Tony Carey
Encyclopedia
Antony Laurence Carey is a keyboard player best known for his work with Rainbow
.
One of his earliest musical experiences was in a band called Blessings, in which he played until 1975 when Ritchie Blackmore
discovered and hired him as keyboardist for Rainbow. He played with Rainbow on two world tours, until 1977. After his departure from Rainbow he began a solo career, releasing albums under his own name as well under the moniker of Planet P Project
, and producing for and performing with other artists.
(1977) and Live in Germany (1994). Carey performed the keyboard introduction to "Tarot Woman", the first track on the Rainbow Rising album and the keyboard solo on "A Light in the Black", the last cut on the album.
He had minor hits in 1982 from the lp "I Wont Be Home Tonight" , the title track "I Won't Be Home Tonight", and "West Coast Summer Nights". Then side stepping to another project, Carey would return a year later with "Some Tough City" with releases, A Fine, Fine Day, reaching #22 on the Billboard Hot 100
singles chart And also #1 on the Top Rock Tracks
chart. A follow-up single, "The First Day of Summer", reached #33 on the Hot 100 in July 1984. The Album itself, Some Tough City, took the #60 spot on the Billboard 200
album chart. Carey opened for Night Ranger
on many dates of their 1984 tour in support of this album. His 1985 follow-up album, Blue Highway, did not score a hit on radio. However it should be noted that Blue Highway was Carey's favorite of all. today, we scratch our heads and say, 'how did we miss this'
Carey also fronted the space / progressive rock group Planet P Project
(initially called just Planet P), which served as a vehicle for his solo work. Planet P Project
released two albums in the 1980s, Planet P (on Geffen Records
) in 1983 and the concept album, Pink World (on MCA Records) in 1984, for which he wrote the lyrics and music, sang the lead vocals, and played most of the instruments. Session performers on lead guitar, saxophones, programming, and drums on some tracks made up the rest of the group. The first album was released on CD in 1992, retitled Planet P Project. Planet P's biggest hit was 'Why Me'. Planet P Project
returned 2003-2009 with a trilogy of albums collectively called "Go Out Dancing" (G.O.D.). The albums were "1931" (2003), "Levittown" (2008), and "Out In The Rain" (2009).
Carey began producing and guesting on many major groups from the US and Europe in the mid 80s. Notables of the many included Jennifer Rush in 1985, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
- Chicago Line in 1988, keyboards and producer. In 1992 with Joe Cocker
- Now That You're Gone, Forest McDonald's Color Blind, and in 2006 from Dire Straits
, David Knopfler
- Songs For The Siren. In a recent interview, November 12, 2011 on Lkcb 128.4 Internet Radio http://www.lkcb.ca Carey said 'Ive written for myself and others, over a thousand songs'. (Leonard k Collins Verify)
In 2009, Tony Carey and three other ex-members of Rainbow
, Joe Lynn Turner
, Bobby Rondinelli
and Greg Smith
teamed up with Jürgen Blackmore, Ritchie Blackmore
's son, to form "Over the Rainbow
" to perform Rainbow
songs in concerts in Russia and Eastern Europe.
Due to illness, however, Tony Carey left Over the Rainbow
in the spring of 2009, just prior to the band's live debut at the Sweden Rock Festival
, where he was replaced by Paul Morris.
In 2010 it was announced that Tony Carey had formed a new musical racing project called EBC ROXX with (J.R.) Jürgen Blackmore & Ela. Their first single "Silver wheels" was released in March 2010 and was written as the anthem to accompany the first race of Mercedes Formula 1 pilots Michael Schumacher
and Nico Rosberg
this season. The project later announced that a full CD entitled "Winners" would be released on September 20, 2010.
In a recent interview, 11/12/11 on Lkcb 128.4 Classic Hits at http://www.lkcb.ca .. when asked how many songs he'd written, his reply.. I've written for myself and others, over a thousand songs..
