Roxy Music - Country Life (LP)

Product specifications

Details

Album

Country Life

Artist

Roxy Music

LP release year

2022

Album release date

1 november 1974

Label

Virgin

EAN

602507460242

Available

Yes

Product information

Format

LP

Quantity

1 piece(s)

Type

Reissue

Mono or stereo

Stereo

Duration

41 min

Tracks

10 tracks

Weight

180g

EAN

EAN

602507460242

Other

Limited Edition

No

Country

Worldwide

Genre

Glam rock

Box set

No

Remastered

Yes

Reissue

Yes

• Matrix Details

  5 out of 5 stars
  Wzejde3422 December 2025United States🇺🇸

  Matrix / Runout groove details on my copy of this vinyl:Side A: S 88370 A-1 II Pressed in GermanySide B: S 88370 B-1 Pressed in Germany

• Matrix Numbers Detailed

  5 out of 5 stars
  Tpurre2522 December 2025United States🇺🇸

  Matrix / Groove code on my copy of this album:Side A: 2459 344 S1 1 C A PSide B: 2459 344 S2 M 1 B

• Boxy, Bright, and Off

  5 out of 5 stars
  sdrynf5813 December 2025United States🇺🇸

  It has a somewhat boxy tone, is a tad too bright, and feels a bit off. The pressing is alright, though.

• Roxy's Contrasts and Controversy

  4 out of 5 stars
  bmzaigpiiwa13 October 2025United States🇺🇸

  Roxy Music has forever brought me immense joy, their music always carrying a rebellious edge, even in their most danceable tracks. There's something indescribable about their lyrics that you can't ignore, filled with conversation and subtle nuances that make you pause and ask, "Did you catch that?" Country Life is Brian Ferry's "Dolce Vita," a portrait of a man of the world, oozing with charm and a touch of self-indulgence, as he muses to himself, "Ah, more champagne to drown this sorrow would be lovely / So I'll pour myself another drink and find myself, even if it takes all night." This album at times feels romantically blasphemous, as if Ferry is seeking both sin and salvation in the same places, where fantasy and reality slightly blur, where uncertainty is a virtue, where imagination and desire gently collide. Yes, the album is about contrasts and contradictions, like the unexpected song "Three And Nine," a track few know, yet while its surface meaning is clear, beneath lies a slightly unhinged journey of manipulation, much like Hendrix's "If Six Was Nine." Of course, the lyrics and music are tinged with melodrama, for without it, Ferry couldn't create such vivid imagery, nor could the musicians bring those verses to life with some of the finest instrumentation ever recorded. Country Life is cohesive in its lack of cohesion, with the band exploring diverse styles and influences, always aiming to surprise listeners. At this time, Andy MacKay's sax has never sounded more elegant and beautiful, his riffs dancing across the ceiling before blending with Manzanera's inventive and splendid guitar chords, all while a series of new bass players rotate through the lineup. Woven deeply into the best tracks is a foundation of seductive funk and soul, not quite R&B, but unmistakable nonetheless. What makes defining Roxy Music so challenging is that they sound like no other band on the planet. They've managed to exist in two worlds at once, that of experimental rock and pure pop, and no matter which side of the fence you're on, they're simply a blast. On the other hand, to say Ferry's vocals and lyrics are unique would be an understatement, and like fine wine, it often takes several listens for the subtleties to reveal themselves, and even then, for years to come, you'll hear something in a way you didn't expect. *** The Fun Facts: The album cover features two scantily clad models, Constanze Karoli and Eveline Grunwald, whom Bryan Ferry met in Portugal and convinced to do the photo shoot and help with the lyrics to "Bitter-Sweet," though they weren't credited for appearing on the cover, only for their German translation work on the lyric sheet. The cover image was controversial in some countries (including America), which is why it was censored before release, though some uncensored copies managed to slip through. As a result, a later American album release of Country Life featured a different cover shot, replacing Karoli and Grunwald posed in front of some trees with a photo from the album's back cover that featured only the trees.

• 74 US ATCO Version Shines

  5 out of 5 stars
  _Xivmon30 August 2025United States🇺🇸

  This album is among my top picks for a relaxing listen. The '74 US ATCO version I have is quite good, so I wanted to mention that because I saw a comment about a later ATCO pressing ('82 I think) that someone said wasn't up to par. That's not the case with this one. I haven't had the opportunity to compare it to any UK pressings yet. However, compared to CDs, digital files, and newer reissues, this pressing stands out. It's definitely worth your time.