WIWS Banner

The Second Disc

Expanded and Remastered Music News

  • Home
  • News
    • Classic Rock
    • Rock
    • Pop
    • Jazz
    • Popular Standards/Vocal
    • R&B/Soul
    • Country
    • Folk
    • Cast Recordings
    • Soundtracks
    • Everything Else
      • Classical/Opera
      • Disco/Dance
      • Funk
      • Gospel
      • Rap/Hip-Hop
  • Features
    • Release Round-Up
    • Giveaways!
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Classic Rock
    • Rock
    • Pop
    • Jazz
    • Popular Standards/Vocal
    • R&B/Soul
    • Country
    • Folk
    • Cast Recordings
    • Soundtracks
    • Everything Else
      • Classical/Opera
      • Disco/Dance
      • Funk
      • Gospel
      • Rap/Hip-Hop
  • Release Calendar
    • Coming Soon
    • Now Available
  • About
  • Second Disc Records
    • Full Catalog
  • Contact

/ News

Play It Again: Esoteric Salutes The Moody Blues' Ray Thomas with Anthology, Surround Mix

December 10, 2020 By Joe Marchese 11 Comments

Ray Thomas Words and Music

BUY NOW FROM AMAZON.COM

As a founding member of The Moody Blues, Ray Thomas (1941-2018) played the haunting flute solo on the band's 1967 hit "Nights in White Satin."  He also was responsible for writing many of the Moodies' most beloved songs including "Twilight Time," "And the Tide Rushes In," and "Legend of a Mind."  A multi-instrumentalist and singer, Thomas recorded two solo albums for the group's Threshold Records label: 1975's From Mighty Oaks and 1976's Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams.  This fall, Cherry Red's Esoteric Recordings imprint has compiled the best of Thomas' solo recordings, with a dash of the Moody Blues and a couple of rare tracks, on Words and Music.  This compendium also includes a DVD with the 5.1 surround mix of From Mighty Oaks, out of print for almost a decade.

It's appropriate that the CD portion of Words and Music starts at the very beginning (a very good place to start) with three tracks from the early days of The Moody Blues including "It Ain't Necessarily So," the band's first song to feature Thomas on lead vocals.  That was a cover of the George and Ira Gershwin/DuBose Heyward classic from Porgy and Bess; Thomas also took the lead on Denny Laine and Mike Pinder's "From the Bottom of My Heart (I Love You)" and the Moodies' treatment of Tim Hardin's "How Can We Hang on to a Dream."  But Thomas soon found his own voice as a songwriter and eventually wrote almost 30 songs for the Moodies.  His first solo album, From Mighty Oaks, was primarily self-penned with his friend Nicky James (who had also played in bands with Mike Pinder and Denny Laine as well as John Bonham, Bev Bevan, John Walker, and other luminaries).  Five tracks have been culled from that album for the CD portion of this set, while the entire album is available on the DVD in a 5.1 surround mix adapted from the original, unreleased quad mix.

Thomas pulled out all of the stops for From Mighty Oaks, with layered vocals and lush Richard Hewson orchestrations abounding on the majestic "I Wish We Could Fly."  The intimate "Adam and I" was inspired by the birth of Thomas' son, revealing the singer-songwriter at his most tender and vulnerable.  The earnest "Love Is the Key" is a pretty slice of midtempo soft rock adorned with swirling strings; B.J. Cole's prominent pedal steel lends a country air to the languid "Rock-a-Bye-Baby Blues."  Thomas deployed the full power of his brass section on the swaggering, showbizzy rocker "High Above My Head," which one could imagine Ringo Starr having recorded.  While strong and supple, Thomas' baritone wasn't quite booming enough for the grandiosity of these big compositions but he coasts quite admirably on his abundant charm.  (No joke, Engelbert Humperdinck would have been wise to pick up on a couple of these songs!)

