Stranded - ROXY MUSIC****

Street Life/Just Like You/Amazona/Psalm/Serenade/A Song For Europe/Mother Of Pearl/Sunset

Bryan Ferry takes full control of Roxy Music after the departure of Brian Eno. This is reflected in Stranded where the emphasis is on mainstream pop-rock with little evidence of experimentalism. Features the dynamic UK top ten hit Street Life, plus Song For Europe, their best album track not released as a single. (US:186 UK:1)

“Bryan Ferry takes full control and is the absolute master on this album. Where his singing was previously shaky and insecure, here he experiments with his voice and delivers an amazing performance, the best of his career.”

“Shortly after For Your Pleasure came out, Brian Eno left the band. Having contributed a lot of interesting material on their first two albums, one would think this was a set-back for the band. In my mind this is not the case at all. Stranded is a superb effort, it presents Roxy Music in excellent form.”

“A lot more cautious than their first two albums. This album sees Roxy move into a more pop/rock area especially without Eno's treatments. The album however, is just as enjoyable as their first two and I do not see a tremendous drop in quality just because there is not much experimentation.”

“Stranded was the album where Roxy Music attempted to steer away from the avant garde glam rock sound that featured on their first two albums. However, there is still some trace of Brian Eno's influence left, as evidenced by the weird electronic sounds that open Street Life and the odd honking noise that closes Sunset.”

“Roxy Music had more than found their way without Brian Eno as evidenced by the lush, warm sound of Stranded. Held high by two epic favourites, A Song For Europe with Ferry's tragic vocals of love lost over pounding pianos, and Mother Of Pearl a night and day look at the shallowness of existence. Stranded brought a sophistication only seen in pockets in the first two albums.”

“Eno's gone but the quality remains. The songs are more conventional but a lot longer, with Brian Ferry obviously delighted to be in full control. You'd think it would be a more upbeat album and I suppose in parts it is, but it is also clouded by a strong melancholic undertone which runs though all the songs. Street Life, that opens the album, is simply Roxy's greatest song ever, pure joy from start to end.”