Tag Archives: Ray Thomas

The Moody Blues: The Other Side Of Life

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On April 21, 1986, “Polydor” label released “The Other Side of Life”, the twelfth Moody Blues (The) studio album. It was recorded 1985 – 1986, at “Good Earth” in London, and was produced by Tony Visconti.

Personnel:

  • Justin Hayward – vocals, guitar
  • Ray Thomas – tambourine, backing vocals, flute
  • Patrick Moraz – keyboards, synthesizers
  • John Lodge – vocals, bass
  • Graeme Edge – drums, percussion
  • Tony Visconti – engineer
  • Alwyn Clayden – art direction, design
  • Bruce Gill – design
  • Karl Lloyd – illustration
  • Michael Hoppen – photography

Track listing:

  1. Your Wildest Dreams – Justin Hayward
  2. Talkin’ Talkin’ – Justin Hayward, John Lodge
  3. Rock ’n’ Roll Over You – John Lodge
  4. I Just Don’t Care – Justin Hayward
  5. Running Out of Love – Justin Hayward, John Lodge
  6. The Other Side of Life – Justin Hayward
  7. The Spirit – Graeme Edge, Patrick Moraz
  8. Slings and Arrows – Justin Hayward, John Lodge
  9. It May Be a Fire – John Lodge

Ray Thomas: From Mighty Oaks

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On July 11, 1975, “Threshold” and “Decca” labels released “From Mighty Oaks” the debut Ray Thomas album. It was recorded 1974 – 1975, and was produced by Ray Thomas and Derek Varnals.

Personnel:

  •  Ray Thomas – lead and backing vocals, flute, bass flute, harmonica
  • Mike Silver– acoustic guitar, backing vocal
  • John Jones – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals
  • J. Cole– pedal steel guitar
  • Mike Moran– keyboards
  • Trevor Jones – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Dave Potts – drums, percussion
  • Nicky James – percussion, backing vocals
  • Richard Hewson– orchestral arranger, conductor
  • Derek Varnals – recording
  • Dave Baker – 2nd engineer
  • Phil Travers – illustration, design
  • Graham Hughes – photography
  • Mike Pulland – photography

Track listing:

  1. From Mighty Oaks – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  2. Hey Mama Life – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  3. Play It Again – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  4. Rock-A-Bye Baby Blues – Nicky James
  5. High Above My Head – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  6. Love Is the Key – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  7. You Make Me Feel Alright – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  8. Adam and I – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  9. I Wish We Could Fly – Ray Thomas

Ray Thomas: Hopes, Wishes and Dreams

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On June 3, 1976, “Threshold” label released “Hopes, Wishes and Dreams”, the second Ray Thomas studio album. It was recorded February – April 1976 at “Threshold Studios” in London, and was produced by Ray Thomas and Derek Varnals.

Personnel:

  • Ray Thomas – lead and backing vocals, flute, bass flute, harmonica
  • Mike Moran– keyboards
  • John Jones – acoustic and electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Trevor Jones – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Graham Deakin– drums, percussion
  • Barry St. John – backing vocals
  • Liza Strike – backing vocals
  • Helen Chappelle – backing vocals
  • Nicky James – backing vocals
  • Terry James – orchestral arrangements
  • Derek Varnals – recording, associate producer
  • Dave Baker – recording
  • Phil Travers – illustration, design
  • Gered Mankowitz– photography

Track listing:

  1. In Your Song – Nicky James
  2. Friends – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  3. We Need Love – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  4. Within Your Eyes – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  5. One Night Stand – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  6. Keep On Searching – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  7. Didn’t I – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  8. Migration – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  9. Carousel – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  10. The Last Dream – Ray Thomas

The Moody Blues: Days Of Future Past

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days-of-the-futurem-passed

On November 10, 1967, “Deram” label released “Days of Future Passed”, the second Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded October – November 1967, at “Decca Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke and Michael Dacre-Barclay. It was band’s first concept album, with mixture of classical and rock elements, and is widely regarded as one of the first progressive rock albums at all.