A further five songs have been plucked from the follow-up to From Mighty Oaks, 1976's Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams.  Nicky James once again collaborated with Thomas on the lion's share of the songwriting, but Terry James took Hewson's place as arranger-conductor.  The sound was a bit subtler but the compositions, including "Migration" and "Within Your Eyes," no less deeply felt.  (Thomas' flute added color to the latter.)  The wistful, reflective "Didn't I" is another one of those adult contemporary ballads at which Thomas excelled, with smoky trumpet enhancing the sentiment but the choir proving a bit much.  The same goes for "We Need Love," on which the added vocals give the song an almost countrypolitan sheen.  (That said, the background group was quite distinguished, with Liza Strike, Helen Chappelle, Barry St. John, and Nicky James among the singers.)  Thomas' tendency towards grandiosity is in evidence on the sweeping "The Last Dream," a fine summation of his solo work's combination of heart and ambition.

The compendium concludes with two recent, rather elegiac tracks.  2010's touching "The Trouble with Memories" was co-written with Bias Boshell ("I've Got the Music in Me") and premiered on Esoteric's 2010 box set From Mighty Oaks...Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams.  The latter song, 2018's "Dada's Song," was Thomas' final recording, and makes its debut on this set.  "Dada's" was a collaborative effort with Ryland Teifi who sings and plays guitar and keyboards on the track.

The DVD presents the 5.1 surround mix of From Mighty Oaks in Dolby Digital, as on the 2010 release.  It's based on the unreleased original quad mix, meaning that the action is primarily in the four corner speakers with some reverb in the center channel and subwoofer.  As the album is so orchestral, it's often quite beautiful in surround, as on the thunderous title track which doubles as an overture. The mix isn't flashy but isn't too understated, either, making for a balanced listen.  The DVD also has the 1975 promotional video for "High Above My Head" and a newly-created 2020 video for "Dada's Song" as bonus features.

The 20-page booklet doesn't feature traditional liner notes but instead offers an array of tributes and testimonials to the late Thomas from friends and collaborators including Mike Pinder, Denny Laine, Bias Boshell, David Symonds, reissue producer Mark Powell, and others.  The booklet and discs are housed in a six-panel digipak.  Paschal Byrne is responsible for the fine mastering.

As worthwhile as this set is, one wishes Esoteric had instead opted to reissue the complete From Mighty Oaks...Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams.  That out-of-print (and now quite pricey) 3-CD/1-DVD box contained both of Thomas' solo albums in full plus the 5.1 mix of From Mighty Oaks and a disc of bonus rarities; an expanded version adding "Dada's Song" would have brought that chronicle of Thomas' solo career full circle.  But as a substitute that happily brings the surround mix of From Mighty Oaks back into print, this anthology is a fine tribute to the musical legacy of Ray Thomas.  It's available now at the links below.

Ray Thomas, Words and Music (Esoteric/Cherry Red ECLEC 22727, 2020) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Cherry Red)

CD:

  1. It Ain't Necessarily So - The Moody Blues
  2. From the Bottom of My Heart (I Love You) - The Moody Blues
  3. How Can We Hang on to a Dream - The Moody Blues
  4. I Wish We Could Fly
  5. High Above My Head
  6. Adam and I
  7. Love Is the Key
  8. Rock-a-Bye Baby Blues
  9. Migration
  10. Didn't I
  11. Within Your Eyes
  12. We Need Love
  13. The Last Dream
  14. The Trouble with Memories
  15. Dada's Song

Track 1 from The Magnificent Moodies, Decca LK 4711, 1965

Track 2 from Decca single F.12166, 1965

Track 3 included on The Magnificent Moodies: Official 50th Anniversary Edition, Esoteric ECLEC 22473, 2014

Tracks 4-8 from Ray Thomas, From Mighty Oaks, Threshold THS 16, 1975

Tracks 9-13 from Ray Thomas, Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams, Threshold THS 17, 1976

Track 14 from Ray Thomas, From Mighty Oaks...Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams, Esoteric ECLEC 44219, 2010

Track 15 previously unreleased

DVD - From Mighty Oaks (5.1 Mix adapted from unreleased quadraphonic mix of Threshold THS 16, 1975)

