FOR YOUR PLEASURE

Released 23rd March 1973

Do The Strand
Beauty Queen
Strictly Confidential
Editions Of You
In Every Dreamhome A Heartache
The Bogus Man
Grey Lagoons
For Your Pleasure

Musicians

Bryan Ferry
Vocals, Piano, Hohner Pianet, Mellotron, Harmonica, Rhythm Guitar

Phil Manzanera
Electric Guitar

Brian Eno
VCS3 Synthesizer, 
Backing Vocals

Paul Thompson
Drums

Andy Mackay
Oboe, Saxophone, 
Farfisa Electronic Organ

John Porter
Bass Guitar

 

Production Credits

Chris Thomas
Producer

John Middleton
Engineer

Bryan Ferry
Art Direction, Cover Art Concept

Amanda Lear
Cover Star

 

John Anthony
Producer

John Punter
Engineer

Karl Stoecker
Photography

Antony Price
Clothing / Wardrobe,
Make-up, Hair Stylist

Bob Ludwig
Digital Remastering

 

Roxy Music
Production, Arrangement

Jennings
Crew

Nicholas Deville
Art Direction, Photography

Smile
Hair Stylist

 
 CCS

Artwork

 

For your Pleasure

There’s no winning over some people. Criticised in many quarters of the rock press during the reign of sincere Californian troubadours for the aloof, detached persona he had cultivated with Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry delivered his most emotionally unfettered album only to find himself derided by the same faces, now in thrall to safety pins and brash attitudes.

Mature, urbane, intellectual and vulnerable, this iteration of the Ferry persona was simply not compliant with the mainstream narrative of the time: young, loud and snotty. As a result, The Bride Stripped Bare easily qualifies as the most underrated LP in the Ferry canon, and is certainly ripe for a fresh appraisal by modern ears.

The album itself was the product of a difficult personal period for the singer. After his high-profile relationship with Jerry Hall came to an end at the end of 1977, Ferry decamped to Montreux, Switzerland to begin work on his fifth solo album. Ferry eschewed most of his regular session associates, instead using a fixed core consisting of new faces (Waddy Wachtel, Alan Spenner and Rick Marotta) with a few of his In Your Mind touring group (Ann Odell, Nei Hubbard); Bass legend Herbie Flowers even drops by to add a sumptuous heft to the magnificently morose ‘When She Walks In The Room’. 

The result is a dark, wonderful album that departs from the warm productions of previous releases to create a stark and lovelorn suite of songs in which Bryan Ferry lets the mask of languor slip to reveal his unfettered emotional truth. In this environment, even the refrain in the Sam & Dave barnstormer ‘Hold On (I’m Coming)’ is twisted into a sombre paean filled with pathos.

A late night classic, The Bride Stripped Bare is a crepuscular treat for the ears and is an absolute must for Bryan Ferry fans old and new.

Hal Norman – 2010

Lady in yellow dress, the set; The Bride Stripped Bare artwork

'One of Ferry's most revealing albums to date' - NME 78

LYRICS

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Quotation on This Album