Virginia Plain

"Virginia Plain" is based on lead singer Bryan Ferry's 1964 painting of the same title (he was an art student taught by British painter Richard Hamilton at the time). It features a huge packet of Virginia Slims cigarettes with a picture of Andy Warhol superstar Baby Jane Holzer on the front, standing in the middle of a plain. Speaking about the painting, Ferry revealed to Melody Maker in 1972: "The painting was a sort of throwaway watercolor, and the song has lots of little images and throwaway lines. The painting was done in 1964, and although the song was written this year, it reflects the feeling of that time – I was up in Newcastle, living with a guy who'd helped Warhol to make the Marilyn Monroe silkscreens. It's a whole American Dream thing, living up there yet constantly thinking about Warhol's Factory and Baby Jane Holzer. It's got some other things in it now. Vegas, Nevada, Route 66."

The guitar solo by Phil Manzanera was totally improvised at the recording of this song. He later claimed he played the first thing that came into his head.

This was Roxy Music's first hit in the UK, peaking at #4. It was recorded after Roxy Music's debut album but is included on later reissues. Ferry recalled to The Sun: "Just after we released the first album, the record company, Island Records, asked us if we had any other songs which might make a good single. I had this song called 'Virginia Plain' which we quickly recorded and that became our breakthrough single. I remember how amazed we were when we heard it on BBC daytime radio as we were driving our van up the motorway to a gig."