For Your Pleasure

My first time back at the local charity shop after the long lockdown early last year, I found copies of the self-titled Roxy Music and For Your Pleasure LPs there: "deluxe" 1977 re-presses rather than early '70s originals, but in great condition. The novelty of being in any kind of shop other than a supermarket for the first time in months meant that I gladly paid up the £25 combined asking price, where otherwise I might have baulked.

Being a "deluxe" copy means it retains the original issue's gatefold sleeve, with the fantastic photos of the band inside, where each of the five core members pose with a guitar. All of them look fabulous, especially Brian Eno, resplendent in blue eyeshadow, lipstick, an ostrich-feather-trimmed jacket, black flared trousers with silver spiderweb detailing and platform-soled boots. For Your Pleasure was released in March '73: four months later, Eno was out of the group.

My father was a great admirer of Roxy Music, although in his usual way he contented himself with a few familiar favourites rather than fully exploring their catalogue. Thus Country Life, the '77 Greatest Hits and the first Bryan Ferry solo album were imprinted on me in childhood, meaning I already knew 'Do The Strand' and 'Editions of You' very well. I'd meanwhile heard 'In Every Dream Home a Heartache' on occasion (which is probably my favourite track), but the remainder of it was all new to me.

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Complete String Quartets

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This is a Recording

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