If get this right, there will be many cover versions by future bands. I shall try and link live versions if they exist from the tellybox or a film, the sound quality may not be the best, but there is nothing like watching a real talent live.
This week it is The Moody Blues, great musicians and very nice tunes. They bring back memories from when I was at senior school, then later when I was in the Army.
Courtesy of Wiki: The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1964, initially consisting of keyboardist Mike Pinder, multi-instrumentalist Ray Thomas, guitarist Denny Laine, drummer Graeme Edge and bassist Clint Warwick. The group came to prominence playing rhythm and blues. They made some changes in musicians but settled on a line-up of Pinder, Thomas, Edge, guitarist Justin Hayward and bassist John Lodge, who stayed together for most of the band’s “classic era” into the early 1970s. Edge was the group’s sole continuous member throughout their entire history.
Their second album, Days of Future Passed, which was released in 1967, was a fusion of rock with classical music which established the band as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive rock. It has been described as a “landmark” and “one of the first successful concept albums“. The group toured extensively through the early 1970s, then took an extended hiatus from 1974 until 1977. Founder Mike Pinder left the group a year after they re-formed and was replaced by Swiss keyboardist Patrick Moraz in 1978. In the following decade they took on a more synth-pop sound and produced The Other Side of Life in 1986, which made them the first act to earn each of its first three top-10 singles in the United States in a different decade. Health troubles led to a diminished role for founder Ray Thomas throughout the 1980s, though his musical contributions rebounded after Moraz departed in 1991. Thomas retired from the band in 2002; he died shortly before the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
The band’s last album was the Christmas album December (2003), after which they decided against recording any further studio albums. However, they continued to tour throughout the 2000s and later reunited periodically for events, one-off concerts, short tours and cruises, until Edge’s retirement in 2018; he died in 2021.
The Moody Blues’ most successful singles include “Go Now“, “Nights in White Satin“, “Tuesday Afternoon“, “Question“, “Gemini Dream“, “The Voice“, “Your Wildest Dreams” and “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)“. The band has sold 70 million albums worldwide, which includes 18 platinum and gold LPs.
Hayward recorded “Forever Autumn” for the musical version of The War of the Worlds. This was on my turntable and later with tapes, an awful lot.
Discography: The Moody Blues
It all started for me in 1964 with their first hit record, the featured track Go Now. I remember my dad helping me build a trolley out of wood with the wheels from an pram.
I Don’t Want to Go On Without You (Live) – ToTP in 1965, recording only though. Lovely tune this.
From the Bottom of My Heart (Denny Laine lead vocals), not a big hit, but good to hear Denny Laine’s vocals. It is very much a sixties sound.
Tuesday Afternoon (1970) – Another haunting tune with Hayward on lead vocals.
Ride My See-saw – Here they are live in 2008.
Isn’t Life Strange – at Wembley Arena 1984
I’m Just A Singer In A Rock’n’Roll Band 1973 (192TV)
Justin Hayward – Blue World – I like this version, just Justin.
An all time favourite. Here is Justin Haywood on lead vocals, with the haunting Nights in White Satin – Live 1970
As a treat, and if you have a spare two hours, this is War of the Worlds Live with original cast, Richard Burton Justin Hayward Jeff Wayne
Singalong, enjoy and be happy!
Links to previous Legend articles:
Featured Image: “The Moody Blues-cosmic rock” by protestphotos1 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
© Phil the ex test manager 2022