  1. From Mighty Oaks
  2. Hey Mama Life
  3. Play It Again
  4. Rock-a-Bye Baby Blues
  5. High Above My Head
  6. Love Is the Key
  7. You Make Me Feel Alright
  8. Adam and I
  9. I Wish We Could Fly
  10. High Above My Head (1975 Promotional Film)
  11. Dada's Song (2020 Promotional Video)​

Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD, DVD Genre: Classic Rock, Pop Tags: Ray Thomas, The Moody Blues

Avatar photo

Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

Connect With Joe: FacebookTwitter

You Might Also Like

  • Riding the Rock MachineGrapefruit Round-Up: Cherry Red Imprint Reissues Cult Favorite from Oberon, Collects Prog and Classic Rock Sounds on New Box Sets
  • Halcyon DaysLook at the View: Cherry Red's New Strawberry Imprint Collects Mod, Pop, Psych, and Freakbeat on "Halcyon Days"
  • Moody Blues In Search of the Lost Chord CoverVisions of Paradise: Moody Blues' "In Search of the Lost Chord" Box Set Coming on Friday
  • Fab Gear boxReview: "Fab Gear: The British Beat Explosion and Its Aftershocks 1963-1967"

Comments

  1. Patrick says

    December 10, 2020 at 11:55 am

    From Mighty Oaks and Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams were both issued individually on Esoteric a few years ago and are still easily available on Amazon and elsewhere. The 5.1 mix of FMO is wonderful so this set is a much more economical way to acquire it over the 2010 box, certainly.

    Reply
  2. John F says

    December 10, 2020 at 1:42 pm

    Thanks for the review. Just jumped from here to Amazon and ordered, should arrive tomorrow. Christmas comes early. I'm a nut for 5.1, having this in SS is too much to pass up. RIP, Ray.

    Reply
  3. BillyD says

    December 10, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    I love quad. Thanks for the heads up!

    Reply
  4. Alan Pooles says

    December 11, 2020 at 2:33 am

    I was lucky enough to meet Ray on a couple of occasions before he retired from the Moodies, what a lovely man, great singer, flautist and songwriter, great that this has been issued, well done. RIP Ray

    Reply
  5. Lee Thomas says

    December 11, 2020 at 8:31 am

    Thank you Joe for the lovely review. A lot of love and labour went into getting this produce and on the market. I had promised Ray that 'Dada's Song' would be released. We had planned on putting 3 of Ray's Moody Blues recordings on this set but were stopped by the 2 J's from the band. I'm quite pleased with the release, hats off to Mark Powell for his work on putting this together. Mrs. Ray Thomas aka Lee aka Boudicea

    Reply
    • Avatar photoJoe Marchese says

      December 11, 2020 at 11:48 pm

      Lee, thank you for your kind words as well as for all you do to keep Ray's rich musical legacy alive. This beautiful release is a testament to that, and "Dada's Song" is a real treasure. All best wishes from us at The Second Disc for a wonderful holiday season and happy new year.

      Reply
    • John F says

      December 12, 2020 at 11:36 am

      Found my copy of Words & Music in the mail yesterday. Listened to Mighty Oaks in Surround last night, just before going to sleep. It was so wonderful to have Ray's voice set me up for dreamtime. A beautiful album. Such a joy. His voice so familiar and loving. Merry Christmas to you, Boudicea.

      Reply
  6. Jerry Golvidis says

    December 11, 2020 at 4:22 pm

    Disappointed that "The Dreamer" was not included. It is a great Ray Thomas written and performed song that should never have been left off of Every Good Boy Deserves Favor in the first place. It could have been a hit single! Few people have even ever heard it. Was this one of the Moody Blues recordings that were stopped by the 2 J's?

    Reply
    • Patrick says

      December 11, 2020 at 4:54 pm

      There's nothing on this comp from the Moody's "Core 7" (or 8, or 9, depending on your POV). Draw your own conclusions. Frankly this is a nice collection but it's neither fish or fowl--early R&B stylings segue into solo albums from a decade later and those are incompletely represented, and none of Ray's most treasured classic-period Moody Blues tracks. I appreciate the effort, though--it's just not for me as I'm covered, including the quad FMO. That's the real appeal of this set IMO.

