...........this little gem was released, 22nd November 1974. One of Roxy Music's finest!!

Hey Roxy! You are ahead of me. I had the same intention this week to open a similar thread. Country Life is possibly the climax of Roxy Music`s career. A perfect album from The thrill of it all at the beginning and Praerie Rose at the end....
I wonder why it "only" made Nr. 3 in the charts + stayed not longer than 10 weeks all in all.
This classic album deserves to be mentioned as one of the greatest ever!

Happy memories!

This was the first Roxy album I owned while it was newly released; pocket money would only run to 45 rpm singles, so I had to buy the Roxy back catalogue either secondhand (debut & FYP came from Reddingtons Rare Records in Birmingham by mail order, I think) or with birthday/Xmas record tokens (Stranded).

I must have got Country Life as a 14th birthday present in January '75. My then 40 year old (but fairly conservative looking) dad must have been viewed with interest when he bought it from the record counter at Boots the Chemist; the shop assistants were invariably 16 year old school leavers or 60 year olds near retirement, so either way he'd have been looked at as a dirty old devil who was buying it just for the sleeve!

Of all the things I have to thank my dear late dad for, Country Life is right up there with the most important; the music we listen to helps to shape our characters and I'm sure my life has been far more interesting with Roxy (& its cover girls! ) in it than it ever could have been without them!

I remember it as it was yesterday. I got it as a christmas present. I was 18. The album is strong, but already then I couldn`t help but think that it was a rehash of previous rock and pop until then, and as such is an explanation why it didn`t do well in the charts. Some cling to it as a classic. -Oh, no! It will never comete with the first four Led Zeppelin albums.

In Roxy Music terms it is a classic. I don't compare it to other bands of the time as I feel Roxy were so unique.

I find it hard to pick a favourite track but AIWIY, OOTB and ARGT would have to fight it out! When you read these lyrics you can hear the wonderful strings of Eddie Jobson swirling around inside your head.

You've heard enough of the blues and stuff
You're pretty swell now 'cause you're pretty tough
But I don't have to tell you
How hard it can be to get by

You're never bothered about anyone else
You're well educated with no common sense
But love, that's one thing
You really need to get by

All your troubles come from yourself
Nobody hurts you they don't care
Just as long as you show them
A really good, really good time

All the things you used to do
A trip to the movies, a drink or two
They don't satisfy you, they don't tell you anything new

You know I don't talk much except to myself
Cause I've not much to say and there's nobody else
Who's ready and willing and able to know me, I guess

Listen to me I'm not finished yet
There's something to tell you that I can't forget
Just have a really good, really good, really, really good, really good time

There's a girl I used to know her face is her fortune she's got a heart of gold
She never goes out much, but boy when she does then you know

She's got no money, well maybe a dime
But she knows what she's worth
And that's reason why
She's gonna make it, she's got what it takes
You'll appreciate that she's probably late
But I know and you know, we all know
She'll have a really good time

Thanks to Roxy Music I had a really good, really good time. I was 15 years old and bought the record myself. I'm afraid I was more interested in the music than the girls at that time . And don't forget T&N - Andy's sax was so beautiful ...

I suspect a lot of young males bought the album without knowing much about Roxy Music at the time.

One of my favourite albums - in fact I have been listening to this in the car all week, not realising that it is the 4oth anniversary. Every track is strong with some lovely touches eg the timpani and Tubular Bell on Bitter Sweet and of course that amazing violin solo on Out of the Blue. This album is up there with FYP and Stranded for me.
Also listening to this makes me realise what a gulf there is with the calibre of those years compared to Avonmore. Whilst I have been pleasantly surprised by the latter, BF should really work on his diction - I find it very hard to make out his beautiful sensitive lyrics. Also as DCJ said , there is too much " mush " - too many layers so that the clarity of the instruments is lost . Listen to those early albums - everything is crystal clear. Just my humble personal opinion ......

I agree. I often have had the suspicion that he makes use of this kind of production to make up for his deterioriating voice. In this way he can allow his voice to be as muted as all the instruments. But the result is that the listener miss the beat and the edge. Just think of "Goddess Of Love" as a prime example.

Love Andy's sax solo on If it Takes All Night. The live version on the Newcastle 1974 recording is outstanding.