Roxy Music (August 4, 1972) – "Virginia Plain" b/w "The Numberer" Single: UK 7"

"Virginia Plain" is a song by Roxy Music, released as their debut single in August 1972.

Written by Roxy frontman Bryan Ferry, the track was recorded by the band in July 1972 at London’s Command Studios. Backed with The Numberer, an instrumental composed by Andy Mackay, the single became a Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number four.

On the New Zealand Listener charts it reached number six.

The song was not included on the band’s original UK debut album Roxy Music, having not even been recorded when the album was released. After the success of the album in the UK it was added to later re-issues. In 1977 it was re-released as a single, together with Pyjamarama, originally the second Roxy Music single, to promote the Greatest Hits album, and reached number 11. Both Virginia Plain and The Numberer can be found on the 1995 The Thrill of It All boxset.

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. Former art student Ferry took the title Virginia Plain from one of his own paintings, featuring an image of cigarette packaging. Ferry later said in an interview that it was a watercolour or a painting on paper, just like a surreal drawing of a giant cigarette packet with a pin-up girl on it, and that he liked the phrase Virginia Plain so it later became the title of the first single he put out with Roxy Music.

The name Robert E. Lee refers to music industry lawyer Robert Lee, practising at London law firm Harbottle & Lewis at the time.

Warhol superstar Baby Jane Holzer is also referenced in the lyrics.

Phil Manzanera’s guitar solo was improvised. In 2024 Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 348 in their updated list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Cover art for Roxy Music's single "Virginia Plain" with "The Numberer," released under the Island label in Denmark. Catalogue number: WIP 6144.

RECORDING

Recorded 10–12 July 1972 at Command Studios, 201 Piccadilly, London W1. Produced by Peter Sinfield.

STYLE & THEMES

Genre: Glam rock, art rock, avant-pop, progressive pop Length: 2:58

(COUNTRY VARIANTS)

Artist: Roxy Music

Title: Virginia Plain

Label: Island

Country: UK

Catalogue: WIP 6144

Date: August 4, 1972

Format: 7" Single

Tracklist (7"): 

A — Virginia Plain (Bryan Ferry)

B — The Numberer (Andy Mackay)

UK VARIANTS: 

• UK - Island Records – WIP-6144 / WIP 6144 - 1972 (Etched Runouts)

• UK - Island Records – WIP.6144 - 1972 (Label Variant)

• UK - Island Records – WIP 6144 - 1972 (Acetate, Single Sided, Rejected Mix)

• UK - Island Records – WIP-6144 / WIP 6144 - 1972 (Stamped Runouts)

• UK - Island Records – WIP 6144 - 1972 (Solid Centre)

• UK - Island Records – WIP 6144 - 1972 (Acetate)

CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS

UK Singles Chart: Peak 4

(entry 19/08/1972, 12 weeks)

Chart run:

19/08/1972 – 46

26/08/1972 – 26

02/09/1972 – 18

09/09/1972 – 8

16/09/1972 – 4 (peak)

23/09/1972 – 7

30/09/1972 – 10

07/10/1972 – 15

14/10/1972 – 24

21/10/1972 – 28

28/10/1972 – 36

04/11/1972 – 50

New Zealand Listener: Peak 6

PERSONNEL

Bryan Ferry – vocals, piano, Mellotron, harmonica (on The Numberer)

Andy Mackay – oboe, saxophone

Brian Eno – VCS3 synthesizer, treatments

Paul Thompson – drums

Phil Manzanera – electric guitar

Rik Kenton – bass guitar

PRODUCTION

Produced by Peter Sinfield

Label: Island / E.G. Catalogue numbers:

• UK: WIP 6144

SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia. BBC Official Charts

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