donating to the fundraiser. I really appreciate it. Take care!

[@merlinthemagus]

To my mind their last great album and criminally underrated. Of their earlier stuff ‘Stranded’ is my stand out.

[@michaellord9745]

Avalon not great? People are strange...somebody sang that a long time ago...hmmmm...now who was that again? BTW, I think Flesh + Blood is every bit as good as Manifesto.

[@jo66hn41]

I happen to prefer Manifesto. It's all subjective but I implicitly trust my impeccable taste ;-) Avalon is beautifully produced but I find that overall the songs are stronger on Manifesto. Flesh and Blood is great but slight in comparison. The standards are incredibly high when we are talking Roxy. Most bands would be over the moon with an album like Flesh and blood. While I think it is Roxy's weakest one.

[@ThePressingMatters]

I haven't tried Stranded, just got Siren. I'm working backwards :-)

[@ThePressingMatters]

It really is. These are all strong albums and are well engineered sonic delights. Bryan is in top form too. They also play well as a complete listening experience. The sequencing is so interesting. I love how they frame them with a perfect opener and closer. Every detail is well thought out.

[@merlinthemagus]

@@ThePressingMatters Stranded is the one. Even Brian Eno says so and he had left the band before the album was made!

[@michaellord9745]

Thanks for the video Scott. I love Roxy's Manifesto / Flesh + Blood / Avalon trilogy. Got the originals, these new Abbey Road half-speed masters, and the Roxy Music 8 LP box set. Manifesto is loaded with great tunes. You hit on most of them but also I want to mention the greatness of Stronger Through the Years. None of the Roxy Music albums are to be missed to be honest. Neither should Ferry's solo efforts, specifically Boys and Girls and Olympia which are basically Roxy Music albums all but in name.

[@ThePressingMatters]

Hi Micheal, I agree these three are excellent. Did you like the sound on the half speeds? I thought they sounded great and such quiet pressings. I'll have to listen to Stronger Through The Years tonight. I really hope they continue reissuing the solo albums! Long overdue!

[@michaellord9745]

@@ThePressingMatters Oh, yes. The new half-speed masters sound terrific.

[@davidmorgen4558]

Do You know of Viva live supposedly with Virginia Plain only included on very early copys or DJ copys ? If it actually exists it would be very rare?

[@ThePressingMatters]

Someone had mentioned Quiet Sun to me before.. it might have been in a Phil Manzanera review. Perhaps it was you? I did listen to what I could find online and maybe streaming and liked what I heard but haven't pursued the records (yet!)

[@primeanalogrecords]

Hey Scott, I’m planning a trip to Miami and would be fun hanging with you for an afternoon! Is that super high end stereo shop still in Wynwood? You could show me new stuff around since I left 2 years ago! LMK

[@ThePressingMatters]

Absolutely, that would be awesome!

[@ThePressingMatters]

You can contact me in my email with specifics - sw.the [e-mail].

[@sidesup8286]

Roxy Music? Is that something like Roxanne?.Oh wait, that was The Police. Wasn't there an album called Siren I played one of their albums once and on first ( & only) listen didn't care for it. It didn't sound like it had much substance to me. I think the one I played was the one with the mermaid on the cover. What kind of bait would you use to catch a mermaid like that? Talking about bait (clickbait), did you know you can get 100k Views on here if you do a video implying a meteor is headed on a collision course straight for the Earth? Or instead of something coming toward the Earth from outer space, there's one on now that says something from within the Earth; a gigantic volcano, is ready to erupt which will blow a hole right through the Earth. That's what a guy like you has as your competitors on here. What is Roxy Music's best album? I would like to give them another chance. Should I try Avalon? I do like some of their album covers. They have a certain otherworldly look. My favorite Brian musically is not Ferry, but Brian Auger. He's a keyboardist who put out many albums decades ago. Even Jimi Hendrix was impressed with him; and Hendrix was a perfectionist. You didn't impress him with just anybody. Good video Scott. Roxy Music is a group I've always wanted to give a second listen to.

[@ThePressingMatters]

Interesting comment lol! You must try Avalon and if you like that work back to Manifesto. I did pick up Siren and u agree, it's not that strong. The earlier stuff is similar. Focus on this period for three great albums that sound wonderful.

[@sidesup8286]

@@ThePressingMatters Have been continuing on with my experiments with Mpingo wood (known in Africa as the musical wood) aslo known as African Blackwood. A company called Shun Mook made/ makes discs made from this material that is specially treated by them. I have definitely determined at this point that it adds crispness to the sound when placed on/in components. Also am using these Mpingo tuners to tune the room acoustic. My Tekna Sonic resonators make the sound less crisp a bit, but warmer, & improve the sound noticeably in their own ways. It's like a battle between crisp and warm, which are always at odds and combatants in reproduced sound. Increase your warmth and your treble always sounds less; but never that way in a live performance.

[@sidesup8286]

@@ThePressingMatters According to the site Best Ever Albums, which is the one I like best, For Your Pleasure is Roxy Music's best album. They have it listed as the 473rd best rock album of all time, I think is the figure. My routine back when I was looking all over for records like mad, was to take 3 or 4 lps out of the haul and listen to them, one after another, laying on the bed in the dark of my room with my headphones on. Most of them were albums I never heard before. If I played an album right after another one that was absolutely a knock out, it might have gotten downgraded in my mind. Some albums were just too hard an act to follow. Which is why I often go back and give certain albums another chance.

[@ThePressingMatters]

@@sidesup8286 Yes, it's generally thought that For Your Pleasure is the best of the early period (first 5 albums) The second period is like a different band almost. For Your Pleasure definitely has the best jacket art. That's for sure! I'll check out the Best Albums site.