Bête Noire (album)

Bête Noire
Studio album by Bryan Ferry
Released	2 November 1987 (1987-11-02)
Recorded	1986–1987
Studio	Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas; Marcadet, Paris; Mireval, Var; Guillaume Tell, Paris
Genre	Sophisti-pop, synthpop
Length	43:18
Label	Virgin (U.K.) E.G. (U.S.)
Producer	Bryan Ferry Chester Kamen Patrick Leonard
Bryan Ferry chronology
Boys and Girls (1985)Boys and Girls1985 Bête Noire (1987) Taxi (1993)Taxi1993

Bête Noire is the seventh solo studio album by the English singer Bryan Ferry. The album was released in November 1987 on Virgin Records in the United Kingdom and E.G. in the United States. The album was a commercial and critical success, peaking at No. 9 in the UK and was certified Gold by the BPI.

The first single, "The Right Stuff" (a collaboration with Johnny Marr and is adapted from The Smiths' instrumental B-side "Money Changes Everything") was the album's only top 40 hit in the UK, peaking at No. 37. The second single, "Kiss and Tell", narrowly missed the UK top 40, but made the U.S. top 40 (becoming Ferry's only solo single to chart in the U.S. Top 40). The song also appeared in the film Bright Lights, Big City. The third and final single, "Limbo", peaked at No. 86 in the UK. The promotional video for the single "Kiss and Tell" features the models Mandy Smith (who is also featured on the single's cover photograph), Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies.

Background

After the success of Ferry's previous album, Boys and Girls (1985), he decided that it was time for a change of style in his career. In an attempt to give his music a more danceable sound, he joined forces with Patrick Leonard who was famed for having worked with Madonna. Leonard went on to co-write five of the album's songs. Guesting on the album would be Pink Floyd's former guitarist, David Gilmour, session musicians Guy Pratt, David Williams, Abraham Laboriel, Roxy Music's former guitarist Neil Hubbard and drummer Andy Newmark.

Fans have often speculated that his song "Kiss and Tell", was Ferry's response to Jerry Hall's tell-all book about their relationship published a couple of years earlier.

Lawsuits with E.G. Records

Prior to the release of the album, Ferry claimed that his recording agreement with the label, E.G. ended in March 1987, and that he was in a position to sell his new album to any company. E.G. said that he was in breach of a 15-year contract which gave them exclusive rights to market the album in Canada and the United States. The action was heard at the High Court of Justice in London, and in a preliminary hearing, the parties agreed that if the album was to be released before the main hearing, Ferry was to pay a third of the royalties into a joint account with E.G. – which they would receive if they were to win the case. E.G. later won the case and they marketed the album in Canada and the United States.

1988–89 tour

Ferry toured Australia, Japan, United States, and Europe to promote the album. The Edge from U2 joined Ferry on stage at the Dublin show to perform the Irish folk song, "Carrickfergus" (which Ferry had previously recorded in 1978) and Johnny Marr joined the backing band for "The Right Stuff" at the Manchester show. Former Roxy Music musician Andy MacKay also joined the backing band for a few numbers at the London Palladium and Wembley Arena dates.

Several of the songs from the Glasgow show were included on several Bryan Ferry CD singles between 1993–95.

Line-up

• Bryan Ferry – Lead vocals
• Neil Hubbard – Guitar
• Jeff Thall – Guitar
• Andy Newmark – Drums
• Lucio Hopper – Bass guitar
• Clifford Carter – Keyboards
• Steve Scales – Percussion
• Michelle Cobbs – Backing vocals
• Ednah Holt – Backing vocals
• Yanick Etienne – Backing vocals
• Chester Kamen – Guitar (1989 Dates Only)
• Andy Mackay – Saxophone (Guest at the London dates)

