On this day May 23, 1980, Roxy Music released their seventh studio album Flesh and Blood, continuing their evolution from glam rock innovators to sophisticated pop stylists. The album featured a smoother and more polished sound, with a focus on romantic themes, layered production, and Bryan Ferry’s signature vocals.
Flesh and Blood included hits like Over You, Oh Yeah, and a unique cover of Wilson Pickett’s In the Midnight Hour. It marked a shift toward a more mainstream direction while maintaining the band’s artistic edge. The album reached number 35 on the Billboard charts in the United States and was a massive success in the United Kingdom where it climbed to number 1.
Fun fact: Flesh and Blood was Roxy Music’s first number 1 album in the UK without original member Brian Eno, who had departed after their second release.