Posted on 01/07/2018 4:51:45 PM PST by Eddie01
Edited on 01/08/2018 10:21:47 AM PST by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
Ray Thomas, flautist, vocalist and founding member of the Moody Blues, died Thursday at the age of 76.
Thomas' label Esoteric Recordings/Cherry Red Records confirmed the multi-instrumentalist's death on Facebook, adding that Thomas died suddenly at his home in Surrey, England. No cause of death was announced.
(Excerpt) Read more at rollingstone.com ...
no prob- though you should be scolded for posting something from a left wing rag like RS!!!
Interesting. That's my favorite Moody Blues album as well. Of course I like their entire catalog up to 7th sojourn. But the recording and mixing of 7th Sojourn was at a higher level and the writing had reached a zenith.
the irony is that was one of their toughest albums to record as the band were at each others throats the broke up for a few years not long after Seventh Sojourn...then again most bands seem to produce their best music under chaos...
There is something special about that song; Tuesday Afternoon. It’s somewhat hypnotic, and very easy to find one’s self dissolving into the rhythms, tempo, and talk-sang narrations. Good driving music down a long and winding road.
All three of these songs are on a DTS CD that I bought a few years back. The originals were remastered in 5.1 DTS surround sound.
I listen to it when everyone is out. Crank it up.
Sorry to hear of his passing. Time marches on... unfortunately.
2000 Moody Blues at Royal Albert Hall. Perhaps the best YouTube concerts I have seen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQGS1KolHA8&t=3998s
Incredible band. Extremely underrated by anyone who wouldn’t bother to listen and understand the idea of “concept album.”
Very much the “thinking man’s rock band” in their heyday. IMO, Queensryche picked up the ball with the orginal “Operation: Mindcrime” and “Tribe”, but since then it’s all been downhill.
Sad to hear about Ray Thomas. “Veteran Cosmic Rocker” written by Thomas for Long Distance Voyager was said to be autobiographical.
A similar thing happened with the Beatles. There was the White Album of course. Then Get Back which was a bit of a dud. But their last album was Abbey Road and a great album it was. They had been at each other's throats for years. But Abbey Road was the last thing they did together. I am pretty sure the very last thing McCartney, Lennon and Harrison recorded together as the Beatles were the three solos in the End which was Lennon's idea. It was creative and outside the box for the Beatles to trade guitar solos. It really wasn't their thing. They weren't Jeff Beck / Jimmy Page guitar Gods. But it worked and was all done in a single take. The 2nd take was not necessary.
Abbey Road and 7th Sojourn both had the benefits of better recording and mixing technology combined with good songs and a creative burst. As you said the chaos might have factored in as well.
Look at Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album recorded under extreme duress.
“All three of these songs are on a DTS CD that I bought a few years back. The originals were remastered in 5.1 DTS surround sound.”
I rarely buy modern music CDs these days, but I picked up a copy of Moody Blues Gold. It was wonderful listening to their greatest hits again.
Legend of the Mind was an anthem of its time. Hearing this sad news is an echo from the “cold hearted orb that rules the night.”
Justin Hayward is also a Christian, who said in one magazine article, “Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior”.
As for “trashing America”, I haven’t seen that at all, and I’ve been following them closely for 25 years. Perhaps they said something anti-war back in the 60’s or 70’s.
They continue to tour the USA more than anywhere else.
RIP Ray. You were part of some of the best music that I have ever listened to.
We have had some beautiful full moons here in Illinois lately, one of the few good things about bitterly cold weather. More often that not I recite “Late Lament” in my mind or verbily. Godspeed, Ray.
Why not flutist, or flootist?
I know right.
Flautas are rolled tacos.
Follows, a flautist is the one who makes the rolled tacos.
They are playing one of their 50th anniversary concerts in Florida on Wednesday at the Hard Rock Seminole. I will be there but somehow, something will be missing, even though he has been retired since 2002. A little like when Lennon was taken from us. There is a hole that can never be filled. Ray Thomas was so central to their deep, unique and haunting, mystical music.
Timothy Leary is Dead. Now Ray Thomas has joined him.
Wonderful contributor to one of the best bands. So glad to have taken the opportunity to see him and his band mates at Great Woods years ago.
My all-time favorite video concert. I watch it all the time. Love their music since high school. I’m 70.
Yeah. I think it's a better badge of honor to be a long-lasting band and _not_ be in it.
Personally, I love prog-rock music. But, really, it ain't rock-n-roll. I'm fine with it. But when I see acts patting themselves on the back for "finally" getting in, it makes me a little mad _and_ sad.
I mean, if rock-n-roll music is really about irreverence and fun and being outsiders, why do you want to be "in" a hall-of-fame? That's such an establishment thing. Just rock! Do your thing! Get paid and meet good folks doing it! Who cares if you aren't in some POS HOF?
…And have folks seen the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame? It's such a typical I.M. Pei glass and triangles monstrosity that the last thing you would imagine it being is a shrine(!) to rock-n-roll!
/r
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