Tour dates

2 August 1988 – Poughkeepsie, New York, US 3 August 1988 – New Haven, Connecticut, US 5 August 1988 – Philadelphia, US 6 August 1988 – Boston, US 7 August 1988 – Woodbridge, California, US 9 August 1988 – Radio City Music Hall, New York, US 10 August 1988 – Radio City Music Hall, New York, US 11 August 1988 – Radio City Music Hall, New York, US 13 August 1988 – Chrysler Hall, Norfolk, US 14 August 1988 – Atlanta, Georgia, US 15 August 1988 – Washington, D.C., US 17 August 1988 – Toronto Ontario Canada 18 August 1988 – Montreal Canada 20 August 1988 – Quebec City Canada 21 August 1988 – Ottawa Canada 23 August 1988 – Cleveland, US 24 August 1988 – Detroit, US 26 August 1988 – Millwaukee, US 27 August 1988 – Chicago, US 28 August 1988 – Chicago, US 30 August 1988 – Minneapolis, US 31 August 1988 – Winnipeg, Canada 2 September 1988 – Calgary, Canada 3 September 1988 – Edmonton, Canada 5 September 1988 – Vancouver, Canada 6 September 1988 – Seattle, US 8 September 1988 – Sacramento, US 9 September 1988 – Berkeley, US 10 September 1988 – Santa Barbara, US 12 September 1988 – Denver, US 13 September 1988 – Phoenix, US 16 September 1988 – San Diego, US 18 September 1988 – Los Angeles, US 19 September 1988 – Los Angeles, US 11 October 1988 – Nihon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan 12 October 1988 – NHK Hall Tokyo, Japan 13 October 1988 – Nagoya City Hall Nagoya, Japan 15 October 1988 – Cultural Hall Shikoku, Japan 17 October 1988 – Nihon Budokan Tokyo, Japan 18 October 1988 – Department Of Education Hall Osaka, Japan 20 October 1988 – Department Of Education Hall Osaka, Japan 21 October 1988 – Kawasaki Cultural Hall Yokohama, Japan 25 October 1988 – USA Super Top Tent Aukland, New Zealand 29 October 1988 – World Expo 1988 Brisbane, Australia 31 October 1988 – Entertainment Centre Sydney, Australia 1 November 1988 – Entertainment Centre Sydney, Australia 4 November 1988 – National Tennis Centre Melbourne, Australia 7 November 1988 – Festival Theatre Adelaide, Australia 8 November 1988 – Festival Theatre Adelaide, Australia 11 November 1988 – Entertainment Centre Perth, Australia 17 November 1988 – Sporthalle Hamburg, Germany 19 November 1988 – Isstadion Stockholm, Sweden 22 November 1988 – Paris, France 23 November 1988 – Ahoy Rotterdam, Holland 27 November 1988 – ICC Berlin, Germany 28 November 1988 – Phillipshalle Düsseldorf, Germany 2 December 1988 – Palasport Firenze, Italy 4 December 1988 – Palaeur Rome, Italy 6 December 1988 – Olimpiahalle Munich, Germany 7 December 1988 – Alte Oper Frankfurt, Germany 8 December 1988 – Vorst Nationaal Brussels, Belgium 10 December 1988 – SECC Glasgow, Scotland 11 December 1988 – Manchester GMEX Centre 13 December 1988 – Royal Dublin Showground, Ireland 15 December 1988 – Palladium London, England 16 December 1988 – Palladium London, England 13 January 1989 – National Exhibition Centre Birmingham, England 14 January 1989 – National Exhibition Centre Birmingham, England 16 January 1989 – Wembley Arena London, England 17 January 1989 – Wembley Arena London, England 19 January 1989 – Wembley Arena London, England 20 January 1989 – Wembley Arena London, England

Video release

Cover art for the Video release

The Bête Noire Tour movie was released 10 November 2008 by the EMI Productions studio. The DVD features a pair of solo performances by Bryan Ferry, the first performance previously released as New Town, was filmed during his 1988–89 Bête Noire European Tour. The bonus show is the previously unavailable Virgin Germany 25th Birthday concert in Munich in 2002.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	link
Robert Christgau	(C+) Jan. 26, 1988
Rolling Stone	link
Billboard	(positive)

Reviewing for AllMusic, critic Ned Raggett wrote of the album, "Bête Noire sparkles as the highlight of Ferry's post-Roxy solo career, adding enough energy to make it more than Boys and Girls part two. Here, his trademark well-polished heartache strikes a fine balance between mysterious moodiness and dancefloor energy, and Leonard adds more than a few tricks that keep the pep up." The critic Robert Christgau wrote of the album, "As with Mick Jagger, of all people, the signal that self-imitation has sunk into self-parody is enunciatory ennui—vocal mannerisms that were once ur-posh are now just complacent." Billboard wrote of the album, "Former Roxy Music maestro's much-awaited follow-up to "Boys And Girls" harbingers well for his new association with Reprise. Like past Ferry solo efforts, this displays the singer/writer's usual suaveness; tunes hinge on his familiar theme of l'amour moderne on the rocks. Tracks are uniformly solid, although "Kiss & Tell" and "Seven Deadly Sins" stand out."

