Roxy Music – Flesh + Blood

Roxy Music – Flesh + Blood

“Roxy Music” – Flesh + Blood is the band’s seventh studio album and one of the defining releases of their early-1980s transition towards sophisticated pop. Originally released on 23 May 1980, the album reached No. 1 in the UK and produced three major singles: “Over You”, “Oh Yeah” and “Same Old Scene”.

Following the more angular and experimental character of Manifesto, Flesh + Blood embraces a smoother, more atmospheric sound built around Bryan Ferry’s vocals and keyboards, Phil Manzanera’s guitar and Andy Mackay’s saxophone. The album was produced by Roxy Music and Rhett Davies, with the recording and mixing involving studios in London and New York.

The album combines original Roxy Music compositions with two striking reinterpretations. “In The Midnight Hour”, originally written by Steve Cropper and Wilson Pickett, is transformed into a sleek Roxy Music arrangement, while “Eight Miles High” – originally recorded by The Byrds in 1966 – receives an atmospheric and distinctly futuristic treatment. Alongside them, “Oh Yeah”, “Same Old Scene”, “Over You”, “My Only Love” and the title track showcase the band's increasingly polished approach to pop and rock.

For fans of Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, art rock, new wave, sophisti-pop and sophisticated 1980s pop, Flesh + Blood is an essential addition. It captures a fascinating point in the band's evolution, balancing their experimental roots with the sleek, melodic sound that would become increasingly prominent in the decade that followed. The album itself dates from 1980, while “Eight Miles High” reaches back to the psychedelic era of 1966, giving the record an interesting connection between two very different periods of popular music.

Tracklist

Side A

1. In The Midnight Hour – 3:11
2. Oh Yeah – 4:50
3. Same Old Scene – 3:00
4. Flesh And Blood – 3:00
5. My Only Love – 5:00

Side B

1. Over You – 3:30
2. Eight Miles High – 4:52
3. Rain Rain Rain – 3:18
4. No Strange Delight – 4:45
5. Running Wild – 5:18