Showing posts with label John Lodge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Lodge. Show all posts

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Some of the Longest Waits Between Albums

Albums:

Some of the Longest Waits

This list was originally posted on my Dave’s Music Database Facebook page (Some of the Longest Waits Between Albums) on 2/5/2012 and has been updated several times since.

Here’s a little history about this list. In March 2012, I penned an article for PopMatters.com (“I Heard You Missed Us – We’re Back!”) on bands who’d had long breaks between albums. At the time, I’d waited five years for a new album from Fish, one of my favorite acts. That month Van Halen ended a 14-year silence and in recent years Guns N’ Roses received a lot of press for its 15-year delay between albums. I ended up with an extensive list of acts who have tried the patience of their fans to the max.

Note: I’m only looking at album’s worth of new studio material. That includes “specialty” releases of new material for that act such as covers collections or Christmas recordings, but does not include live albums, compilations, remixes, or other reissues of previously released material. Thanks to DMDB fans who contributed to this list!

I also recommend checking out the list by camara_azteca at Rate Your Music: “Longest Gaps Between Albums: Artists Who Waited Over 35 Years to Release a Follow-Up” since I have not integrated that list here. There’s a lot of artists there with whom I’m unfamiliar.


Some of the Longest Waits:
  • 38 years: Chuck Berry Rock It (1979), Chuck (2017)
  • 38 years: John Lodge Natural Avenue (1977), 10,000 Light Years Ago (2015)
  • 36 years: The Yardbirds Little Games (1967), Birdland (2003)
  • 35 years: Vashti Bunyan Just Another Diamond Day (1970), Lookingafter (2005)
  • 35 years: The Sonics Sinderella (1980), This Is the Sonics (2015)
  • 34 years: The Stooges Raw Power (1973), The Weirdness (2007)
  • 32 years: New York Dolls Too Much Too Soon (1974), One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This (2006)
  • 30 years: Magazine Magic, Murder and the Weather (1981), No Thyself (2011)
  • 28 years: Eagles The Long Run (1979), Long Road Out of Eden (2007)
  • 28 years: The Slits Return of the Giant Slits (1981), Trapped Animal (2009)
  • 28 years: Cat Stevens Back to Earth (1978), An Other Cup (2006)
  • 27 years: Big Star Third/Sister Lovers (1978), In Space (2005)
  • 27 years: Dexy’s Midnight Runners Don’t Stand Me Down (1985), One Day I’m Going to Soar (2012)
  • 25 years: Bauhaus Burning from the Inside (1983), Go Away White (2008)
  • 25 years: Levon Helm Levon Helm (1982), Dirt Farmer (2007)
  • 25 years: Throbbing Gristle Journey Through a Body (1982), Part Two: The Endless Not (2007)
  • 25 years: Roger Waters Amused to Death (1992), Is This the Life We Really Want? (2017)


  • 24 years: The Cars Door to Door (1987), Move Like This (2011)
  • 24 years: Steve Perry For the Love of Strange Medicine (1994), Traces (2018)
  • 24 years: The Who It’s Hard (1982), Endless Wire (2006)
  • 23 years: The Zombies Odessey and Oracle (1968), New World (1991)
  • 22 years: Jeff Lynne Armchair Theatre (1990), Long Wave (2012)
  • 22 years: Mission of Burma Vs. (1982), ONoffON (2004)
  • 22 years: My Bloody Valentine Loveless (1991), MBV (2013)
  • 22 years: The Soft Boys Underwater Moonlight (1980), Nextdoorland (2002)
  • 21 years: The Vaselines Dum-Dum (1989), Sex with an X (2010)

20 Years

  • The Del-Lords Lovers Who Wander (1990), Under Construction (EP, 2010)
  • Devo Smooth Noodle Maps (1990), Something for Everybody (2010)
  • The Feelies Time for a Witness (1991), Here Before (2011)
  • Pink Floyd The Division Bell (1994), Endless River (2014)
  • Steely Dan Gaucho (1980), Two Against Nature (2000)


19 Years

  • Del Amitri Can You Do Me Good? (2002), Fatal Mistakes (2021)
  • Grace Jones Bulletproof Heart (1989), Hurricane (2008)

18 Years

  • Black Sabbath Forbidden (1995), 13 (2013)
  • Faith No More Album of the Year (1997), Sol Invictus (2015)
  • Was (Not Was) Are You Okay? (1990), Boo! (2008)


