前作『These Foolish Things』で、アバンギャルドなRoxy Musicとは真逆の親しみやすい正統派ヴォーカリストの魅力を英国やヨーロッパの大衆に植え付け、 もうひとつの顔(=ソロ)を持つ事に成功したFerry。前作は解り易いベタなヒット曲をいくつか配置していたが、 本作ではR&BやWillie Nelsonなど通好みの趣味性を一歩推し進めた。 とは言っても「5」「6」は誰でも知っている筈だし、「Smoke Gets In Your Eyes」は私の中ではもはや彼のヴァージョンしかありえない。 現在に至るFerryのカバー曲セレクトのベースはこのアルバムで定着せられたと見ていいと思う。
本作ジャケにおけるFerryのフォーマルな正装の意味を理解できない日本人の発言をたまに見るが、素の彼はトラディショナルを重んじる生粋の英国人。 そういう意図の下、計算され尽したコンセプトに基づいてAnthony PriceやNicholas de Villeの手によってデザインされている訳で。 日本では『Avalon』『Boys And Girls』しか知らない一見リスナーが多く伊達男だのダンディズムだの外見的な事ばかり取り上げ、 彼の音楽(特に詞)を理解しようとしないのだから鼻白んでしまう。
全曲サイコッ!なカバーに溢れまくりのデビューアルバムに続くフェリーの2ndっす!選曲が前作と比べると俺、ほとんど知らねぇ〜ぇぇぃ・・・な曲ばかりで、結構マニアックっす!なんか大人しめな曲ばっかっすが、まとまり具合はサイコッ!っす!ラスト一曲「Another Time Another Place」だけフェリーのオリジナ〜ルっすが、これがまた・・・・マジヤベな名曲っす!『ストランディッド』の「マザー・オブ・パール」や『イン ユア マインド』の「Love Me Madly Again」を髣髴の曲調途中からあれぃ?違う曲?的転調具合で、またこれがラストはフェリーのこれ俺の歌的独壇場状態っす!ポール・マッカートニーの「バンド・オン・ザ・ラン」あんな感じに3段階曲調チェンジりまっす!歌詞がまたかっけぇんすよ!「TOKYO JOE」や『ベールをぬいだ花嫁』の「THIS ISLAND EARTH」系の、なに歌ってっか意味わかんねぇ〜ぇぇぃな歌詞でサイコッす!フェリーの歌詞って、未練タラタ〜ラなラヴソングかこういう意味取れねぇ系の2つに大まか大別できるっすけど、俺、この曲は意味WHY?系の歌詞では最高のひとつと思ってるっす!最新作『ディラネスク』のラスト「見張り塔からずっと」に微似てまっす!聴き比べまくりしても楽しめまっす!フェリーサイコサイコサイコッ!YEAH!!
Released in 1974, I find this, Bryan Ferry's second solo album, to be a better and far more enjoyable effort than his first, "These Foolish Things", which contained, in my opinion, some truly awful covers. I prefer the choice of material on here, more soully and rocking country than the 60s pop of the first album. These Ferry solo albums should be taken for what they are - not Roxy Music albums. Ferry covers stuff he liked. If he liked "You Are My Sunshine" then that is his prerogative. Obviously, it is then down to how he covers the songs. His "Sympathy For The Devil" on the first album is a million times worse than anything on here.
TRACK LISTING
1. The "In" Crowd 2. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 3. Walk A Mile In My Shoes 4. Funny How Time Slips Away 5. You Are My Sunshine 6. What A Wonderful World 7. It Ain't Me Babe 8. Fingerpoppin' 9. Help Me Make It Through The Night 10. Another Time Another Place
Starting off with the album's two singles, covers of Dobie Gray's Northern Soul classic "The In Crowd" and The Inkspots' Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", the album has a more confident feel about it than the last. "The In Crowd" is the best track on the album, a strong rocker, while the laid-back, melodic "Smoke" has an excellent saxophone solo. "Walk A Mile In My Shoes" is an excellent throaty, rocking cover of Joe South's 1970 country hit, with nice bass and organ backing. Great backing vocals and horns also. A bit of electric violin in there too. Pretty much everything seems to be played on this track. Good stuff.
"Funny How Time Slips Away" is a soulful cover of another country song but it is marred just a little bit by Ferry's semi-spoken introduction. Things are redeemed, however, when it kicks in. More great guitar and horns backing. The musicianship on this album certainly is top notch.
"You Are My Sunshine" is given the backing choir treatment that Ferry used on "Psalm", from Roxy Music's "Stranded" album. Lovely New Orleans-style brass though, like a funeral march. It sort of suits Ferry's mournful voice. Wonderful backing vocals. Ferry's cover of Sam Cooke's "What A Wonderful World" is appealing as, actually, is his first effort at being "Dylanesque", a strong cover of 'It Ain't Me Babe". The upbeat "Fingerpoppin'", initially recorded by Ike & Tina Turner tests Ferry's vocal range and "Help Me Make I Through The Night" sees him back on safer ground.
The final track is his first solo solo composition, if that makes sense, in "Another Time Another Place". As his albums progressed, more and more of his own compositions crept in and less covers, which was a good thing. As much as I quite like this album, 1977's "In Your Mind" was a much better album, full of his own songs.
This 1999 remastering is pretty good, except that "The In Crowd" has a few tinny moments. It always has. Maybe it just always will.
It’s not about comparisons to the originals. Bryan Ferry takes ready-made songs like Warhol took ready -made images, translates them via his own style, and then presents them as an album like Warhol would present an exhibition of screen prints.
Sound is excellent on this remaster. The song selection is less successful than on his first solo album of covers. "Walk a Mile In My Shoes" was a mistake, and "You Are My Sunshine" outstays its welcome by about 3 minutes. But taken as a whole, which I'm sure was the intent, it's a really good listen.
The best cd produced by Bryan Ferry in my humble opinion. Purchased it to bring bs I many great memories and realised that it knocks spots off so many more current discs.
5つ星のうち5.0This remastered volume is brilliant listening, without the hiss of old fashioned vinyl
2015年7月2日に英国でレビュー済み
Amazonで購入
As with 'These Foolish Things' I've had the original LP in my collection for 30 years. This remastered volume is brilliant listening, without the hiss of old fashioned vinyl. 1st class.