      Reply
  7. Philip says

    December 11, 2020 at 8:26 pm

    My heart beats for this amazing music. Thank u for sharing R.I.P. Dear Ray u r severely missed.

    Reply
  8. Phil Cohen says

    December 17, 2020 at 5:04 am

    By the way, The Moody Blues are now defunct. Justin Hayward and John Lodge had a falling out and will not record or perform together any more and Graeme Edge has described himself as "retired" (He'll be 80 years old in 2021, and had long since been replaced by a drum machine in the studio).
    The Hayward/Lodge rift is why there may not be any more Moody Blues deluxe CD editions. The 50th anniversary of two Moody Blues albums passed in 2020 with no anniversary edtions. Not that I think the group has much more vault material.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Upcoming Releases

  • Darlene Love Live 1982
    Live 1982
    Darlene Love
    April 07, 2023
  • Love is the Message Box
    Love Is the Message: The Sound of Philadelphia Vol. 3
    Various Artists
    April 07, 2023
  • Dionne Warwick Complete Scepter Singles
    The Complete Scepter Singles 1962-1973
    Dionne Warwick
    April 14, 2023
See Full Calendar

Connect

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 4,572 other subscribers

Popular

  • Miles Davis The Electric Years
    Miles Runs The Voodoo Down: Vinyl Me, Please Collects Davis' "Electric Years" on New Box Set posted on March 28, 2023 | under News
  • Bob Dylan Fragments Bootleg 17 Cover
    Review: Bob Dylan, "Fragments - 'Time Out of Mind' Sessions (1996-1997): The Bootleg Series Vol. 17" posted on March 29, 2023 | under Reviews
  • The Who With Orchestra Live at Wembley
    Release Round-Up: Week of March 31 posted on March 31, 2023 | under News

Comments

  • small faces here come the nice2
    Return To Itchycoo Park: Small Faces' "Here Come The Nice" Deluxe Box Set Arrives In January [UPDATED 12/3] 84 comments | by Joe Marchese | posted on December 3, 2013 | under News
  • the beatles u s albums box2
    British Invasion! The Beatles Unveil "The U.S. Albums" Box Set in January 69 comments | by Joe Marchese | posted on December 12, 2013 | under News
  • Rolling Stones in Mono
    Out of Their Heads: Stones Plan Mono Box Set 47 comments | by Mike Duquette | posted on August 10, 2016 | under News

Music Resources

  • Addicted to Vinyl
  • Crap from the Past
  • Discogs
  • Film Score Monthly
  • IMWAN Forum – From the Vaults
  • MusicTAP
  • Musoscribe
  • Pause & Play
  • Popblerd
  • Popdose
  • Record Racks
  • Slicing Up Eyeballs
  • Steve Hoffman Music Forums
  • Ultimate Classic Rock
  • Vintage Vinyl News
  • Viva La Mainstream
  • Wolfgang's Vault

Labels of Note

  • Ace Records
  • Analog Spark
  • Bear Family
  • BGO Records
  • Big Break Records
  • Blixa Sounds
  • Cherry Red Label Group
  • Craft Recordings
  • Demon Music Group
  • Friday Music
  • Funky Town Grooves
  • Iconoclassic Records
  • Intervention Records
  • Intrada
  • Kritzerland
  • La La Land Records
  • Legacy Recordings
  • Light in the Attic
  • Masterworks Broadway
  • Now Sounds
  • Omnivore Recordings
  • Real Gone Music
  • Resonance Records
  • Rhino Entertainment
  • Rock Candy Records
  • SoulMusic Records
  • Sunset Blvd. Records
  • Supermegabot
  • Varese Sarabande
  • Vinyl Me, Please
  • Wounded Bird
Copyright © 2023 The Second Disc. All rights reserved. · Site by Metaglyphics

The Second Disc is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk.

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy