Veteran Cosmic Rocker

Last updated
"Veteran Cosmic Rocker"
Single by The Moody Blues
from the album Long Distance Voyager
A-side "Talking Out of Turn"
ReleasedNovember 1981
RecordedSeptember 1980 [1]
Length3:05
Label Threshold
Songwriter(s) Ray Thomas
Producer(s) Pip Williams

"Veteran Cosmic Rocker" is a 1981 song by the progressive rock band the Moody Blues. It was written by the band's flautist Ray Thomas. "Veteran Cosmic Rocker" first appeared as the final track of the Moody Blues' 1981 album Long Distance Voyager , and was later released in November 1981 on the B-Side of "Talking Out of Turn."

"Veteran Cosmic Rocker" is the third and final song in a suite that concludes Long Distance Voyager . The first song in this suite is "Painted Smile," which is then followed by "Reflective Smile," a short poem connecting the themes of the two songs. [2] Moody Blues bassist John Lodge said:

I know Ray had written a poem and he had written the "Painted Smile" song and he got this idea of this veteran cosmic rocker. I think we all sat down and said, "This will be really great if we ended up with this sort of Bo Diddley beat at the end." Then you've got this whole trilogy together, with this lonely guy on stage. At the end of the day, that's what we are. [1]

The title comes from a phrase that a New York journalist used to describe Thomas. [3] Producer Pip Williams said:

"VCR" was Ray's nickname for himself – a deliberate '60s-type title that suggested Kaftans, joss-sticks, hippie paraphernalia, and Eastern promise. It was the last song recorded for LDV, after the summer break, and began life on Monday, September 15, 1980, at 7 p.m. The main body of the song suggested the mystical, "hippy" approach, deliberately alluding to the '60s influences, and the use of a backward sitar drone seemed appropriate to me. [1]

Ray Thomas performs a harmonica solo and a flute solo about halfway through the song, over a shuffle rhythm. [3] There is also a section of Middle Eastern flavored music. [3] At the beginning of the song, Ray Thomas can be faintly heard saying the line "I'll have a Scotch and Coke please, Mother!" [4] At the end of the song is a backward message in which Thomas can be faintly heard saying "What happens anyway, you know?" [4] According to Williams, this occurred because Williams had commented that he wasn't sure about the headphone balance Thomas was replying "Never mind, just roll the tape and we'll see what happens anyway" and the last part got picked up when they started taping. [4] The band thought that playing that backwards sounded neat and so they decided to leave it in. [4]

The Star Press critic Kim Teverbaugh described the melody as "haunting." [5] Johnson City Press critic Elaine Cloud Goller said it "features an Arabian sound that evokes visions of swirling, scarved dancers, all the while discussing the inner fears of the idolized performer, who is without assurance in himself or the future." [6] Hartford Courant critic Henry McNulty described it as a sequel to the Moody Blues' 1972 hit "I'm Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band" and called it a "worthwhile statement", albeit preceded by "one of those pretentious, imbecilic spoken song-poems [i.e., 'Reflective Smile'] that infect Moodies records. [7] Roanoke Times writer Ben Cromer described the song as "[taking] a stab at rock 'n' rollers who take themselves too seriously." [8] News-Democrat critic Roger Schlueter called it "a rehash of 'I'm Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band,' but matching neither the latter's beauty or grace," and said it was "a silly 10-years-too-late Tommy -esque concoction." [9]

Post-Gazette critic Gary Graff said that the suite of "Painted Smile"/"Reflective Smile"/"Veteran Cosmic Rocker" show that the band "are still masters of the offbeat comparison, splicing a carnivalesque of the sad clown's lament with the superficiality of rock 'n' roll lifestyles." [2] Canadian Press critic Michael Lawson found the suite to be "interesting if a touch over-dramatic." [10] Cromer praised Patrick Moraz' keyboards and Pip Williams' production on the suite. [8]

The song was generally included in the band's live sets during the 1980s, generally at the end of the first half of the show. [3]

