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October 9, 2019
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Ray Wilson – Upon My Life – 2CD info and review

Ray Wilson releases his first Best-of album on November 1st. Upon My Life is a collection of solo material only.

There has been no real “best of” album by Ray Wilson so far. This will be remedied on November 1 [2019] when the album Upon My Life comes out. It contains 26 songs from his solo career as well as two brand new songs. The release date is no coincidence. It will be the first day the United Kingdom will not be a member of the European Union anymore. Ray Wilson has always been critical about Brexit, and the two new songs on his album show him take a gloomy view of things.

The first CD begins with a brand new song called Come The End Of The World. It was written by Ray with Scott Spence. The song is pleasant, unobtrusive, an addition rather than a central pillar of the album – as opposed to I Wait And I Pray. This is the first song in a long time written by Ray Wilson on his own. It has depth, melancholy and, despite its pessimism, carries a lot of hope.

The choice of songs is quite valid, though there would have loads and loads of other material to pick from. There are many songs that ALSO deserved to be on this album. Take Hey Hey and Millionairheadfrom Cut, for example, Beachand Yesterdayfrom Change, Sometimesfrom The Next Best Thing, Fly High and Taking Time from SHE, Razorliteand particularly Frequencyfrom Propaganda Man, Tale From A Small Town and Guns Of God from Unfulfillment, Shouting In My Sleep and No Dreams Are Made Of This from Chasing Rainbows, Cold Light of Day from Song For A Friend, They Never Should Have Sent You Roses and The Spirit from Makes Me Think Of Home. Perhaps a third CD of so-called “deep cuts” would have been an option.

One of Ray’s best songs, the brilliant Frequency(with important input by Ali Ferguson) is not part of this set. If you take a closer look at the track list you will notice that there is only one track from Ray’s most recent album Makes Me Think Of Home. Chasing Rainbows is represented with no less than five tracks on Upon My Life. For a detailed list of tracks, credits and band contributions see below.

The artwork and the cover design are typical Wilson: It has few and darker colours, Ray looks earnest, worried, thoughtful as on many of his covers. Ray Wilson has assembled important corner stones of his career. Some of the songs are probably more important to him than to his fans (e.g. Goodbye Baby Blue), but, after all, it is his selection of songs. As a whole, the compilation shows the surprisingly large number of really good songs Ray Wilson has written so far. This is the right time to release such a compilation, an opportunity to take stock. For all those who would like to start exploring Ray Wilson’s music this is the ideal album.

By Christian Gerhardts, English by Martin Klinkhardt

Upon My Life is available on CD from amazonUK and the Ray Wilson Webstore.
Digital album is available from amazonUK and iTunes.

CD1:

Come The End Of The World

Wilson / Spence, 2019 (neuer Song)
Ray Wilson: Vocals
Scott Spence: Electric Guitar, Piano, Keyboards
Ali Ferguson: Lead Guitar
Marcin Kajper: Bass
Mario Koszel: Drums and Percussion
Yogi Lang: Additional Keyboards
Mixed by Yogi Lang
Produced by Scott Spence and Ray Wilson
Mastered by Yogi Lang

Lemon Yellow Sun

Wilson / Metzler, 2006 (von SHE)
Ray Wilson: Vocals
Uwe Metzler: Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Irvine Duguid: Keyboards
Peter Hoff: Keyboards
Alvin Mills: Bass Guitar
Nir Z: Drums
Strinx Connexion: Klaus Marquardt Violin, Andrea Langenbacher Violin, Johannes Krampen Violin, Carolin Kriegbaum Viola, Felix Brade Cello, Nane Kalb Cello
Mixed & Mastered: Peter Hoff
Produced by Peter Hoff and Ray Wilson

