Siren’s second song for lovestruck, shipwrecked souls.
Kronomyth 5.2: You’re a flame that never fades.
In Europe and most of the civilized world, Roxy Music’s fifth album occasioned a second single, an edited version of Both Ends Burning. (In the US and Canada, the elpee version of the song was already pressed into service as the B side to “Love Is The Drug”). It’s one of the strongest tracks on Siren, with a driving beat that perfectly complements Bryan Ferry’s discotheque diaries. In fact, it might be the quintessential Roxy song, resting as it does on the fulcrum between their experimental days and new romantic nights.
The flip side is another nonalbum treat, a live version of For Your Pleasure that points forward to Viva! (Interestingly, only one song from the Wembley Pool performance made it onto Viva!, “Both Ends Burning.”) Listening to the live performance, I was struck by how much this sounded like Eno’s “The Fat Lady of Limbourg.” Maybe it’s the presence of The Sirens (Doreen Chanter and Jacqui Sullivan) that made the connection for me, who appear on the track in the echoing mist.
Original 7-inch single version
A1. Both Ends Burning (Bryan Ferry) (3:58)
B1. For Your Pleasure (Bryan Ferry) (4:58)
The B side was recorded live at Wembley Empire Pool, October 1975.
The Players
Bryan Ferry (voices, keyboards), John Gustafson (bass), Eddie Jobson (strings, synthesizer, keyboards), Andrew Mackay (oboe, saxophone), Phil Manzanera (guitar) with Doreen Chanter (background vocals on B1) and Jacqui Sullivan (background vocals on B1). Produced by Chris Thomas.
The Plastic
Released on 7-inch single in December 1975 in the UK and Ireland (Island, WIP 6262), Germany and the Netherlands (Island, 16 676 AT) and Japan (Island, ILP-10933) with regional picture sleeve; reached #25 on the UK charts (charted on December 27, 1975 for 7 weeks).
