Roxy Music "Avalon" Poll

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Bill Murray's version will win this poll. My pick: "To Turn You On," whose synths are pure gauze and Ferry walks me down Central Park when I'm feeling blue -- anything to turn me on.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
"More Than This" – 4:30 15
"To Turn You On" – 4:16 12
"Avalon" – 4:16 11
"Take a Chance With Me" (Ferry, Phil Manzanera) – 4:42 4
"True to Life" – 4:25 3
"The Main Thing" – 3:54 2
"India" – 1:44 2
"The Space Between" – 4:30 1
"While My Heart Is Still Beating" (Ferry, Andy Mackay) – 3:26 0
"Tara" (Ferry, Mackay) – 1:430


Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 28 July 2008 01:12 (fifteen years ago) link

More Than This

wilter, Monday, 28 July 2008 01:14 (fifteen years ago) link

the main thing

velko, Monday, 28 July 2008 01:14 (fifteen years ago) link

You know, I've had this album on my hard drive for about 6 months meaning to listen to the whole thing and never have until now. Weird thing is to hear "The Space Between" makes me realize I've actually heard this album before somewhere.

Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Monday, 28 July 2008 01:21 (fifteen years ago) link

I've always thought the sign of a great album is that your favorite song keeps changing. Right now it's "True to Life."

But "Avalon" is my favorite favorite.

Hideous Lump, Monday, 28 July 2008 01:21 (fifteen years ago) link

"The way I see it....this relationship ain't right."

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 28 July 2008 01:24 (fifteen years ago) link

Yeah, this stuff is too good for mere computer speakers.

Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Monday, 28 July 2008 01:29 (fifteen years ago) link

"to turn you on", final chorus is heart-achingly deep

r1o natsume, Monday, 28 July 2008 01:30 (fifteen years ago) link

To Turn You On

iago g., Monday, 28 July 2008 01:34 (fifteen years ago) link

i was blind, can't you see? (do-do-DO-doooo-do-dooooo)

impudent harlot, Monday, 28 July 2008 01:35 (fifteen years ago) link

The introduction of "Take a Chance On Me": synth chords swelling in between sax peals and endless guitar.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 28 July 2008 01:40 (fifteen years ago) link

I love this album so much but I will vote for "More Than This" anyway.

Euler, Monday, 28 July 2008 01:55 (fifteen years ago) link

I just went out and bought the CD of this and some new headphones. Only because my other ones have a bent plug that will no longer fit into my stereo even if they fit into my iPod.

Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Monday, 28 July 2008 02:11 (fifteen years ago) link

Bill Murray's version will win this poll.

It would, were it an option. It should be an option. (n.1)

________________________
(n.1) Maybe it should be a different thread: T/S on More Than This -- Roxy Music's Original Version or Bill Murray's Lost In Translation Version.

Daniel, Esq., Monday, 28 July 2008 02:14 (fifteen years ago) link

Gosh, "The Main Thing" is almost like Peter Gabriel, isn't it?

Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Monday, 28 July 2008 02:56 (fifteen years ago) link

like Talking Heads, too. and it's totally balearic! this poll is too hard for me though.

jabba hands, Monday, 28 July 2008 05:57 (fifteen years ago) link

right now it's 'the space between' even though it has a horrible annoying edit in the last second that fucks up the rhythm totally

akm, Monday, 28 July 2008 06:37 (fifteen years ago) link

"Take A Chance With Me" is the only great song on the worst Roxy album. (OK, "More Than This" and the title song are OK, but the rest are paste.)

zeus, Monday, 28 July 2008 08:55 (fifteen years ago) link

"To Turn You On" - the greatest Roxy "pop" song that no one's heard.

Dingbod Kesterson, Monday, 28 July 2008 08:56 (fifteen years ago) link

'The Space Between' and 'To Turn You On" are so very close (followed closer still by 'More Than This'), but it's for the title track that I keep coming back to this album. So clean, so seductive, so uniquely beautiful.

en i see kay, Monday, 28 July 2008 09:02 (fifteen years ago) link

Voted "Avalon", which is Ferry/Roxy Music's best ever moment. But "Take a Chance With Me" is not far behind.

Geir Hongro, Monday, 28 July 2008 09:23 (fifteen years ago) link

The introduction of "Take a Chance On Me":

If you change your mind (Take a chance, take a chance)
I'm the first in line (Take a chance, take a chance)
Honey I'm still free (Take a chance, take a chance)
Take a chance on me....

