Description
Roxy Music – Concerto – Double Compact Disc
Roxy Music’s Concerto, released in 2001, is a live album that captures the band during their 1979 tour in support of their then-latest studio album, Manifesto. The performances compiled on Concerto were recorded primarily at two shows in California—at the Rainbow Music Hall in Denver and at the Oakland Auditorium in April 1979. Though the recording had circulated as a bootleg for years, this official release gave fans a high-quality document of Roxy Music at a fascinating transitional phase: shedding some of their early glam-art excess in favor of a sleeker, more polished sound rooted in late-’70s sophistication.
By 1979, Roxy Music—led by the ever-stylish Bryan Ferry, with Phil Manzanera on guitar and Andy Mackay on saxophone—was in a new creative mode. After a hiatus in the mid-’70s, the band returned with Manifesto, which leaned into smooth, danceable rhythms and soft-focused pop, hinting at the elegant, refined aesthetic that would dominate their early 1980s work (Flesh + Blood and Avalon). Concerto captures this stylistic shift in real time, offering live renditions that blend the art-rock glamour of their early years with the cool, urbane sheen of their late period.
The setlist reflects this duality. Tracks like “Manifesto” and “Dance Away” show off the band’s newer, more mature sound—subtle grooves, melancholic lyrics, and sleek arrangements that feel more suited to cocktail bars than concert halls. These songs are delivered with polish and precision, with Ferry’s croon fully embracing his role as the romantic, world-weary sophisticate.
But the album also dips into Roxy’s earlier catalog, including fiery versions of “Love Is the Drug”, “Out of the Blue,” and “Do the Strand.” These performances retain the drama and swagger of the band’s glam rock origins, though they’re executed with more control and less chaotic abandon than their early ’70s recordings. Manzanera’s guitar work is sharp and expressive throughout, and Mackay’s saxophone cuts through the mix with stylish flair, balancing the icy synthesizers and percolating rhythms.
Perhaps one of the most striking elements of Concerto is its clarity and restraint. Unlike many live albums from the era that emphasize extended jams or crowd interaction, this set is tight, focused, and sonically clean. It reflects Roxy Music’s refined image at the time—cool, composed, slightly aloof. For some, this might feel emotionally distant; for others, it’s a perfect encapsulation of the band’s growing elegance and professionalism.
That said, Concerto isn’t considered an essential Roxy Music release in the way their studio albums are. It wasn’t part of the original run of their discography and was released decades after the fact, with little fanfare. Still, it serves as a valuable historical document—a snapshot of a band in flux, moving from their flamboyant, avant-garde origins into a more streamlined and commercially successful phase.
For fans, it’s a chance to hear a transitional lineup in action, playing both old and new material with confidence. For newcomers, it’s a decent entry point into Roxy Music’s live sound, though arguably lacking the wildness of their earlier performances or the romantic grandeur of their final tours.
Concerto is a coolly compelling live album—not definitive, but revealing. It captures Roxy Music as they bridge their past and future, with the Manifesto-era sound offering a glimpse of the fully crystallized style they would master on Avalon. If you’re fascinated by the evolution of Roxy Music—from glam provocateurs to suave art-pop icons—Concerto is a subtle, rewarding listen.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Manifesto
Angel Eyes
Trash
Out Of The Blue
A Song For Europe
Still Falls The Rain
Ain’t That So
Stronger Through The Years
Ladytron
In Every Dream Home A Heartache
Love Is The Drug
Do The Strand
Re-make/Re-model
Mother Of Pearl
Editions Of You
