Post Description

Ray Thomas - From Mighty Oaks (1975)
 MP3 @ 320 - 96.8 MB | Covers & Booklet - 11.6 MB
Genre: Art Rock

Ray Thomas was born on 29th December 1941 in Stourport on Severn, attended the Paget Road Secondary Modern School, and later qualified as a toolmaker.

In the early '50s Ray joined the Birmingham Youth Choir and then sang with various groups including The Saints and Sinners and The Ramblers. At that time playing the harmonica, he joined John Lodge in El Riot and the Rebels in the mid-'50s and made several television appearances. Around 1962 Ray and Mike Pinder formed The Krew Cats and spent the next year or so touring in Hamburg before disbanding and forming The Moody Blues 5, shortening it to The M & B 5 when Mitchell and Butlers Breweries agreed to sponsor the band. When this sponsorship did not materialize they changed the name to The Moody Blues in 1964. It was around this time that Ray started to play the flute.

When The Moody Blues took a rest from touring and recording, Ray released his first solo album From Mighty Oaks in July 1975. His second solo album Hopes Wishes & Dreams was released in June 1976.

Ray is a lover of symphonic sound, as well as rock 'n' roll and his rich, solid voice provides The Moody Blues' harmonies with a 'melodic middle' while his flute is nothing short of haunting. His song Legend Of A Mind has become a "standard".

Tracklisting:
1. From Mighty Oaks (3:43)
2. Hey Mama Life (5:37)
3. Play it Again (4:25)
4. Rock-A-Bye Baby Blues (3:31)
5. High Above My Head (3:31)
6. Love is the Key (5:15)
7. You Make Me Feel Alright (5:02)
8. Adam And I (5:43)
9. I Wish We Could Fly (5:27)

Total Time: 42:14

Line-Up:
- Ray Thomas / Flute, Harmonica, Lead Vocals
- Mike Moran / Keyboards
- Dave Potts / Percussion, Drums
- Mike Silver / Guitars, Backing Vocals
- John James / Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Nicky James / Percussion, Backing Vocals
- B.J. Cole / Steel Guitar
- Trevor Jones / Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Richard Hewson / Arranger, Conductor
- John Jones / Acoustic & Electric Gutars, Backing Vocals

And now, my take:

Thomas' first outing is much the same type of fare as his Moody Blues work, although some more rock and blues oriented influences can be heard. He still delivers the same strong vocal performance and is allowed to take the spotlight here to give a taste of what Moody Blues fans already love him for, as well as adding some of his own style to the recipe. Notable on his solo works is more of the harmonica playing which we hear far too little of in his Moody Blues recordings, exceptions being the songs "Had to Fall In Love" (from 1978's "Octave") and "Veteran Cosmic Rocker" which features a really great harmonica solo on the closing track to the "Long Distance Voyager" album.

Still present, however, are his fantastic flute flavorings, and his emotive and rich, powerful vocals.

My only criticism here is that Thomas doesn't quite measure up to his Moody Blues standard (I mean how can you top such masterpieces as his lovely flute solo on "Nights In White Satin", or his masterful singing and playing of "Legend of a Mind" or even his heart-tugging "For My Lady"?) The closest he comes to such magic on this album is "I Wish We Could Fly" which is an exhilarating journey to the heights he wishes to take his listeners to, on the wings of his baritone vocals and lush orchestral arranging.

Still, this album is a beauty, and gives a little glimpse into Thomas' world we otherwise didn't get the opportunity to see in his work under the auspices of The Moody Blues. One example is the song dedicated to his son, called "Adam and I", which is a reflective and personal song in honor of Thomas' role as a proud father, not "just a singer in a rock 'n roll band."