Single Releases only
Instrumental
Compilations
Planet P Project
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
.
One of his earliest musical experiences was in a band called Blessings, in which he played until 1975 when Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
discovered and hired him as keyboardist for Rainbow. He played with Rainbow on two world tours, until 1977. After his departure from Rainbow he began a solo career, releasing albums under his own name as well under the moniker of Planet P Project
Planet P Project
Planet P Project is a science-fiction themed, progressive rock band; it is run as a side venture by frontman Tony Carey, for his more experimental music. It has released five albums: Planet P ; Pink World ; Go Out Dancing, Part I ; Go Out Dancing, Part II ; and, Go Out Dancing, Part III ...
, and producing for and performing with other artists.
Career
With the band Rainbow, Carey appeared on the studio album Rainbow Rising (1976) and on the live albums On StageOn Stage (Rainbow album)
On Stage is a live album originally released by Rainbow in 1977 on Oyster - Polydor SPDLP6B . The album features a cover of a song from Blackmore's previous band Deep Purple: "Mistreated"....
(1977) and Live in Germany (1994). Carey performed the keyboard introduction to "Tarot Woman", the first track on the Rainbow Rising album and the keyboard solo on "A Light in the Black", the last cut on the album.
He had minor hits in 1982 from the lp "I Wont Be Home Tonight" , the title track "I Won't Be Home Tonight", and "West Coast Summer Nights". Then side stepping to another project, Carey would return a year later with "Some Tough City" with releases, A Fine, Fine Day, reaching #22 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart And also #1 on the Top Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart. A follow-up single, "The First Day of Summer", reached #33 on the Hot 100 in July 1984. The Album itself, Some Tough City, took the #60 spot on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
album chart. Carey opened for Night Ranger
Night Ranger
Night Ranger is an American rock band from San Francisco that gained popularity during the 1980s with a series of albums and singles. The band's first five albums sold more than 10 million copies worldwide...
on many dates of their 1984 tour in support of this album. His 1985 follow-up album, Blue Highway, did not score a hit on radio. However it should be noted that Blue Highway was Carey's favorite of all. today, we scratch our heads and say, 'how did we miss this'
Carey also fronted the space / progressive rock group Planet P Project
Planet P Project
Planet P Project is a science-fiction themed, progressive rock band; it is run as a side venture by frontman Tony Carey, for his more experimental music. It has released five albums: Planet P ; Pink World ; Go Out Dancing, Part I ; Go Out Dancing, Part II ; and, Go Out Dancing, Part III ...
(initially called just Planet P), which served as a vehicle for his solo work. Planet P Project
Planet P Project
Planet P Project is a science-fiction themed, progressive rock band; it is run as a side venture by frontman Tony Carey, for his more experimental music. It has released five albums: Planet P ; Pink World ; Go Out Dancing, Part I ; Go Out Dancing, Part II ; and, Go Out Dancing, Part III ...
released two albums in the 1980s, Planet P (on Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
) in 1983 and the concept album, Pink World (on MCA Records) in 1984, for which he wrote the lyrics and music, sang the lead vocals, and played most of the instruments. Session performers on lead guitar, saxophones, programming, and drums on some tracks made up the rest of the group. The first album was released on CD in 1992, retitled Planet P Project. Planet P's biggest hit was 'Why Me'. Planet P Project
Planet P Project
Planet P Project is a science-fiction themed, progressive rock band; it is run as a side venture by frontman Tony Carey, for his more experimental music. It has released five albums: Planet P ; Pink World ; Go Out Dancing, Part I ; Go Out Dancing, Part II ; and, Go Out Dancing, Part III ...
returned 2003-2009 with a trilogy of albums collectively called "Go Out Dancing" (G.O.D.). The albums were "1931" (2003), "Levittown" (2008), and "Out In The Rain" (2009).
