Ray Brooks (1971-1972)

Ray Brooks' face may be familiar to some via his most know acting performances, The Knack, Cathy Come Home, the voice of  Mr Benn and more recently, a stint in the UK soap opera Eastenders. What you may not know though is that in the early seventies he put out an album and a couple of singles for the Polydor record label.

Now we all know that actors trying their hand at being musicians very rarely brings good results but Brooks' solo album "Lend Me Some Of Your Time" from 1971 is a pleasant exception. Melancholia is the general flavour of the album, sounding not a million miles from Bill Fay's solo output from around the same time. All twelve songs were composed by Brooks who according to the LP liner notes, began writing songs in 1969 as a form of therapy! My person highlights include the cinematic/dramatic "Hush, Hush I'm Dying" with it's killer string arrangement, the album's only (quote, unquote) rocker, "Oh Carol" (not the Neil Sedaka song) and "Wish You Were Here", a poetic number, portraying British seaside imagery. The album tracks "Lend Me Some Of Your Time" b/w "Bluebird" were tapped as singles by Polydor but appear to have sank without trace.

An excellent production job done by KPM session man Ray Cameron with help from Guy Fletcher. Arrangements were made by Guy Fletcher and Keith Roberts (Birds 'N' Brass) and the Engineers were Malcolm Jackson (Rainbow Ffolly) and our old mate John Pantry (Peter & The Wolves/Wolfe) with Doug Flett and Mike King as Co-Ordinators. Session musicians include Mike Morgan and Ken Street (Guitars), Les Hurdle (Bass), Byron Davis and Dougie Wright (Drums).

Brooks followed the album up with one of the great lost pop singles of 1972. "Pictures", a non-LP track, is more upbeat and commercial than anything on his album and has a totally infectious chorus that will have you singing along by your second listen. I absolutely adore the lyrics! The first time I heard it (on the fab Mixed Up Minds Part 4 compilation) I thought it was Peter Noone. The B-side, "On My Own" is also worthy of your attention, another upbeat tune which I'm certain Benny & Bjorn had heard before writing "Mamma Mia". It's a shame Brooks didn't dome back with a follow up album because if this single is anything to go by, he was really hitting his stride and could've had a big hit. Brooks returned to acting after this single flopped.

There is a another review of "Lend Me Some Of Your Time" on the ace Downstairs Lounge blog here and you can also check out the official Ray Brooks website here where you can buy his album on CD for the bargain price of £3.75. What are you waiting for?

Lyrics
Pictures
(R. Brooks)

It's a rainy Sunday afternoon
The fire's alight, it flickers round the room
And you and me just sitting here looking at photographs
Having a laugh

Pictures of Auntie Ivy doing things she'll never do again
With uncle Ben
Pictures of Simon Spaniel in the garden looking his best
Now its where he rests

Pictures of faces that we knew
Pictures of me and lots of you
Faded between the pages of our picture book

It's a rainy Sunday afternoon
Pictures of you brighten up the room
And you and me just sitting here looking at photographs
Having a laugh

Pictures of spotty me with a girl who stole my heart one time
Must have been blind
Pictures of lovely you just the same as you are
That beautiful smile I'd run miles to see

Pictures of places by the sea
Pictures of me stuck up a tree
Faded between the pages of our picture book

Pictures of faces that we knew
Pictures of me and lots of you
Faded between the pages of our picture book