Veronica Veronese (cover for single release)
By Dante Gabriel Rossetti
I’ve often thought I should do an album where the songs are all bound together in the style of West Side Story, but it’s always seemed like too much bother to work that way. So instead, I have these 10 poems, or short stories, that could, with a bit more work, be fashioned into a novel. Avalon is part of the King Arthur legend and is a very romantic thing, when King Arthur dies, the Queens ferry him off to Avalon, which is sort of an enchanted island. It’s the ultimate romantic fantasy place.
– Bryan Ferry, about “Avalon”
By the time you get to Avalon, 90 per cent of it was being written in the studio. That album was a product of completely changing our working methods … for the last three albums, quite frankly, there were a lot more drugs around as well, which was good and bad. It created a lot of paranoia and a lot of spaced-out stuff. — Phil Manzanera, about, “Avalon”
You may ask, why did I choose this as a great opening track for this week’s ask. Scrolling through digital group folders, I stopped at Bryan Ferry, then moved on to Roxy Music. Of their 8 studio albums, Avalon has the greatest opening track. The whole album is mystical but this song transcends the myst and floats in ether more heaven than earth. It’s truly one of my favorite songs of theirs in both melody and the lyrics, which really makes one stop and think, is there more than this?
For the longest time, this was the only Roxy Music album I had, and so it has a special place in my heart. I used to play it to take me far far away from whatever troubles were going on at the time.
Per wiki:
Avalon is Roxy Music’s 8th and final studio album and their most successful studio album.
“More Than This” was the first single released from the album, but only reached #103 in the U.S. So strange to read that. It seems like it got tremendous airplay around here in West Michigan. The album itself, although it reached only #53 in the US, endured as a sleeper hit and became Roxy Music’s lone million-selling US record.
Two notable covers for “More Than This” are by 10,000 Maniacs and Emmie. Just as an aside, did you know Natalie Merchant left 10,000 Maniacs in 1993??? Had to look it up when the videos I found made me think she’d had radical plastic surgery and her voice sounded un-Merchant-like. Mary Ramsey has taken over lead vocals for her. Then there is Bill Murray covering it in Lost in Translation. It tears me up to watch this clip.
Personnel on “More Than This”
(Roxy Music members)
Bryan Ferry – vocals, Linn LM-1 (drum machine)
Phil Manzanera – lead guitar
Andy MacKay – saxophones
and others:
Neil Hubbard – guitars
Jimmy Maelen – percussion
Andy Newmark – drums
Alan Spenner – bass guitar
Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals
Here is Roxy Music performing at their 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony:
More Than This
I could feel at the time
There was no way of knowing
Fallen leaves in the night
Who can say where they're blowing?
As free as the wind
Hopefully learning
Why the sea on the tide
Has no way of turning
More than this
You know there's nothing
More than this
Tell me one thing
More than this
Ooh there's nothing
It was fun for a while
There was no way of knowing
Like a dream in the night
Who can say where we're going?
No care in the world
Maybe I'm learning
Why the sea on the tide
Has no way of turning
More than this
You know there's nothing
More than this
Tell me one thing
More than this
No there's nothing
More than this
Nothing
More than this
More than this
Nothing
Songwriter: Bryan Ferry
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. This week Jim wants us to find:
a song that made a great opening track on an album
Tao Talk 
I’ve always loved “More Than This” and also liked “Avalon.” For the most part, I know Roxy Music based on the radio, or I guess you could literally say a band playing on the radio. At some point in the ’80s, I got my hands on a greatest hits sampler that featured Roxy Music and some Brian Ferry solo songs. BTW, the first version of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy” I heard was by Roxy Music.
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Wow, Christian, in a bit of synchronicity, I *just* listened to that song, on “Street Life” with 20 great songs on it. He breathes life into it even more than Lennon imo.
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Roxy Music has long been a favorite of ours, having discovered the group early into our marriage. We were/are great fans of music from the UK, always seeking out new sounds; when we first heard Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry the sound was different and unique. We dug it right away and still do. Excellent choice, Lisa.
