Song of the Day: 'Love Is the Drug' by Roxy Music

 

Although my first exposure to Roxy Music was probably the so-heavily-in-rotation-I-started-to-dread-it video for "More Than This," I've certainly come to love the influential art rockers over the years. As I debated buying tickets for what is very likely the band's last tour -- Bryan Ferry turns 77 this year -- I was surprised to learn that they had scored one U.S. Top 40 hit -- I'd have thought none -- but it wasn't what I guessed it would be. Rather than the exhilarating "Dance Away" the heartrending "Over You" or the aforementioned MTV hit, the band's biggest single here in the states was the groovy "Love Is the Drug," which hit No. 30 back in 1976. 

P.S. Like many gay boys, I probably knew Grace Jones's cover first!

Anyone going?

Song of the Day: 'More Than This' by Blondie

 

I never thought much of Blondie's cover of "More Than This," the first single from Roxy Music's classic 1982 album, "Avalon." But when this old photo of Debbie Harry and Chris Stein with Bryan Ferry popped upon Facebook -- notice how Chris is always doing all the talking -- I decided to revisit it. Don't even recall what it was recorded for -- a promo for a tour with the New Cars or something? -- but I do have a new-found appreciation for Debbie's phrasing, which allows both for her limited (with age) vocal range and for her to put her own mark on the song, which Fake 10,000 Maniacs had already been gender-flipped into the Top 40 in 1997.

Click HERE to hear Blondie's demo, maybe?

Would you believe that I used to groan when this would come on MTV back in 1982 because they played it CONSTANTLY?!!!

Mary Ramsey leading 10,000 Maniacs

Song of the Day: 'Dance Away' by Roxy Music

  The great Bryan Ferry has a new retrospective out of 1920s jazz style instrumentals of some of his best songs, but it's the classic versions of Roxy Music's catalog that will live on forever.

Song of the Day: 'Over You' by Roxy Music

If this isn't the best song ever, I don't know what is.