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Moody Blues</span> English band

The Moody Blues were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1964. The band initially consisted of Graeme Edge (drums), Denny Laine (guitar/vocals), Mike Pinder (keyboards/vocals), Ray Thomas (multi-instrumentalist/vocals), and Clint Warwick (bass/vocals). Originally part of the British beat and R&B scene of the early–mid 1960s, the band came to prominence with the UK No. 1 and US Top 10 single "Go Now" in late 1964/early 1965. Laine and Warwick both left the band in 1966, with Edge, Pinder and Thomas recruiting new members Justin Hayward (guitar/vocals) and John Lodge (bass/vocals). They embraced the psychedelic rock movement of the late 1960s, with their second album, 1967's Days of Future Passed, being a fusion of rock with classical music that established the band as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive rock. It has been described as a "landmark" and "one of the first successful concept albums".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Moraz</span> Swiss musician (born 1948)

Patrick Philippe Moraz is a Swiss musician, film composer and songwriter, best known for his tenures as keyboardist in the rock bands Yes and the Moody Blues.

<i>Long Distance Voyager</i> 1981 studio album by the Moody Blues

Long Distance Voyager is the tenth album by the Moody Blues, first released in May 1981 on the group's Threshold record label. It was the group's first album featuring keyboardist Patrick Moraz in place of co-founder Mike Pinder, who left after Octave in 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Thomas</span> British musician (1941–2018)

Raymond Thomas was an English musician, singer and songwriter. He was best known as a founding member of the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues. His flute solo on the band's 1967 hit single "Nights in White Satin" is regarded as one of progressive rock's defining moments. In 2018, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues.

<i>The Other Side of Life</i> 1986 studio album by the Moody Blues

The Other Side of Life is the twelfth studio album by English progressive rock band the Moody Blues, released in April 1986 by Polydor Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graeme Edge</span> British musician (1941–2021)

Graeme Charles Edge was an English musician, songwriter and poet, best known as the co-founder and drummer of the English band the Moody Blues. In addition to his work with the Moody Blues, Edge worked as the bandleader of his own outfit, the Graeme Edge Band. He contributed his talents to a variety of other projects throughout his career. In 2018, Edge was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues.

<i>The Present</i> (Moody Blues album) 1983 studio album by The Moody Blues

The Present is the eleventh album by the Moody Blues, released in 1983. This was the group's last original studio album to be released on their custom label, Threshold Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nothing Ever Goes as Planned</span> 1981 single by Styx

"Nothing Ever Goes as Planned" is a song written by Dennis DeYoung and released by American rock band Styx on their tenth album Paradise Theatre, as well as being the 3rd single released from the album. A chart disappointment following the first two singles off the album, it peaked at No. 54 on the U.S. pop chart in late summer 1981. It also reached No. 33 on the Canada RPM Top Singles chart in the week of September 5, 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Voice (The Moody Blues song)</span> 1981 single by the Moody Blues

"The Voice" is a song written by Justin Hayward that was first released on the Moody Blues' 1981 album Long Distance Voyager and also as its second single. The song continued the success of previous single "Gemini Dream", becoming a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No. 15 in October 1981. The song had previously topped the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart for four weeks during June–July 1981. The song also reached No. 9 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gemini Dream</span> 1981 single by the Moody Blues

"Gemini Dream" is a song written by Justin Hayward and John Lodge that was released by The Moody Blues on their 1981 album Long Distance Voyager and also as the lead single from the album. It reached number 12 on the US Hot 100, as well as number 1 on the Canada RPM Top 100 Singles chart. It ranked as the 28th biggest Canadian hit of 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talking Out of Turn</span> 1981 single by the Moody Blues

"Talking Out of Turn" is a 1981 single written by John Lodge and first released by the Moody Blues on their 1981 album Long Distance Voyager. It was also released as the third single from the album in November 1981 with "Veteran Cosmic Rocker" on the B-side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Other Side of Life (song)</span> 1986 single by The Moody Blues

