Andy Mackay

If Bryan Ferry was first off the mark for a solo album in Roxy Music with These Foolish Things, Andy Mackay wasn't far behind with his his 1974 release, In Search Of Eddie Riff, which I purchased first time round, back in 1974.

Andy Mackay: In Search Of Eddie Riff

Andy Mackay: In Search Of Eddie Riff

In Search Of Eddie Riff isn't really thematic, it's a series of weirdly juxtaposed tracks e.g. there's a sensitive rendition of The Beatles' The Long And Winding Road preceding a hot-rod Ride Of The Valkyries. That being said...it's fun. Here's the first track, Wild Weekend performed with Roxy Music on the Siren tour...

Andy Mackay

LIVE with Roxy Music: Wild Weekend

Incidentally, does the cover subtext say:

handsome Andrew Mackay with his saxaphone and a kitten or
horny Andy Mackay with a young pussy?

Cat lovers, you be the judge.

Andy Mackay: In Search Of Eddie Riff

"...Dum Dah Dah Dum Da Da Da Da. Da Da Da Da Dee Dee Dee Dee...And so on. Jazz meets rock. Classical meets class playing...Excitement, emotion, love, sorrow, thought, all in one package, which, unfortunately, also includes Four Legged Friend - a track that frankly should have been taken outside and shot, drowned or otherwise put out of our misery. Otherwise, one of my favourite albums and one still that's on my stereo at least once a month after nearly 30 years. He said it's simple - I say it's great. Get it..." Amazon.co.uk PNJ O'Brien "pob346"

After Roxy Music went their different ways at the end of 1975, Mackay started work on the soundtrack to Rock Follies, a highly successful TV series in the U.K.

Rock Follies: The DVD

When the soundtrack album was released it hit #1, making Andy Mackay the most successful Roxy Music member during their break. I'm not sure how much the soundtrack will mean without the (now very dated) series...but here it is, anyway.

Rock Follies CD Vol. 1

"...Back in 1976 the UK was sweltering under a heatwave, but it wasn't just the weather that was hot. Everyone was talking about this new TV comedy-drama whoch told the story of an all female rock band as it tried to hit the big time. The music was snappy and fresh, composed by Roxy Music's Andy Mackay, while Howard Schuman's lyrics sparkled with wit and wry observation. The show topped the ratings, and the soundtrack album...rocketed into the album charts at No.1, taking Julie Covington, Rula Lenska and Charlotte Cornwall into the limelight..." Amazon.co.uk A Customer

Rock Follies CD Vol. 2

"...I can recall now crowding around the telly as a young kid to watch The Rock Follies. Long before Girl Power there was The Follie's Power, a group of three women trying to make their way in what was...(then) a very male dominated world of music...I remain a fan of the show and the music until my dying day..." Amazon.co.uk Mr. T. Clarke

In 1978, Mackay released a second solo album, Resolving Contradictions...which I gather is some kind of comment on then Red China, just a fewyears after ex-Roxy member Brian Eno's similarly Chinese, Taking Tiger Mountain. Hmmm.

The Amazon snippets will tell you all you need to know...

Andy Mackay: Resolving Contradictions

"....I don't usually buy instrumental albums but this is a great fusion between rock and traditional Chinese music. It's western production and rhythms make it totally accessable but it's oriental vibe makes it nicely strange...It takes off and spirals acrobatically before diving and gliding poetically or stuttering into a familiar phrase from somewhere. This isn't modern jazz or improv - it's rock, but not as we know it Jim..." Amazon.co.uk Moz "the madhatter"

After Ferry disbanded Roxy Music for the second time during the early 1980s, Mackay and Roxy guitarist Phil Manzanera made a couple of albums as The Explorers, with vocalist James Wraith.

The Explorers: Loreli

Both Explorers albums have now been reissued as a compilation...

The Explorers compilation album

"...This double disc more or less collects the entire recorded material of The Explorers...a band project featuring Phil Manzanera and Andy Mackay...which surfaced after the disbanding of Roxy Music in 1983. Think of it as a Bryan Ferry-less Roxy. The trademark sax assault and classy oboe playing of Andy Mackay and the economic but always tasteful guitar textures of Phil Manzanera are there, but the emphasis is on songs... Musically it continues in the post-Avalon Roxy direction, and if you liked Flesh And Blood, this is your ticket: soulful and well-crafted pop songs with atmosphere and professionalism..." Amazon reviewer Jason M. Carzon