Anthony DeCurtis reviewed the album for Rolling Stone Magazine and wrote "Bête Noire is another step in Ferry's retreat from distinct songs into atmosphere and feel. The strategy can sometimes work wonderfully, as Ferry proved on the transcendent album Avalon from Roxy Music. But as his voice sinks more deeply into the murky layers of his music, as his lyrics are reduced to a Morse code of refined despair and his subjects recede into the mist, Ferry seems increasingly like Narcissus, enraptured by his own reflection in the pond - and the bottomless depth below." Mark Coleman reviewing for the Rolling Stone Album Guide stated "Bête Noire could use one solid melody. As hushed and haunted as ever, Ferry's deeply evocative voice nevertheless gets lost amid the grandiose and antiseptic musical trappings of the digital recording era. Bête Noire is depressingly tasteful and restrained—state-of-the-art rock wallpaper." Ira Robbins of the Trouser Press commented "The similarly restrained Bête Noire confirms Ferry's commitment to innocuous sophistication. That wonderful voice is his sole asset: what he's singing is all but irrelevant. But this record's stronger melodic development and a wider variety of danceable tempos than on Boys and Girls are palpable signs of life; the involvement of ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr as a player and the co-writer of one near-exciting song ("The Right Stuff") is another positive touch. In the end, given one's diminished expectations,"Limbo," "Kiss and Tell" and "Day for Night" are coolly inviting and likable enough.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Bryan Ferry and Patrick Leonard, except where noted. 

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Limbo"	5:00
2.	"Kiss and Tell" (Ferry)	4:57
3.	"New Town" (Ferry)	4:50
4.	"Day For Night"	5:35
5.	"Zamba"	3:00

Side two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"The Right Stuff" (Ferry, Johnny Marr)	4:25
7.	"Seven Deadly Sins" (Ferry, Chester Kamen, Guy Pratt)	5:10
8.	"The Name of the Game"	5:28
9.	"Bête Noire"	4:53
Total length:		43:18

Bonus tracks on limited edition Australian CD included: The Right Stuff (12" Mix) 6:31; Kiss And Tell (Dance Mix) 7:08; Limbo (Latin Mix) 6:39; Bête Noire (Instrumental) 4:59

Personnel

Note: The LP's sleeve notes includes "Vive la Résistance" to a list of musicians. Only their names are mentioned, their instruments and the exact songs on which they play are not. The following list merely tentatively mentions the instruments the same musicians have played on other Ferry records.

• Bryan Ferry – Lead vocals, keyboards, piano

Additional musicians

• David Gilmour – Guitars
• Johnny Marr – Guitars
• Neil Hubbard – Guitars
• Dann Huff – Guitars
• Chester Kamen – Guitars
• David Williams – Guitars
• Bill Rupert – Guitars
• Abraham Laboriel – Bass guitar
• Marcus Miller – Bass guitar
• Guy Pratt – Bass guitar
• Andy Newmark – Drums
• Vinnie Colaiuta – Drums
• John Robinson – Drums
• Rhett Davies – Drum machines
• Patrick Leonard – Keyboards
• Courtney Pine – Saxophone
• Dan Wilensky – Saxophone
• Mario Abramovich – Violin
• José Libertella – Bandoneon
• Luis Stazo – Bandoneon
• Paulinho da Costa – Percussion
• Jimmy Maelen – Percussion
• Albert Sanchez – Backing vocals
• Tawatha Agee – Backing vocals
• Siedah Garrett – Backing vocals
• Fonzi Thornton – Backing vocals
• Paul Johnson – Backing vocals
• Yanick Etienne – Backing vocals
• Michelle Cobbs – Backing vocals

Production

• All songs produced by Bryan Ferry and Patrick Leonard, except "Kiss and Tell", "New Town", "The Right Stuff" and "Seven Deadly Sins" (produced by Bryan Ferry, Patrick Leonard and Chester Kamen).
• Recording Engineers: Steve Jackson, Kevin Killen and Ian Eales
• Mixed by Alan Meyerson and Bruce Lampcov
• Mastered by Bob Ludwig
• Tracks 1, 4, 5, 8 and 9 published by Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd. and Johnny Yuma Music.
• Tracks 2 and 3 published by Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.
• Track 6 published by Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd. and Warner Brothers Music Ltd.
• Track 7 published by Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd., Warner Brothers Music Ltd. and Copyright Control.

Sales chart performance

Album Peak positions

Chart (1987)	Position
UK Album Charts	9
North American Billboard chart	63
Swiss Hitparade chart	21
German Media Control chart	21
Netherlands MegaCharts chart	15
Swedish Sverigetopplistan chart	6
Norwegian VG-lista chart	10
Australian ARIA Charts	38
RIANZ chart	11
Canadian RPM Top Albums chart	23

Singles Peak positions

Year	Single	Chart	Peak Position
1987	"The Right Stuff"	UK Singles Chart	37
1988	"Kiss and Tell"	UK Singles Chart	41
1988	"Kiss and Tell"	US Billboard 100	31
1988	"Limbo"	UK Singles Chart	86

See also

• Bryan Ferry's discography
• 1987 in music

External links

• Bête Noire at Discogs (list of releases)