Carey began producing and guesting on many major groups from the US and Europe in the mid 80s. Notables of the many included Jennifer Rush in 1985, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers are a pioneering English blues band, led by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist John Mayall, OBE. Mayall used the band name between 1963 and 1967, but then dropped it for some fifteen years. However, in 1982 a 'Return of the Bluesbreakers' was announced and...
- Chicago Line in 1988, keyboards and producer. In 1992 with Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
- Now That You're Gone, Forest McDonald's Color Blind, and in 2006 from Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
, David Knopfler
David Knopfler
David Knopfler is a British singer-songwriter, rhythm guitarist, pianist and cofounder of the critically acclaimed rock band Dire Straits....
- Songs For The Siren. In a recent interview, November 12, 2011 on Lkcb 128.4 Internet Radio http://www.lkcb.ca Carey said 'Ive written for myself and others, over a thousand songs'. (Leonard k Collins Verify)
In 2009, Tony Carey and three other ex-members of Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
, Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner , is an American rock singer, known for his works with Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Deep Purple. From the late 1990s, he continued to perform in a large number of solo albums and other studio projects...
, Bobby Rondinelli
Bobby Rondinelli
Bobby Rondinelli is a rock drummer best known for his work with the hard rock/heavy metal bands like Blue Öyster Cult, Rainbow, Quiet Riot, Black Sabbath, The Lizards, and Rondinelli.-Background:...
and Greg Smith
Greg Smith (musician)
Greg Smith is a bassist and vocalist.Greg was born in 1963. He grew up in Valley Stream, New York and attended Valley Stream Central High School.He has collaborated with Wendy O...
teamed up with Jürgen Blackmore, Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
's son, to form "Over the Rainbow
Over the Rainbow (band)
Over the Rainbow is a rock tribute band formed in 2008 by former members of Rainbow. Its members are Joe Lynn Turner , Bobby Rondinelli , Tony Carey and Greg Smith . Playing lead guitar is Rainbow founder Ritchie Blackmore's son, Jürgen Blackmore...
" to perform Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
songs in concerts in Russia and Eastern Europe.
Due to illness, however, Tony Carey left Over the Rainbow
Over the Rainbow (band)
Over the Rainbow is a rock tribute band formed in 2008 by former members of Rainbow. Its members are Joe Lynn Turner , Bobby Rondinelli , Tony Carey and Greg Smith . Playing lead guitar is Rainbow founder Ritchie Blackmore's son, Jürgen Blackmore...
in the spring of 2009, just prior to the band's live debut at the Sweden Rock Festival
Sweden Rock Festival
Sweden Rock Festival is an annual rock/metal festival held in Sweden since 6 June 1992. While having a clear rock/metal focus, the festival is noted for its diversity across these genres, having featured southern rock bands such as Molly Hatchet to death metal legends like Obituary.The first...
, where he was replaced by Paul Morris.
In 2010 it was announced that Tony Carey had formed a new musical racing project called EBC ROXX with (J.R.) Jürgen Blackmore & Ela. Their first single "Silver wheels" was released in March 2010 and was written as the anthem to accompany the first race of Mercedes Formula 1 pilots Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher is a German Formula One racing driver for the Mercedes GP team. Famous for his eleven-year spell with Ferrari, Schumacher is a seven-time World Champion and is widely regarded as the greatest F1 driver of all time...
and Nico Rosberg
Nico Rosberg
Nico Erik Rosberg is a racing driver for the Mercedes GP Formula One team. He races under the German flag in Formula One, although he competed for Finland earlier in his career...
this season. The project later announced that a full CD entitled "Winners" would be released on September 20, 2010.
In a recent interview, 11/12/11 on Lkcb 128.4 Classic Hits at http://www.lkcb.ca .. when asked how many songs he'd written, his reply.. I've written for myself and others, over a thousand songs..