;)

Geir Hongro, Monday, 28 July 2008 09:25 (fifteen years ago) link

The best song on the best Roxy album is "True To Life". Ferry's voice is, more than ever, like a supplementary instrument in, and burping, belching guitar and synth noises have never sounded so sublimely beautiful. Yays too for TTYO, which I played incessantly as the B-side of "Jealous Guy", the second single I ever bought.

d-pop, Monday, 28 July 2008 12:03 (fifteen years ago) link

"Take a Chance with Me" and "To Turn You On" neck and neck, though I went with the former...

Joe, Monday, 28 July 2008 18:03 (fifteen years ago) link

I love Ferry's harmonies in the chorus of TaCwM

Joe, Monday, 28 July 2008 18:04 (fifteen years ago) link

This album has some of my very favorite keyboard sounds: warm and plush. I didn't think Ferry was capable of playing (and layering) this subtly.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 28 July 2008 18:06 (fifteen years ago) link

This album has some of my very favorite keyboard sounds: warm and plush. I didn't think Ferry was capable of playing (and layering) this subtly.

Well, he had done already on "Flesh + Blood" (and then went on to do a lot on his next four solo albums).

Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 29 July 2008 07:27 (fifteen years ago) link

I'm stunned at how beautiful and consistent this album is and how well it seemed to fit my mood today. Thanks Alfred.

Bimble, Saturday, 2 August 2008 01:12 (fifteen years ago) link

It makes me want to dig out "Slave To Love", too, and whatever the other Ferry single I used to have was that I can't remember the name of right now.

Bimble, Saturday, 2 August 2008 01:14 (fifteen years ago) link

"Is Your Love Strong Enough", that's it.

Bimble, Saturday, 2 August 2008 01:23 (fifteen years ago) link

"Help Me" is pretty great.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 2 August 2008 01:28 (fifteen years ago) link

Okay, I'm digging that one up, too. Then I can sit back and ponder it all.

Bimble, Saturday, 2 August 2008 01:36 (fifteen years ago) link

Knew this would be Alfred.

I know, right?, Saturday, 2 August 2008 01:37 (fifteen years ago) link

ha. Oh?

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 2 August 2008 02:21 (fifteen years ago) link

"To Turn You On"

Bee OK, Saturday, 2 August 2008 02:41 (fifteen years ago) link

Finally playing "Help Me" now. I like the synth/drum sounds.

Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Saturday, 2 August 2008 05:34 (fifteen years ago) link

title track. whole album's unconscionably decadent and perfect.

but they should do an expanded version with the live EP that had "like a hurricane" on it.

tipsy mothra, Saturday, 2 August 2008 06:20 (fifteen years ago) link

even the "avalon" video is unconscionably decadent and perfect.

tipsy mothra, Saturday, 2 August 2008 06:21 (fifteen years ago) link

live EP? *head spins*

Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Saturday, 2 August 2008 07:01 (fifteen years ago) link

this one. don't even know if it's in print. but that version of "like a hurricane" is great. (actually it looks like those tracks were later incorporated into this.)

tipsy mothra, Saturday, 2 August 2008 07:07 (fifteen years ago) link

TRUE TO LIFE TAKES THIS POLL I THINK I AM SO SORRY I KNOW "MORE THAN THIS" IS A CORKER BUT OUCH!!!!

Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Saturday, 2 August 2008 17:15 (fifteen years ago) link

Thanks Mothra, I'll look it up right now. A Neil Young cover! Wow.

Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Saturday, 2 August 2008 17:18 (fifteen years ago) link

This album is insane. I submit. I have officially lost my mind over this album oh my god.

Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Saturday, 2 August 2008 17:56 (fifteen years ago) link

(here's a clip of like a hurricane. i've always thought of it as the lost avalon track.)

tipsy mothra, Saturday, 2 August 2008 19:06 (fifteen years ago) link

Oh yeah, the synthesizers alone...

Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Saturday, 2 August 2008 20:13 (fifteen years ago) link

Yep, that totally flips my lid. I love that song even when Neil Young does it. Christ.

Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Saturday, 2 August 2008 20:21 (fifteen years ago) link

"Help Me" is great! I love the register of his voice for the verses...

Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Saturday, 2 August 2008 21:08 (fifteen years ago) link

Easiest poll so far. More Than This.

sonderangerbot, Saturday, 2 August 2008 21:13 (fifteen years ago) link

I'd do anything... to turn... you...
Must phone me -
You know me -
When things go wrong...
I'd do anything... to turn... you on.