Take It Slow

Wilson / Hoff, 2013 (von Chasing Rainbows)
Ray Wilson: Vocals
Ali Ferguson: Lead Guitar
Ashley MacMillan: Drums
Lawrie MacMillan: Bass
Steve Wilson: Acoustic Guitar
Saxophone: Marcin Kajper
Keyboards: Darek Tarczewski
Keyboards: Peter Hoff
Violin 1: Alicja Chrzaszcz
Violin 2: Barbara Szelagiewicz
Viola: Sebastian Schlecht
Cello: Philipp Thimm
String Arrangement: Philipp Thimm
String Recording: Christian Bader
Mixed by Yogi Lang
Recorded by Henne Mueller and Philipp Lorenz
Assistant Engineer Jean Philipp Frank
Mastered: Ludwig Maier and Yogi Lang
Produced by Ray Wilson and Peter Hoff

Ought To Be Resting

Wilson / Hoff, 2011 (von Unfulfillment)
Ray Wilson: Vocals
Steve Wilson: Backing Vocals
Ali Ferguson: Lead Guitar
Lawrie MacMillan: Bass
Ashley MacMillan: Drums
Filip Walcerz: Piano and Keyboards
Peter Hoff: Keyboards
Strings
Philipp Thimm: Arrangements and Cello,
Alicja Chrzaszcz: Violin,
Barbara Szelagiewicz: Violin,
Karolina Wascinska-Lukanowska: Viola,
Kirstin Kroneberger: Viola
Mixed by Peter Hoff
Produced by Peter Hoff and Ray Wilson
Mastered: Dirk Jambor

Constantly Reminded

Wilson / Metzler, 2006 (von SHE)
Ray Wilson: Vocals
Uwe Metzler: Lead Guitar Acoustic Guitar
Irvine Duguid: Keyboards
Peter Hoff: Keyboards
Alvin Mills: Bass Guitar
Nir Z: Drums
Strinx Connexion:
Klaus Marquardt: Violin,
Andrea Langenbacher: Violin,
Johannes Krampen: Violin,
Carolin Kriegbaum: Viola,
Felix Brade: Cello,
Nane Kalb: Cello
Mixed and Mastered by Peter Hoff
Produced by Peter Hoff and Ray Wilson

American Beauty

Wait For Better Days

Wilson / Hoff, 2013 (von Chasing Rainbows)
Ray Wilson: Vocals
Ali Ferguson: Lead Guitar
Ashley MacMillan: Drums
Lawrie MacMillan Bass
Steve Wilson: Acoustic Guitar
Saxophone: Marcin Kajper
Keyboards: Darek Tarczewski
Keyboards: Peter Hoff
Violin 1: Alicja Chrzaszcz
Violin 2: Barbara Szelagiewicz
Viola: Sebastian Schlecht
Cello: Philipp Thimm
String Arrangement: Philipp Thimm
String Recording: Christian Bader
Mixed by Yogi Lang
Recorded by Henne Mueller and Philipp Lorenz
Assistant Engineer Jean Philipp Frank
Produced by Peter Hoff and Ray Wilson
Mastered by Ludwig Maier and Yogi Lang

Bless Me

Wilson / Spence, 2009 (von Propaganda Man)
Ray Wilson: Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
Uwe Metzler: Electric Guitar
Scott Spence: Electric Guitar
Alvin Mills: Bass
Peter Hoff: Keyboards
Nir Z: Drums
Tesiree Priti Kaitesi: Backing Vocals
Lead Guitar: Scott Spence
Produced by Peter Hoff
Engineered/Mixed: Graeme Hughes
Mastered by Uncle Jack

Show Me The Way

Wilson, 2006 (von SHE)
Ray Wilson: Vocals Acoustic Guitar
Uwe Metzler: Lead Guitar
Irvin Duguid: Keyboard/Piano
Peter Hoff: Keyboards
Alvin Mills: Bass Guitar
Nir Z: Drums
Mixed and Mastered by Peter Hoff
Produced by Peter Hoff and Ray Wilson

