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Olympia

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Bryan Ferry Format: Audio CD
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 376 ratings
$3.76
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Track Listings

1 You Can Dance
2 Alphaville
3 Heartache By Numbers
4 Me Oh My
5 Shameless
6 Song To The Siren
7 No Face, No Name, No Number
8 BF Bass (Ode To Olympia)
9 Reason Or Rhyme
10 Tender Is The Night

Editorial Reviews

2010 release from the veteran British vocalist and Roxy Music front man. The album features musical contributions from Nile Rodgers, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, Groove Armada, Scissor Sisters, Marcus Miller, Flea, Mani (Primal Scream, ex Stone Roses) and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead. Olympia sees Bryan Ferry reunite on record with members of Roxy Music, including Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera, and Andy Mackay. This is the first album to reunite them since Roxy Music's seminal album for Your Pleasure in 1973! Olympia is a masterpiece of prolific artistry, blending sultry, elegant lyrics with genius compositions by Ferry, Rhett Davies and innovative, contemporary musicians.

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.71 x 4.65 x 0.39 inches; 3.46 ounces
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Astralwerks
  • Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2010
  • SPARS Code ‏ : ‎ DDD
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ July 27, 2010
  • Label ‏ : ‎ Astralwerks
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003VIW8DK
  • Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ United Kingdom
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 376 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
376 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Chazz the Nightwatchman
5.0 out of 5 stars Everything old is new again
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2011
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The immersion edition of Bryan Ferry's haunting and lush "Olympia" is obviously meant to dazzle the eyes and ears. Sheathed in a hard case, the limited edition large format photo book of Kate Moss' fashion shoot for the collection is used as backdrop for the lyrics, which show a richer maturity to Ferry's lyric writing. In the back of the book in a dye cut sleeve are three disks: the original album mix with two bonus tracks; a second cd with seven alternative mixes; and a dvd of the making of "Olympia."

As far as packaging aesthetics, the presentation is elegant yet simple, with excellent paper stock, flawless printing and vigorous binding. The only drawback: the dye cut sleeve in the back is not as sturdy, so special attention to removing and replacing the disks is necessary to avoid rips.

As for the content, this feels like Ferry back to what he does best in a big way, and for any fan, the additional cost will be worth it. The bonus tracks, "Whatever Gets You Through the Night," and "One Night," fit seamlessly with the original 10 tracks, though they don't really add anything new to the songs that go before it. The dvd is a nice addition, a fascinating look at Ferry's writing and recording process, though it can bog down to some degree in its own detail. The alternative mix cd, however, is what puts this version of "Olympia" over the top. These are mostly brilliant remixes, revealing a new level of texture and meaning to the seven songs recast from the originals. The disk seems to get better from start to finish, with the last three tracks--"Shameless" (Still Going Mix), "BF Bass (Ode to Olympia)" (West End Wolf Mix), and an instrumental version of "Reason or Rhyme" that contains impassioned solo piano by Ferry that may be his best ever--are stunningly intoxicating, and represent higher standards for what a Bryan Ferry song can become.

For those of us who most admire Ferry's work on "Avalon," "Boys and Girls," "Bete Noire," "Mamouna" (flawed but underestimated) and "Taxi" (an underappreciated gem of covers), "Olympia" is a return to form but not a repeat performance. This is solid songwriting a la Ferry's peculiar brand of Euro lounge dance/rock, inspired playing and production, his most cohesive set of songs since "Bete Noire."

Take the time to read the lyrics. This is some of his most poignant, nuanced lyric writing, revealing the anguish lurking behind the beautifully layered instrumentation. A bravura performance in a package to match. If Bryan Ferry's this good next time, he can take as long as he wants as long as he gets it this perfect.
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Stanley C. Sargent
5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Contribution to the Ferry Legacy
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2010
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Bryan's solo albums/CDs have been hit-or-miss for me, a great fan of Roxy Music, over the years. "Taxi" grinds my nerves, and I don't like his Dylan imitations at all. But I know he's capable of great things, so I haven't given up on him.

This CD proves my faith in Bryan was worth maintaining. It's a very tasteful, carefully planned, collection of beautiful songs. His gentle, sexually-alluring voice hasn't changed all that much over the years, so it is easy to be lulled into visualizing him as still a young man as he sings of roaming endlessly through clubs seeking the right girl to fall in love with. The lyrics tend to remind the listener of his disastrous relationship with Jerry Hall, but that may be my projection as he sings of the love he lost and would give anything to get back.

Eno, Manzanero and other old friends (and enemies) help build the luxurious sound of this CD. I dare say I'd compare the soothing loveliness of the music to Roxy's "Avalon" CD only with more of the Ferry influence. The songs are slow or medium, toe-tapping pace, so don't expect any real rocking tunes.

I do like the CD very much and hope Bryan continues to record more. The old boy's still got it!
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Jason Stein
4.0 out of 5 stars Is your love strong enough?
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2011
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I admit I came late to the career of Bryan Ferry. I think it was 1985 when "Legend" came out and MTV was playing the video for "Is Your Love Strong Enough?" from the soundtrack. That same year was "Slave To Love". Ferry registered in my 12 year old mind but didn't stick. It would be 1987's "Kiss And Tell" from the "Bright Lights, Big City" soundtrack that finally solidified in my mind who Bryan Ferry was (or so I thought). I bought "Street Life" in 1989 and I was sorta kinda interested. Then I bought "Mamouna" in 1994 and it didn't really excite. So, it wasn't until 2002's "Frantic" that I finally got with the program and began listening to Bryan Ferry and some Roxy Music in earnest. Still, I owned very little of each.

