Viva! Roxy Music

Live Album - July 1976

Roxy decided on a temporary hiatus after the Siren tour in Michigan in March 1976. The band booked time in April to mix some live performances from the previous 3 tours. Island records took this hiatus as the perfect opportunity to release a live album. The album was recorded over 3 venues, Glasgow Apollo, Wembley Empire Pool and Newcastle City Hall. This album peaked at number 6 in the UK charts in 1976.

It has never been confirmed which tracks came from which shows, but with some homework I came to the following conclusions:

OUT OF THE BLUE
Newcastle City Hall 27 or 28th October 1974 because on comparing bootlegs, the 1975 tour has backing vocals (The Sirens) at the 'then out of the blue' section whereas the Viva! version doesn't.

PYJAMARAMA
Glasgow Apollo 2nd November 1973 as this song was played throughout the Stranded tour and not on the other two tours on Viva! It was played at a handful of shows on the Siren tour but not at Wembley.

THE BOGUS MAN
Newcastle City Hall 27 or 28 October 1974 as this song was done at a few shows during the Country Life tour and not on the other two tours on Viva!

CHANCE MEETING
Glasgow Apollo 2nd November 1973 as this song was played throughout the Stranded tour and not on the other two tours on Viva!

BOTH ENDS BURNING
Wembley Empire Pool 17th or 18th October 1975 as this song had not been written or recorded at the time of the other two tours on Viva!

IF THERE IS SOMETHING
Newcastle City Hall 27 or 28 October 1974 as this song was done throughout the Country Life tour and not on the other two tours on Viva!

IN EVERY DREAMHOME A HEARTACHE
Newcastle City Hall 27 or 28 October 1974 as this song was done throughout the Country Life tour and not on the other two tours on Viva!

DO THE STRAND
Newcastle City Hall 27 or 28 October 1974 as
Ferry sings the line 'eskimos and Geordies'

Week by week Album Chart Position

31/07/1976   13
07/08/1976    9
14/08/1976    6
21/08/1976    9
28/08/1976   11
04/09/1976   12
11/09/1976   19
18/09/1976   20
25/09/1976   23
02/10/1976   29
09/10/1976   50
16/10/1976   44

(12 Weeks total)

Album Track Listing

Other Tracks of Interest

For Your Pleasure (Live) This was also recorded at the Wembley show in 1975 but was used as the B-side to the Both Ends Burning single.

Album Musicians & Credits

Bryan Ferry Voice And Keyboards
Andy Mackay Saxophone And Oboe
Paul Thompson Drums
Phil Manzanera Guitar
Eddie Jobson Strings Synthesizer Keyboards
John Wetton Bass On Out Of The Blue, The Bogus Man, If There Is Something, In Every Dreamhome A Heartache & Do The Strand.
John Gustafson Bass on Both Ends Burning
Rick Wills Bass
Sal Maida Bass On Pyjamarama & Chance Meeting
The Sirens Backing Vocals On Both Ends Burning
Chris Thomas Producer
John Punter Engineer
Bill Price Engineer
Rhett Davies Engineer
Frank Owen Engineer
Chris Michie Engineer
Air Studios Mixed At in April 1976
Steve Nye Engineer (Studio)
Jon Walls Assistant Engineer (Studio)
Denis Blackman Digitally Remastered (First CD Issue Spring 1989)
Bob C. Ludwig Remastered The 1999 Remaster Edition
Gateway Studios Portland Maine 1999 Remaster
Jacquie Sullivan Backing Vocals (The Sirens)
Doreen Chanter Backing Vocals (The Sirens)