Oberon wrote:
Merci beaucoup, Roxy!
This was very interesting. All Ferry is good Ferry, but Mamouna is, for me, his most original, personal album. While Avalon had a perfect balance between being commercial and yet artistically brilliant, Mamouna was perhaps too sophisticated to reach a broad audience. I attended three shows in Tokyo after itś release; as far as I remember, only Mamouna was played from the album. And then he started the Frantic tour with My only face - à la Ferry!
Forensic Ferryistas,
Like a moth to a flame, Windswept is drawn back to this hallowed cyber hall by the perceptive nature of the peerless Oberon's remarks.
Encore une fois Oberon is absolutely correct. Mamona is our hero's masterpiece and his most personal work. It is an album that demands to be listened to in its entirety. It's completely seamless, there is not a mis-step on it and it sounds as fresh today as it did back then.
W2 saw this show at London's Apollo in '94 and he did play Mamouna, Your Painted Smile and NYC on that particular evening. But, as Oberon so elegantly puts it: 'a la Ferry' he is capable of a set list that has little to do with his current output.
It was great to see this video again (merci Roxy) because it perfectly encapsulates the artistry of his process and the joie de vivre of those involved (RIP David Williams).
Mais, not everything is perfect with the film. The check shirt is a rare sartorial error and I'm sure our hero would love to re-shoot with something more appropriate. But, in a way, it shows that it was only Cary Grant that never made a mistake!
The Garbo inspired 'The Only Face' remains the best track on the album but the best version he ever did of that song was when performing live for Jools Holland. He did a fresh arrangement for the show that included a blistering harmonica solo that would shiver the timbers of the most cynical feather boa wearer.
W2 is writing this epistle in the most difficult of circumstances. It is nearly a year since his last live FerryFix and his withdrawal symptoms are extreme and only endless playing of our hero's catalogue sooths him. That said, summer is nearly here and Hampton Court beckons and this years set list features Windswept - W2 can't wait.
a bientôt,
W2