Rhianne

Wilson / Hoff (von Chasing Rainbows)
Ray Wilson: Vocals
Ali Ferguson: Vocals and Lead Guitar
Ashley MacMillan: Drums
Lawrie MacMillan: Bass and Backing Vocals
Steve Wilson: Acoustic Guitar and Backing Vocals
Flute Marcin: Kajper
Keyboards: Darek Tarczewski
Keyboards: Peter Hoff
Violin 1: Alicja Chrzaszcz
Violin 2: Barbara Szelagiewicz
Viola: Sebastian Schlecht
Cello: Philipp Thimm
String Arrangement: Philipp Thimm
String Recording: Christian Bader
Mixed by Yogi Lang
Recorded by Henne Mueller and Philipp Lorenz
Assistant Engineer Jean Philipp Frank
Produced by Peter Hoff and Ray Wilson
Mastered by Ludwig Maier and Yogi Lang

Easier That Way

She

Wilson / Spence, 2006 (von SHE)
Ray Wilson: Vocals
Scott Spence: Lead Guitar
Uwe Metzler: Lead Guitar
Peter Hoff: Keyboards
Alvin Mills: Bass Guitar
Nir Z: Drums
Strinx Connexion:
Klaus Marquardt: Violin,
Andrea Langenbacher: Violin,
Johannes Krampen: Violin,
Carolin Kriegbaum: Viola,
Felix Brade: Cello,
Nane Kalb: Cello
Mixed and Mastered by Peter Hoff
Produced by Peter Hoff and Ray Wilson

Gypsy

Wilson, 1999 (von Millionairhead)
Ray Wilson: Vocals, Electric Guitar
Steve Wilson: Backing Vocals, Electric Guitar
John Haimes: Bass
Paul Holmes: Keyboards
Nir Z: Drums
Engineered by Ian Huffam
Mixed by Nick Davies
Mastered by Bob Ludwig
Produced by Ray Wilson

Ghost

CD2:

I Wait And I Pray

Wilson, 2019 (neuer Song)
Ray Wilson: Vocals
Gosia Mielech: Vocals
Scott Spence: Acoustic Guitar
Ali Ferguson: Electric Guitar
Marcin Kajper: Bass Guitar/Flute/Soprano Saxophone
Kool Lyczek: Piano
Mixed by Yogi Lang
Produced by Scott Spence and Ray Wilson
Mastered by Yogi Lang

Another Day

Wilson, 2003 (von Change)
Ray Wilson: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar,
Brian McAlpine: Accordion
Andy Hess: Bass Guitar
Nir Z: Percussion
Uncle Jack: Keyboards
Mixed by Uncle Jack
Producer Ray Wilson
Mastered: Mark Finlay & David Taylor

Song For A Friend

Wilson / Metzler, 2016 (von Song For A Friend)
Ray Wilson: Vocals
Uwe Metzler: Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards
Lawrie MacMillan: Bass
Kool Lyczek: Keyboards
Mixed by Yogi Lang
Mastered by Ludwig Maier
Produced by Ray Wilson and Uwe Metzler

Alone

Wilson, 2004 (von The Next Best Thing)
Ray Wilson: Vocals, Guitars, Bass Guitar
Amanda Lyon: Backing Vocals
Engineered/Mixed: Uncle Jack
Mastered: Mark Finlay

Not Long Till Springtime

Wilson / Metzler, 2016 (von Song For A Friend)
Ray Wilson: Vocals
Uwe Metzler: Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards
Lawrie MacMillan: Bass
Kool Lyczek: Keyboards
Mixed by Yogi Lang
Produced by Ray Wilson and Uwe Metzler
Mastered by Ludwig Maier

