Featuring the very best of the Moody Blues 50 years

John Lodge, Mike Pinder, Graeme Edge, Ray Thomas, Justin Hayward

Soon, the band obtained a London-based management company, 'Ridgepride', formed by ex-Decca A&R man Alex Wharton (aka-Alex Murray), who helped them land a recording contract with Decca Records in the spring of 1964.  They released a single, Steal Your Heart Away, that failed to chart.  However, their second single, Go Now (released November, 1964) really launched their career, being promoted on TV with one of the first purpose-made promotional films in the pop era, produced and directed by Alex Wharton.  The single became a hit in Britain (where it remains their only Number 1 single) and in the United States, where it reached #10. In 1966 Laine and Warwick left and were replaced by John Lodge, their bassist from El Riot and Justin Hayward, formerly of the Wilde Three.  Hayward was recommended to Pinder by Eric Burdon of the Animals and was endorsed by famed UK singer Marty Wilde, the leader of the Wilde Three.

Days of Future Past

The Moody Blues' contract with Decca Records was set to expire and they owed the label several thousand pounds in advances.  However, with the backing Decca A&R manager Hugh Mendl, the Moody Blues were offered a deal to make a rock and roll version of Antonín Dvorák's New World Symphony that would promote the company's new Deramic Stereo Sound (DSS) audio format in return for which the group would be forgiven their debt.  While they were unable to complete that project, they did, manage to convince Peter Knight, who had been assigned to arrange and conduct the orchestral interludes, to collaborate on a recording that used the band's original material instead.  The result was Days of Future Past released November, 1967. The LP was a song cycle or concept album that takes place over the course of a single day.  In production and arrangement the album drew inspiration from the pioneering use of the classical instrumentation by the Beatles.  They took the form to new heights using the London Festival Orchestra (a loose affiliation of Decca's classical musicians) to provide an orchestral linking framework to the Moodies' already written and performed songs.  The orchestra and group never actually perform together on the recording. The two singles, Nights in White Satin and Tuesday Afternoon took time to find an audience.  In the Moody Blues' native Britain Nights in White Satin only made #19 on the charts and Tuesday Afternoon didn't chart at all.  In the US, Nights in White Satin did not make the Billboard Hot 100.  Tuesday Afternoon was more successful peaking at #24.  However, over time, they became international hits and regarded as Moody Blues signature songs.

Forever Autumn

The 1968 follow-up album, In Search of the Lost Chord included Legend of a Mind, in tribute to LSD guru Timothy Leary which encompassed a flute solo performed by Ray Thomas.  Singles and Ride My See-Saw (still their concert finale number today) both charted in the UK.  The Best Way to Travel was another high point, as was the closing song Om, sung by Pinder and Thomas featuring Hayward on sitar. 1969 saw the release of two albums On The Threshold of Dreams with the songs Lovely to See You and Never Comes the Day represented here.  To Our Children's Children's Children with the hit songs: Gypsy, Candle of Life and Watching and Waiting included on this playlist. Although the Moodies had by now defined a somewhat psychedelic style and helped to define the progressive rock (then also known as 'art rock') sound, the group decided to record an album that could be played in concert, losing some of their full-blown orchestra sound for A Question of Balance, released August 7, 1970.  For the first time, The Moody Blues used political strife as a basis for songwriting with the British charts #2 hit Question, which dealt with the controversy resulting from the ongoing Vietnam War.

Justin Hayward, Graeme Edge & John Lodge carry on

For their next two albums, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (1971) – from which Hayward's The Story in Your Eyes was taken as a US charting single #23 and Seventh Sojourn (1972), #1 in the U.S., the band returned to their signature orchestral sound which, while difficult to reproduce in concert, had become their trademark.  The title "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" was borrowed, tongue-in-cheek, from a mnemonic used to remember the musical notes that form the lines of the treble clef: EGBDF.  On Seventh Sojourn the Moodies back away from politics claiming I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock Roll Band). As the years went by amid controversy, dissention and personal issues the Moodies survived and flourished through the ensuing decades with more great albums and hit songs: Blue Guitar, Forever Autumn, Gemini Dreams and Your Wildest Dreams.  Check your local entertainment listings...The Moody Blues may be playing tonight, in a town near you.  Enjoy!

Wanderin' Spirit
December, 2014
"Moody Blues"