The Thrill of It All: The Story of Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music (Paperback)

~ David Buckley (Author)
Key Phrases: gas board, quiet sun, Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, Virginia Plain (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The history of Ferry and the influential English glam rock group Roxy Music, like that of many innovative rock bands, is one of charismatic musical exploration fraught with problems: revolving-door musicians, financial arguments and futile attempts to break into the American market. (Roxy Music had only one major U.S. hit, 1975's "Love Is the Drug.") At the center of both the iconoclasm and conflict stands Ferry, the group's founder, lead singer, primary songwriter and image dictator. While Buckley (David Bowie) clearly loves the music and admires Ferry's creative skill, he also points out the musician's flaws: an inability to deal with direct confrontations, micromanaging recording sessions, and being less than generous with the press. This book isn't just for hard-core Ferry fans—Buckley explores the history of 1970s British rock using Roxy Music as a core, explaining how innovative original Roxy member Brian Eno's sound-altering experiments were; how Ferry chose to market the group like a product, rather than depend on concert touring; and how infatuated British youth became with Roxy's nouveau glam rock concept that image/style was just as important as the music. This is a thorough if unevenly presented history alternately page-turning, tedious and gossipy. Photos. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"[Buckley] draws on his own interviews and an impressive amount of research to paint vivid portraits of the key players." —Chicago Sun-Times

"This is the best Ferry/Roxy read yet." —Library Journal

"Buckley succeeds in painting a remarkably sympathetic portrait of a decadent musician." —The New York Times Book Review

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Product Details Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Chicago Review Press; 1st North American Ed edition (March 1, 2005) Language: English ISBN-10: 1556525745 ISBN-13: 978-1556525742 Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #667,462 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
gas board, quiet sun

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, Virginia Plain, Phil Manzanera, Melody Maker, David Bowie, Brian Eno, Richard Williams, Andy Mackay, Paul Thompson, King Crimson, Country Life, Eddie Jobson, New York, John Wetton, Antony Price, Mark Radcliffe, Jerry Hall, Street Life, These Foolish Things, Jealous Guy, Boys And Girls, Let's Stick Together, Simon Puxley, Chris Spedding

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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	48% buy the item featured on this page: The Thrill of It All: The Story of Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music 4.6 out of 5 stars (5)
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	12% buy Re-make/Re-model: Becoming Roxy Music 3.5 out of 5 stars (6)

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5 Reviews 5 star:  (3) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.6 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Assertive Views and Strong Research Make This Book Fun, September 5, 2005 By  John F. Jebb (Newark, Delaware United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This in-depth, enjoyable book took me back to the college days when my roommate converted me to being a life-long Roxy Music fan. No mere recorder of events, author Buckley is a man with attitudes, and his views give this fun narrative its spark. He offers a coherent thesis of Roxy front man Bryan Ferry as a talented and innovative artist who remains dissatisfied and melancholy despite his talent and success. Buckley offers other controversial views: that none of Ferry's solo work matches his work with Roxy, that Roxy inaugurated "the true beginning of rock-as-art," that Ferry's cover improves on Dylan's song "A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall" (I disagree, but the debate is fun). Buckley is also a master researcher. He appends an 11-page bibliography, which seems to include every press mention of Roxy and Ferry. Thus Buckley can reference in detail critical responses to the albums and tours. And Buckley willingly hands over big block quotations to some key figures, such as early Roxy guitarist David O'List and post-Eno keyboard man Eddie Jobson, who offer multiple and contrary versions of the carreer. However, except for a 1999 interview (when Buckley was researching David Bowie), Buckley could not speak with Ferry. So he has to rely on Ferry's published interviews. And Buckley was unable to get many insights from Roxy mainstays Phil Manzanera and Andy MacKay. So while Buckley does a good job on the Eno-Roxy break-up, he cannot offer much insight on relationships among the bandsmen. What accounts for the striking long-term loyalty among Ferry, Mackay, and Manzanera, loyalty which survived the Eno crisis (Mackay had brought in Eno)? What accounts for drummer Paul Thompson's changing status with the band? Because these musicians are so reticent with writers, Buckley has to remain on the outside. Someday, perhaps Ferry and Mackay and Manzanera will open up with a writer and allow an in-depth biography of the band. But even if they do, Buckley's book should remain a valuable resource in the history of rock. 8 of 8 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars oh mother of pearl I wouldn't trade you ...., January 28, 2006 By  P. Ambrose (Brooklyn NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I am not through with the book yet (I am up to THE BRIDE STRIPPED BARE): this is very thorough and SLANTED - but that's okay. I purchased the entire Roxy/Bryan remasters and Buckley's harsh assessment of some of Ferry's solo work has made me play his solo recordings OVER and OVER and they only get better and better. He is a CRITIC so he is CRITICIZING - and a gushing book over the brilliance of Bryan would probably not work; I believe this author - being of course, very British, had his view which is what makes the reading so enjoyable. However as he states over and over - that Roxy/Bryan were too smart for the U.S, audience is so apparent I can almost shed Bryan's tears. If you have had the luck to see them live (especially their recent "reunion" tour of @ 3 years ago that was so amazing I can still lose my voice just thinking of the screaming) - you know the genius of these men (and their darling Roxy Tottsies). A treasure. 6 of 7 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, gossipy and fun, April 25, 2005 By  Adam Tebrugge "adamt2" (Sarasota, Fl USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I just finished reading this and was very impressed. The author gives the British perspective on the band. While the focus is on Ferry, the rest of the band is adequately covered. You can tell that he did a lot of research. I agree with much (but not all) of his musical critique. There is gossip and Bryan is disected a bit but you will still like him at the end. I am a fan of music books and a big fan of Roxy Music and this book is more than very adequate.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Roxy Music Story finally told... You know the story. Anyone who has even the vaguest notion of modern rock & roll music knows that Bryan Ferry & his band Roxy Music helped bring in the revolution. Read more Published on November 28, 2005 by Fali R. Singara 5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Reading for Roxy Fans, Old and New I first learned of the existence of this book from a passing reference in a Sunday New York Times Book Review magazine; it was given a left-handed compliment (something to the... Read more Published on September 3, 2005 by Chris DeLuca Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press; 1st North American Ed edition (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556525745
• ISBN-13: 978-1556525742
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #667,462 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Assertive Views and Strong Research Make This Book Fun, September 5, 2005

