This hour special was first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. Ray discusses various aspects of his career illustrated with selected tracks
PLAYING THROUGH THE CHANGES is the most comprehensive anthology of Ray Fenwick’s multi-faceted musical output to date.
Compiled by Ray himself, this 3-CD set boasts many of his best solo recordings from the 1970s through to the present some of which are new to CD.
Ray’s early career back in the 1960s is represented by tracks from The Syndicats (produced by Joe Meek after Ray replaced Steve Howe), authentic Ska combo Rupert And The Red Devils, Tee-Set, After Tea and a later incarnation of hit R&B band The Spencer Davis Group (including the track ‘After Tea’!).
The 1970s saw Ray at his most prolific. In addition to solo albums such as ‘Keep America Beautiful Get A Haircut’, his work with acts such as Fancy, The Musicians Union Band, The Guitar Orchestra, a reunited Spencer Davis Group, several bands with Deep Purple affiliations (Wizard’s Convention, Ian Gillan Band, Roger Glover And Guests’ The Butterfly Ball and Marlon is represented).
The late 1970s saw Ray work with Safari Records, on a compilation of Ska and Mod Revival material Uppers On The South Downers (a couple of tracks appear here).
Other notable names here include R&B legend Bo Diddley, soul/blues singer Geno Washington, rock drummer Cozy Powell and ex-Spencer Davis singer Eddie Hardin.
Playing Through The Changes also includes some brand new tracks by Ray, as well as a unique edit of his guest appearance with electronica act Amorphous Androgynous.
Track Listing:
DISC ONE:
1. MERCURY HIGH – Ian Gillan Band
2. TIJUANA HOLIDAY – Minute By Minute
3. RANGE RIDER – The South Coast Ska Stars
4. THE DREAM – Ray Fenwick
5. SHE’S RIDIN’ THE ROCK MACHINE – Fancy
6. SWINGIN’ LOW – Ray Fenwick & Clem Cattini
7. THE SCREW – The Spencer Davis Group
8. BLUES NEVER GONNA – Ray Fenwick
9. EVERYTIME I DO – Rupert And The Red Devils
10. CRAWDADDY SIMONE – The Syndicats
11. LONG AGO (Live) – After Tea
12. AFTER TEA – The Spencer Davis Group
13. ARE YOU WIV – Tich Turner’s Escalator
14. BAD BOY – The Musicians Union Band
15. GHOST TOWN – The Guitar Orchestra
16. APACHE – Ray Fenwick *
17. MR. SECOND CLASS – The Spencer Davis Group
18. CARTWHEEL RAG – Ray Fenwick *
19. THREE TIMES YOUR AGE – Minute By Minute
20. WIND IN THE WILLOWS – MAIN THEME – Eddie Hardin
DISC TWO:
1. SMOKE ON THE WATER (Single Version) – Forcefield
2. MAGPIE – The Murgatroyd Band
3. TRYING TO GET TO YOU (Alternative Version) – Ian Gillan
4. I CAN’T LET GO – Angel Montgomery (Vocals: David Coverdale) *
5. MONEY TO BURN – Wizard’s Convention
6. I WANNA BOOGIE – Ray Fenwick
7. WALK DON’T RUN – Ray Fenwick *
8. HIGH CLASS BABY – Rowdy *
9. DON’T YOU LEAVE (Re-recording) – Tee-Set
10. BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND ME – Ray Fenwick
11. FLY AWAY – Roger Glover And Guests
12. LOVE IS ALL – Roger Glover And Guests
13. THE BLUES WALK WITH ME – Geno Washington & The Purple Aces
14. ONE FINE DAY – Summer Wine
15. QUEEN OF THE NIGHT – Ray Fenwick
16. TIRED OF WAITING FOR YOU – Forcefield II
17. HOT HEAD OF STEAM – Eddie Hardin’s Wizards Convention 2
18. HAVE MERCY WOMAN – Hardin & York
19. PLEASE CALL ME – Graham Bonnet
20. STEWING MY WINE – Guitar Orchestra
21. BROKEN MAN – Marlon
22. WHEN THE SUN STOPS SHINING – Wizard’s Convention
DISC THREE:
1. COUNTRY LIGHTS – Ian Gillan Band
2. HIT AND RUN – Forcefield III
3. SULTANA (Instrumental) – Eddie Hardin’s Wizards Convention 2
4. TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS – Eddie Hardin’s Wizards Convention 2
5. TWICE – David Harks
6. SHOW ME THE WAY TO GEORGIA – Mike Hurst
7. STATESIDE – Ray Fenwick
8. IN THE HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN KING – The South Coast Ska Stars
9. LETTERS FROM EDITH – The Spencer Davis Group
10. BAD LOVE – Geno Washington & The Purple Aces
11. CLASSICAL GAS – Cozy Powell
12. MAYBE BABY – Eddie Hardin
13. TAM TAM – Ray Fenwick
14. DON’T WANT NO LYIN’ WOMAN – Bo Diddley *
15. MILK COW BLUES – James Burton Clem Cattini Dave Sampson Ray Fenwick
16. BACK USA – The Wheelin’ And Hammering’ Band
17. SHINE IT ON ME – Ray Fenwick’s White Lightning
18. MAIL BOX – Ray Fenwick’s White Lightning *
19. WE PERSUADE OURSELVES WE ARE IMMORTAL (Ray Fenwick Edit) – Amorphous Androgynous
Spanning pop, rock, funk, ska, rockabilly, R’n’B, soul, the sixty plus tracks across 3CDs on offer here make for a head-spinning melange that never lulls. And the package overall is exemplary with extensive and comprehensive booklet notes illustrated by an abundance of period images to satisfy the most demanding fashion sentimentalist.
Before the insidious creep of AI started to determine playlists, radio stations had record libraries from which presenters could pull down content to build their shows.
This release would have been their number one go-to. It’s got everything – and everything is first rate.
Get Ready to ROCK! (May 2021)