I was listening to Viva earlier today. Some great performances and arrangements . And only 6 of them on stage as well !! Why don't they knock out simlar versions of Chance Meeting, Both Ends Burning, In Every Dream Home, Out of the Blue and If there is Something ? That would blow me away. The 2010 versions are just useless !!

Well, wouldn't it be nice if we all could do things like we did 36 years ago. Sigh. I don't mind that there is a 21st century version of Roxy that performs differently than they did in the 70s. In fact, I have found the 2001 Tour Live album to be very enjoyable and have listened to it many many times (although I must admit that there are some tracks that I now choose to skip over) The big problem with 2010 Roxy is that it is little more than a retread of 2001/03/05 Roxy. People complain about no new tunes, but that seems to be Verboten because it would IMHO actually require BF to exert some energy and effort. Sigh.

In comparing VIVA! to recent Roxy, what is most apparent is how much BF's voice has weakened/deteriorated. This is especially evident in Dreamhome, where nowadays BF doesn't even sing on the "All those heartaches, Dream Home heartaches" coda, leaving that task to his back-up singers... Sigh.

I can cope with Bryan's voice deteriotion. Most of us will show signs of wear and tear as the years roll on. I don't even expect any great new songs as the well has run dry. But that's all comparable to other singers and songwriters. Nobody from the 70s is writing anything notable. in my opinion. What I can't come to terms with is the lack of effort with each tour. Same songs, same arrangements, same stage set and probably the same clothes as well !

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The live version of If There is Something on Viva! is, arguably, the very pinnacle of Roxy Music...it's flawless and stunning. If it wasn't for the drumming of TGPT, which is a work of unrivalled genius, then Jobson would claim the honours with that violin. Just listen to Thompson before the finale; a different rythm with each limb...sublime.

Could'nt aggree more. Paul on Viva pulls it all together magically. His fills and accents are second to none and pure genius. Compared to Andy Newmark's versions - no contest.
I would also say that the 2001 cd is much the same with OOTB, ITIS, MTT & JG all stand out tracks for Paul.

I just hope he will be there on the 2011 tour! And that they record and film.

I was told once that there's a lot of studio enhancement of Viva in post production. Maybe. But who cares? It's a great sound.

Anyway: big shame about the voice deterioration (but that's hardly BF's fault, is it?) and the apparent lack of effort (which is a real pity), what with the one day BF contribution to rehearsal (is this really true, or is BF being dry humoured again?), reading from lyric sheets, same playlist etc etc

Bryan doesn't even do the soundchecks ! He just turns up at showtime !

Well, I saw him do a meticulous soundcheck with Roxy before the gig in Bonn this summer. It seemed to me he was really involved with everything that was going on on stage.

He once turned up to the soundcheck but not the show!!



..................Foggy Dundee.......2003