17 Years

  • Blondie The Hunter (1982), No Exit (1999)
  • The Go-Go’s Talk Show (1984), God Bless the Go-Go’s (2001)
  • Kraftwerk Electric CafĂ© (1986), Tour de Force Soundtracks (2003)
  • Steve Miller Band Wide River (1993), Bingo (2010)
  • Squeeze Domino (1998), From the Cradle to the Grave (2015)


16 Years

  • The Beach Boys Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 (1996), That’s Why God Made the Radio (2012)
  • The B-52’s Good Stuff (1992), Funplex (2008)
  • Dr. Dre 2001 (1999), Compton (2015)
  • Gang of Four Shrinkwrapped (1995), Content (2011)
  • Gil Scott-Heron Spirits (1994), I’m New Here (2010)
  • Kansas Somewhere to Elsewhere (2000), The Prelude Implicit (2016)


15 Years

  • Camper Van Beethoven Key Lime Pie (1989), New Roman Times (2004)
  • Electric Light Orchestra Balance of Power (1986), Zoom (2001)
  • Roky Erickson All That May Do My Rhyme (1995), True Love Cast Out All Evil (2010)
  • Foreigner Mr. Moonlight (1994), Can’t Slow Down (2009)
  • Guns N’ Roses The Spaghetti Incident? (1993), Chinese Democracy (2008)
  • Don Henley Inside Job (2000), Cass County (2015)
  • Nitzer Ebb Big Hit (1995), Industrial Complex (2010)
  • Alan Parsons A Valid Path (2004), The Secret (2019)
  • The Rainmakers Skin (1996), 25 On (2011)
  • Shania Twain Up! (2002), Now (2017)


14 Years

  • Accept Predator (1996), Blood of the Nations (2010)
  • Alice in Chains Alice in Chains (1995), Black Gives Way to Blue (2009)
  • David Baerwald Here Comes the New Folk Underground (2002), Hellbound Train (2016)
  • Big Country Driving to Damascus (1999), The Journey (2013)
  • Lindsey Buckingham Out of the Cradle (1992), Under the Skin (2006)
  • Crowded House Together Alone (1993), Time on Earth (2007)
  • D’Angelo Voodoo (2000), Black Messiah (2014)
  • Electric Light Orchestra Zoom (2001), Alone in the Universe (2015)
  • Emerson, Lake & Palmer Love Beach (1978), Black Moon (1992)
  • Hooters Out of Body (1993), Time Stand Still (2007)
  • Lynyrd Skynyrd Street Survivors (1977), Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 (1991)
  • New Kids on the Block Face the Music (1994), The Block (2008)
  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Universal (1996), History of Modern (2010)
  • The Swans Soundtrack for the Blind (1996), My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky (2010)
  • Television Adventure (1978), Television (1992)
  • Van Halen Van Halen III (1998), A Different Kind of Truth (2012)

13 Years

  • Garth Brooks Scarecrow (2001), Man Against Machine (2014)
  • Dennis DeYoung One Hundred Years from Now (2007), 26 East Vol. 1 (2020)
  • Jane’s Addiction Ritual de lo Habitual (1990), Strays (2003)
  • Tool 10,000 Days (2006), Fear Inoculum (2019)
  • The Who Endless Wire (2006), Who (2019)
  • The Zombies New World (1991), As Far As I Can See… (2004)

12 Years

  • Kate Bush The Red Shoes (1993), Aerial (2005)
  • The Go-Betweens 16 Lovers Lane (1988), The Friends of Rachel Worth (2000)
  • Wire The First Letter (1991), Send (2003)
  • Hole Celebrity Skin (1998), Nobody’s Daughter (2010)
  • The House of Love Audience with the Mind (1993), Days Run Away (2005)
  • Billy Idol Cyberpunk (1993), Devil’s Playground (2005)
  • Loretta Lynn Van Lear Rose (2004), Full Circle (2016)
  • Polvo Shapes (1997), In Prism (2009)
  • Styx Big Bang Theory (2005), The Mission (2017)


