Does anyone know if any additional ghost musicians appeared on the first 5 Roxy albums in addition to Ferry, Mackay , Manzanera,Thompson, Eno. Bass Guitarists and Jobson ? In addition, isn't it strange that no extra instruments were used on these 5 albums while Bryan used loads of different musicians, instruments, and backing vocalists on These Foolish Things and Another Time Another Place. (Trumpets,Fiddle,etc)

Interesting topic. I can't recall any uncredited musicians playing on the first five Roxy albums. Chris Thomas claims to have played bass on 'Street Life' . He reckoned that the early bassline put down by John Gustafson did not fit the finished article, so he stepped in as Gustafson wasn't in the studio at the time to re-record it.

I know Ferry was at times frustrated by his (and the rest of the band's) musical limitations, and I guess would have used session players if the other members had allowed.

It is well known that session players (often uncredited) appeared from 'Manifesto' onwards which clearly in part, at least, led to Paul's departure.

I originally thought that uncredited session players were brought in for 'Dance Away' , but now wonder whether the finished version was built around the 'Bride Stripped Bare' demo and the Roxy players added their parts.

Any thoughts?

I know that that Neil Hubbard, Steve Ferrone on drums, Richard Tee (who played keyboards on dance away) the Brecker brothers and Luther Vandross were all uncredited on manifesto.

Great idea for a thread!

I understood always ( thanks to J O'B and other Roxyologists) that there were loads of ghosts on manifesto...but I think this thread is aimed at the first 5. I really don't have a clue, and I reckon it's a great idea to delve deeper.

At least we can kick this off citing a well known sample:
Jude Dench sampled from a radio play (?) saying "you don't ask why" at the close of FYP. We know eno sampled it. But what prompted that? It's so close to the lyrical concept of that track - indeed intrinsic to it- I wonder if Bry asked Bri to source something within a guideline, or whether Bri got the lyrical direction and brought this spontaneously.

Dear frank
I think you're probably spot on with your hypothesis that people were added to earlier sessions (IYM sessions), perhaps bit by bit, hence the usage of so many musicians. Looking back, it makes it seem like loads of people were involved , but the Roxy 6 sessions were probably quite streamlined ...but some of the Roxy 6 tracks were long running legacies with loads of extras performing on them.

I also can't fathom why Bryan didn't use any more instruments and backing singers on the first 5 Roxy albums. He did on his first 2 solo albums during that period. Makes me wonder if the other band members objected. And who would pay them ?

The Judy Dench sampled "You don't ask why" line was first used on a John Peel, BBC session version of "The BoB (Medley). It was looped during war effects part of the song.
So it had obviously nothing underlying to do with the FYP lyrics.

Blimey. Never knew that. Thanks Mr Riffffor the info. There goes my theory though . I thought "you don't ask why" fitted so well with the "Heaven can wait" theme of FYP. I still think it fits. Maybe a bit of Dada going on.

Ghost musicians on the first five albums? - probably not - the sound is too Roxy - Manifesto is certainly a ghosted album - Paul has admitted that quite openly

Past 6 - I doubt it either because of Messers Newmark, Hubbard, Jason, Schwartzenburg et al who were all top quality session musos

Errr - because it was Roxy Music - very diffeent from first two solo albums in concept and sonics