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Post by 88keys on Aug 24, 2014 7:26:43 GMT
Let's go back to 1981, for this week's CDOTW.
The Moody Blues- Long Distance Voyager.
This was the band's second number one album in the US, and for good reason. Hits like The Voice, and Gemini Dream were all over the radio, while the Ray Thomas penned Veteran Cosmic Rocker, was an immediate favorite among hardcore fans of the band.
In my opinion, I see this album as The Moodies version of ELO's Time. Analog synths, big acoustic strumming guitars, and melodic songwriting highlight the album, along with the band's always literate, somewhat cosmic, lyrical content.
I love the album, as a whole , but if I were to rate the songs in order of preference, it would look like this..
The Voice Gemini Dream Talking Out Of Turn Nervous Meanwhile Painted Smile/Reflective Smile In My World Veteran Cosmic Rocker 22,000 Days
Chart positions US..Number One UK..Number Seven Germany..Number Twenty-Eight Canada...Number One
Haven't heard the whole album? The magic of YouTube says "you're welcome"
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Post by queenofthehours on Aug 24, 2014 10:59:56 GMT
I'm very excited about this, this is an album I've always meant to listen to but never gotten around to. I totally agree (from what I've heard so far of the album) that it does sound like the Moodies' version of Time.
A lazy Bank Holiday Weekend listening to the Moody Blues - what could be better?
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Post by jrmugz on Aug 24, 2014 15:39:34 GMT
Perfect pick 88keys, the Moodies are perhaps my favorite group, and LDV is a great album, but I always go from "The Voice" to "Gemini Dream" to "Veteran Cosmic Rocker", so this will give me a chance to get more familiar with the other songs, something I've been wanting to do for a while. For the other songs, my immediate recollection is that "Nervous" is a great John Lodge song, with a great chorus, and "Talking Out of Turn" is a great song for reflection and nurturing humility. Will provide more thoughts as I delve more into it as the week unravels. Will certainly be a labor of love. Jim
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2014 4:25:07 GMT
I wasn't very familiar with this album, aside from the two hit singles, but I must say it's a solid effort! Meanwhile, Painted Smile and Talking Out Of Turn are great songs. I can't believe I hadn't heard them until now.
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Post by Horacewimp on Aug 25, 2014 8:20:15 GMT
I will give the album a listen in the week and report back.
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Post by jrmugz on Aug 25, 2014 21:04:25 GMT
Let's go back to 1981, for this week's CDOTW. The Moody Blues- Long Distance Voyager. This was the band's second number one album in the US, and for good reason. Hits like The Voice, and Gemini Dream were all over the radio, while the Ray Thomas penned Veteran Cosmic Rocker, was an immediate favorite among hardcore fans of the band. In my opinion, I see this album as The Moodies version of ELO's Time. Analog synths, big acoustic strumming guitars, and melodic songwriting highlight the album, along with the band's always literate, somewhat cosmic, lyrical content. I love the album, as a whole , but if I were to rate the songs in order of preference, it would look like this.. The VoiceGemini DreamTalking Out Of TurnNervousMeanwhilePainted Smile/Reflective SmileIn My WorldVeteran Cosmic Rocker22,000 DaysChart positionsUS..Number One UK..Number Seven Germany..Number Twenty-Eight Canada...Number One Haven't heard the whole album? The magic of YouTube says "you're welcome" Seems like the artwork is certainly among the best, as far as album covers. For my part, I'd like to have a copy of this for a painting. :-) Jim
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Post by Horacewimp on Aug 26, 2014 10:19:06 GMT
I've had a listen to the album, it is a good choice 88keys. It is very Time like, has some good songs but has a poor finish with the last two songs been weak in my opinion. Some of the songs could also do with been a little shorter as they are too long. I made some notes as I listened to each song which are as follows. The Voice- Very good opening song Talking Out Of Turn- Good song, I like it but too long Gemini Dream- OK song, sounds dated In My World- Nice slow song, too long!! Meanwhile- Solid album track 22,000 Days- Poor album filler track, too long Nervous- Nice Song Painted Smile/Reflective Smile- Sounds like it should be in a musical, don't like Veteran Cosmic Rocker- A Rocky Horror Show reject, don't like, poor ending What do I know I was into OMD, Human League and Duran Duran in 1981
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Post by jrmugz on Aug 26, 2014 12:08:51 GMT
Well maybe to shed some light, the last three songs are Ray Thomas songs, and throughout the Moody Blues careeer and several albums he's always had the humorous-novelty-type of songs on the albums. So I can see where for a Moody Blues fan like me, it's a real treat to have Ray Thomas's songs close the album, where for a newcomer to the Moody Blues, it might sound more strange. So for my part, I like "Veteran Cosmic Rocker", and it's Arabic-influence break, etc.
I can't honestly disagree that some of the songs are long; but I think it's a reflection of the fact that the beauty of the musical arrangments are a big part of the album. Consider the musical credits, they probably didn't want Patrick Moraz (the recruited keyboardist from Yes), and the The New World Philharmonic orchestra, and Pip Williams string arranging skills to all go to waste, while they had them handy.
Line-up / Musicians - Justin Hayward / guitars, vocals - John Lodge / bass, vocals - Ray Thomas / flutes, harmonicas, vocals - Graeme Edge / drums - Patrick Moraz / keyboards
WITH: - The New World Philharmonic - Pip Williams / string arrangements
For "Gemini Dream", I think its hooks are a great strength, and I think it makes a good case that Lodge/Hayward should have co-written more songs together, since its a unique song that became a lasting hit for them and a staple for their shows.
