I’m attached to the Moody Blues. I studied the violin throughout childhood. The first nonclassical album given to me was the Moodies’ 1967 opus, Days of Future Passed. An appropriate gift, it’s the first record to meld rock music with a symphony orchestra in an interdependent way — and quite successfully. The LP spawned two massive hits: “Nights in White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon.” Both are radio mainstays.

Prior to the LP’s release, the Moody Blues were just another English beat group copping riffs from Motown and American R&B. Afterward, heads considered them progenitors of prog rock, psychedelia, and concept albums.

When those things turned stale in the ’70s, the Moodies fell silent for several years, only to stage an unexpected comeback in the mid-’80s with pop hits like “Your Wildest Dreams” and “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere.”

An equally successful third act has so far eluded the group — now down to the trio of singer and guitarist Justin Hayward, bassist John Lodge, and drummer Graeme Edge. But they seem content to tour the States every summer, performing all their hits for boomers, classic-rock junkies, and maybe a few orchestra nerds who grew up studying the violin.

This article appears in Jul 18-24, 2007.

3 replies on “The Moody Blues”

  1. Nice entry, I like your writing style, and love the Moody Blues. I hope you will write a review of your show!
    Peace-
    Gloria

  2. HI FROM ATHENS.I’M TEH GREEK FAN.IN GREECE THSI GROUPS IS FAMOUS ANDLOVE WITH NIGHTS AND TUESDAY MOST.JUSTIN HAS TOOK MY HEART WITH IS POEMS,WHEN IWAS BLOK FROM MAM TO MARIAGE FROM NEWSPAPERS, ON SUMER ON 1986 ON MY 19YEARS AGE.SHE SEDN LETERS TO MEN IN THE NEWSPAPERS ,AND THSI WAS FOR ME AN DISTRACHION.THEN SAW ON MY TV,(YOUR WILDEST DREAMS)AND JUSTIN THIEF MY HEART.ALSO MOOIDES ARE ON E OF MY FAVORITE BAND,CAN SEE THEM ON STAGE BESIDES THIS GROUP MAKE CONCERTS ONLY IN AMERIKA AND IN UK.SO THING NEVER SEE LIVE IN ATHENS.AND WHEN JUSTIN COMES ON 2004 IN SALONIKA FOR VIDEO CONCERTS WITH MARIO FRANGOULIS,DONT HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THIS IVENT THN AND LOST JUSTIN ON STAGE.SO 1986WAS THE STATION FOR ME WHO I DISCOVER CLASSIK ROCK ,MELODIES,AND CLAssik musik GENERALLY.JUSTIN HE IS A THEIF OF WOMEN HEARTS ALL OVER THE WORLD,THE MOST TALENT AND PRETY ENGLISHMEN,TELL ME WHO IS LIKE HIM?MY BEST THE GREEK MOODY FAN,AND A HEART FOR HIS SILVER BIRD.GRACE.

  3. HI FROM ATHENS.I’M TEH GREEK FAN.IN GREECE THSI GROUPS IS FAMOUS ANDLOVE WITH NIGHTS AND TUESDAY MOST.JUSTIN HAS TOOK MY HEART WITH IS POEMS,WHEN IWAS BLOK FROM MAM TO MARIAGE FROM NEWSPAPERS, ON SUMER ON 1986 ON MY 19YEARS AGE.SHE SEDN LETERS TO MEN IN THE NEWSPAPERS ,AND THSI WAS FOR ME AN DISTRACHION.THEN SAW ON MY TV,(YOUR WILDEST DREAMS)AND JUSTIN THIEF MY HEART.ALSO MOOIDES ARE ON E OF MY FAVORITE BAND,CAN SEE THEM ON STAGE BESIDES THIS GROUP MAKE CONCERTS ONLY IN AMERIKA AND IN UK.SO THING NEVER SEE LIVE IN ATHENS.AND WHEN JUSTIN COMES ON 2004 IN SALONIKA FOR VIDEO CONCERTS WITH MARIO FRANGOULIS,DONT HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THIS IVENT THN AND LOST JUSTIN ON STAGE.SO 1986WAS THE STATION FOR ME WHO I DISCOVER CLASSIK ROCK ,MELODIES,AND CLAssik musik GENERALLY.JUSTIN HE IS A THEIF OF WOMEN HEARTS ALL OVER THE WORLD,THE MOST TALENT AND PRETY ENGLISHMEN,TELL ME WHO IS LIKE HIM?MY BEST THE GREEK MOODY FAN,AND A HEART FOR HIS SILVER BIRD.GRACE.

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