Olympia (Bryan Ferry album)

''Olympia'' is the thirteenth studio album by English singer Bryan Ferry, released on 25 October 2010 by Virgin Records. Co-produced by Ferry and Rhett Davies, ''Olympia'' is Ferry's first album of predominantly original material since 2002's ''Frantic''.

The album features a wide range of contributors, including co-songwriter David A. Stewart of Eurythmics, Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera and Andy Mackay of Roxy Music, the electronic group Groove Armada, David Gilmour, Marcus Miller, Scissor Sisters, Nile Rodgers, Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, Steve Nieve, and Flea. Early in the recording process ''Olympia'' was developed as a Roxy Music project, the first since the band's 1982 album '' Avalon'', with participation from numerous guests. However, despite the presence of other Roxy Music members at the sessions, it was released as a Bryan Ferry solo project.

The album peaked at number 19 on the UK Albums Chart.

Background

The album features some songs previously recorded by Ferry in collaborations with other artists. "You Can Dance", a version of which appeared as "U Can Dance" on DJ Hell's 2009 album ''Teufelswerk'', is the record's first single. A version of "Shameless" previously appeared as a collaboration with Groove Armada on their album ''Black Light'' earlier in 2010. The album also features covers of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren" and Traffic's "No Face, No Name, No Number." The album came out in three versions: a standard edition with 10 songs, the "Deluxe Edition" containing two additional tracks and a DVD featuring "The Making of Olympia" documentary and a promo video for the song "You Can Dance", and the "Collector's Edition" with the 12 tracks and DVD from the Deluxe Edition as well as a second CD containing remixes and a 40-page hardback book.

In 2011 the single "Alphaville" was sent to a number of radio stations and appeared on BBC Radio 2's playlist and 106.9FM WHCR's

The album art features the fashion model Kate Moss and refers to the Édouard Manet 1863 painting of the same name.

Critical reception

Reviewing for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote of the album "Such command of mood is a tell-tale sign of a quiet perfectionist, but Olympia doesn't feel fussy; it's unruffled and casually elegant, its pleasing familiarity reflecting the persistence of an old master honing his craft." And reviewing for '' Rolling Stone'', Jon Dolan wrote of the album "Ferry could do a record with the ''Star Wars'' cantina band and it would come out pretty much the same: a bunch of lush, languorous Euro-glam ballads about love's labour's lost, all of them slathered in a sexy-vampire croon that makes lines about being 'faithfully entwined in a shameless world' seem like some deep shit."

Track listing

Personnel

Musicians

* Bryan Ferry – vocals, keyboards, acoustic piano (1-9, 11, 12)
* Colin Good – keyboards (2), synthesizers (6)
* Brian Eno – synthesizers (2, 4, 6, 8)
* Babydaddy – keyboards (3), guitars (3), bass (3)
* Steve Nieve – acoustic piano (10)
* Robin "Radar" Rimbaud – electronics (1, 10)
* Chris Mullings – electronics (2, 3)
* John Monkman – electronics (4-9, 11, 12)
* Nile Rodgers – guitars (1, 5, 10)
* Oliver Thompson – guitars (1, 5, 10)
* David Williams – guitars (1, 5, 10)
* Neil Hubbard – guitars (2, 12)
* David A. Stewart – guitars (2)
* David Gilmour – guitars (4, 6)
* Jonny Greenwood – guitars (6)
* Phil Manzanera – guitars (6, 8, 9, 11)
* Chris Spedding – guitars (7, 8, 11)
* Merlin Ferry – guitars (9)
* Flea – bass (1, 7, 11), bass solo (3)
* Gary "Mani" Mounfield – bass (1, 8)
* Marcus Miller – bass (2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12)
* Guy Pratt – bass (11)
* Andy Cato – bass (5)
* Tara Ferry – drums (1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11)
* Andy Newmark – drums (1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11)
* Emily Dolan Davies – drums (2, 6, 7, 9)
* Steve Ferrone – drums (12)
* Frank Ricotti – percussion
* Anthony Pleeth – cello (2, 4, 6, 7)
* Vicci Wardman – viola (2, 4, 6, 7)
* Perry Montague-Mason – 1st violin (2, 4, 6, 7)
* Emlyn Singleton – 2nd violin (2, 4, 6, 7)
* Andy Mackay – oboe (3, 6, 11)
* Alice Retif – chorus vocals (1, 2)
* Katie Turner – chorus vocals (1)
* Ruby Turner – chorus vocals (2, 3, 11)
* Me'sha Bryan – chorus vocals (3, 11)
* Thomas Fetherstonhaugh – treble vocals (3)
* Sewuese Abwa – chorus vocals (4, 6-10, 12)
* Aleysha Gordon – chorus vocals (4, 6-10, 12)
* Hannah Khemoh – chorus vocals (4, 6-10, 12)
* Shar White – chorus vocals (5, 11)
* Tallulah Harlech – voice (6, 9)
* Jhelisa Anderson – chorus vocals (11)

Technical

* Bryan Ferry – producer
* Rhett Davies – producer
* Johnson Somerset – producer
* David A. Stewart – additional producer (2)
* Babydaddy – additional producer (3)
* Jake Shears – additional producer (3)
* Groove Armada – additional producers (5)
* Phil Manzanera – additional producer (8)
* John Monkman – additional producer (8), additional engineer
* Robin Trower – additional producer (11, 12)
* Simon Willey – engineer
* Ash Howes – additional engineer
* Jamie Johnson – additional engineer
* Tim Roe – additional engineer
* Sven Taits – additional engineer
* Chris Mullings – additional recording
* Bob Clearmountain – mixing
* Bob Ludwig – mastering

Artwork

* Bryan Ferry – art direction
* Isaac Ferry – artwork production
* Gideon Ponte – set design
* Chris Peyton – layout
* Jono Patrick – digital artwork
* Adam Whitehead – photography
* Anton Corbijn – portrait of Bryan Ferry
* Richard Williams – liner notes
* Kate Moss – cover model

Charts

Notes

References

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2010 albums
Albums produced by Rhett Davies
Bryan Ferry albums
Virgin Records albums