11 Years

  • Boston Life, Love & Hope (2013), Corporate America (2002)
  • Crowded House Intriguer (2010), Dreamers Are Waiting (2021)
  • ESG ESG (1991), Step Off (2002)
  • Grandmaster Flash Flash Is Back (1998), The Bridge: Concept of a Culture (2009)
  • Heart Desire Walks On (1993), Jupiter’s Darling (2004)
  • Kiss Psycho Circus (1998) Sonic Boom (2009)
  • The Libertines The Libertines (2004), Anthems for Doomed Youth (2015)

  • No Doubt Rock Steady (2001), Push and Shove (2012)
  • Portishead Portishead (1997), Third (2008)
  • The Power Station The Power Station (1985), Living in Fear (1996)
  • The Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang (2005), Blue and Lonesome (2016)
  • Bob Seger It’s a Mystery (1995), Face the Promise (2006)
  • The Verve Urban Hymns (1997), Forth (2008)
  • Scott Walker Climate of Hunter (1984), Tilt (1995)
  • Scott Walker Tilt (1995), The Drift (2006)

10 Years

  • American Music Club San Francisco (1994), Love Songs for Patriots (2004)
  • David Bowie Reality (2003), The Next Day (2013)
  • Bush Golden State (2001), The Sea of Memories (2011)
  • Dinosaur Jr. Hand It Over (1997), Beyond (2007)
  • Eurythmics We Too Are One (1989), Peace (1999)
  • Peter Gabriel Us (1992); Up (2002)
  • Gin Blossoms Congratulations I’m Sorry (1996), Major Lodge Victory (2006)
  • The Human League Secrets (2001), Credo (2011)
  • Journey Raised on Radio (1986), Trial by Fire (1996)
  • The Knack Round Trip (1981), Serious Fun (1991)
  • The Lemonheads Car Button Cloth (1996), The Lemonheads (2006)
  • Matchbox 20 More Than You Think You Are (2002), North (2012)
  • Steve Perry Street Talk (1984), For the Love of Strange Medicine (1994)
  • Sade Lovers Rock (2000), Soldier of Love (2010)
  • Suicide Why Be Blue (1992), American Supreme (2002)
  • Supertramp Free As a Bird (1987), Some Things Never Change (1997)
  • Scott Walker We Had It All (1974), Climate of Hunter (1984)
  • Stevie Wonder Conversation Peace (1995), A Time to Love (2005)
  • Yes Magnification (2001), Fly from Here (2011)

9 Years

  • The Allman Brothers Band Brothers of the Road (1981), Seven Turns (1990)
  • The Allman Brothers Band Where It All Begins (1994), Hittin’ the Note (2003)
  • Leonard Cohen The Future (1992), Ten New Songs (2001)
  • Deep Purple Come Taste the Band (1975), Perfect Strangers (1984)
  • Styx Edge of the Century (1990), Brave New World (1999)

8 Years

  • AC/DC Stiff Upper Lip (2000), Black Ice (2008)
  • Aerosmith Honkin’ on Bobo (2004), Music from Another Dimension! (2012)
  • Berlin 4Play (2005), Animal (2013)
  • Blondie The Curse of Blondie (2003), Panic of Girls (2011)
  • Boston Don’t Look Back (1978), Third Stage (1986)
  • Boston Third Stage (1986), Walk On (1994)
  • Boston Walk On (1994), Corporate America (2002)
  • Camper Van Beethoven New Roman Times (2004), virus_installer.exe (2012)
  • Chicago Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album (1998), XXX (2006)
  • Leonard Cohen Dear Heather (2004), Old Ideas (2012)
  • Fleetwood Mac Time (1995), Say You Will (2003)
  • Michael Jackson Invincible (2001); Michael (2010 – released posthumously; Jackson died in 2009)
  • Mick Jagger Wandering Spirit (1993), Goddess in the Doorway (2001)
  • Modest Mouse We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (2007), Strangers to Ourselves (2015)
  • The Rolling Stones Bridges to Babylon (1997), A Bigger Bang (2005)
  • Rush Test for Echo (1996) Vapor Trails (2002)
  • Sade Love Deluxe (1992), Lovers Rock (2000)
  • Bob Seger Face the Promise (2006), Ride Out (2014)
  • The Smithereens God Save the Smithereens (1999), Christmas with the Smithereens (2007)
  • Stevie Wonder Characters (1987), Conversation Peace (1995)


