Choosing one out of these two albums was too hard.
Bryan Ferry has to have one of the all time great voices. Add to this his clever lyrics and the bands experimental, innovative textured style you come up with two great sophisticated albums that did well in the UK. Both these albums take a few listens (maybe several) before you get into them but they are well worth the effort.

Tracks - Stranded 1973

Street Life

A fast moving rocker with good lyrics and guitar work

Just Like You

Slow tempo, clever lyric with Ferry's great vocals maintaining interest all the way to the end. Listen carefully.

Amazona

Just has to be listened to. A brilliant track that defies description. Innovative, original and well worth the effort it takes to get into it. Superb guitar solo and effects.

Psalm

Goes too long and will be the first you'll be skipping over.

Serenade

Fast tempo rock with clever lyrics

A Song For Europe

First impression "A dirge", but Ferry's lyrics (some in French) and vocals plus the sax will win you over if you give it enough time.

Mother of Pearl

Explosive start with Ferry lamenting the party life and the slow down to the brilliant Mother of Pearl section. Listen to the way the effects and fills match the cryptic lyrics. Builds nicely as it goes. Again this takes time but persevere.

Sunset

slow, sparse song dedicated to a sunset. Great vocals.

Tracks - Country Life - 1974

Thrill of it All

A fast rocker to start things off with a simple but effective riff (see tab)on the piano and some firey guitar work from Phil

Three and Nine

Beautiful tune, cryptic lyrics all about 3 and 9. If anybody knows what "3 and 9 to 45. Decimal romance. If you've warmed to Centigrade, you stand a sporting chance" means. Let me know.

All I Want is You.

Great rock, cleverly crafted with brilliant guitar work. This is the one that makes it onto all the best ofs.

Out of the Blue

Innovative, original, superb guitar/bass and effects. Has to listened to over and over again with the volume up loud.

If It Takes All Night

Bouncy blues/rock beat, clever lyrics, piano driven rock. Good solos

Bitter Sweet

Ferry's German is not as good as his French in this slow, harsh track that has a few good moments.

Triptych

Another slow one that builds nicely.

Casanova

Heavy rocker with great guitar and lyrics. Far superior to the remake for Ferry's solo efforts.

A Really Good Time

A cleverly crafted tune. Listen to the lyrics and vocals

Prairie Rose

Infectious rocker that gets better every time you listen to it. Good solos.

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The next album "Siren" was a good follow up and has comparable material on it. The later stuff was good but aimed more at the commercial market and doesn't endure as long as the above albums do. Never the less there is some really good tracks amongst it. Avalon, for example.

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