Greatest Hits
	previously released material
	Released on November 1977
	UK CHART POSITION #20
	Find it at GEMM
SD 38-103 cover [high resolution photo]

H aving already played the “live” card (Viva! Roxy Music), the labels fanned the waning flames of interest with Greatest Hits (as it turned out, the band’s demise was premature). This is the most concise collection of the band’s first and most musically relevant phase, as subsequent compilations were forced to make room for the band’s later work and, in the case of Street Life, Bryan Ferry’s solo music. While this record gives the impression that Roxy Music wrote nothing but hits, it does distill what was best about the band into a neat little package. A ton of thought didn’t go into the selection, but it didn’t need to. All of their singles (except “Both Ends Burning”) are featured, and two album tracks from Stranded round out the affair. This does collectors the favor of finally placing the delightful “Pyjamarama” on an album. Though the album doesn’t follow strict chronological order, it does flow smoothly. The combination of Country Life’s “All I Want Is You” and “Out of the Blue,” followed by “Pyjamarama” and For Your Pleasure’s “Editions of You” (which served as the B side to “Do The Strand”) is as eloquent an argument for Roxy’s talents as any patch of vinyl could make. Listeners may be surprised to find the band’s work - especially their first few records - rigged with boobytraps, but there’s still plenty of gold in those hills that Greatest Hits doesn’t tap (try Country Life first). This compilation has since been discontinued, superceded by Street Life, but for the most part dissimilar to The Atlantic Years. It gets the nod of the three (on vinyl anyway), coming closest to the filet mignon cut.

SD 38-103 back cover

TRACK LISTING

1. VIRGINIA PLAIN    2:55
2. DO THE STRAND    4:00
3. ALL I WANT IS YOU    2:53
4. OUT OF THE BLUE    (Bryan Ferry/Phil Manzanera)    4:42
5. PYJAMARAMA    2:50
6. EDITIONS OF YOU    3:45
7. LOVE IS THE DRUG    (Bryan Ferry/Andy Mackay)    4:05
8. MOTHER OF PEARL    6:45
9. A SONG FOR EUROPE    (Bryan Ferry/Andy Mackay)    5:42
10. THE THRILL OF IT ALL    4:20
11. STREET LIFE    3:21
    
    All songs written by Bryan Ferry unless noted

CREDITS

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