1960’s & 1970’s Historic & Classic Rock Albums . . . . THE MOODY BLUES – Classic Era: 1967 – 1970 Music: a Catalyst for Time Travel

“Moody Montage” Copyright 2014 00individual

THE MOODY BLUES
Classic Era: 1967 – 1970
The Height Of Classic Rock

Music: a Catalyst for Time Travel
The amazing thing about these posts for 00individual is that with each trip back in time, the ambient feeling wafts in and out of the five senses and bits of the sixth (Extra Sensory Perception) and maybe seventh (Time/Dimensional Shift).  Different subjects trigger not only memories but in some cases a strong moment of time travel.  As a Malibu Postman in the ’80s while delivering mail one day 00individual rounded a rural bend and caught a smell, a woodsy flowery smell that immediately brought him back when he was a kid running through trees and bushes in a local park – and for that moment he was there, for real; the smell, the view, and most importantly how it felt to be a kid once again.

While aromas have this ability, Music has a far deeper and imprinted memory bank to pull from and provides the ability to create time travel experiences for anyone who had a musical soundtrack in their lives. But there is also music that transcends personal experience and becomes a personal experience.

All kinds of music, from TV commercial jingles to well-known song-stylist classics, and from Classical to Classic Rock have served as triggers to memories. But within those simple trigger-shots there were some that went deeper than just a flesh wound, some went straight to the heart.

The Moody Blues
From ’67 to ’70 The Moody Blues’ music had that unique quality to access places in one’s spirit; a sublime place where lyrics flowed with intelligence and evergreen meaning, and where the righteous Rock was Progressive, but solely unique, one of a kind, super rare.

The Moody Blues created their own genre; irresistable rockin’ music that consistantly reflected on life and more often on expanding one’s consciousness.

Below are five triggers waiting to be pulled (squeezed) to release time travel elements for any one and every one.  Create a lifetime moment, get to know these albums, really.

Just reading the album and track titles tells volumes; the Moody Blues were the perfect group for the enlightened times, and for all time.

Days of Future Passed (1967)
A1 The Day Begins 5:45
A2 Dawn: Dawn Is A Feeling 3:50
A3 The Morning: Another Morning 3:40
A4 Lunch Break: Peak Hour 5:21
B1 The Afternoon: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) 8:25
B2 Evening: The Sun Set: Twilight Time 6:39
B3 The Night: Nights In White Satin 7:41

In Search of the Lost Chord (1968)
A1 Departure 0:48
A2 Ride My See-Saw 3:37
A3 Dr. Livingstone, I Presume 2:58
A4 House Of Four Doors 4:11
A5 Legend Of A Mind 6:40
A6 House Of Four Doors (Part Two) 1:43
B1 Voices In The Sky 3:32
B2 The Best Way To Travel 3:12
B3 Visions Of Paradise 4:15
B4 The Actor 3:09
B5 The Word 1:35
B6 Om 6:27

On the Threshold of a Dream (1969)
A1 In The Beginning 2:08
A2 Lovely To See You 2:35
A3 Dear Diary 3:56
A4 Send Me No Wine 2:20
A5 To Share Our Love 2:54
A6 So Deep Within You 3:07
B1 Never Comes The Day 4:43
B2 Lazy Day 2:43
B3 Are You Sitting Comfortably 3:31
B4 The Dream 0:55
B5 Have You Heard – Part I 1:23
B6 The Voyage 4:07
B7 Have You Heard – Part II 2:38

To Our Children’s Children’s Children (1969)
A1 Higher And Higher 4:06
A2 Eyes Of A Child I 3:24
A3 Floating 3:02
A4 Eyes Of A Child II 1:20
A5 I Never Thought I’d Live To Be A Hundred 1:06
A6 Beyond 3:00
A7 Out And In 3:44
B1 Gypsy 3:35
B2 Eternity Road 4:17
B3 Candle Of Life 4:19
B4 Sun Is Still Shining 3:35
B5 I Never Thought I’d Live To Be A Million 0:34
B6 Watching And Waiting 4:17

A Question of Balance (1970)
A1 Question 5:40
A2 How Is It (We Are Here) 2:48
A3 And The Tide Rushes In 2:57
A4 Don’t You Feel Small 2:40
A5 Tortoise And The Hare 3:23
B1 It’s Up To You 3:11
B2 Minstrel’s Song 4:27
B3 Dawning Is The Day 4:22
B4 Melancholy Man 5:49
B5 The Balance 3:33

What a heavy body of work and in such a short period in time.
There would be more albums with hits, but these five albums in a row were nothing less than perfect.
A fine collection to send into space to truly rep the the Height of Classic Rock of the’60s and the ’70s.
These guys had magick.

