Veteran Cosmic Rocker
Encyclopedia
"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. Its lyrics tell the story of a stereotypical rock and roll
musician who is loved by his fans.
Ray Thomas performs a harmonica
solo about half way through the song. Also, at the very beginning of the song, Ray Thomas can be faintly heard saying the line "I'll have a Scotch and Coke please, Mother!" At the end of the song is a backward message in which Thomas can be faintly heard saying "What happens anyway, you know?"
"Veteran Cosmic Rocker" was one of Ray Thomas's final major songs written for the Moody Blues, as his presence would become less noticeable as the band moved towards a more pop-oriented sound. His final composition for the Moody Blues would be "My Little Lovely," from Strange Times. Thomas would later retire in 2002 due to health issues.
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:...
. "Veteran Cosmic Rocker" first appeared as the final track of The Moody Blues 1981 album Long Distance Voyager
Long Distance Voyager
Long Distance Voyager is the tenth album by the British rock band The Moody Blues, first released in May 1981. on the group's Threshold record label...
, and was later released in November 1981 on the B-Side of "Talking Out of Turn
Talking Out of Turn
"Talking Out of Turn" is a 1981 single by the English progressive rock band The Moody Blues, and it was the third and final single released from their 1981 album Long Distance Voyager...
."
"Veteran Cosmic Rocker" is the third and final song in a suite that concludes Long Distance Voyager
Long Distance Voyager
Long Distance Voyager is the tenth album by the British rock band The Moody Blues, first released in May 1981. on the group's Threshold record label...
. The first song in this suite is "Painted Smile
Painted Smile
"Painted Smile" is a 1981 song by the English progressive rock band The Moody Blues, first appearing on their 1981 album Long Distance Voyager. It was later released on the B-Side of "Gemini Dream."...
," which is then followed by "Reflective Smile," a short poem connecting the themes of the two songs. Its lyrics tell the story of a stereotypical rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
musician who is loved by his fans.
Ray Thomas performs a harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
solo about half way through the song. Also, at the very beginning of the song, Ray Thomas can be faintly heard saying the line "I'll have a Scotch and Coke please, Mother!" At the end of the song is a backward message in which Thomas can be faintly heard saying "What happens anyway, you know?"
"Veteran Cosmic Rocker" was one of Ray Thomas's final major songs written for the Moody Blues, as his presence would become less noticeable as the band moved towards a more pop-oriented sound. His final composition for the Moody Blues would be "My Little Lovely," from Strange Times. Thomas would later retire in 2002 due to health issues.