Released 53 years ago this October
These Foolish Things
Bryan Ferry · 1973
43 min · 13 tracks · new wave
A lush blend of pop and rock influences, weaving emotive vocals with sophisticated arrangements and reinterpretations of classic songs.
Top tracks — play these first
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Sympathy for the Devil — Ferry's interpretation transforms the classic Rolling Stones hit into a hauntingly elegant piece, showcasing his unique vocal approach and arrangement skills.
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Don't Worry Baby — This cover highlights Ferry’s emotive vocal delivery paired with lush instrumentation, conveying a sense of vulnerability absent in the original Beach Boys version.
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A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall — Ferry's rendition melds folk and rock elements, emphasizing his lyrical sensitivity while maintaining a contemporary sound that resonates with listeners.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Ferry's debut blends covers with original work, showcasing his vocal style and orchestral arrangements but lacks strong cohesion.
What we noticed
- Each track showcases lush orchestration, often layering strings and horns beneath Ferry's emotive vocal delivery.
- The first half of the album maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the latter half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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
- emotional reflective listening sessions
- lush orchestral soundscapes
- intimate late-night vibes
- dynamic vocal expressions
- short, poignant musical moments
Where this album fits
- Career context
- These Foolish Things marked Bryan Ferry's debut solo album following his success with Roxy Music. Released in 1973, it came shortly after the band's influential albums, showcasing Ferry's ability to blend art rock with more mainstream pop elements while establishing his individual artistic identity.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Roxy Music· David Bowie· Kate Bush
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall 5:19
- 2 River of Salt 1:48
- 3 Don't Ever Change 2:15
- 4 Piece of My Heart 3:06
- 5 Baby I Don't Care 1:50
- 6 It's My Party 2:00
- 7 Don't Worry Baby 4:13
- 8 Sympathy for the Devil 5:50
- 9 The Tracks of My Tears 3:04
- 10 You Won't See Me 2:32
- 11 I Love How You Love Me 3:02
- 12 Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever 3:06
- 13 These Foolish Things 5:41
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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