Discography
Solo- 1982 In the Absence of the Cat (vinyl only) (Reissued on CD [200 copies only] and mp3 download 2011)
- 1982 I Won't Be Home Tonight / Self titled (Reissued 1987/2003)
- 1984 Some Tough City (Reissued 1992/2008)
- 1985 Blue Highway (Reissued 1992/2008)
- 1987 Bedtime Story (Soundtrack, Reissued 1996)
- 1988 Wilder Westen Inclusive (Soundtrack)
- 1989 For You (with Anne HaigisAnne HaigisAnne Haigis is a German musician and singer. Through the 1980s she gained commercial success with German language songs, but in the 1990s she focused more on English language material.-Discography:...
& Eric BurdonEric BurdonEric Victor Burdon is an English singer-songwriter best known as a founding member and vocalist of rock band The Animals, and the funk rock band War and for his aggressive stage performance...
) - 1990 Storyville
- 1992 The Long Road
- 1993 Rare Tracks
- 1994 Cold War Kids
- 1999 The Boystown Tapes (Reissued 2007)
- 2004 Islands and Deserts
- 2006 Live in Sweden 2006 - Volume #1
- 2009 The New Machine (Self released)
- 2009 Roundup - The Ones That Got Away (Self released)
- 2009 Live In Sweden 2006 - Volume #2
- 2009 Christmas Hymns (Self released)
- 2010 Stanislaus County Kid (Self released)
- 2011 Stanislaus County Kid, Volume II - Crossing the tracks (Self released)
Single Releases only
- 1981 Jamie (Maxi single)
- 1988 Midnight wind (B track for Whitney Houston's - 'One moment in time' single, from the 1988 summer Olympic album)
- 1991 Wenn die Liebe geht - That's not love to me (with Ina Morgan)
- 1994 Route 66 (Rose T.C.)
- 1995 Birds in cages
- 2004 Überall du (Dutch version of 'Room with a view' featuring Mo Casal)
Instrumental
- 1982 Yellow Power (vinyl only) (limited re-release on CD, 2011)
- 1982 Explorer (vinyl only) (limited re-release on CD, 2011)
- 1982 Heaven (vinyl only) (limited re-release on CD, 2011)
- 1982 No Human (vinyl only)
- 1984 T.C.P. (vinyl only) (limited re-release on CD, 2011)
- 1999 Gefangen im Jemen (4 vocal tracks, mostly instrumental)
- 2000 Killing me softly / Anna (unauthorized CD/R release)
- 2006 The Voyager Files
Compilations
- 1989 The Story So Far
- 1993 For You
- 1997 A Fine, Fine Day
- 1997 Storyville
- 2000 Retrospective 1982-1999
- 2006 The chillout tapes (featuring DJ. Shah) (limited edition release)
- 2006 Just Ballads
- 2008 A Lonely Life - The Anthology
- 2008 Only The Young Die Good
- 2010 Rewind (limited free download - Slightly different versions of songs taken from, Planet P Project - G.O.D. II & III and Stanislaus County Kid)
Planet P Project
- 1983 Planet P Project - Planet P Project (Reissued 2009)
- 1984 Planet P Project - Pink World (Reissued 2008)
- 2001 Planet P Project - Go Out Dancing (unauthorized CD/R promo release)
- 2005 Planet P Project - Go Out Dancing Part 1 "1931"
- 2008 Planet P Project - Go Out Dancing Part 2 "Levittown"
- 2009 Planet P Project - Go Out Dancing Part 3 "Out in The Rain"
Extended discography
Selected other recordings- 1976 Rising - Studio recording with the band "RainbowRainbow (band)Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
" (Keyboards) - 1976 On stage - Live with the band "RainbowRainbow (band)Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
" (Keyboards) - 1977 Putting it straight - Studio recording with "Pat TraversPat TraversPatrick Henry "Pat" Travers is a Canadian rock guitarist, keyboardist and singer who began his recording career with Polydor Records in the mid-1970s...
