THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

316-Roxy Music-Street Life.

1973-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 0.24. The bands name was partly an homage to the titles of old cinemas, and dance halls, and partly a pun on the word Rock. Bryan Ferry had named the band ‘Roxy’ originally, but after learning of an American group with the same name he changed it to Roxy Music.

Bryan Ferry CBE (see also best songs 721 and 57) was born on September 26th, 1945, in Washington, County Durham, England, like his contemporary David Bowie, (1947-2016) (see also best songs 807-440-334-302-209-186-118-47-31 and 5) he influenced a generation with both his music, and his appearance. In November 1970 Bryan Ferry formed Roxy Music with Graham Simpson, (1943-2012) (bass guitar) whom he knew from Newcastle Art College. Ferry then advertised for other potential band members, leading to Andy Mackay, (saxophone) and on Mackay’s recommendation, Brian Eno, (see also best songs 766-302-190-118-109 and 57) (synthesizer) joined the group. The line up was completed by Paul Thompson (drums) in 1971, and Phil Manzanera (lead guitar) in 1972, Brian Eno left the group in 1973, and was replaced by Eddie Jobson (keyboards, synthesizers, and electric violin.) Roxy Music were active until 1976, when they then went on hiatus, they reformed in 1978, and stayed together until 1983. The band reformed without Brian Eno to tour on and off between 2000-2011, and their final appearance together was on March 29th, 2019, when they performed six songs at their induction to the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ at the ‘Barclays Center,’ in Brooklyn, New York.

The discography of Roxy Music includes eight studio Albums released between 1972-1982, and 26 singles released between 1972-1996, there are also six box sets, nine official compilation Albums, and six live Albums available. In the UK, all eight of their studio Albums have reached the top 10, with three of those Albums making the Number 1 position, while 18 of their singles have reached the UK top 40, with their 1981 cover version of John Lennon’s (1940-1980) 1971 song ‘Jealous Guy’ peaking the highest at Number 1. In America on Billboard, three of their studio Albums have reached the ‘200 Album’ chart top 40, with their sixth studio Album ‘Manifesto,’ peaking the highest at Number 23 in 1979, while their only entry on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart top 40 is ‘Love Is the Drug,’ which made Number 30 in 1975, while ‘Street Life’ failed to crack the top 100. For the discography of Bryan Ferry as a solo artist, see best songs 57.

‘Street Life’ was the only single released from ‘Stranded,’ the third studio Album by Roxy Music, from November 1973, the song was written by Bryan Ferry, with the production being by Chris Thomas, (see also best songs 576-285-92 and 27.) Andy Mackay who played the saxophone on ‘Street Life’ has said that the song ‘Has a great lyric, a real swagger, and recalled, ‘That was Bryan’s great period for writing. He was the best lyric-writer in Britain for quite a few years. The phrases were really coming.’ Andy Mackay was born Andrew Mackay on July 23rd, 1946, in Lostwithiel, Cornwall, England. Roxy Music had formed in November 1970, and in January 1971, Mackay became a member of the the group after answering an advertisement placed by Bryan Ferry in the British weekly music magazine ‘Melody Maker.’ Mackay played the oboe and saxophone in Roxy Music, and became known for his Chuck Berry (1926-2017) (see also best songs 548-308 and 30) inspired ‘duckwalk’ during his saxophone solos. His songwriting credits for Roxy Music include ‘Love Is the Drug,’ (1975-UK Number 2 ) and ‘Angel Eyes’ (1979-UK Number 4.) Away from Roxy Music, Andy Mackay has released five Albums between 1974-2018, and composed and produced the music for the hit British television series ‘Rock Follies,’ and ‘Rock Follies of ’77.’ He has also written several themes for British television and radio, including the theme music for the late 1970’s series ‘Armchair Thriller,’ and ‘Hazell.’ Along with Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera, and Paul Thompson, he took part in the Roxy Music reunion concerts of 2001, 2003, 2005/6, 2011, and 2022, when Roxy Music celebrated their 50th anniversary.

By 1973 Bryan Ferry had become a prolific songwriter, ‘Stranded’ was Roxy Music’s third studio Album in 18 months, and on top of that Ferry had also just released his first solo Album ‘These Foolish Things.’ ‘Street Life’ is about the pressures success can bring, it is about being hounded by ‘fans’ and the gutter press. In an interview with the ‘NZ Herald’ in 2008, New Zealand fashion designer Denise L’Estrange-Corbet revealed that, while living in London in 1973, she and her school friends would frequently take the bus to Bryan Ferry’s house and call him from the telephone box opposite. The girls would then watch Ferry pick up the receiver before quickly hanging up on him. A few years later, L’Estrange-Corbet got to meet Ferry. ‘I asked him, ‘Did you write that song for me?’ and he said, ‘Yes, I probably did.”

‘Wish everybody would leave me alone, yeah, they’re always calling on my telephone. When I pick it up there’s no one there, so I walk outside just to take the air.’