Music / Roxy Music (Album)

"She's the sweetest queen I've ever seen."

"Far below the pale horizon
Some place near the desert strand,
And where my Studebaker takes me,
That's where I'll make my stand, but wait!
Can't you see her Holzer mane?
What's her name? Virginia Plain"

—"Virginia Plain"

Roxy Music is the debut album of the British Glam Rock band of the same name, released on 16 June 1972 through Island Records in the United Kingdom and Reprise Records in North America. After some 1971 demos were released which caught the attention of John Peel and Melody Maker journalist Richard Williams, Roxy Music went through a few changes in their lineup through their subsequent sessions, where they eventually picked up guitarist Phil Manzanera in February 1972. The group signed with EG Management shortly afterward to write and rehearse their songs, being produced by former King Crimson lyricist Peter Sinfield. After recording in the month of March, they managed to sign a record deal with Island the following month, and the album was released to critical success, even reaching as high as 10 in the UK album charts the following September. In spite of this, bassist Graham Simpson left the band shortly after the album's release owing to depression of his mother dying, and shortly afterward got replaced by Rik Kenton, who was present to record the single "Virginia Plain" to promote the album.

Tracklist:

Original UK release

Side one

1. "Re-Make/Re-Model" (5:10)
2. "Ladytron" (4:21)
3. "If There Is Something" (6:33)
4. "2HB" (4:34)

Side two

1. "The Bob (Medley)" (5:48)
2. "Chance Meeting" (3:00)
3. "Would You Believe" (3:47)
4. "Sea Breezes" (7:00)
5. "Bitters End" (2:02)

North American release

Side one

1. "Re-Make/Re-Model" (5:10)
2. "Ladytron" (4:21)
3. "If There Is Something" (6:33)
4. "Virginia Plain" (2:57)
5. "2HB" (4:34)

Side two

1. "The Bob (Medley)" (5:48)
2. "Chance Meeting" (3:00)
3. "Would You Believe" (3:47)
4. "Sea Breezes" (7:00)
5. "Bitters End" (2:02)

Principal members

• Brian Eno - VCS3 synthesizer, tape effects, backing vocals
• Bryan Ferry - vocals, piano, Hohner Pianet, Mellotron
• Rik Kenton - bass ("Virginia Plain")
• Andy Mackay - oboe, saxophone, backing vocals
• Phil Manzanera - electric guitar
• Graham Simpson - bass (except "Virginia Plain")
• Paul Thompson - drums

I could trope trope trope, trope myself to death:

• Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: In "If There Is Something", Bryan would do anything for his lady. That means he would climb mountains, swim across oceans, walk a thousand miles, expose his deepest secrets, and sit in the garden growing potatoes by the score.
• Drive-In Theater: From "Virginia Plain":
  Last picture shows down the drive-in
  You're so sheer, you're so chic
  Teenage rebel of the week
• Echoing Acoustics: "2HB", via tape delay.
• Epic Rocking: "If There Is Something" and "Sea Breezes" are both above six minutes.
• Finale Title Drop: "Virginia Plain" are the very last words of the song of the same name.
• Homage: "2HB" is an initialism that means "to Humphrey Bogart". The chorus of the song makes use of "Here's looking at you, kid".
• Shout-Out:
  • The brief instrumental solos at the end of "Re-Make/Re-Model" feature riffs of "Day Tripper", "Ride of the Valkyries" and the Peter Gunn theme.
  • In "Virginia Plain", there are two lines that refer to Warhol superstar Baby Jane Holzer, as well as:
    Baby Jane's in Acapulco, we are Flying Down to Rio.

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