Roxy Music (October 7, 1977) – Virginia Plain / Pyjamarama Single UK: 7" Reissue

Oct 7, 1977

3 min read

Released on October 7, 1977, Virginia Plain was reissued by Polydor Records to promote the band's Greatest Hits compilation. The release paired Roxy Music's breakthrough debut single with their second hit, Pyjamarama, bringing together two of the group's most celebrated early recordings.

Originally released in August 1972, Virginia Plain became Roxy Music's debut single and their first major commercial success, reaching No. 4 in the UK. The 1977 reissue also proved successful, returning the song to the charts and reaching No. 11.

The song takes its title from a painting created by Bryan Ferry before the formation of Roxy Music and has since become one of the defining recordings of the glam and art-rock era..

RECORDING

Virginia Plain was recorded in July 1972 at Command Studios, London.

The recording featured bassist Rik Kenton, who had joined the band following the departure of Graham Simpson.

The song was written by Bryan Ferry.

Pyjamarama was also written by Bryan Ferry and was originally issued as Roxy Music's second single.

STYLE & THEMES

Virginia Plain perfectly encapsulates Roxy Music's distinctive blend of art rock, glam styling and avant-garde pop.

The song combines surreal imagery, fashion references and cinematic lyricism with an inventive arrangement that immediately established Roxy Music as one of the most original groups of the early 1970s.

Bryan Ferry later revealed that the title originated from one of his paintings depicting a giant cigarette packet featuring a pin-up figure. The phrase "Virginia Plain" referred to a Virginia tobacco cigarette without a filter.

TRACK-BY-TRACK

• Virginia Plain – Roxy Music's debut single and breakthrough hit. The recording features an improvised guitar solo by Phil Manzanera and references figures including Baby Jane Holzer and music industry lawyer Robert Lee within its lyrics.

• Pyjamarama – Originally released as the band's second single and paired with Virginia Plain for the 1977 reissue campaign.

RELEASE HISTORY

Virginia Plain was first released in August 1972 backed with Andy Mackay's instrumental composition The Numberer.

The single reached No. 4 in the UK and No. 6 in New Zealand.

Although absent from the original UK pressing of the debut Roxy Music album, it was added to later editions following the single's success.

The song was reissued on October 7, 1977 backed with Pyjamarama to coincide with the release of Greatest Hits.

The reissue reached No. 11 in the UK Singles Chart.

CHARTS

Release	Chart	Peak
Virginia Plain (1972)	UK Singles Chart	No. 4
Virginia Plain (1972)	New Zealand	No. 6
Virginia Plain / Pyjamarama (1977)	UK Singles Chart	No. 11

PERSONNEL

Bryan Ferry — vocals, songwriter

Phil Manzanera — guitar

Andy Mackay — oboe, saxophone, composer of The Numberer

Rik Kenton — bass guitar

Roxy Music — performers

PRODUCTION

Artist: Roxy Music

Label: Polydor

Country: UK

Catalogue Number: 2001 739

Format: 7" Single

Release Date: October 7, 1977

Genres: Art Rock, Glam

RELATED RELEASES

• Roxy Music (August 1972) – Virginia Plain / The Numberer Single UK: 7"

• Roxy Music (1973) – Pyjamarama Single UK: 7"

• Roxy Music (1977) – Greatest Hits Album UK: LP

• Roxy Music (1972) – Roxy Music Album UK: LP

NOTES

• Released on October 7, 1977.

• Issued to promote the Greatest Hits compilation album.

• Reached No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart.

• Originally released in August 1972 as Roxy Music's debut single.

• The original 1972 issue reached No. 4 in the UK.

• The original B-side was The Numberer, written by Andy Mackay.

• Recorded during July 1972 at Command Studios, London.

• Written by Bryan Ferry.

• The title was derived from one of Ferry's paintings featuring a giant cigarette packet.

• The song was not included on the first UK pressing of the Roxy Music album.

• Later editions of the album added the track following its success.

• Rik Kenton played bass on the recording.

• Phil Manzanera's guitar solo was improvised according to contemporary accounts.

RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE

Country	Date	Format	Catalogue Number
UK	August 1972	7" Single	Original Issue
UK	October 7, 1977	7" Single	2001 739

INTERNATIONAL VARIANTS

Country	Year	Notes
New Zealand	1972	Reached No. 6
Various Territories	Various	Included on later album pressings and compilations

TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)

Format	Catalogue Number	Tracklisting
7" Single	2001 739	Side One • Virginia Plain Side Two • Pyjamarama

SPECIAL PRESSINGS & VARIANTS

Variant	Notes
Original 1972 Single	B-side: The Numberer
1977 Reissue	B-side: Pyjamarama
Later Album Pressings	Virginia Plain added to the debut album

SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts.

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