From Hiatus to Hit: Roxy Music’s “Dance Away” and Its Mysterious (Disco) Legacy

The Twelve Inch 176 : Dance Away (Roxy Music)

You’ve got pop music… and then you’ve got Roxy Music. Both are in a league of their own even in their own dimension. Often hailed as one of the most important and influential English bands ever, Roxy Music left a deep mark on generations of artists. But influence is a two-way street. Bryan Ferry wasn’t born a visionary, he became one by absorbing, refining, and reimagining what had come before him and what surrounded him.

Together with David Bowie, Ferry stands as the epitome of style and taste, the effortlessly suave gentleman who can be trusted to point the way to what truly matters. I was a fan, but only climbed aboard in 1979, using my love of disco and dance music as a launchpad to explore new sounds. That year, Roxy Music released Manifesto, not usually anyone’s favourite Roxy album.