For My Lady
Encyclopedia
"For My Lady" is a 1973 song by the English progressive rock
band The Moody Blues
. It was written by the band's flautist Ray Thomas
, and was first released on the 1972 album Seventh Sojourn
. It was later released on the B-side of the single "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
" in 1973.
"For My Lady" is one of Ray Thomas's better known songs for the Moody Blues, along with "Legend of a Mind
", and "Veteran Cosmic Rocker
." It prominently features Ray Thomas on the flute and lead vocals.
Due to the complex nature of the song's recording, The Moody Blues
can only perform the song live when they are backed by a live orchestra
, since Ray Thomas cannot sing and play the flute at the same time.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
. It was written by the band's flautist Ray Thomas
Ray Thomas
Ray Thomas is an English musician, best known as the flautist and as a singer and composer in the rock band, The Moody Blues.-Career:...
, and was first released on the 1972 album Seventh Sojourn
Seventh Sojourn
Seventh Sojourn, released in 1972, is the eighth album by The Moody Blues.In Seventh Sojourn, The Moody Blues used, besides the Mellotron, a keyboard called the Chamberlin, a device similar to the Mellotron created by the original inventor of the device, Harry Chamberlin...
. It was later released on the B-side of the single "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
"I'm Just a Singer " is a hit 1973 single by the English progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was first released in 1972 as the final track on the album Seventh Sojourn. "I'm Just a Singer " was later released as a single in 1973, with "For My Lady" on the B-side...
" in 1973.
"For My Lady" is one of Ray Thomas's better known songs for the Moody Blues, along with "Legend of a Mind
Legend of a Mind
"Legend of a Mind" is a song by the British progressive rock band The Moody Blues, and was written by the band's flautist Ray Thomas, who provides the lead vocals. "Legend of a Mind" was recorded in January 1968 and was first released on the Moody Blues' album In Search of the Lost Chord...
", and "Veteran Cosmic Rocker
Veteran Cosmic Rocker
"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...
." It prominently features Ray Thomas on the flute and lead vocals.
Due to the complex nature of the song's recording, The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
can only perform the song live when they are backed by a live orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
, since Ray Thomas cannot sing and play the flute at the same time.
Personnel
- Justin HaywardJustin HaywardJustin Hayward is an English musician, best known as singer, songwriter and guitarist in the rock band The Moody Blues.Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England...
– acoustic guitar, backing vocals - John Lodge – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Mike PinderMike PinderMichael Thomas "Mike" Pinder is an English rock musician, and is a founding member or the British rock group, the Moody Blues. He left the group following the recording of the band's album, Octave, in 1978...
– ChamberlinChamberlinThe Chamberlin is an electro-mechanical keyboard instrument that was a precursor to the Mellotron. It was developed and patented by Iowa, Wisconsin inventor Harry Chamberlin from 1949 to 1956, when the first model was introduced. Various models and versions of these Chamberlin music instruments...
, backing vocals - Ray ThomasRay ThomasRay Thomas is an English musician, best known as the flautist and as a singer and composer in the rock band, The Moody Blues.-Career:...
– lead vocals, flute - Graeme EdgeGraeme EdgeGraeme Charles Edge is best known as the drummer and a songwriter for the Moody Blues, but has also led his own outfit, the Graeme Edge Band.-Biography:...
– drums, percussion