Viva [Live, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Roxy Music | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 14, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 1976
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B0000256VW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,765 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the secret weapon, December 19, 2003

By 

John J. Simpson (New Rochelle, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Viva (Audio CD)

I love hearing all of the positive reviews of VIVA, especially from such a diverse age group.I was on board early on, just because of my age. VIVA,is a wonderful example of Roxys'mystique,beauty and power.What detracts from it is simply, its length. They could have sqeezed on one or two more songs. ( mother of pearl.) What I really want to do is remind everybody just how terrific a drummer Paul Thomson is. Very often, he is the power that propels the rocket that is Roxy.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Man I had no idea!, November 12, 2002

By 

Jonathan Dixon (San Fran) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Viva (Audio CD)

I was in a lame, sentimental mood, and wanted to hear "avalon", the song. Borrowed the CD, along with a copy of Roxy's "Country Life". Was bowled over by "Country Life" - this was real rock and roll, original and excellent. Not the upscale mellow rock of Avalon. I then found "Viva", and I am blown away. How did I ever miss this music? This is some of the most incredible live music I have ever heard. "Both Ends Burning" and "If there is something" are standouts, but this is an incredible compilation of live music. I've only been listening to it for a few days, and in my estimation it might be up there with Live at Leeds and get your ya ya's out.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When They Were Young......., July 30, 2003

By 

Amazon Jon "AJ" (Connecticut, United Staates) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Viva (Audio CD)

Having been born in the mid-seventies, it's safe to say that I never got the chance to see Roxy Music play at their zenith (I was conceived when they were touring in support of Siren.) In high school, my brother turned me on to them, and I've been hooked ever since. And while it was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my life to have seen them live 3 times (twice in 2001 and once just last weekend), I still could only imagine what it must have been like to have seen them in the mid-seventies.

VIVA is the next best thing to that, I guess. And what a charimsatic, intense and amazing live performance this is. The band sounds tight and enthusiastic, and Ferry's voice has never sounded more dynamic.
While there is not a bad track on the disc, the highlights for me are PYJAMARAMA (a thousand times better than the studio version), BOTH ENDS BURNING (absolutely perfect), and the outstanding OUT OF THE BLUE which features all the trademark aspcts of ROXY MUSIC: Ferry's soaring vocals, Manzanera's guitar virtuosity, and Mackays catchy oboe (not to mention an amazing violin solo by Eddie Jobson).
As good as all these are though, the raison d'etre has to be the out-of-this-world, long version of IF THERE IS SOMETHING. What starts off as a twangy, country-flavored little ditty turns into a dark and dirty jam session. After about five minutes of jamming, Ferry's takes charge again starting with the lines "shake your head girl with your pony tail....it takes me right back..when you were young." ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!!
VIVA is far and away the best live Roxy Music album. HEART STILL BEATING (taken from the 1982-83) Avalon Tour is worth it only for the live version of JEALOUS GUY and a few other later Roxy tracks (they sound tired and weak on the earlier stuff.) The recent live album, simply called LIVE, taken from the 2001 reunion tour is excellent, but, let's face it, nothing can compare to the sound of this band at this point in their career. Did anybody ever sound this amazing?