Virginia Plain

Infobox Single
Name = Virginia Plain


Artist = Roxy Music
from Album = Roxy Music
Released= August 1972
November 1977 (re-release)
Format =
Recorded = 10-12 July 1972 at Command Studios, London
Genre = Art rock, Glam rock
Length = 2:58
Label = E.G. Records WIP6144
Writer = Bryan Ferry
Producer = Peter Sinfield
Chart position =

• #4 (UK)
• #11 (UK, 1977 reissue)
• #21 (Netherlands)

[ Reviews = ] *
Last single =

This single = "Virginia Plain"
(1972)
Next single = "Pyjamarama"
(1973)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Roxy Music
Type = studio
prev_track = "If There Is Something"
prev_no = Track 3
this_track = "Virginia Plain"
track_no = Track 4
next_track = "2HB"
next_no = Track 5

"Virginia Plain" is a song written in 1972 by Bryan Ferry. It was recorded by his band Roxy Music and became their first single, backed with "The Numberer" (an instrumental composed by Andy Mackay). It became a Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at #4.

The song was not present on the original UK LP version of the band's debut, "Roxy Music", and had not even been recorded when the album was released. After the success of the album in the UK, it was included on later reissues. In 1977, it was re-released as a single, together with "Pyjamarama", originally the second Roxy Music single, to promote their "Greatest Hits" album, and reached #11.

"Virginia Plain" features bass guitarist Rik Kenton, who joined after Graham Simpson left the band. It begins with a deceptively quiet introduction, followed by an instant increase of volume as soon as the vocals come in on the first verse, this apparently being a deliberate ploy by Bryan Ferry to trap unwary radio and club DJs. The song was also notable at the time for its lack of chorus and for its synthesizer work by Brian Eno.

Former art student Ferry took the title "Virginia Plain" from one of his own paintings, featuring images of the cigarette brand of the same name and Warhol superstar Baby Jane Holzer. Holzer is also referenced in the lyric, "Baby Jane's in Acapulco / We are flying down to Rio".

Musicians

*Bryan Ferry - vocals, Hohner pianet, Mellotron, harmonica (on "The Numberer")
*Andrew Mackay - oboe, saxophone
*Brian Eno - VCS3 synthesizer, treatments
*Paul Thompson - drums
*Phil Manzanera - electric guitar
*Rik Kenton - bass guitar

Appearances in popular culture

* Ferry's idosyncratic appearance and vocal delivery on this song was affectionately parodied on sketch show "Big Train", where actor Kevin Eldon played Ferry as Chairman Mao on his death-bed inexplicably returning to life and singing the song with the rest of Roxy Music.

* Along with a number of other Roxy Music songs, it features prominently in the 1998 Todd Haynes film "Velvet Goldmine".

* Olivier Assayas's 1994 film "Cold Water" uses the song as a framing device.

* Virgin Atlantic Airways operates a Boeing 747 aircraft named "Virginia Plain" [http://www.v-flyer.com/aircraft.asp?flight=G-VTOP&search=yes]

External links

* [http://www.lyricsfreak.com/r/roxy+music/virginia+plain_20118965.html Lyrics]