Is The Ultimate Collection a good place to start with Roxy Music?

Yes, The Ultimate Collection is recommended as a starting point for new Roxy Music listeners. A vibrant anthology blending art rock and glam with lush orchestration and evocative lyricism, showcasing Roxy Music's eclectic sound. Released in 1988, The Ultimate Collection came after Roxy Music's commercial peak, encapsulating their influential sound as they transitioned from active touring to a retrospective phase. This compilation highlighted key tracks from their career while marking the end of a significant era for the band, following the release of their last studio album, Avalon, in 1982.

Who is The Ultimate Collection for?

The Ultimate Collection works well if you're into dynamic journey with emotional peaks, for evening gatherings and catchy melodies for sing-alongs.

How many songs are on The Ultimate Collection?

The Ultimate Collection has 16 tracks, running approximately 65 minutes.

The Ultimate Collection

Roxy Music · 1988

65 min · 16 tracks · new wave

A vibrant anthology blending art rock and glam with lush orchestration and evocative lyricism, showcasing Roxy Music's eclectic sound.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Let’s Stick Together (1988 remix) Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Love Is the Drug — This track epitomizes Roxy Music's blend of seductive lyrics and catchy melodies, showcasing their ability to marry pop sensibilities with artful experimentation.
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Jealous Guy — Originally by John Lennon, Roxy Music’s rendition transforms the song into a hauntingly beautiful ballad that highlights Bryan Ferry’s emotive vocal delivery.
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Dance Away — With its infectious groove and lush production, this track reflects the band's flair for merging danceable rhythms with introspective themes.
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Avalon — The title track from their final studio album encapsulates the band's signature lush sound and romanticism, making it a poignant standout in their catalog.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

57 /100

Foothills

Higher than 6% of albums we've rated

This compilation showcases Roxy Music's eclectic sound but lacks the cohesive narrative of a studio album.

What we noticed

Several tracks incorporate lush orchestration, particularly strings and synthesizers, creating a rich sonic texture that complements the vocal performances.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 4/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

dynamic journey with emotional peaks
for evening gatherings
catchy melodies for sing-alongs
sophisticated sound for relaxed listening

Maybe skip if you

prefer instant gratification tracks
avoid lengthy, cohesive experiences

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Starting Point — A comprehensive anthology that encapsulates Roxy Music's influential sound for new listeners.
Themes: late-night seduction· Avalon dream-romance· dance-floor heartbreak
Career context: Released in 1988, The Ultimate Collection came after Roxy Music's commercial peak, encapsulating their influential sound as they transitioned from active touring to a retrospective phase. This compilation highlighted key tracks from their career while marking the end of a significant era for the band, following the release of their last studio album, Avalon, in 1982.
Stylistic neighbors: David Bowie· Brian Eno· Talking Heads