With the 'hidden gems' thread being very lively I though about what makes the songs gems. Is it their quality or just that they are rarely or never performed live on the radio etc.

So I thought how would it be if...........

we had to choose our top 20 Roxy songs if we had only ever heard each one say 10 times each and heard performed live say 3 times each?

Mine would probably be:

If There Is Something
Virginia Plain
Do The Strand
Editions Of You
Street Life
A Song For Europe
Mother Of Pearl
All I Want Is You
Out Of The Blue
Love Is The Drug
She Sells
Both Ends Burning
Manifesto
Trash
Spin Me Round
Same Old Scene
My Only Love
Rain Rain Rain
The Main Thing
Take A Chance With Me

I based that list on how I remember my initial reaction hearing these songs for the first time.

It's interesting how frequent radio play or hearing a song live too many times can change your reaction to it.

J.O'B.

This being my first reply,I'd just like to say I agree with top 20 list in that first 10 are identical,unbelievable, I know. I love "If there is something"-yeah that's my favourite! Thank you

If there is something
Do the strand
Serenade
A song for Europe
All I want is you
Three and nine
Out of the blue
Just like you
Love is the drug
Could it happen to me?
Both ends burning
Just another high
Stronger through the years
Spin me round
My only love
The same old scene
Running wild
More than this
Avalon
Take a chance with me
True to life

For some reason, "Virginia Plain" is at the very bottom of my RM list; that and "Goodnight Irene" are the only songs I avoid when it comes to BF;s catalogue.

So I had a hard time deciding on my 20, it seemed to boil down to the fact that when I play the CD's these tracks always make me listen a bit more. So here goes.

If there is something
Editions of you
Street life
Just like you
Psalm
A song for Europe
All I want is You
Trash
Angel Eyes
Dance away
Cry, cry,cry
Oh yeah
My only love
Over you
Running wild
Take a chance with me
To turn you on
True to life
And I guess I have to include Pajamarama as this is where it all started for me, I first heard it on the radio and thought Cool ! at last something different.
Of course have left out the obvious
Love is the drug
Do the strand etc.

Thanks contibutors. from your lists what songs do you feel less about now because you have heard them so many times on the radio or live etc.

From my initial list these are the songs I no longer get excited about because of the over exposure:

Virginia Plain
Do The Strand
Editions Of You
Street Life
Love Is The Drug
Both Ends Burning
My Only Love

J.O'B.

Over exposure:

Love Is The Drug
Do The Strand
Editions Of You
In Every Dream Home A Heartache
Song For Europe
Both Ends Burning
My Only Love
Out Of The Blue

Positive list:

Virginia Plain (Raised my interest in Roxy Music when I was 13)
Ladytron
Would You Believe?
Bitters End
Do The Strand (My all time favorite, sorry)
Grey Lagoons
Just Like You
A Song For Europe
Serenade
Three And Nine
Out Of The Blue
A Really Good Time
Prairie Rose
Sentimental Fool
Nightingale
Trash (Never understood why this didn't match No 1 at least in UK)
Ain't That So
Oh Yeah (Wonderful kitsch)
No Strange Delight
More Than This
Take A Chance With Me

(Sorry, I know I named 21, but which one should I drop ...)

Negative list:

Love Is The Drug (Overplayed)
Dance Away (Overplayed)
Cry Cry Cry (Sub-standard)
Flesh And Blood
My Only Love (Overrated - by our hero)
Rain Rain Rain (Too monotonous?)
While My Heart Is Still Beating
Avalon (Overplayed)

The second part was a difficult question, J.O'B. - in fact I could rather miss one of Bryan Ferry's solo songs ... and I'd rather prefer to listen to a song of my Roxy "negative list" three times every day than listening to a Greatest Hits Album of Michael Jackson only once (sorry, MJ-enthusiasts).

It wasn't really a 2 part question it was more of what were you favourites to begin with that aren't now because of over exposure. Some interesting choices there.

J.O'B.

I agree with Painoman I would rather hear any BF or Roxy songs than MJ.
Although I would certainly listen to any early Motown, It's what I grew up with.

Elegantly Ageing Philanderers,
Listmania is always a difficult game but, for me, the songs that floated me to Roxy world and which are as fresh and inspirational today as they were back then are:
'Mother Of Pearl,' '2HB,' 'Casanova','Bittersweet','Do The Strand,' 'A Song For Europe' and 'Virginia Plain'.
IMNSHO these seven tracks embodied a level of creativity and originality that were and remain truly unique in the annals of modern music.
Fabulous construction, stunning arrangements coupled with amazing lyrics were the hallmark of every song.
Of course, there could be an endless list but these were really the compositions that defined my relationship with the band and I probably play them every week.
In terms of Roxy songs I would like "rested" well, I would vote for 'Jealous Guy,' 'Like A Hurricane,' 'Love Is The Drug' and 'Avalon'. Non are bad songs but, although I'd never admit it to Mrs.Windswept, I have od'd a little. That said, there are a couple from our hero's solo catalogue that I would retire in advance of the aforementioned, notably 'You Can Dance' and 'Let's Stick Together'.
a bien tôt and happy list mania,
Windswept.