Bryan Ferry

[carebear]

Had the old iPod on shuffle last night and Ferry's version of "As Time Goes By" popped up. I had to relisten to the whole album, which I hadn't done for years.

I really liked his arrangements of the standards. Coincidentally last week some friends and I were playing "Scene It" (the '80's music edition) and "More Than This" was one of the videos used.

So I had to listen to his old Roxy Music and solo stuff. What a voice and what evocative music.

Let's see, I need a point, some kind of big finish and grand overarching theme...

Favorite artists who have crossed genres to do good versions of standards (not so fast Rod Stewart!).

Bryan Ferry and KD Lang top my list.

 

[Johnnysan]

WOW...Roxy Music. I haven't heard anyone mention them in years. Back in my younger, dating days, Avalon was a favorite "mood" album of mine. You described them perfectly...their music was evocative.

I haven't listened to much of Brian Ferry's solo work. Can you recommend an album of his that is especially worth listening to for covers of standards? I had "Boys and Girls"...may need to dig it out and give it another listen!

 

[carebear]

Give it a listen...

http://www.amazon.com/As-Time-Goes-...ef=sr_1_8/002-2282969-1515230?ie=UTF8&s=music

and some others...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/sy...f=cm_sylt_dtpa_fvsy_cfa_2/002-2282969-1515230

 

[Johnnysan]

Nice! Thanks, Matthew. Album has been ordered...just in time for the holidays!

 

[pablocham]

I am a huge fan of the the first four or five Roxy Music records. The debut and For Your Pleasure especially. I like the eighties stuff too, just not as much. Ferry's solo stuff is great too, do any of you guys like Eno's first few solo records like Taking Tiger Mountain and Here Come the Warm Jets? Really great stuff.

 

[WEEGEE]

ENO FERRY

Great together

Excellent solo

And Eno as a producer few equal.

carebear

Had the old iPod on shuffle last night and Ferry's version of "As Time Goes By" popped up. I had to relisten to the whole album, which I hadn't done for years.

Ferry does a version of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" thats superb.

 

[BegintheBeguine]

Well I've been up all night

I listen to Mother of Pearl every day either played by me or on the Roxy Music tape and you have to hear me do Both Ends Burning next time we get together for karaoke.
As for the thread question of who re-does standards acceptably nowadays, I can only think of Harry Connick Jr, Michael Civisca, and Michael Buble off the top of my head and didn't I hear Toni Tennille of all people do a very nice job on some standards?
Other daily listens if anyone is interested include Brian Eno, SCOTS, Roky Erickson, Small Faces, Dave Dudley, Billy Eckstine, Brenda Lee, and Dave Edmunds.

 

[jake_fink]

I was hoping he'd do a follow-up to the As Time Goes by Album. I like the lean, respectful arrangements. I laso like the illustrations in the insert. Very 1930s Vogue.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music?

Ferghetaboudtit!
The very essence of chic and sophistication, combined with musical virtuosity.

 

[carebear]

Great together
carebear

Ferry does a version of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" thats superb.

That's my first exposure to that song. I can confidently say it was my intro to standards. I will occasionally do it injustice at karaeoke.

"Slave to Love" could not be better. It weeps passion.

I like Margo Timmins and Cowboy Junkies for atmospheric, occasional covers but a very "classic" feel.

Natalie Merchant has similarly lush but not overpowering arrangements.

The soundtrack to "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" is a nice reservoir of standards as well. "Skylark" is magnificent.