In Your Mind

Bryan Ferry

E.G. Records, 1977

http://www.bryanferry.com

REVIEW BY: Mark Millan

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 10/16/2009

In Your Mind was the first solo album of original material from Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry. Of his previous three solo LPs, the first two (These Foolish Things and Another Time, Another Place) were strictly covers albums, and the third (Let’s Stick Together) was a mix of covers and reworkings of some Roxy tunes. With the band in a rather lengthy hiatus, Ferry was seemingly not phased as he carried on with his solo career playing the role of pop’s leading ladies’ man to perfection. Ferry had become a fashion icon of sorts, and although he now favored tailored suits over leather jumpsuits and platform boots, his music had lost none of its spunk.

Joining Ferry in the studio were his regular band, plus several of the Roxy members and an array of horn players to carry over the irresistible funk from Let’s Stick Together. Ferry’s sound had now matured from that of the frantic early Roxy records to a more polished R&B-influenced rock, complete with chunky guitars and punchy horns to accent the positives. While most of these songs no doubt share the Roxy spirit, they have more in common with Ferry’s influences from the ‘50s and ‘60s than the glitter rock that Roxy Music became famous for.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

Opener “This Is Tomorrow” is a highly infectious rocker that Ferry scored a sizable hit with. It best displays his soulful crooning style of vocals, which he had been perfecting with his previous solo records. “All Night Operator” is more of the same and once again shows Ferry completely at ease even when throwing a little country-rock into the mix. The album’s only ballad is an inspired love song, “One Kiss,” which is awash with all the sentiments of love that Ferry expresses while channeling his inner Dylan for a superb delivery.

“Love Me Madly Again” is a tad overblown at over seven minutes long, but it is still a solid track that compliments “One Kiss” well enough. The other hit single that In Your Mind spawned was the glorious “Tokyo Joe,” which still sounds fresh today. Bananarama (unforgivably) cut a version of this, but this is the original and the best. It remains one of Ferry’s best solo efforts and is easily the most “Roxy” sounding track on the album. 

“Party Doll” sounds a little like The Stones with Ferry employing his harmonica to open the track, which is both a little rock and a little country. While the title is a sly nod to his ode to a lover of the inflatable kind (“In Every Dream Home A Heartache”), this time it appears his “doll” is in actual fact a real person. “Rock Of Ages” features some awesome gospel-flavored backing vocals that compliment the introspective tone of Ferry’s lyrics. The swagger of “In Your Mind” closes out the album with conviction as Ferry glides through the track in an almost dreamlike state, his voice and the music in perfect contrast. 

In Your Mind is one of Bryan Ferry’s most consistent and strongest solo records.  He would never sound so casual and full of punch again. His next offering was the diabolical The Bride Stripped Bare (released in 1978), which was so bad that he wisely kick-started Roxy again and didn’t attempt another solo LP until 1985’s magnificent Boys And Girls. As perfectly smooth as that record is, though, it is In Your Mind that will always be my personal favorite of his Ferry’s solo albums.

Rating: A-

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© 2009 Mark Millan and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of E.G. Records, and is used for informational purposes only.