#374 - Roxy Music - Siren (1975)

MUSIC HISTORY WRITTEN BY HEAD WRITER DJ MORTY COYLE:

Released on October 24th 1975 on Island and ATCO Records and produced by Chris Thomas this is the fourth album by the British, Glam Rock, Art Pop, Rock band.

 Once again I’ll remind you that more complete artist breakdowns happen on previous shows when we review one of their albums for the first time.

You can hear more of Roxy Music’s history in depth on the John Taylor episode featuring “For Your Pleasure.”

 So let me catch you up with where they were for this one...

 Keyboard, sound effect, techno wizard, and future master producer Brian Eno had left the band before the last record to be replaced by Eddie Jobson, who also played electric violin and as a more traditional keyboardist allowed vocalist and keyboard player Bryan Ferry to concentrate on being the frontman.

 That album also saw multi-instrumentalist Andy Mackay and guitarist Phil Manzanera join Ferry as co-songwriters.

 The band was rounded out by drummer Paul Thompson and bassist John Gustafson and for this album Jobson added to the songwriting team as everyone realized there was good money in publishing royalties.

 Only seven months after the release of their third album they recorded this in London during the summer of 1975 with producer Chris Thomas who had done their three previous records.

 It would be their fourth in two-and-a-half years and as those earlier records featured lots of experimentation and challenging material this would prove to be their most accessible and commercial collection of songs yet and perhaps ever.

The subject matter is basically divided up between the aftermath of heartbreak and being hooked back in for more.

 In Greek mythology the siren sings a spellbinding song that lures smitten sailors to smash into the rocky shore.

And just like Ferry’s lingering preoccupation with feted, fated, and faded romance (you’ll have to read that later) this appeared right as the phenomenon of disco music was luring the world to discotheques, singles bar, and inevitable love hangover so it captured the spirit of that moment.

The band continued to be aware of Bryan’s aspirational ascendancy to fame and fortune with or without them so although this record was a smash in the U.K. and brought them their biggest success in America, which led to them having their first headlining tour here, they ended up taking a four-year break before the next album to pursue solo projects.

 When Bryan’s solo career sort of fizzled out the band came back even more refined and critically and commercially acclaimed although dwindling down one member for each of their last three albums.

 Although the band was inactive for nearly twenty years they got back together intermittently in 2001 for some tours and in 2005 attempted a reunion album that became a 2010 Bryan solo project and in 2019 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Duran Duran’s Simon LeBon and past 500 guest John Taylor.