Thanks in part to the attention they’ve deservedly received for their 2018 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Moody Blues have reissued seven studio albums on vinyl from their acclaimed recorded catalog via Polydor/UMe. Available now, the seven LPs, pressed on heavyweight 180-gram vinyl, are presented with faithfully reproduced original album artwork.
In 2017, the classic rock band celebrated the 50th anniversary of their masterpiece, Days of Future Passed, with a tour, a live recording and an elaborate reissue. The newly reissued vinyl titles are:
On the Threshold of a Dream, is their fourth album, released in 1969. The concept album explores dreams — especially on the second side, which climaxes with the “Voyage” suite, inspired in part by Richard Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra. The piece, by Mike Pinder, features mellotron orchestration and flute. The album begins with a poem accompanied by electronic sounds, which also appear at the end of the album. The #1 U.K. album includes the single, “Never Comes the Day,” a minor U.S. hit, with a beautiful vocal by Justin Hayward, who wrote it.
To Our Children’s Children’s Children, also released in 1969, was the first to be released via the group’s newly formed Threshold label (named after the band’s previous album). The album was inspired by the 1969 moon landing, with songs centred on twin themes of space travel and children, with minor-key tonalities and a distinct psychedelic influence. To Our Children’s Children’s Children reached #2 in the U.K. and #14 in the U.S.
Related: The Moody Blues celebrate at their long overdue Rock Hall induction
For 1970’s A Question of Balance, the group stripped down their well-known lush, psychedelic sound to be able to better perform the songs in concert. The album reached #1 in the U.K. and #3 in the U.S., thanks in part to the success of the single, “Question” (#2 U.K.; #21 U.S.), another Hayward gem.
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour was the Moody Blues’ seventh album, and returned the group to the top of the British charts, while reaching #2 in the U.S. The 1971 album featured the only track to be written by all five members of the band, “Procession.” It also included the single, “The Story in Your Eyes,” which reached #23 in the U.S. and has long been a fan favorite.
1972’s Seventh Sojourn includes another longtime favorite, “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band).” In the 1990 documentary The Moody Blues: Legend of a Band, bassist John Lodge called the song a response to fans who mistakenly read guru-like wisdom into the Moodies’ lyrics. Instrumentally, in addition to the Mellotron, singer/keyboardist Mike Pinder used a similar keyboard device called the Chamberlin. The album, their first to reach #1 in the U.S., also includes “Isn’t Life Strange” and “For My Lady.”
Related: Our feature on “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)”
Octave, released in 1978, was the group’s first release after a substantial hiatus. The album was their last with keyboardist Mike Pinder, who departed during the album’s sessions and declined an offer to tour with the group. Pinder would be replaced by former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz in time for their 1979 tour, beginning a new era in the band’s history. Octave would also be the final studio album from the band produced by Tony Clarke.
The band’s 10th album, Long Distance Voyager, was released in 1981 and was their first with Moraz. Thanks to two big singles, “Gemini Dream” (#12) and “The Voice” (#15), the album earned the Moody Blues their second American #1 (and #7 in the U.K.).
4 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationIn Search of the Lost Chord is my favorite album. Controversial subject matter I guess, so it was not released with the others. Just love that one.
Yes, I agree that it’s interesting that “Lost Chord” isn’t part of this batch of reissues. It makes me wonder if it’s getting some sort of 50th Anniversary celebration just in time for the holidays.
Not cut from tape as it should have been done. Cut from digital. Foolish. These albums are sonic masterpieces that deserve the full analog treatment.
Should have been a boxed set with all the LP’s. Duh!!!