Personnel:

  • Mike Pinder – vocals, mellotron, piano, tambura
  • Ray Thomas – vocals, flutes, percussion, piano
  • Justin Hayward – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, sitar
  • John Lodge – vocals, bass
  • Graeme Edge – vocals, drums, percussion
  • Peter Knight– conducting, arrangements
  • The London Festival Orchestra
  • Derek Varnals – engineer
  • David Anstey – design, cover painting
  • Hugh Mendl– executive production, liner notes

Track listing:

  1. The Day Begins
  • The Day Begins – Peter Knight, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas, Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Graeme Edge
  • Morning Glory – Graeme Edge
  1. Dawn: Dawn Is a Feeling
  • Intro – Peter Knight
  • Dawn Is a Feeling – Mike Pinder
  1. The Morning: Another Morning
  • Intro – Peter Knight
  • Another Morning – Ray Thomas
  1. Lunch Break: Peak Hour
  • Intro – Peter Knight
  • Peak Hour – John Lodge
  1. The Afternoon: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) / Time to Get Away
  • Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) – Justin Hayward
  • (Evening) Time to Get Away – John Lodge)
  1. Evening: The Sun Set: Twilight Time
  • Intro – Peter Knight
  • The Sunset – Mike Pinder
  • Twilight Time – Ray Thomas
  1. The Night: Nights in White Satin
  • Nights in White Satin – Justin Hayward)
  • Late Lament – Graeme Edge, Peter Knight

The Moody Blues: The Present

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The_Present

On August 28, 1983, “Threshold” label released “The Present”, the eleventh Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded March – December 1982, at “Strawberry Studios” in London, and was produced by Pip Williams.

Personnel:

  • Justin Hayward –vocals, guitar
  • Patrick Moraz –keyboards
  • Ray Thomas – vocals, harmonica, flute
  • John Lodge – vocals, bass guitar
  • Graeme Edge –drums
  • Pip Williams – sequencing

Track listing:

  1. Blue World – Justin Hayward
  2. Meet Me Halfway – Justin Hayward,John Lodge
  3. Sitting at the Wheel – John Lodge
  4. Going Nowhere – Graeme Edge
  5. Hole in the World – John Lodge
  6. Under My Feet – John Lodge
  7. It’s Cold Outside of Your Heart – Justin Hayward
  8. Running Water – Justin Hayward
  9. I Am – Ray Thomas
  10. Sorry – Ray Thomas

The Moody Blues: Question Of Balance

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Question of balance

On August 7, 1970, “Threshold” released “Question of Balance”, the sixth Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded January – June 1970, at “Decca Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke.

Personnel:

  1. Justin Hayward – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin
  2. Ray Thomas – vocals, flute, tambourine
  3. Mike Pinder – vocals, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer, piano, maracas, acoustic guitar
  4. John Lodge – vocals, bass
  5. Graeme Edge – drums, percussion, whispered vocal

Track listing:

  1. Question – Justin Hayward
  2. How Is It (We Are Here) – Mike Pinder
  3. And the Tide Rushes In – Ray Thomas
  4. Don’t You Feel Small – Graeme Edge
  5. Tortoise and the Hare – John Lodge
  6. It’s Up to You – Justin Hayward
  7. Minstrel’s Song – John Lodge
  8. Dawning Is the Day – Justin Hayward
  9. Melancholy Man – Mike Pinder
  10. The Balance – Graeme Edge, Ray Thomas

The Moody Blues: In Search of the Lost Chord

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In_search_of_the_lost_chord

On July 26, 1968, “Deram” label released “In Search of the Lost Chord”, the third Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded January – June 1968, at “Decca Studios” in West Hampstead, in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke. In the “Q”  and  “Mojo” “Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock”, “In Search of the Lost Chord” was ranked at number 37 in the list of “40 Cosmic Rock Albums”.

Personnel:

  • Justin Hayward– vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar,  sitar, harpsichord, bass, percussion, mellotron, piano
  • Mike Pinder– vocals, mellotron, piano, harpsichord, acoustic guitar, bass, cello, autoharp, tambura, spoken vocals
  • John Lodge– vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, cello, snare drum, tambourine
  • Graeme Edge- vocals, drums, timpani, tambourine, piano, percussion, tabla, spoken vocal
  • Ray Thomas– vocals, C flute, alto flute, soprano saxophone, oboe, French horn, tambourine

Track listing:

  1. Departure – Graeme Edge
  2. Ride My See – Saw – John Lodge
  3. Livingstone, I Presume – Ray Thomas
  4. House of Four Doors – John Lodge
  5. Legend of a Mind – Ray Thomas
  6. House of Four Doors (Part 2) – John Lodge
  7. Voices in the Sky – Justin Hayward
  8. The Best Way to Travel – Mike Pinder
  9. Visions of Paradise – Justin Hayward, Ray Thomas
  10. The Actor – Justin Hayward
  11. The World – Graeme Edge
  12. Om – Mike Pinder

The Moody Blues: Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

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Every_Good_Boy_Deserves_Favour

On July 23, 1971, “Threshold Records” released “Every Good Boy Deserves Favour”, the seventh Moody Blues (The) album. It was  recorded November 1970 – March 1971, at “Wessex Sound Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke.

