"The Atlantic Years" meager 10 tracks comprise 4 from 1979's patchy but influential "Manifesto" album, 4 from 1980's inoffensive, anemic "Flesh + Blood" album.
As such, The Atlantic Years contains itself primarily to Roxy's second act, or the whole wide world of 1979 to 1980. These songs are taken from their albums: For Your Pleasure (1973), Siren (1975), Manifesto (1979) and Flesh + Blood (1980)
Atlantic did sign Roxy in 1973, in time to distribute Bryan Ferry's first solo album, but that was after "Do the Strand" (from sophmore release For Your Pleasure, during the band's early experimental phase with Eno) had been released. That track's inclusion here is the rationale behind the 1973-1980 timeline, but "Do the Strand" was part of the 'Island years'; Atlantic acquired rights to it after the fact. And if you're not speaking about Roxy in the context of a musical art movement, then you've really got nothing to say. Making a case for the band as a doyen of the new romantic movement is obviously valid, but subordinate to the main discussion. Given the slight overlap with their first "Greatest Hits" (Atco 1977) and the subsequent reconciliation of the Warner Bros. releases with their back catalog, "The Atlantic Years" is about as useful as a cupholder on a pogo stick. Yes, you do get the remixed single version of "Angel Eyes" on here. The only aspect of "The Atlantic Years" that could even remotely illicit a favorable comment is Peter Saville's functionally tasteful cover design!
01. "Dance Away" (Bryan Ferry) - 3:45
02. "Angel Eyes" (Mackay, Ferry) - 3:05
03. "Over You" (Ferry, Manzanera) - 3:25
04. "Love Is the Drug" (Mackay, Ferry) - 4:07
05. "Oh Yeah" (Manzanera) - 4:50
06. "Ain't That So" (Bryan Ferry) - 5:37
07. "My Only Love" (Bryan Ferry) - 5:15
08. "In the Midnight Hour" (Cropper, Pickett - 3:03
09. "Still Falls the Rain" (Ferry, Manzanera) - 4:12
10. "Do the Strand " (Bryan Ferry) - 3:59
Released: 1983
Label: Polydor
Genre: Art Rock
Lenght: 41:18
Producer: Chris Thomas, Rhett Davies, Roxy Music
Personnel
Bryan Ferry - vocals, keyboards
Andy Mackay - saxophone, oboe
Phil Manzanera - lead guitar
Paul Thompson - drums
Brian Eno - synthesiser, "treatments"
Graham Simpson - bass
David O'List - lead guitar
Dexter Lloyd - drums
Rik Kenton - bass
Roger Bunn - guitar
John Porter - bass
Eddie Jobson - synthesiser, violin
John Gustafson - bass
John Wetton - bass
Paul Carrack - keyboards
Alan Spenner - bass
Gary Tibbs - bass
