This is an interesting record! Half originals, half covers. Some longstanding musical partners, some hired gun session musicians. The sound is quite straightforward, certainly as mainstream as any Bryan Ferry-associated record. The new HDCD remasters of the Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry catalogs are fabulous.

Ferry`s - The Bride Stripped Bare, is an album which really shows Ferry at his best in terms of his early solo work and succesfully bridges the lean mid seventies period. This album contains an eclectic selection of covers (mostly R&B and Soul)and originals supported by a strong cast of Brit Rock champions. Highlights include Can`t Let Go, a great driving song, What Goes On from Velvet Underground, a beautiful rendition of a traditional Irish lilt "Carrickfergus" which Ferry takes ownership of. Sign of the Times which sounds like it should have been on Roxy Music`s Siren. An intense, theatrical, This Island Earth and some sublime vocal performances, Thats How Strong my Love Is. Same Old Blues. Ferry demonstrates his love of R&B and his ability to mimic the genre. An overlooked album which did not receive the sales that it should have.

This album has a reputation of being Bryan Ferry's darkest and least esoteric of all his work. This is partly true, but only partly. True that the cover design is thematically very dark and some of the lyrics are darker than usual for him especially on "Sign of the times" and "This Island Earth", but the album still has all of Ferry's trademarks: meticulous production, unique arrangements, excellent musicianship and a prevalent sense of romantic longing. What sets this album apart from all of his other work is how eclectic and more raw than usual it is. It starts with the dark rocker "Sign of the times", shifts to the epic and wonderfully arranged "Can't let go" to soul "Hold on I'm coming/That's how strong my love is" to blues "The same old blues" and the unique synth-driven atmospherics of the closing track "This Island Earth", to a few other genres in between including astounding funk "Take me to the river". By being a mix of six covers and four originals, it allows Ferry to produce a unique and highly intriguing album full of his unique production touches and ability to handle several styles vocally and musically, but it is not more or less esoteric (or as some call it more human) than any of his other works. What it is is Ferry's last album as a solo artist before entering his sonically fog-shrouded, experimental phase (which was equally intriguing and produced masterworks such as BOYS AND GIRLS and MAMOUNA) and an underrated, extremely enjoyable piece of eclectic music filtered through Ferry's unique style.

Bryan Ferry is a classic crooner in the same sense that Frank Sinatra was - he can sing anything and imbue it with his own style, interpreting it meaningfully and casting it in a new light. Starting in the 70s, Ferry established a long tradition of occasionally releasing solo albums that featured cover versions. The Bride Stripped Bare is, in my opinion, the best example of this: filled with `The Same Old Blues,' `Carrickfergus' and `Take Me to the River,' it can't fail. The arrangements are tasteful and accomplished, and Ferry's own compositions (almost) keep up with the covers. His version of `That's How Strong My Love Is' has to be heard to be believed - it's completely over the top to the point of being camp, and emotionally touching and sincere at the same time... quite an accomplishment. Most people would think of this as a `minor' record at best, a footnote made by someone who was famous for something else; I think it deserves to be loved for being fearless and really showcasing Bryan Ferry's unique and sensuous voice. (Reviewed at my blog http://teabowl.net)

Supposedly his response to getting jilted by his then-gf Jerri Hall (for Mr. Jagger, no less!), this album reaches well beyond any personal issues to encompass anguish and uncertainty in more universal terms. While a return of sorts to the hybrid covers/originals formula of earlier records, this is also a step forward stylistically. Simultaneously painful and uplifting, Ferry once again shows others how to express complicated emotions and still be immensely entertaining. Essential.