Bryan Ferry has released his first original song in more than a decade. “Star,” featuring Amelia Barratt, comes from the Roxy Music singer’s upcoming five-CD Retrospective: Selected Recordings 1973-2023.
A press release notes that “Star” “began as a sketch by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails, developed by Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barratt into an anxious, darkly gleaming slab of pounding post-techno. The song sees Ferry continuing to explore uncharted creative territory, with Barratt and Ferry creating a duet that blurs the lines between art, music and poetry.”
You can watch the video for “Star,” which was directed by Ferry, below.
Ferry says that “Star” “is a collaboration with the painter and writer Amelia Barratt. A couple of years ago I helped her record an audiobook here in my studio. I was very impressed by her writing, and this is the first song we did together. I’m very excited about this new work – there’s a lot more to come.”
READ MORE: 2024 Interview With Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera
“Star” is one of 81 songs that will feature on Retrospective, which comes out on Oct. 25. The five discs cover his entire solo career, spanning 16 solo albums over a 50-year time frame.
What Is on Bryan Ferry’s Five-CD ‘Retrospective’?
Retrospective is divided into five parts: “The Best of Bryan Ferry,” “Compositions,” “Interpretations,” “The Bryan Ferry Orchestra” and “Rare and Unreleased.” It includes tracks such as Ferry’s covers of Bob Dylan songs, R&B favorites, instrumental versions of Roxy Music classics and newer material.
You can see the track listing below.
Roxy Music was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. In 2022 they launched a 50th-anniversary tour, which guitarist Phil Manzanera recently said would be the last time the band would perform live together.
Bryan Ferry, ‘Retrospective: Selected Recordings 1973-2023’ Track Listing
Disc One: The Best Of Bryan Ferry
1. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
2. These Foolish Things
3. The ‘In’ Crowd
4. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
5. Casanova
6. Let’s Stick Together
7. Sign of the Times
8. Slave To Love
9. Don’t Stop The Dance
10. Windswept
11. Kiss and Tell
12. As Time Goes By
13. Your Painted Smile
14. I Put A Spell On You
15. Which Way To Turn
16. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
17. Make You Feel My Love
18. You Can Dance
19. Love Letters
20. Johnny and Mary
Disc Two: Compositions
1. Can’t Let Go
2. Tokyo Joe
3. This Island Earth
4. Love Me Madly Again
5. Limbo
6. When She Walks In The Room
7. Boys and Girls
8. Zamba
9. Chain Reaction
10. Bête Noire
11. I Thought
12. The Only Face
13. Valentine
14. Loop De Li
15. Reason or Rhyme
Disc Three: Interpretations
1. The Price of Love
2. Shame Shame Shame
3. Hold On (I’m Coming)
4. Just One Look
5. Girl of My Best Friend
6. What Goes On
7. That’s How Strong My Love Is
8. You Go To My Head
9. Where or When
10. The Way You Look Tonight
11. One Night
12. Simple Twist of Fate
13. Positively 4th Street
14. Song to the Siren
15. Fooled Around and Fell In Love
Disc Four: The Bryan Ferry Orchestra
1. Virginia Plain
2. Do The Strand
3. While My Heart Is Still Beating
4. This Island Earth
5. Bitter-Sweet
6. Dance Away
7. Zamba
8. Reason or Rhyme
9. Avalon
10. Back To Black
11. Limbo
12. Young and Beautiful
13. Love Is The Drug
14. Sign of the Times
15. Chance Meeting
Disc Five: Rare and Unreleased
1. Feel The Need
2. Mother of Pearl (Horoscope Version)
3. Don’t Be Cruel
4. I Don’t Want To Go On Without You
5. I Forgot More Than You’ll Ever Know
6. Crazy Love
7. Whatever Gets You Through The Night
8. Bob Dylan’s Dream
9. He’ll Have To Go
10. A Fool For Love
11. Lowlands Low
12. Is Your Love Strong Enough
13. Sonnet 18
14. She Belongs To Me
15. Oh Lonesome Me
16. Star (with Amelia Barratt)
Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry Albums Ranked
In a way, the band and its singer are inseparable, even though they’ve taken slightly different career paths.
Gallery Credit: Michael Gallucci