I wonder if it's because "Avalon" and "More Than This" have just become bigger than the record, and maybe even bigger than the band, while "To Turn You On" still feels like something I can hold. If I were hearing it all for the first time, I suspect it would be "Avalon"...

rogermexico., Saturday, 2 August 2008 21:31 (fifteen years ago) link

How he sings "Must phone me" is the genius bit.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 2 August 2008 21:52 (fifteen years ago) link

I'm not trying to be perverse here but I went with "India." I've always felt it summed up the album's lazy travelogue feel best. I love how it mimics the mixing of a DJ or the wizardry of a dub engineer. The opening (what the hell is that instrument?) shudders off in the distance are crushed velvet melodrama at its best. And it makes for perfect mix tape fodder.

Kevin John Bozelka, Saturday, 2 August 2008 22:01 (fifteen years ago) link

Too many feels and bests there which only means he managed to turn me on.

Kevin John Bozelka, Saturday, 2 August 2008 22:07 (fifteen years ago) link

Isn't it a guitar synthesizer?

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 2 August 2008 22:13 (fifteen years ago) link

If it is, it's trying to emulate something non-Western.

Kevin John Bozelka, Saturday, 2 August 2008 22:43 (fifteen years ago) link

How he sings "Must phone me" is the genius bit.

OTM, though he's really got me from "Is it raining in New York" on.

rogermexico., Sunday, 3 August 2008 00:11 (fifteen years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

ILX System, Sunday, 3 August 2008 23:01 (fifteen years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

ILX System, Monday, 4 August 2008 23:01 (fifteen years ago) link

A respectable Top Five!

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 4 August 2008 23:56 (fifteen years ago) link

I voted "Take a Chance With Me" — it's been my favorite on this for years and there's no reason to change now...

Naive Teen Idol, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 13:40 (fifteen years ago) link

oh goodness I just listened to "Tara" and it has shaken my world; if I could go back now I would vote for it.

Euler, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 15:28 (fifteen years ago) link

two weeks pass...

I just want to say one more time how much I adore "True To Life". Thanks.

Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Friday, 22 August 2008 02:59 (fifteen years ago) link

I knew this was you.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 22 August 2008 03:07 (fifteen years ago) link

i knew this was you bitch.

i knew this was you.

deeznuts, Friday, 22 August 2008 03:09 (fifteen years ago) link

Jagger!

I know, right?, Friday, 22 August 2008 03:11 (fifteen years ago) link

Ooh! Someone called me bitch! Oh honey, I'm flattered!

Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Friday, 22 August 2008 03:27 (fifteen years ago) link

two months pass...

"True To Life" is just the shit, it really is. God, that song needs moonlight, and a nice nightcap.

The Ungrateful Dead (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Saturday, 1 November 2008 09:08 (fifteen years ago) link

And let me take this opportunity to say that the "Avalon" single b-side "Always Unknowing" is as good as anything on the album.

Hideous Lump, Saturday, 1 November 2008 20:36 (fifteen years ago) link

three years pass...

still would pick the main thing but true to life has really been sounding good to me lately

love all the songs on this but

"To Turn You On" – 4:16 12
"While My Heart Is Still Beating" (Ferry, Andy Mackay) – 3:26 0

seems a bit off tbh

buzza, Monday, 9 January 2012 07:54 (twelve years ago) link

I forget what I voted for but it really could have been any of them.

spiced with KNOWING THAT YOU'VE PAID YOUR BILLS (I DIED), Monday, 9 January 2012 08:00 (twelve years ago) link

quick ranking w/o much thought

"The Main Thing"
"True to Life"
"Avalon"
"The Space Between"
"While My Heart Is Still Beating"
"More Than This"
"Tara"
"To Turn You On"
"Take a Chance With Me"
"India"

buzza, Monday, 9 January 2012 08:01 (twelve years ago) link

one year passes...

I just want to say one more time how much I adore "True To Life". Thanks.

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Thursday, August 21, 2008 9:59 PM (5 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Ah, love, let us be true
To one another! for the world, which seems
To lie before us like a land of dreams,
So various, so beautiful, so new,
Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,
Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain;
And we are here as on a darkling plain
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,
Where ignorant armies clash by night.

Euler, Thursday, 29 August 2013 20:10 (ten years ago) link

eight years pass...

So I turn the pages and tell the story
From town to town
People tell me to be determined
Poor country boy

Too much luck means too much trouble
Much time alone
But arm in arm with my seaside diamond
I'll soon be home

Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 26 May 2022 02:08 (one year ago) link

Well the music just came to mind like that

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 26 May 2022 02:12 (one year ago) link

avalon

ciderpress, Thursday, 26 May 2022 02:17 (one year ago) link

avalon

Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 26 May 2022 02:19 (one year ago) link


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