RIP Veteran Cosmic Rocker
The world
lost a great artist this week even as we wondered if our world leaders (okay,
one in particular) had lost his mind. Ray
Thomas long time flautist with the Moody Blues died suddenly just as his band
was looking forward to their induction into the (American) Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame. His obituaries noted his
one-of-a-kind solo on the early Moody hit and FM radio staple Nights in White
Satin. The articles would also note his
composing contributions: Legend of A Mind and A Veteran Cosmic Rocker.
So, to that
end we will pay tribute to his solo and his singing contributions to the Moody
Blues.
The second
song is the woefully overlooked Thomas composition, For My Lady. I’ll never forget the first time I heard
it. I was in the car driving the
daughter of a friend to the store. The
local radio station had strictly Top 40 programming. In other words, you would never hear the song
if the released single version didn’t crack the charts higher than #41. Inexplicably the deejay on duty that afternoon
played this album cut from the compilation album, This Is the Moody Blues.
My friend’s daughter
and I were both immediately smitten with the song. Had she been a few years older (14 and
jailbait at the time) I would have asked her out. Then there was the fact that I was hopelessly
in love (and everyone including the friend’s daughter knew this) with her
neighbor. The timing was all wrong, even
as the radio waves beckoned to some deeper, darker emotions.
Ah
well! Perhaps fate will be kind and I
will meet the friend’s neighbor again before my life ends. She will most likely be much heavier than
when I last saw her decades ago and she will most likely have a few grandchildren
in tow.
Or as the
Moody Blues might have asked, Isn’t Life Strange?
Rest in Peace,
Mr. Thomas.
(Thank you
for reading. “A crowd of fools got him
high/He’s afraid he’s gonna die/He’s the apple of their eye…” From A Veteran Cosmic Rocker)
posted by todd gunther | 1:53 PM
4 Comments:
I saw them in San Diego during their Every Good Boy Deserves Favor tour and some how managed to lose one of my shoes....
Although well familiar with the group (who was NOT?), when I heard of this death on the news the chap's name didn't ring any bells, possibly to my shame.
I also didn't know 'For My Lady' - and now, just on the one hearing, I can appreciate how it could have burrowed itself straight to your (or anyone's) heart.
Thanks.
I miss rock flute. When is that going to come back in style?
I've seen them several times, most recently in Atlantic City. I'm sure there's an interesting story about the missing shoe. Thank you, Dave R.
Thank you Raybeard."For My Lady" was originally on their Seventh Sojurn album, when they finally admitted to their fans that they did not have all the answers (I'm Just A Singer in A Rock and Roll Band) despite the years of deep, some would say mystical, lyrics.
Thank you Old Lurker. The flute does add a touch of class. Is Jethro Tull still around?
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