The Moody Blues

8-24-09 The Moody Blues

How’d I get 7 years into my blogs without a dedicated one to The Moody Blues?

Ah, just as well I waited, as I now have SACD’s of 3 of their ‘classic era’ titles!

CDx2 DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED (Deluxe edition) (SACD) DERAM UK 983215-0

1967 26 TRKS ('06 issue) SACD (1 x CD, 1 x SACD)

LP DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED DERAM UK SML 707

1967 7 TRKS original issue, stereo

CD5 NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN / CITIES DERAM DE 882258.2

1967 2 TRK CD Single CD5 ('99 issue)

7" TUESDAY AFTERNOON / ANOTHER MORNING DERAM US 45-DEM-85028

1967 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LP IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD DERAM UK SML 711

1968 12 TRKS original issue

CDx2 IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD (Deluxe edition) (SACD) DERAM UK 983214-7

1968 27 TRKS ('06 issue)(15 x bonus tracks)

7" RIDE MY SEE-SAW / VOICES IN THE SKY DERAM US 5N-85033

1968? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM re DERAM US 844769.2

1969 13 TRKS ('97 issue)

LP ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM DERAM UK SML 1035

1969 13 TRKS booklet, UK original issue

7" NEVER COMES THE DAY / SO DEEP WITHIN YOU DERAM US 45-85044

1969 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LP TO OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN'S CHILDREN THRESHOLD US THS 1

1969 13 TRKS

CDx2 TO OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN'S CHILDREN (Deluxe) (SACD) THRESHOLD UK 983215-6

1969 24 TRKS ('06 issue) (SACD)

LP QUESTION OF BALANCE, A THRESHOLD UK THS 3

1970 10 TRKS insert; orig. issue with flap

CD QUESTION OF BALANCE, A (SHM) UNIVERSAL JPN UICY-93716

1970 16 TRKS SHM-CD (6 x bonus tracks) ('08 issue) kami sleeve #0118

7" QUESTION / CANDLE OF LIFE THRESHOLD US 45-67004

1970 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LP EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR THRESHOLD US THS 5

1971 9 TRKS

CD EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR re THRESHOLD US 844772.2

1971 9 TRKS ('97 issue)

7" STORY IN YOUR EYES, THE / MY SONG THRESHOLD FR TH 6

1971 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD SEVENTH SOJOURN THRESHOLD US 820159.2

1972 8 TRKS 1st CD issue

LP SEVENTH SOJOURN THRESHOLD UK THS 7

1972 8 TRKS insert

7" I'M JUST A SINGER... / FOR MY LADY THRESHOLD US 45-67012

1972 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" ISN'T LIFE STRANGE (mono) / (stereo) promo THRESHOLD US 45-67009-DJ

1972 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

LPx2 CAUGHT LIVE + FIVE LONDON US 2PS 690/1

1977 19 TRKS Live '69 + out-take studio tracks

I think I somehow missed “Go Now” on the AM radio – so the first thing I ever heard by The Moody Blues was likely “Tuesday Afternoon”, one of the singles for “Days Of Future Passed”, an album that is truly one of the cornerstones of British progressive rock. Rock band + orchestra, and recorded very well, I must say. The SACD mastering betters even the Mobile Fidelity gold disc! So crisp, for a 1966 recording! The deluxe edition additionally has some very neat bonus material. And my older brother had a copy of this LP, so it was already in our house, with it’s groovy colorful psychedelic cover. Dig the spoken word piece in “Nights In White Satin”!

“In Search Of The Lost Chord” is easily my favorite Moody Blues LP. Man, I listened to that one a lot, starting at about age 10. Face value, it all went in to my young impressionable mind – virtually totally unaware of the consciousness-expanding nature of some of the information. Yes, they put eastern religion visuals inside the gorgeous Phil Travers LP cover. I saw Justin Hayward perform live in the 90’s, and when he performed songs from Side Two of this LP, tears came to my jaded eyes. Wow, this shit goes deep, with me! Timothy Leary…

“Of course you are, my bright little star…” – I got “On The Threshold Of A Dream” when it came out, but it didn’t resound with me as “Lost Chord” had. Yet, I kept it and tried it again and again over the years, and I can easily say that I like it better now than I did then. I kept a lovely British copy, with it’s huge booklet and striking (Phil Travers again) cover. And I’m in the market for an SACD of it! When I think exists, but it’s only a single disc, not a 2CD Deluxe edition.

I most recently got a 2CD Deluxe edition (SACD) of “To Our Children’s Children’s Children”, and played it last week. Again, this one wasn’t such a favorite of mine when it was a new release, but…wow, the SACD sure sounds good. I’d really like to find a 45 of “Gypsy”! The ’69 live show included on Disc #2 is pretty cool, too.

“A Question Of Balance” was another real favorite of mine. I even got a British import of this LP before the US copy came out! The British LP has a flap, and a nice poster with lyrics on it. “Question” is a great single (hey, how many versions of “Question” are there?) When the Japanese announced a re-mastered CD of this title to be in a replicated “little album cover”, I went for it – yes, they faithfully re-produced the flap! Also, there are cover variants for this LP! Apparent Phil Travers painted into the design a guy shooting an animal, and it was from a copyrighted photo – so this image does not appear on all versions of this LP!

“EGBDF” was another one that I was luke-warm on, when it was released. Of course, “The Story In Your Eyes” is another great single. Our tale today ends with “Seventh Sojourn”. A glorious album that I chased and caught, unaware that it was the end of the run for my contiguous Moody Blues fandom. But, yes – I have lots of solo albums!

Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Ray Thomas, Mike Pinder and Graeme Edge, The Moody Blues.