CoronaVinyl Day 229 (R): Manifesto by Roxy Music

 For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "R," and we're listening to Roxy Music's sixth studio album, 1979's Manifesto.

Formed in 1970, Roxy Music was part of the '70s British glam movement, but their music was always a little more artsy than glammy.  Behind the strength of lead singer Brian Ferry, keyboardist Brian Eno, and guitarist Phil Manzanera, the band was pretty much an instant success in their native UK.  All eight of the band's album reached the Top 10 of the UK album charts, and they had three #1 albums.  Eno left the band in 1973, and went on to be David Bowie's right-hand man and a great producer and musical innovator, but even after Eno's departure, the band thrived.

They broke up in 1975, but then reunited a couple years later, and Manifesto is their first post-breakup release.  It's about what you'd expect from a late '70s Roxy Music album -- elements of art rock, new wave/synth pop, rock, yacht rock, disco, and shades of danceability, kind of a combination of late '70s Bowie and Talking Heads.  Frankly, it sounds a few years ahead of its time.  In addition to the regular members of the band (Ferry, Manzanera, Andy Mackay on sax, and Paul Thompson on drums), several other great musicians played on the album, including former Ace lead singer and future Squeeze and Mike + The Mechanics lead singer Paul Carrack on keyboards, veteran session pianist Richard Tee, future Adam and The Ants bassist Gary Tibbs, former Average White Band and future member of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Steve Ferrone on drums, and Melissa Manchester on backing vocals.

The album went to #7 on the UK album charts and also #23 on the Billboard album charts, their highest-charting album ever in the U.S.  It also spawned three Top 40 hits in the UK, including two Top 5 songs.  "Trash" went to #40, "Dance Away" reached #2, and "Angel Eyes" went to #4.  "Dance Away" was also the band's second song that charted in the U.S., going to #44 on the Billboard Hot 100.  I also like that the sides of the album are named East Side (Side 1) and West Side (Side 2).

Roxy Music would go on to release two more studio albums before breaking up for good in 1983.  They were hugely influential on many bands that followed in a variety of genres, from punk to new wave to hair bands.  They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Trash"

"Trash" has a definite new wave pop/rock feel, with a little bit of weirdness.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Cry, Cry, Cry"
Despite it's title, this song is an upbeat pop/soul song, with an infectious chorus, complemented by the backing vocals.