" (Keyboards) - 1978 Live at the Hollywood Palladium - Live recording with "The ForceThe Force (band)The Force is a Grass Valley punk/hardcore band. Members Matt Wedgley , Hunter Burgan , Mark Roustabout , and Chad Cox were all in different punk bands before forming The Force in May 1995. Between 1996 and 1998, The Force released a 7", a 10"/CD and a split 7" as well as a number of songs on...
" (Keyboards & Vocals) - 1982 Wynn over America - Studio recording with "Michael Wynn" (Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Producer)
- 1985 Sonne in der Nacht" - Studio recording with "Peter Maffey" (Guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Song writer, Backing vocals)
- 1985 Movin - Studio recording of "Jennifer RushJennifer RushJennifer Rush is an American/German-based pop/rock singer, best known for the million-selling single "The Power of Love", which she co-wrote and which went on to be covered by Laura Branigan and Celine Dion.-Career:...
" (Producer) - 1985 The circle - Studio recording with "Max CarlMax CarlMax Carl Gronenthal is an American rock singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter. He is the current lead singer of the classic rock band Grand Funk Railroad...
" (Backing vocals) - 1986 Tabaluga und das leuchtende Schweigen - Studio recording with "Peter Maffey" (Guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Song writer, Backing vocals)
- 1988 Lange Schatten - Studio recording with "Peter Maffey" (Guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Song writer, Backing vocals)
- 1988 Chicago line - Studio recording with "Johnny Mayall's Blues BreakersJohn Mayall & the BluesbreakersJohn Mayall & the Bluesbreakers are a pioneering English blues band, led by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist John Mayall, OBE. Mayall used the band name between 1963 and 1967, but then dropped it for some fifteen years. However, in 1982 a 'Return of the Bluesbreakers' was announced and...
" (Keyboard, Piano, Producer) - 1990 Live in Germany, 76 - Live with the band "RainbowRainbow (band)Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
" (Keyboards) - 1991 Alles easy - Studio Recording with "Ina Morgan" (Producer, Vocals, All instruments)
- 1992 Now that you're gone - Studio recording of "Joe CockerJoe CockerJohn Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
" (Producer) - 1992 No more alibis - Studio recording of the band "SinnerSinner (band)Sinner are a German heavy metal band formed by vocalist and bassist Mat Sinner in 1982 . They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene. Their latest album, One Bullet Left, was released in 2011.-History:...
" (Producer) - 1993 Respect - Studio recording of the band "SinnerSinner (band)Sinner are a German heavy metal band formed by vocalist and bassist Mat Sinner in 1982 . They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene. Their latest album, One Bullet Left, was released in 2011.-History:...
" (Producer) - 2003 Second Step - Summer tour Live 2003 - Live recording with "Melvin Taylor & The Slack Band" (Hammond, Keyboard, Vocals)
- 2006 Songs for the Siren - Studio Recording with "David KnopflerDavid KnopflerDavid Knopfler is a British singer-songwriter, rhythm guitarist, pianist and cofounder of the critically acclaimed rock band Dire Straits....
" (Hammond, Piano, Producer) - 2006 Deutschland Tournee, 1976 (30th Anniversary Ed. Box set) - Live with the band "RainbowRainbow (band)Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
" (Keyboards) - 2009 Fade to black - Studio recording with the band "Evil MasqueradeEvil Masquerade-Biography:Evil Masquerade was founded in the summer of 2003 in Copenhagen by guitarist Henrik Flyman . He hooked up with Dennis Buhl behind the drums, Kasper Gram on bass and Henrik Brockmann on vocals to record the band's debut album. It was released early 2004 under the name "Welcome to the...
" (Keyboards) - 2010 The pirates from hell - Studio recording with the band "Zed Yago" (Keyboards)
- 2010 The winners - Studio recording project called "EBC Roxx" (with (J.R.) Jürgen Blackmore & Ela)