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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMOODY BLUES, TheProgressive rock band formed 1964 in Birmingham, England. Original lineup included Denny Laine, vocals and guitar (later with Paul McCartney in Wings); Mike Pinder, keyboards; Clint Warwick, bass; Graeme Edge, drums (b 30 March 1941, Rocester nr Birminham; d 11 November 2021, Bradenton FL) ; Ray Thomas (b 29 December 1941, Stourport-on-Severn, d 4 January 2017, Surrey) on flute, sax and vocals. R&B-based group hit with second single, cover of Bessie Banks's US soul ballad 'Go Now', but follow-ups and album The Magnificent Moodies '65 did less well. Laine and Warwick left; recruits Justin Hayward (guitar) and John Lodge (bass) marked a new policy of psuedo- philosophical music to get stoned by. Days Of Future Passed '67 was a concept album with full orchestration; their most famous song 'Nights In White Satin' was a top 20 single, re-entered UK charts '72, '79; no. 2 USA '72. Hayward and Thomas's vocal blend sat prettily atop a wash of strings, abetted by Pinder's Mellotron, the then-new synthesizer which enabled them to tour without the orchestra. Producer Tony Clarke and arranger Peter Knight played major roles in six hit LPs from '69: In Search Of The Lost Chord '68, On The Threshold Of A Dream '69 (subsequently on their own Threshold label), To Our Children's Children's Children '69, A Question Of Balance '70, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour '71 and Seventh Sojourn '72, with occasional hit singles; all mood music for the permissive generation's lazy ears. Splinter projects included Lodge and Hayward's Blue Jays duo (LP '75 and no. 8 single 'Blue Guitar'), Hayward's Songwriter and Lodge's Natural Avenue LPs; Edge recruited guitarist Adrian Gurvitz for more rockish Kick Off Your Muddy Boots '74; Pinder made The Promise and Thomas From Mighty Oaks and Hopes, Wishes And Dreams '75-6; none was commercially successful except the Blue Jays and despite rumours of strife in the group they returned with Octave '78. Ex-Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz replaced Pinder and Long Distance Voyager '81 proved that the formula still worked by topping US album chart. Their music is the reason the word 'progressive' went out of fashion. Compilations included two-disc This Is The Moody Blues '74, Out Of This World '79, Voices In The Sky '85, Greatest Hits '89; two-disc Caught Live +5 '77 including three sides recorded live at the Albert Hall and one of studio tracks. Hayward continued solo work; 'Forever Autumn' from Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds project '78 was no. 5 UK; albums continued with Moving Mountains '85, Other Side Of Life '86, Sur la mer '88, Keys Of The Kingdom '91, live A Night At Red Rocks With The Colorado Symphony Orchestra '93. The critics went off them a long time ago, but most of the critics bought Moody Blues albums before they grew up. Hayward continued writing songs; Classic Blue '89 on Griffin (produced by Mike Batt) was followed by The View From The Hill on BMG. |