Jim
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Post by jrmugz on Aug 26, 2014 12:23:56 GMT
Here's a breakdown of the songs by songwriters for referecne. One unique thing about The Moody Blues, is they even have more differnt songwriters than say, Fleetwood Mac, for each album, and in fact when keyboardist Mike Pinder was in the band, for their core 7 albums (made between 1967 and 1972), there was five different songwriters on each album.
"The Voice" (Justin Hayward) – 5:21 "Talking Out of Turn" (John Lodge) – 7:18 "Gemini Dream" (Justin Hayward, Lodge) – 4:09 "In My World" (Justin Hayward) – 7:22 "Meanwhile" (Justin Hayward) – 4:08 "22,000 Days" (Graeme Edge) – 5:25 "Nervous" (John Lodge) – 5:45 "Painted Smile" (Ray Thomas) – 3:18 "Reflective Smile" (Ray Thomas) – 0:36 "Veteran Cosmic Rocker" (Ray Thomas) – 3:18
Jim
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Post by queenofthehours on Aug 26, 2014 14:31:01 GMT
I have to say I enjoyed the album very much indeed. But then I expected I would! ‘The Voice’ is a favourite and ‘Meanwhile’ seems very poppy and not as electronic as the others.
‘Gemini Dream’ reminds my strongly of Time and of Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds. Can anyone else hear, in ‘Talking Out of Turn’, a bit of the Flaming Lips’ ‘Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots’? Or is it just me? 'Nervous’ sounds strongly of 'Midnight Blue' too me, which isn't necessarily a bad thing! The album works as a whole, which is rare. A lot of albums are good just for a few big tunes.
I don’t mind the Ray Thomas tracks; I’m not keen but they could grow on me.
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Post by BSJ on Aug 26, 2014 18:58:27 GMT
YES! Great Album! Love this band and this album.
I’ve been listening to ELO a lot lately and it was a bit distracting hearing similarities. A few days of playing… pure Moody Blues sound broke through.
I’m a sucker for those acoustic guitars in My World and Meanwhile. Do like that slide in My World, too.
Like a kid with a 7”, I cannot resist playing 22,000 Days countless times. God love YouTube!
There it is - their late 60’s on the three bottom songs! The Ray Thomas songs work for this early fan.
Five stars for the cover. Like ELO they went a different direction but I didn’t have such a hard time accepting them as I did ELO.
A Night at Red Rocks (Live) cd is very nice, yes indeed. Now I just need to dig out mine.
Good choice, jrmugz!
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Post by jrmugz on Aug 27, 2014 16:35:28 GMT
Nice thoughts, BSJ, enjoyed reading them and I concur its an awesome album, and 22,000 days is a jam. But thank 88keys for choosing this album, since he's the one who picked it!!! :-) Jim
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Post by jrmugz on Aug 27, 2014 17:36:30 GMT
OK, here is my LDV review after much playing of it so far this week.
First of all, you can't judge a book by it's cover, but this one of those albums where the aesthetics of the jacket artwork is a good reflection of the musical and sonic beauty of the finished musical work itself.
Here are the songs in order of my favorites:
"The Voice" - Classic rock song with a great introduction.
"Talking Out of Turn" - Great vocal and musical arrangement. Unique and humbling topic for a song.
"Gemini Dream" - Very unique classic Moody Blues hit song; makes a good case that Hayward and Lodge should have co-penned more songs together. Ensures the album, and the concert audiences, don't wane into too much tranquility, with all of the slower-paced beauty of some of their other songs.
"In My World" - Makes me want to break out the ol' acoustic guitar and try to make up something that nice.
"Meanwhile" - "Jessie's Girl" type of lyrics meets Monsters of Mellow with their magical cool chord changes. A nice bridge between the two halves of the album.
"22,000 Days" - I divided it by 365, and it's about 60 years. A very cool jam that makes me reflect what I want my short stay here on planet earth to have been all about.
"Nervous" - This song seems to be the most under-rated of the bunch when I read reviews and feedback, I think because it takes a little while to get used to. But in my book, if Pink Floyd had made this song and put it on The Wall, it would be hailed as genius and all over the radio with "Comfortably Numb" and "Hey You".
"Painted Smile / Reflective Smile / Veteran Cosmic Rocker" - I think of all three of these as one entity, for my part, though I can certainly understand if someone disagrees. "Painted Smile" being perhaps the most human song on the album (some lyrics pasted below); the tears of a clown. Reminds me of Robin Williams, succumbing to suffering, even for all his comic energy. Nice intro to "Veteran Cosmic Rocker", a nice and unique rock and roll superhero song with an aura of magic, etc..."
Laughter is free But it's so hard to be a jester All the time And no one's believing I'm the same when I'm bleeding And I hurt all the time deep inside
Thanks again 88keys for your participation, and what is a very cool CD pick for this big-time Moody Blues fan.
Jim
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Post by BSJ on Aug 27, 2014 17:51:02 GMT
But thank 88keys for choosing this album, since he's the one who picked it!!! :-) Jim Sorry 88keys - great choice! Still listening to it and it will be hard to put away when next cd of the week arrives!
I'm looking at you unomusette for the next one!
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Post by 88keys on Aug 28, 2014 19:46:10 GMT
I'm happy for the positive replies. This is probably my favorite Moodies record from start to finish. 1986's The Other Side Of Life, is up there, too.
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