Photo: Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Our top 10 Bryan Ferry Songs list looks at the Bryan Ferry solo songs released during solo career of the former leader of the legendary band Roxy Music. Born in 1945, Bryan Ferry is an elegant pop-rock figure from Durham, England known for his amazing talent not only in England, but globally. The songwriter and musician has been active in the music industry since 1967. Bryan Ferry’s prominence in the music industry came when he was the lead artist and songwriter of Roxy Music, a reputable art-rock band. He would later commence his journey in a solo career while still a Roxy Music member back in 1973.
Bryan Ferry would later disband the music band in 1983 to continue his fully on his solo career after lengthy tours with the band. And it was by no surprise that Bryan Ferry made hit songs with his sixth solo album Boys and Girls being a success following forty-four weeks on top of the album charts. As you could have bet, his full music career saw Bryan Ferry sell over thirty million albums globally. While he might have made tons of breathtaking ballads with the band Roxy Music, our attention in the top 10 Bryan Ferry songs will shift more to his solo career. Here are our top 10 Bryan Ferry songs that prove how much of a prolific songwriter and vocalist Bryan Ferry remains to be in the history of music.
# 10 – The Right Stuff
Released as the first single on his seventh album Bete Noire, the song “The Right Stuff” introduces us to the great musical skills of the music icon Bryan Ferry. Charming and classic, the song allows Bryan Ferry to offer his fans a hypnotizing vibe that not many artists can do. Thanks to Johnny Marr for his great input to the song’s lyrics being featured as a songwriter in this great jam. From the instrumentals to the calming vocals of Bryan Ferry, everything about this song is classy inviting pop-rock fans to seek more of what the artist has to offer to the world.
# 9 – It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
What happens when a great artist gets to do a cover of a great song? Well, the answer is defined by what Bryan Ferry did with the song “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.” While there have been great covers of the song done, Bryan Ferry’s vocals take this song to another arena of pleasure on this one. And more to that, the instrumental performances are so elegant making the overall performance phenomenal. However, all credit to Bob Dylan for writing one of the most sensational songs of all time.
# 8 – Johnny And Mary
In the number eight spot on our top 10 Bryan Ferry songs list we turn to Bryan Ferry’s legendary cover version of Robert Palmer’s great song “Johnny and Mary,” which was originally released in 1980. This is a radically different interpretation of the song. It was done in collaboration with producer Todd Terje. The recording was released in 2014 on the Todd Terje album entitled It’s About Time.
# 7 – Will You Love Me Tomorrow
Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, the song “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” was originally recorded by The Shirelles. Featured on Bryan Ferry’s eighth album Taxi, this recording is an absolutely mesmerizing rendition of a classic musical gem. Syncing his emotions to the song’s lyrics, you can almost feel the pain in his vocals which spills nothing but love and hurt emotions. While many artists have done covers of this song, Bryan Ferry’s recording remains one of the best.
# 6 – I Put a Spell on You
Most of Bryan Ferry’s songs in his solo career were mostly inspired by what other artists had done years ago. And you might love his touch to anything adding glamour in the most unexpected ways. Featured on his 1993 album Taxi, the song “I Put a Spell on You” is featured in the top 10 Bryan Ferry songs for his legendary performance on the song. Bryan Ferry ushers in a provocative version of this song making it the best cover of this ballad. Probably, his superb vocals have already put a spell on his fans for they will never get enough of Bryan Ferry!
# 5 – Kiss and Tell
Fitting every great song from Bryan Ferry on this top 10 Bryan Ferry songs list would not be a job done without tagging along with “Kiss and Tell.” Featured on his seventh album Bete Noire, the song “Kiss and Tell” feels to most of his fans as a response to Jerry Hall’s tell-all book about their relationship. To ensure that the song gathered quite some attention, a promotional video featuring model Denice Lewis, musicians Guy Pratt, and Chester Kamen, and Christine Keeler was made. The song broke into both the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard 100. The song was also featured in the film Bright Lights, Big City starring Michael J Fox.
#4 – A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
It is with no doubt that Bryan Ferry’s solo jams were personal favorites inspired by legendary artists including Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, and The Rolling Stones. Featured on his 1973 album These Foolish Things, the song “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” is a Bob Dylan cover from the 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Notably, the lyrical structure of the ballad is modeled after the question and answer form of traditional hit songs just like the original jam. You ought to love Bryan Ferry’s tonal variation and the amazing instrumental for the song.
# 3 – Let’s Stick Together
Ushering us to the top three songs by Bryan Ferry is the ballad “Let’s Stick Together”. The suave song brings quite some emotional vibe something that Bryan Ferry will never disappoint. And if you love the saxophone in a song, then this is the song to listen to. While rock and roll might have been born in the US, Bryan Ferry proves with this song why the UK was the best place where it was nurtured, at least from a British point of view.
# 2 – Don’t Stop the Dance
Featured on his 1985 six-album Boys and Girls, the song “Don’t Stop the Dance” is without a doubt a top song from Bryan Ferry that we can barely forget. This great recording was a huge hit on the eastern side of the Atlantic. It was a top 25 single on the UK Music Charts. The groove on this one stands as one of the best rhythmic tracks Bryan Ferry has ever released.
# 1 – Slave to Love
We close out our top 10 Bryan Ferry songs list with his classic recording entitled “Slave to Love.” The song was released on his album Boys and Girls. Released back in 1985, the ballad spent nine straight weeks on the UK Singles charts, peaking at number ten. You ought to love the great work done by Keith Scott and Neil Hubbard on the lead guitar, Tony Levin on the bass guitar, Fletcher on the keyboard, and Omar Hakim on the drums. Crowing the ballad with his touch is Bryan Ferry with his magical voice that brings back romance wrapped in emotional singing.
Updated November 11, 2023
Top 10 Bryan Ferry Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
