Bob Ray
Band members Related acts
line up 1 (1970-2012) - Bobby Ray (aka Bobby Ray Henson) (RIP 2012) -- bass, backing vocals
supporting musicians: (1970) - Hal Blaine -- drums, percussion - Jim Gordon (RIP) -- drums, percussion - Jim Horn -- flute, sax - Joe Osborne -- bass - Larry Knechtel -- keyboards, bass
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- Bob and Kit (Bob Ray) - Thorinshield (Bob Ray)
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Genre: psych-folk Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Initiation of a Mystic Company: Soul
City Year: 1970 Country/State: Los Angeles, California Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $55.00
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I stumbled across a copy of this album without a clue who Bob Ray was. I bought 1970's "Initiation of a Mystic" mainly for the fact it was released on Johnny Rivers' short-lived Soul City label with Rivers producing. It was only then I realized the late singer/bassist Bobby Ray had been a member of one of my favorite mid-'60s psych bands - the Los Angeles based Thorinshield.
Featuring
eleven Ray originals with backing from members of L.A.'s Wrecking Cre
"Initiation
of a Mystic" track listing: 1.) (Girl With The) Cameo Ring (Bob Ray) - 3:55 rating: **** stars Powered by beautiful strumming acoustic guitar, Jim Horns flute and Ray's sweet voice and melodic bass, every time I hear the opening ballad '(Girl With The) Cameo Ring' it reminds me of an American version of prime '60s Donovan. Perhaps that shouldn't be a major surprise given Ray had played on Donovan's 1966 "Sunshine Superman" album. It's definitely a slice of "hippy happiness" but screams '60s peace, love and happiness at the top of its lungs. 2.) Live Today (Bob Ray) - 3:32 rating: *** stars 'Love Together' could easily have been mistaken for another slice of Donovan folk-psych. Unfortunately this time out Marty Paich's heavy MOR orchestration stood at odds with the songs hippy lyrics, 3.) City of Toys (Bob Ray) - 3:33 rating: *** stars Seemingly a love song to Los Angeles, opening up with some fat bass, 'City of Toys' has always reminded me of something The Mamas and the Papas, or The 5th Dimension might have recorded in their efforts to sound hip and contemporary. The track was certainly bouncy and commercial with Jim Horn's flute solo on prominent display. 4.) Green Green (Big Big River) (Bob Ray) - 3:16 rating: ** stars Another L.A, song, the lyrically dense 'Green Green (Big Big River)' reminds me of something out of the Jimmy Webb catalog. Yeah, that meant it was "deep" and insightful. This is one I could do without. 5.) Smog Song (Bob Ray) - 5:20 rating: **** stars Clearly inspired by life in L.A., 'Smog Song' was one of the album's most rhythmic and funky efforts. Kudos to Ray for his early pro-ecology commentary. Jim Horn on flute and sax solos. Always like Ray's "flat" vocal delivery and the running brook sound effects reduce my blood pressure by a couple of points.
(side
2) A pretty, literate ballad, 'Resurrection' was a nice platform for showcasing Ray's beautiful voice. It's another track that underscores the Donovan comparison for me. This was one of two Ray songs Johnny Rivers covered. RIvers' version appeared on his 1970 "Slim Slow Rider" album. 2.) Money Tree (Bob Ray) - 3:40 rating: **** stars Powered by Jim Horns' sax, 'Money Tree' was one of the album's isolated "upbeat" tunes. The breezy melody could have easily been found on a Johnny Rivers solo album, or a Mamas and the Papas release. Surprising it wasn't tapped as a single. 3.)
Personal Movie (Bob Ray) - 2:58
rating: ** stars 4.) Woman Of The Highlands (Bob Ray) - 4:15 rating: ** stars Well the title had me thinkin' "crap, a Dylan-styled ballad ..." Close, but no cigar as this was another Jimmy Webb-styled slice of singer/songwriter angst. 5.) Right Relations (Bob Ray) - 3:30 rating: *** stars The acoustic ballad 'Right Relations' started out slowly, but when the strumming acoustic guitars broke out things improved. The lyrics were certainly daring for the timeframe ... This was the other tune Johnny Rivers covered, releasing it as a 1969 single. 6.) Islands (Bob Ray) - 2:10
Ray subsequently joined a post Jim Morrison line-up of the Doors, undertaking a couple of early-'70s tours with the group as bassist and backing singer. He then seemingly dropped out of music, returning to his native Tennessee where he passed on in 2012.
© Scott R. Blackerby August, 2024
© Scott R. Blackerby |
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