Bryan Ferry - lead vocals, keyboards; Chris Spedding - guitar; Phil Manzanera - guitar; Mel Collins - saxophone; Chris Mercer - trumpet; Martin Drover - saxophone; Ann Odell - keyboards; John Wetton - bass; Paul Thompson - drums; Jacqui Sullivan - vocals; Doreen Chanter - vocals; Helen Chappelle - vocals
New York's intimate Bottom Line was a perfect place for Bryan Ferry to bring his first solo tour to the U.S. The legendary supper club was small enough for Ferry to interact with the audience, but prestigious enough to be used as a launching pad for the rest of the tour. This recording is from the late show and is a powerful performance despite the fact that the 11-piece band had just completed a grueling show less than 90 minutes prior.
Ferry attacks several rock standards during the show, including Wilbert Harrison's "Let's Stick Together" and Junior Walker and the All Stars' 1966 classic "Roadrunner." Crooning the same euro-trash delivery he brought to all those classic Roxy recordings, Ferry's obviously having a great time and lets the audience know it. Much of the show is a showcase for what was then his newest solo album, In Your Mind, which featured new, original material. "All Night Operator" rocks, with a strong sax solo from Mel Collins. "In Your Mind" is also one of the highlights of the night.
The show is filled with plenty of tongue and cheek humor, thanks primarily to Ferry's use of back up singers Jacqui Sullivan, Doreen Chanter and Helen Chappelle. Roxy guitarist Phil Manzanera, drummer Paul Thompson, and sometimes Roxy bassist John Wetton are onboard as part of Ferry's solo band, and their presence comes in handy when he dips into the Roxy catalog for a few numbers, including the 1975 radio hit, "Love Is The Drug."
Ferry closes the show with a stunning re-make of the Everly Brothers classic, "Price Of Love." Not to be missed, if you are a fan of either Ferry or Roxy Music.