Do you remember "Knights in White Satin" likely their most famous song or "Thinking is the best way to travel?" For me, the most amazing songs were the ones that helped me to successfully soul travel. Anyway you look at it "The Moody Blues likely were my favorite Rock Group followed closely by the Beatles, Led Zepillin, The Eagles and a few others from the late 1960s onwards. Last year, after I (didn't die from a burst appendix) I rented a 2015 Candy Apple Red Camaro Convertible muscle car and went to their concert in Portland, Oregon to celebrate my birthday and not dying. I hadn't seen them since 1974 in San Diego just before my first child, a son was born when I had just turned 26 the month before. The Moody Blues were an important group for me because of their lyrical connection to "Soul Travel" which was my path then since about age 2 for me.
Incredibly
2016 marks 50 years since Justin Hayward and John Lodge joined up with
The Moody Blues. The band would then transform itself from, what was
already a very good R 'n' B group, into a band that would shape and
influence the future of rock ...
Pete Clemons recalls the formation of the classic West Midlands band
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues.
Incredibly 2016 marks 50 years since Justin Hayward and John Lodge joined up with The Moody Blues.
The
band would then transform itself from, what was already a very good R
‘n’ B group, into a band that would shape and influence the future of
rock music forever.
The version of the band to include Justin Hayward and John Lodge first came together during late 1966.
Legend
has it that guitarist Justin was actually answering an advert placed in
Melody Maker by Eric Burdon of The Animals. Burdon then passed Justin’s
details onto the Moody Blues flautist Ray Thomas.
John Lodge was
already known to the group having been band mates of Ray Thomas and
keyboard player Mike Pinder in the early 1960s Birmingham beat group El
Riot and the Rebels.
Drummer Graeme Edge, formerly of Gerry
Levene and the Avengers, is now the only remaining original member of
The Moody Blues, from their early R‘n’B days who is still performing
with the band. VIEW GALLERY
The Moody Blues have already completed an American tour this year to
mark this momentous achievement. And, throughout the rest of 2016,
various other events featuring the pair at their own gigs will ensure
that this celebration of their achievements continues.
The first
single to include Hayward and Lodge was titled ‘Fly Me High’ and was
released during May 1967 and in a recent Moody Blues press release the
band recall those early days:
“And one of the first things we did
together that year (1967) was record ‘Fly Me High’ at our own expense
at Regent Sound Studios in Denmark Street. The suits at Decca liked it
but thought it could be recorded better. So we turned up at the Decca
studios on the appointed day where we met Tony Clarke for the first
time. He was assigned to us as in-house producer and we recorded the
song again. Decca released the new version and it was picked up by the
BBC who used it as a jingle for a while. It was all absolutely great and
‘Fly Me High’ was the start of our new sound and direction. The Decca
engineer on ‘Fly Me High’ was Gus Dudgeon who went on to produce
mega-hits for Elton John. He did a great job!” The Moody Blues announce Timeless Flight 2015 tour.
At the time Tony Clarke was a junior producer with Decca Records who
had been assigned to the Moody Blues to produce the demonstration
record. Unknown to the record company the Moody Blues gave Tony an
insight as to the ambitious direction that they wanted to go. Tony
bought into it all and to all intents and purposes went against his
masters and aborted the task in hand. Instead Tony and the band recorded
what became known as ‘Days of Future Passed’. The record was also
released November 1967 on Decca’s subsidiary label Deram.
It
needs to be mentioned however that the albums engineer, Derek Varnals,
take of the story is slightly different. Derek who, at the time, kept
diaries mentions "At some point, Decca decided to liven up the label by
having a pop group record with an orchestra,” The Moody Blues project
was simply described to me as an album with recurring themes, and for
the orchestration they'd be using Peter Knight.
Coventry born
Tony Clarke had incredible vision when it came to recording processes
and would eventually become known as the sixth Moody Blue, so much so
that some albums carried a photo of him. The Moody Blues play at the NEC Arena.
‘Days of Future Past’ was indeed a whole group effort with each band
member contributing. And, arguably, it was this album that brought the
Mellotron (an electro mechanical tape relay keyboard) to the world’s
attention. Mike Pinder, who played this particular instrument on the
album, once worked for the manufacturer of the Mellotron - Streetly
Electronics in Birmingham – and has long been associated with the
instrument ever since.
The music that followed, six breathtaking
and ground breaking albums between 1968 and 1972, stunned the music
world with their endeavor and dynamics. They were orchestral landscapes.
The
lyrics were a mix of easy going, love and just general thoughtfulness.
But most of all they were incredibly thought provoking as they posed
questions on the subject of our very existence, they made us examine our
own consciousness, and to think of our place within the great scheme of
things. This was indeed cutting edge stuff. And, for me at least, those
records still thrill after all this time. The Moody Blues.
Following the album ‘Seventh Sojourn’ the band just had to take a
break. Continuous recording followed by extensive touring had taken its
toll. According to one band member, they had been living in each other’s
pockets for too long. A period of calm followed for the band and a
selection of live, compilation and solo albums followed.
Then,
after a five year hiatus the band reformed in 1978. Despite the musical
climate at that time the resulting album ‘Octave’ received the warmest
of receptions. It was as if the whole music world was just so pleased to
see the return of The Moody Blues. Again, each of the band members
contributed to the song writing. Sadly though, and due to personal
reasons, this was to be Mike Pinder’s swansong album. ‘Octave’ was also
Tony Clarke’s final involvement with the band. Maybe the album sleeve,
where the band is pictured disappearing through a door, was prophetic.
Despite
these setbacks the band readjusted accordingly and produced another
decent, if not prolific, series of albums. These were particularly
successful in Canada and America. In fact The Moody Blues were so
popular over in the North Americas that, amongst the many tours, they
performed at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre complete with a full orchestra. The Moody Blues.
The Moody Blues then had another hurdle to clear when founder member
Ray Thomas retired from the band toward the end of 2002. Ray has great
website full of archive photos. He also gives some heartfelt advice to
those of a certain age.
Some years ago The Moody Blues released
an album called ‘Sur La Mer’. Well even that has become a reality as the
band, for the last few years, have organised a music cruise.
More
recently Mike Pinder released a filmed interview that, amongst other
things, gave an insight into the reasons as to why he left the band. He
also gives a poignant recital of Graeme Edge’s ‘Late Lament’ poem.
And
now another new dawn beckons by way of solo and intimate performances.
As mentioned earlier, there will be plenty of activity in the region
over the coming months. I, for one, have recently bought tickets for
forthcoming concerts by both Justin Hayward and John Lodge who will be
in and around the area during the next month or so.
It is
testimony to the enduring quality of their music that The Moody Blues
have achieved top 20 album releases over four consecutive decades
beginning in the 1960s. Their output seems to transcend so many
generations and does not feel that it sits in any particular era. And I
am convinced that The Moody Blues will continue to give pleasure to
generations to come.
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