She’s A Queen

Wilson / Hoff, 2013 (von Chasing Rainbows)
Ray Wilson: Vocals
Ali Ferguson: Acoustic Guitar and Backing Vocals
Ashley MacMillan: Drums
Lawrie MacMillan: Bass and Backing Vocals
Steve Wilson: Acoustic Guitar and Backing Vocals
Keyboards: Darek Tarczewski
Keyboards: Peter Hoff
Violin 1: Alicja Chrzaszcz
Violin 2: Barbara Szelagiewicz
Viola: Sebastian Schlecht
Cello: Philipp Thimm
String Arrangement: Philipp Thimm
String Recording: Christian Bader
Mixed by Yogi Lang
Recorded by Henne Mueller and Philipp Lorenz
Produced By Peter Hoff and Ray Wilson
Assistant Engineer Jean Philipp Frank
Mastered by Ludwig Maier and Yogi Lang

Change

Wilson, 2003 (von Change)
Ray Wilson: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Andy Hess: Bass Guitar
Taj Wyzgowski: Acoustic Guitar
Adam Holzman: Wurlitzer
Nir Z: Drums and Percussion
Engineered/Mixed by Uncle Jack
Produced by Ray Wilson
Mastered by Mark Finlay & David Taylor

Ever The Reason

Wilson / Spence, 2004 (von The Next Best Thing)
Ray Wilson: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar
Scott Spence: Lead Guitar
Amanda Lyon: Backing Vocals
Irvin Duguid: Piano
Mixed by Uncle Jack
Production: Ray Wilson
Mastering by Mark Finlay

Along The Way

Wilson, 2003 (von Change)
Ray Wilson: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Steve Wilson: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Amanda Lyon: Backing Vocals
Nir Z: Drums
Irvin Duguid: Keyboards
Jenny Gardner: Violin
David Paton: Bass
Produced by Ray Wilson
Engineered/Mixed by Uncle Jack
Mastered by Mark Finlay & David Taylor

The Actor

Wilson, 2004 (von The Next Best Thing)
Ray Wilson: Vocals, Guitars, Bass Guitar
Amanda Lyon: Backing Vocals
Irvin Duguid: Harpsichord
Engineered/Mixed by Uncle Jack
Mastered by Mark Finlay

Goodbye Baby Blue

Wilson, 2003 (von Change)
Ray Wilson: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar
Amanda Lyon: Backing Vocals
Irvin Diguid: Keyboards
Taj Wyzgowski: LeadGuitar
Nir Z: Drums
Engineered/Mixed by Uncle Jack
Mastered by Mark Finlay & David Taylor
Produced by Ray Wilson

First Day Of Change

Wilson / Hoff, 2011 (von Unfulfillment)
Ray Wilson: Vocals
Steve Wilson: Backing Vocals
Uwe Metzler: Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
Ali Ferguson: Lead Guitar
Lawrie MacMillan: Bass
Ashley MacMillan: Drums
Filip Walcerz: Piano and Keyboards
Peter Hoff: Keyboards
Strings
Philipp Thimm: Arrangements and Cello,
Alicja Chrzaszcz: Violin,
Barbara Szelagiewicz: Violin,
Karolina Wascinska-Lukanowska: Viola,
Kirstin Kroneberger: Viola
Produced by Peter Hoff and Ray Wilson
Mixed by Peter Hoff
Mastered by Dirk Jambor

Makes Me Think Of Home

Wilson / Hoff, 2016 (von Makes Me Think Of Home)
Ray Wilson: Vocals
Uwe Metzler: Acoustic and Electric Guitars
Ali Ferguson: Lead Guitar
Lawrie MacMillan: Bass Guitar
Kool Lyczek: Piano and Keyboards
Marcin Kajper: Flute and Saxophone
Steffi Hoelk: Violin
Peter Hoff: Keyboards
Nir Z: Drums
String arrangement Scott Spence
Mixed by Yogi Lang
Produced by Peter Hoff and Ray Wilson
Mastered by GKG Mastering, Ludwig Maier

On The Other Side

Wilson / Spence, 2009 (von Propaganda Man)
Ray Wilson Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
Mixed by Przemyslaw Sluzynski
Mastered: Uncle Jack
Produced by Ray Wilson