Personnel:

  • Justin Hayward– vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, sitar
  • John Lodge– vocals, bass, cello
  • Ray Thomas  vocals,  flute,  tambourine,  oboe,  woodwinds,  harmonica
  • Graeme Edge– electric and acoustic drums, percussion
  • Mike Pinder– vocals, mellotron, harpsichord, Hammond organ, piano, keyboards, Moog synthesizer
  • Derek Varnals – recording
  • David Baker – engineer assistant
  • Harry Fisher – cutting engineer
  • Phil Travers – sleeve artist
  • Randall Nelson – lyrics sheet photograph

Track listing:

  1. Procession – Graeme Edge, Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas
  2. The Story in Your Eyes – Justin Hayward
  3. Our Guessing Game – Ray Thomas
  4. Emily’s Song – John Lodge
  5. After You Came – Graeme Edge
  6. One More Time to Live – John Lodge
  7. Nice to Be Here – Ray Thomas
  8. You Can Never Go Home – Justin Hayward
  9. My Song – Mike Pinder

The Moody Blues: Long Distance Voyager

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On May 15, 1981, “Threshold” label released  “Long Distance Voyager”, the tenth Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded February 1980 – April 1981, at “Threshold Studios” and “RAK Studios”, and was produced by Pip Williams.

Personnel:

  • Justin Hayward– vocals, guitars
  • Patrick Moraz– keyboards
  • John Lodge– vocals, bass
  • Ray Thomas– vocals, flutes, harmonicas
  • Graeme Edge– drums
  • J. Cole– pedal steel guitar
  • Pip Williams–string arrangements
  • The New World Philharmonic – string section
  • Greg Jackman – recording, mixing
  • Melvyn Abrahams – mastering
  • Cream –design, artwork

Track listing:

  1. The Voice – Justin Hayward
  2. Talking Out of Turn – John Lodge
  3. Gemini Dream – Justin Hayward, John Lodge
  4. In My World – Justin Hayward
  5. Meanwhile – Justin Hayward
  6. 22,000 Days – Graeme Edge
  7. Nervous – John Lodge
  8. Painted Smile – Ray Thomas
  9. Reflective Smile – Ray Thomas
  10. Veteran Cosmic Rocker – Ray Thomas

The Moody Blues: On the Threshold of a Dream

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Threshold of a dream

On April 25, 1969, “Deram” label released “On the Threshold of a Dream”, the fourth  Moody Blues (The) album. It was recorded January 1969, at “Decca Studios”  in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke. The album was mixed and released in both  stereo  and   quadraphonic sound.

Personnel:

  • Justin Hayward- vocals, acoustic and  electric guitar, twelve-string acoustic guitar, cello,
  • Mike Pinder- vocals, mellotron, Hammond organ, piano, cello
  • Ray Thomas- vocals, harmonica, flute, tambourine, oboe, piccolo
  • John Lodge- vocals, bass, cello, double bass
  • Graeme Edge- drums, percussion, vocals, EMS VCS 3
  • Phil Travers – artwork

Track listing:

  1. In the Beginning – Graeme Edge
  2. Lovely to See You – Justin Hayward
  3. Dear Diary – Ray Thomas
  4. Send Me No Wine – John Lodge
  5. To Share Our Love – John Lodge
  6. So Deep Within You – Mike Pinder
  7. Never Comes the Day – Justin Hayward
  8. Lazy Day – Ray Thomas
  9. Are You Sitting Comfortably? – Justin Hayward, Ray Thomas
  10. The Dream – Graeme Edge
  11. Have You Heard (Part 1) – Mike Pinder
  12. The Voyage – Mike Pinder
  13. Have You Heard (Part 2) – Mike Pinder