“THINKING IS THE BEST WAY TO TRAVEL”

To whatever forces that were responsible for 00individual to experience this time frame
he is eternally greatful.

And just in case it was missed
stare at the “DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED” album cover above
for less than 13 seconds for a Psychedelic Trip!

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the MOODY BLUES – 1970

EXPERIENCE ROCK HISTORY

the MOODY BLUES
12-12-1970
Fabulous Forum, Inglewood (Capacity: 17,000)

I fell in love with the Moody Blues sound early on with the haunting “Go Now” whose “mood” foreshadowed “Nights in White Satin”.  I went through several copies of, “To Our Children’s, Children’s Children” and “Days of Future Passed” and “On the Threshold of a Dream” and “In Search of the Lost Chord” were played a lot also.

Just by looking at the titles and cover art of the Moody’s LPs you could see that these guys were ethereal and residing off planet.

I was a great admirer, still am, of all their LPs up to and including the recently-released “Question of Balance”.

The Moodys were strictly in a class of their own.  Their style was undefinable – and how rare is that? They possessed tinges of progressive, folk-rock, pop and rock and leaned toward a classical approach (even outside “Days”, their orchestral flourishes via the mellotron are heard throughout all of their albums) – but mostly the Moodys delivered music whose lyrics and presentation of sound set them up as the most introspective band ever.
Every album of theirs’ delved into the self-awareness side of the psychedelic period.

An obvious examination of the “moods” of their LPs tells a lot: an average Day in the life of an average person(s); Searching for …; envisioning the possibilities of a Dream; soulful and insightful observations to be passed on to our Children; and the Question of Balance in our lives and the world we live in.  These guys were obsessed with self-awareness; raising consciousness and expanding your mind on a very seductive and solid rock ‘n’ roll foundation.  No one consistently had these higher concepts as their main theme – no one – and to make it all so accessible – the fine musicianship, compositions and vocals truly separated the Moody Blues from all the rest – they are their own genre of Rock.

These guys should all be heralded as the innovators they are instead they are shunned by the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Shame – an out of touch undeserving entity of their name – as they are truly the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of SHAM! Sheesh!

Days of Future Passed was so innovative, ground-breaking, perfect and ahead of its time that it took until 1972 for “Nights” to chart as a single (#32) in the US after reaching #19 in the UK in 1967!  It was re-released two more times in the UK; ’72 and ’79.

In 1967 I played the “Days” LP ‘til I knew every lyric and musical nuance; Lost Chord and Dream followed, but it was with “To Our Childrens’ Children” that I totally fell under the spell.  Every single bit of that LP has the most moving, loving, ethereal feeling to it that it becomes literally spiritual while maintaining solid Rock roots.  It’s one of those LPs that never gets old – it’s timeless.  Another LP within my Top 100!  (Along with “Days”!)

And if you are not moved to goose bumps and heart-tugs while listening to “Out and In’ and “Watching and Waiting” from Childrens’ Children then you are a Republican – ‘cuz only a cold unfeeling heart could not be affected by these tunes.

As far as this concert goes, it was a weird combination of thrills and chills and a bit of a letdown, and I say only a bit and certainly not the Moody’s fault.
While the Moodys music seems big, full and rich; it is actually very intimate music and with 17,000 in attendance the intimacy was pretty much lost.  Unfortunately, I did not get to see them earlier in their career when at smaller venues their unique style was probably better presented.

However, Ride My See Saw SOARED – it was a terrific choice for an encore and provided a real arena rocker for everyone.  And we all left the Forum feeling up, high and with just a little bit more awareness.

So, to see the Moody Blues live and especially at this time in their career, was a terrific experience and I thank these gifted musicians and lyricists for making my teen, late teen and years beyond a wonderful experience with their music to live, love and contemplate by!

Thanks guys!

Lineup: Justin Hayward (guitars, vocals), John Lodge (bass guitar, vocals), Michael Pinder (keyboards, vocals), Ray Thomas (harmonica, flute, vocals), Graeme Edge (drums, percussion).

Setlist: Gypsy, The Sunset, Dr. Livingstone, I presume?, Never Comes The Day, Peak Hour, Tuesday Afternoon, Question, Are you Sitting Comfortably, The Dream, Have You Heard (Part 1),The Voyage, Have You Heard (Part 2), Nights In White Satin, Legend Of A Mind.

Encore: Ride My Seesaw.

If you’ve never experienced this LP, do it now!  If you have, feel good again and have another listen!
MOODY BLUES – TO OUR CHILDRENS CHILDRENS CHILDREN – TAKE A TRIP INSIDE!

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To follow these posted events chronologically please take a trip to: Top Ten Historic Classic Rock Concerts 1968-1972 #4 Savoy Brown! Humble Pie!  When done, come back and continue!