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Nancy, glad you and hub are fans. Yes it is different and unique. Thank you :)
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Lovely choice! I was a big fan and had all of their albums, plus several of Bryan’s solos too. Avalon was a great finale to their recording career. It did better here, though: the album went to #1 and the single to #6.
I was also a huge 10,000 Maniacs fan, and knew of Natalie’s departure. She has gone on to make a string of beautiful solo albums. As for the Maniacs, they were never really the same without her, good though Mary was. The irony is that their version of the song charted at #25 in the US, outperforming Roxy by some distance!
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Clive happy to hear you are a big fan of the artists in groups and as solo artists. Bryan and Natalie are thoughtful songwriters. It is ironic the Mary Maniacs did better than Roxy Music did with the song!
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Ironic, and their version wasn’t as good!
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100% agree!
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I have always loved this song. It has such an ethereal feel to it- but I learned more about it today than I have ever known. Thank you!
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V, happy you love the song and learned more about it today. You are welcome :)
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They always seemed to be the underrated group of their day, but they had great music and good production.
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Well-said, Paul.
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😀
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Great selection, Lisa as this song is a depiction of love and loss that focuses on nature and the passage of time and that makes it very enduring.
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Glad you like the song, Jim. The prompt is a good one. Looking forward to seeing what has been chosen by others.
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I share your sentiments about this album completely. It is surreally gorgeous. The floating melodies and transporting nature of Ferry’s delivery took you places you had never been. With every listen you get to go back again.
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Good choice Lisa. Roxy Music was one of my favourite bands especially during their early years.
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Thanks, Glyn. Such a talented group of musicians! I see Eno didn’t stay with the band that long. Do you know anything about why he left?
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Yes, Brian Eno only played on their first two albums. “It’s very hard to know just how honest I should be about the reasons for my demise from Roxy,” Eno told Melody Maker at the time.
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That’s Eno for you. Never lets any moss grow under his feet. Bono talks about him quite a bit in his memoir.
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I love Roxy Music Lisa and this is a great choice ❤️
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I do also, Ange. My pleasure on highlighting them this week.
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Good choice Lisa… I need to spend more time with this band. I like what I’ve heard. This one I’ve heard before…he also does some of the best covers I’ve heard.
Mary Ramsey…I like her but yea it’s completely different.
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Thanks, Max. It was a shock to the system to see Natalie had left the band so long ago. With Roxy Music, don’t let the glam fool you, this is a deep and important band. The musicianship is staggering with Manzanero on lead guitar.
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Yea I saw them right before it happened…in 1988 or so…I’m glad I did.
From what I heard of Roxy Music…I like their early stuff a lot…the reason is because of the bass…yes the bass…they pump it up and it sounds so good on their early records…of course I like the songs as well.
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YES on the bass. Amazona. Nuff said.
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I would be hard-pressed to name any songs outside of this one for this group (and I probably know more than I think I do!)
Excellent choice.
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Dale, happy you like this one. I’m guessing you do also. How about Love is the Drug?
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There ya go! I forgot about that one :)
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:)
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Oh how I loved Bryan Ferry! He’s still gorgeous even with that grey hair and a not so strong voice anymore. Thanks for picking him today Li. Wonderful 🥰
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I know what you mean about Bryan Ferry. He could leave his shoes under my bed anytime lol
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🤣 Haha. I know what you mean!😆
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A great post and wonderful song. Excellent choice!
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Thanks, Lisa :)
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I could never get tired of this song. (K)
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Ditto <3
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This is wonderful Lisa absolutely a great great track from a great group 💜💜💜
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Willow, so happy you like <3
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I really do 💜💜💜
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‘Avalon’ is a masterpiece, a fitting end to Roxy Music’s recording catalogue. And the song is outstanding.
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Agreed, Steve. It’s transportive for me.
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Truly!
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great pick, Li. I have been listening to Roxy Music since when I was still living in Italy, many moons ago.
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Marina, they are glamtastic aren’t they :)
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I prefer the first era of Roxy but this song is just magical. Great intro and verse melody.
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Graham, I’m a relative newbie to all but this album but have at least listened to all of them at this point. Thank you on the intro.
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