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While Bryan Ferry was picking songs for “Retrospective: Selected Recordings 1973-2023,” — a new boxed set recapping his long solo career apart from Roxy Music, the pioneering British art-rock band he led — the singer noticed a recurring theme. “There’s a lot of love songs, a lot of romantic songs,” he said, speaking by video from his London recording studio.
Ferry’s love songs, though, tend to be fraught with anxiety and blue with longing. The boy doesn’t get the girl; instead, the boy pines for the girl and can’t get her out of his mind. “But those are always the best love songs, aren’t they?” he asked with a chuckle. “I do like music that’s introspective, and a bit on the sad side.”
The set begins with material from “These Foolish Things” (1973), on which Ferry brashly covered a broad array of songs, including one of Bob Dylan’s prolix metaphorical rambles and “It’s My Party,” Lesley Gore’s campy teen heartbreak lament. Ferry had studied at art school with the British Pop Art provocateur Richard Hamilton, who believed there was no hierarchical distinction between high and low culture, an idea the singer has sustained throughout his work.
Last month, Ferry turned 79, and he’ll have a new album next year, but indicated that his touring days might be over: “As you get older, the travel is a bit tiring.” The singer grew up working class outside Newcastle — his father tended to horses that worked in local coal mines — but as Roxy Music gained popularity and cultural cachet in the 1970s, he developed appreciations for all things luxe. His list of 10 essential inspirations mixes the urban and the rural, the modern and the old-fashioned, with a consistent eye for glamour and drama. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
1
His own recording studio
I’ve worked in a lot of studios and it’s great to finally have this place. Prince used this studio for an album he did with a girl band [“Plectrumelectrum,” by Prince and 3rdEyeGirl], and they were really good. I like to think some of it might’ve rubbed off.
2
His garden
On weekends, I get out of London and go to the country for fresh air. If you’re a musician, you can be trapped indoors for days on end and it’s nice to have some respite from that. I’ve got a beautiful garden with an apple orchard, and at this time of the year, the fruit is getting ready to pick.
3
Charlie Parker
When I started collecting records, they were 78s — Little Richard, Fats Domino, some early Elvis. The first EP I bought was “The Magnificent Charlie Parker.” I still have it. I was amazed because he seemed so free, and there was a kind of angularity about his saxophone playing. It was spiky, yet he could do wonderful, fluid runs.
4
Seville, Spain
I went to Seville last week for my birthday. It’s still relatively unspoiled and old-fashioned — you can take a horse and carriage around the park. I like flamenco music for the spectacle of it — incredible guitar players, dancing, singing, all in very small spaces.
5
Books
I like being surrounded by piles of books. I’ve never read them on an iPad — I like to have physical things. I loved poetry when I was at school and I’m still very into Sylvia Plath. I just started “Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz,” a book about Plath and a contemporary of hers, Anne Sexton. It’s a good title, isn’t it?
6
American football
All the times I toured America, I enjoyed watching football with the sound turned off. I like the spectacle of it — the cinematography is fantastic. Kansas City is a really good team that’s been doing very well the last couple of years. I like their outfits, too.
7
Art galleries
On tour, I got to see all the great galleries and museums. My favorites in America are the Frick in New York, which has wonderful Gainsboroughs in a beautiful old building, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, because they have the Duchamp. Whenever I have a day off on tour, I go to a museum and then find a good restaurant, because I love eating and drinking. Old-fashioned stuff.
8
American cars
There’s a lot of American stuff in this list, isn’t there? The music, of course, has shaped my life. When I was at college, I had a beautiful Studebaker Champion, a sleek American car. And I had an extravagant Cadillac DeVille on the second Roxy album cover. With the Studebaker, I had to push it when I drove it, but it looked so cool.
9
Ballet
With ballet, you get choreography, music, you see the orchestra playing in the pit, great dancers, costumers, set design, lighting. It all combines to make something magical.
10
Persol sunglasses
Finally, I wanted to include something trite. I like the shape of old-fashioned Persol sunglasses. When I put them on, I can pretend for a minute that I’m an Onassis or someone like that.
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