A-side "Talking Out of Turn" Length 3:05 Writer(s) Ray Thomas | Released November 1981 Label Threshold | |
Recorded February 1980 - April 1981 | ||
"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 halfway 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.