"The Other Side of Life" is a 1986 single written by Justin Hayward and first released by The Moody Blues in May 1986 as the title track on the album The Other Side of Life. It was released as a single in August 1986, the second single released from the album, the first being "Your Wildest Dreams". After its release, it became a modest success in the United States, making #11 and #18 on the adult contemporary and mainstream rock charts respectively. It also reached #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue World (The Moody Blues song)</span> 1983 Moody Blues single

"Blue World" is a 1983 single by the Moody Blues written by Justin Hayward. It was first released in the UK as the lead single of the album The Present in August 1983. It was released as single in the US in the Fall of 1983. "Blue World" was one of three singles from The Present, with the others being "Sitting at the Wheel" and "Running Water." The single's cover is a pastiche of the painting Daybreak by Maxfield Parrish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sitting at the Wheel</span> 1983 Moody Blues single

"Sitting at the Wheel" is a 1983 hit single by The Moody Blues, written by John Lodge. It was released in the US as the lead-off single from The Present in August 1983 and debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 3, 1983. In the UK, "Sitting at the Wheel" was released in November 1983 as the second single from The Present, following "Blue World".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No More Lies (The Moody Blues song)</span> 1988 single by The Moody Blues

"No More Lies" is the second single released from the Moody Blues 1988 album Sur la Mer. As a single, it charted at #15 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1988. Like the album's previous single, "I Know You're Out There Somewhere," "No More Lies" was written by Justin Hayward.

<i>Voices in the Sky: The Best of The Moody Blues</i> 1984 compilation album by The Moody Blues

Voices in the Sky: The Best of The Moody Blues is a greatest hits compilation for The Moody Blues, released in 1984.

"Meanwhile" is a song written by Justin Hayward that was released on the Moody Blues 1981 album Long Distance Voyager. Although never released as a single, it reached #11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">22,000 Days</span> Moody Blues song released in 1981

"22,000 Days" is a song written by Graeme Edge that was first released by the Moody Blues on their 1981 album Long Distance Voyager. It was also released as the B-side to the top-ten single "The Voice". "22,000 Days" reached No. 38 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Running Water (song)</span> 1983 Moody Blues single

"Running Water" is a song written by Justin Hayward that was first released on the Moody Blues' 1983 album The Present. It was released as the third single from the album in the United States but did not chart.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cushman, Marc (2021). Long Distance Voyagers: The Story of the Moody Blues Volume 2 (1980-2018). Jacobs Brown Press. pp. 21, 33. ISBN   9781735567358.
  2. 1 2 Graff, Gary (5 June 1981). "Records: Moodies score with new sound". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 24. Retrieved 2024-02-12– via newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Freakes, Geoffrey (2019). The Moody Blues: Every Album, Every Song. Sonicbond. p. 92. ISBN   9781789520422.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Wincentsen, Edward (2001). The Moody Blues Companion. Wynn. pp. 121–122. ISBN   0964280892.
  5. ↑ Teverbaugh, Kim (2 August 1981). "The Moody Blues Return to Prominence with Latest Album". The Muncie Star. p. B-10. Retrieved 2024-02-12– via newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Goller, Elaine Cloud (27 June 1981). "The Moody Blues are back..." Johnson City Press. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-02-12– via newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ McNulty, Henry (7 June 1981). "Elton: Echoes and Usherings". Hartford Courant. p. G7. Retrieved 2024-02-12– via newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 Cromer, Ben (26 June 1981). "Moodies' layoff pays off with good set". Roanoke Times. p. C3. Retrieved 2024-02-12– via newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Schlueter, Roger (18 June 1981). "'Cosmos' earns five-galaxy rating". Belleville News-Democrat. p. 7C. Retrieved 2024-02-14– via newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Lawson, Michael (5 June 1981). "Moody Blues has some praise, some criticism". Alberni Valley Times. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-02-12– via newspapers.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.