Roxy Music: "Stranded" Album Release (1973)

A Glam Art-Rock Desert Island

Roxy Music’s Stranded LP was released in the UK on November 16, 1973, on Island Records (catalogue: ILPS 9252). Their third album — and first without Brian Eno — saw Bryan Ferry share songwriting with Andy Mackay and Phil Manzanera, while Eddie Jobson joined on violin/synth. Produced by Chris Thomas at AIR Studios, this lush, romantic art-rock masterpiece reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart (their first). The iconic gatefold cover — photographed by Karl Stoecker, styled by Antony Price — features Playboy model Marilyn Cole drenched and torn-dress “stranded” in a jungle. Lead single “Street Life” hit No. 9 UK. A timeless Roxy classic.

Album Overview

Release Details

Label: Island Records (UK).

Formats: Vinyl LP (fully laminated gatefold).

℗ & ©: 1973 Island Records Ltd.

Recorded at AIR Studios, London, September 1973.

Pressed by EMI Records (pink rim/palm tree labels).

UK Release Formats and Track Listings

Vinyl LP, Gatefold (ILPS 9252) – 1st UK pressing

Side A

1. Street Life (3:27)

2. Just Like You (3:34)

3. Amazona (4:12)

4. Psalm (8:04)

Side B

1. Serenade (2:55)

2. A Song For Europe (4:44)

3. Mother Of Pearl (6:53)

4. Sunset (6:00)

Global Variants (all 1973 unless noted)

- LP, Album – Island 5453 – Argentina – 1973

- LP, Album – Island 87 369 IT – Austria/Germany/Netherlands – 1973

- LP, Album – Island 6499 742 – France – 1973

- LP, Album – Island ILPS 9252 – Ireland – 1973

- LP, Album – Island ILPS 19252 – Italy – 1973

- LP, Album – Island IL 35031 – New Zealand – 1973

- LP, Album – Island ILPS 9252 / ILPS-9252 – Scandinavia – 1973

- LP, Album – Island ILPS 9252 – Singapore – 1973

- LP, Album – Island ILPS 9252 – South Africa – 1973

- LP, Album – Island ILPS 9252 – UK – 1973

- LP, Album – Jugoton LSY-73002 – Yugoslavia – 1973

Cassette Album (ZC1 9252 / ZCI 9252) – UK

Side A

1. Street Life

2. Just Like You

3. A Song For Europe

4. Psalm

Side B

1. Serenade

2. Amazona

3. Mother Of Pearl

4. Sunset

Global Variants (all 1973 unless noted)

- Cassette, Album – Island 7206 015 – France – 1973

- Cassette, Album – Island IL-K 719252 – Italy – 1973

- Cassette, Album – Island ZC1 9252 – Norway – 1973

- Cassette, Album – Island D-54774 / D-54.774 – Spain – 1973

- Cassette, Album – Island ZC1 9252 / ZCI 9252 – UK – 1973

Production and Context

Produced by Chris Thomas for E.G. Records. First album without Brian Eno (replaced by Eddie Jobson). First with songwriting contributions from Andy Mackay and Phil Manzanera. Cover star: Marilyn Cole (1973 Playmate of the Year), styled by Antony Price, shot by Karl Stoecker. Eno later called it one of his favourite Roxy albums.

Singles Released and Chart Performance

- Street Life / Hula-Kula (Nov 1973) – UK No. 9

Album Chart Performance

- UK Albums Chart: 1

- US Billboard 200: 186

Legacy and Collectibility

Stranded is Roxy Music’s first No. 1 and the definitive post-Eno statement. Original UK pink-rim gatefold vinyls fetch £30–£100 on eBay/Discogs (mint laminated £150+). Verify catalogue ILPS 9252 with “GRAMOPHLTD” stamper letters. Streams on Spotify preserve the art-rock glamour. This LP is a must-have for glam/art-rock collectors.

Do you have Stranded in your vinyl stack? Are you marooned on the island? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube