Manifesto is undoubtedly weak compared to the "real" Roxy of previous years. But it has it's moments - title track, Spin Me Round, Stronger Through The Years.

The real pits was "Flesh & Blood". Total MOR sell out. Pleasant enough in a non-offensive way. But not really Roxy. Whilst I do like "Eight Miles High" Roxy should not be doing covers.

Jealous Guy is also, in my view, pretty weak (and embarrassing).

But Avalon is a different matter. This took Roxy to a new place. OK, it is way different to the early stuff and has only modest real input from Phil and Andy (and, of course, none from TGPT) but it really is something special. A work of art. In fact, it was this album that got me into Roxy when I first heard it properly back in 1984. It affected me like no other album had done then, or since - no doubt partly an age thing (15 at the time). But it remains unique (and influential).

Just to be clear though - I prefer 1972 and 1973 now!