By	John F. Jebb (Newark, Delaware United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This in-depth, enjoyable book took me back to the college days when my roommate converted me to being a life-long Roxy Music fan.

No mere recorder of events, author Buckley is a man with attitudes, and his views give this fun narrative its spark. He offers a coherent thesis of Roxy front man Bryan Ferry as a talented and innovative artist who remains dissatisfied and melancholy despite his talent and success. Buckley offers other controversial views: that none of Ferry's solo work matches his work with Roxy, that Roxy inaugurated "the true beginning of rock-as-art," that Ferry's cover improves on Dylan's song "A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall" (I disagree, but the debate is fun).

Buckley is also a master researcher. He appends an 11-page bibliography, which seems to include every press mention of Roxy and Ferry. Thus Buckley can reference in detail critical responses to the albums and tours. And Buckley willingly hands over big block quotations to some key figures, such as early Roxy guitarist David O'List and post-Eno keyboard man Eddie Jobson, who offer multiple and contrary versions of the carreer.

However, except for a 1999 interview (when Buckley was researching David Bowie), Buckley could not speak with Ferry. So he has to rely on Ferry's published interviews. And Buckley was unable to get many insights from Roxy mainstays Phil Manzanera and Andy MacKay. So while Buckley does a good job on the Eno-Roxy break-up, he cannot offer much insight on relationships among the bandsmen. What accounts for the striking long-term loyalty among Ferry, Mackay, and Manzanera, loyalty which survived the Eno crisis (Mackay had brought in Eno)? What accounts for drummer Paul Thompson's changing status with the band? Because these musicians are so reticent with writers, Buckley has to remain on the outside.

Someday, perhaps Ferry and Mackay and Manzanera will open up with a writer and allow an in-depth biography of the band. But even if they do, Buckley's book should remain a valuable resource in the history of rock.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars oh mother of pearl I wouldn't trade you ...., January 28, 2006

By	P. Ambrose (Brooklyn NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am not through with the book yet (I am up to THE BRIDE STRIPPED BARE): this is very thorough and SLANTED - but that's okay. I purchased the entire Roxy/Bryan remasters and Buckley's harsh assessment of some of Ferry's solo work has made me play his solo recordings OVER and OVER and they only get better and better. He is a CRITIC so he is CRITICIZING - and a gushing book over the brilliance of Bryan would probably not work; I believe this author - being of course, very British, had his view which is what makes the reading so enjoyable. However as he states over and over - that Roxy/Bryan were too smart for the U.S, audience is so apparent I can almost shed Bryan's tears. If you have had the luck to see them live (especially their recent "reunion" tour of @ 3 years ago that was so amazing I can still lose my voice just thinking of the screaming) - you know the genius of these men (and their darling Roxy Tottsies).
A treasure.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, gossipy and fun, April 25, 2005

By	Adam Tebrugge "adamt2" (Sarasota, Fl USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just finished reading this and was very impressed. The author gives the British perspective on the band. While the focus is on Ferry, the rest of the band is adequately covered. You can tell that he did a lot of research. I agree with much (but not all) of his musical critique. There is gossip and Bryan is disected a bit but you will still like him at the end. I am a fan of music books and a big fan of Roxy Music and this book is more than very adequate.