Now, in preparation for "Olympia" I have gone back and bought everything, but I haven't had the chance to listen to it all (I've been behind lately). Still, the show must go on, and I listened to "Olympia" all week long.

The first thing that struck me is that it sounded like early 80's Roxy during the first opening bars of "You Can Dance". After several listens, and several readings of who participated on this album, I am slightly disappointed. I am giving this three and a half stars, but I rounded up to four because I liked "Olympia". I am disappointed because with such great talents, including three original Roxy Music members, I felt somewhat underwhelmed. Yes, underwhelmed. I mean, the cover of Traffic's "No Face, No Name, No Number" was less than spectacular. The meandering, rather aimless seven minute "Reason Or Rhyme" bogged down the second half of the album. Even album opener "You Can Dance" (and first single) didn't really grab me.

Actually, what I did like was "Heartache By Numbers" with Scissor Sisters. The song has a catchy and distinctive melody and chorus. "Shameless" is an obvious choice due to its almost "Love Is The Drug" rhythm and beat, except with a pause every few bars. "Tender Is The Night" has to be on par with "Crazy Love" from 1988's "She's Having A Baby" soundtrack as one of Ferry's best ballads.

But let's talk what is probably the best track on "Olympia". Tim Buckley's "Song To The Siren". Written in 1967, and appearing on his 1970 "Starsailor" album. I have actually never heard Tim Buckley's version, but I do have Robert Plant's cover version on his 2002 album "Dreamland". Robert Plant did an excellent job with it, making it one of my favorites, and now Ferry tries his hand at it. I have to say that Ferry also does an excellent job of it, transforming it into a synth-laden elegant elegy of a song. The melody, and more specifically, the mood, is captured just right by Ferry's vocals and arrangement.

"Alphaville" was also a good track, but "BF Bass (Ode To Olympia)" felt forced and overblown. "Me Oh My" is also a fine track. So there's about six good tracks, and of those maybe three of them are really good: "Heartache By Numbers", "Shameless" and "Song To The Siren".

Bryan Ferry works with three original Roxy Music members (including Brian Eno), David A. Stewart (of Eurythmics), Rhett Davies (who has produced several Roxy albums and Ferry solo albums), Scissor Sisters, Flea (of Red Hot Chili Peppers) and "Olympia" still somehow manages to not stack up to 2002's "Frantic".

Don't get me wrong here, I am happy to have a new Ferry album, and for a 65 year old he is still pretty hip and cutting edge. It's just that something feels slightly askew here. Three and a half stars.

As I mentioned earlier, I wanted to, but did not have the time to, listen to every Roxy and Ferry album in sequential order to better put "Olympia" in perspective, but I was unable to do so by the time of this writing. So, I will merely compare "Olympia" to what I have listened to:

1972 Roxy Music
1973 For Your Pleasure
1973 These Foolish Things
1973 Stranded
1974 Another Time, Another Place
1974 Country Life
1975 Siren
1976 Let's Stick Together
1977 In Your Mind
1978 The Bride Stripped Bare
1979 Manifesto
1980 Flesh + Blood
1982 Avalon
1985 Boys And Girls
1987 Bete Noire: Three Stars
1993 Taxi
1994 Mamouna: Two and a Half Stars
1999 As Time Goes By
2002 Frantic: Five Stars
2007 Dylanesque
2010 Olympia: Three and a Half Stars
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Top reviews from other countries

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Martina Schöneborn
5.0 out of 5 stars Super Musik
Reviewed in Germany on September 3, 2023
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Sehr günstig gekauft. Brian Ferry hat immer gute Musik gemacht
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Roberto M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Bryan Ferry una garanzia
Reviewed in Italy on January 11, 2019
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Per gli amanti della musica Roxy Music & Bryan Ferry un album da non perdere
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ron pearson
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on May 22, 2016
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very happy with cd
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars ENTREGA RÁPIDA Y CÓMODA
Reviewed in Spain on June 16, 2016
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Recibí el CD en solamente dos días. El disco es un proyecto Roxy Music, incluso tenemos en algún tema a Bryan Eno. Supongo que terminarían malamente y se quedó Ferry sólo. En el inicio del primer tema hay un homenaje al Avalon. Genial. Seguidores, no perdérselo.
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Jean-yves Baraton
5.0 out of 5 stars "Girls and Boys..."
Reviewed in France on May 9, 2011
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Welcome to Paradise...
Bryan Ferry nous livre ici une suite digne du mythique "Boys and Girls" au son si caractéristique.

Avec une pléïade de Guests et pas des moindres (David Gilmour, Brian Eno, Marcus Miller, Phil Manzanera, Nile Rodger, Chris Spedding, Robin Trower, Dave Stewart et son fiston...) le dandy Bryan nous retourne une jolie carte musicale d'Ibiza en nous replongeant dans son univers si particulier.

Dès les premières notes l'ambiance de cet album mythique ressurgie, les lignes de basses sont somptueuses, les guitares crystalines, les drums toniques, une oeuvre qui aurait très bien pu être la suite écrite de l'album "B&G".
Ici Bryan nous replonge dans ces années Sound 80, riches, dynamiques et survitaminées, antidote parfaite à la morosité ambiante.

Sublime "Song to the Siren" et son intro magique...

Un très bel album pêchu à souhait comme Bryan sait faire
Un Art-Work superbe avec la très belle Kate Moss

Génial...
A noter la version livret-collector superbe...
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