Boys And Girls

Bryan Ferry Boys And Girls

Bryan Ferry: Boys And Girls

There are some who describe Boys & Girls as the ultimate make-out record, with:

a dreamy soft melancholy
breathy, intimate vocals, electronically treated to become more akin to an ethereal instrument than a human voice
...which infers lyrics rather than explicitly states them
...about feelings, perhaps only fleeting impressions of sensual obsession, unattainable love & seduction
and always, always makes you believe that this beauty is pain and that pain is beauty

Hmmm!

Bryan Ferry: Boys And Girls poster

O.K. If you sense I'm going on a bit...you'd be right. It was intentional, because that's what Boys And Girls is like. It goes on and on in its own elegant, romantic way that's really quite beautiful...but that beauty...is like a fine wine, it is what it is. You see:

If you want to relax, switch on the tube and grab yourself a beer
If you want to get drunk quickly, drink a bottle of cheap champagne (preferably from the bottle) in less than half an hour (yes, I speak from experience during those difficult years)
If you want to appreciate fine wine, it should be in the right glass...with the right mood music and definitely...with the right company

Personally, I love Boys And Girls...but it's more like an elegant ambience than a collection of rock'n'roll songs. Stepping out from Roxy Music for the second time Ferry assembled some then-big names as guests:

Mark Knopfler, Dire Straits
David Gilmour, Pink Floyd
Nile Rodgers, Chic &
David Sanborn, sax

...and virtually created Avalon 2. However, given its sonic similarity to Avalon, it's easy to see exactly what Phil Manzanera & Andy Mackay brought to Avalon's incarnation of Roxy Music and what's so missing here. Ferry's album is really just Avalon's with a heart bypass.

Boys And Girls' success was greatly assisted by two fortuitous coincidences:

an appearance at Live Aid, which lifted Ferry's international profile &
Slave To Love was used as the music for the pivotal romantic (er...make that...very naughty) montage during the Kim Basinger/Mickey Rourke movie 9½ Weeks, which was a huge success around the world

Bryan Ferry: Boys And Girls

"...Boys and Girls...has a New York nightclub sound, somewhat decadent, somewhat jaded, and always looking for sensation. Bryan Ferry's voice has a ghosty haunted painful undertone, soft and whispery. The lyrics also express the experience of Love just out of reach...The entire CD is full of well produced works of dark mystery and undercover longing for Love...(which) can be hard work in our modern disjointed times. Ferry is a super talent and 21 years after the release of this CD, it remains strong and penetrating..." Amazon reviewer C. B. Collins Jr.

"...Bryan Ferry's voice is amazing. His vocals on this CD aren't just vocals, his voice is another instrument. My special favorite is 'Windswept'. Slow dance to this song on a special, romantic date!..." Amazon reviewer Janet Molnau

"...'...Never seem to touch, I didn't feel enough motivation...' Ferry croons as Boys And Girls begins a slowburn through the sumptuous world of Love and longing as few others can. Veering between desire (Don't Stop The Dance) and disillusionment (the title track), this CD rates a close second in my top favorite Bryan Ferry solo albums..." Amazon reviewer Tim Brough "author and music buff"

Coupled with Ferry's music videos, the album sold encouragingly all around the world...though not brilliantly. Boys & Girls is a fine album, an experience that you can keep playing for many years. I love it, just don't expect any warmth.

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