Still Waiting…
  • 42 years: Led Zeppelin In Through the Out Door (8/15/79) (1979)
  • 28 years: Billy Joel River of Dreams (1993)
  • 24 years: Genesis Calling All Stations (1997)
  • 23 years: Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
  • 20 years: Mick Jagger Goddess in the Doorway (2001)
  • 19 years: Supertramp Slow Motion (2002)
  • 18 years: The Allman Brothers Band Hittin’ the Note (2003)
  • 18 years: Fleetwood Mac Say You Will (2003)
  • 18 years: Kraftwerk Tour de France Soundtracks (2003)
  • 18 years: Steely Dan Everything Must Go (2003)
  • 17 years: Tears for Fears Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (2004)
  • 16 years: Stevie Wonder A Time to Love (2005)
  • 14 years: Hooters Time Stand Still (2007)

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 2/5/2012; last updated 5/18/2021.

Friday, November 10, 2017

Today in Music (1967): The Moody Blues charted with “Nights in White Satin”

Nights in White Satin

The Moody Blues

Writer(s): Justin Hayward (see lyrics here)


Released: November 10, 1967


First Charted: February 10, 1968


Peak: 2 US, 11 CB, 11 GR, 12 HR, 37 AC, 1 CL, 9 UK, 11 CN, 8 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.)


Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, -- UK


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 108.3 video, 211.55 streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

Things looked bleak for the Moody Blues in 1966 when Justin Hayward and John Lodge arrived. TB The group’s “Go Now” went to #1 in the UK in 1964 and they’d had nothing hit the top 20 since. They were “back to playing gigs for small change.” TB In an effort to showcase its new “enhanced stereo sound technology,” SF the group’s record label, Deram, approached the group about recording a modern version of Dvorak’s “New World Symphony.” BBC Instead, the band sold the label on a suite of newly-composed songs woven together by orchestral links TB and thematically focused on the passing of a day. BBC

Although the Moodies were among the first rock bands to integrate classical, KX the so-called London Festival Orchestra, with which they supposedly recorded, never existed. It was simply the banner under which the musicians behind the Days of Future Passed album gathered. SF As the album’s centerpiece, “Nights in White Satin” “was an early example of progressive – or art – rock.” DJ Hayward got the idea for this “yearning love song” BBC after receiving a gift of white satin sheets. SF As he told the Daily Express in 2008, “It was a series of random thoughts and was quite autobiographical. It was a very emotional time as I was at the end of one big love affair and the start of another. A lot of that came out in the song.” SF

The song “was drenched in what would be come the Moodys’ signature sound – the synthetic strings of the Mellotron.” BBC The song peaked at a modest #19 in December of 1967, BBC but after songs like “Hey Jude” and “Layla” broke radio’s four-minute-singles barrier, the song became a hit in the United States. SF It then re-charted in the U.K., this time hitting #9, and in 1979 went top 20 in the U.K. for a third time, this time peaking at #14.


Resources:


Related Links:


First posted 11/10/2011; updated 9/17/2023.

Tuesday, October 28, 2003

The Moody Blues: A Retrospective (1964-2003)

The Moody Blues

A Retrospective: 1964-2003

Overview:

The Moody Blues formed in Birmingham, England in 1964. They were originally part of the British beat and R&B scene, rising to prominence with the hit song “Go Now” (#1 UK, #10 US). When founding guitarist Denny Laine and bassist Clint Warwick left in 1966, the band added singer/guitarist Justin Hayward and bassist John Lodge. The new version of the Moodies embraced psychedelia and became a prominent band at the forefront of the progressive rock movement which incorporated rock with classical music.

During the ‘70s, the Moody Blues became a consistent presence at classic rock with hits including “Nights in White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Ride My See Saw,” “Question,” “The Story in Your Eyes,” and “I’m Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band.”

In the ‘80s, the band maintained a core audience at album rock radio with more synth-driven fare including “The Voice,” “Gemini Dream,” “Your Wildest Dreams,” and “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere.” They only released two albums in the ‘90s and only one more after that, 2003’s December. They have sold 70 million albums worldwide.


The Players

  • Rodney Clarke (bass/vocals: 1966). Died 2025.
  • Graeme Edge (drums: 1964-2018). Died 2021.
  • Justin Hayward (vocals/guitar: 1966-2018)
  • Denny Laine (guitar/vocals: 1964-66). Died 2023.
  • John Lodge (bass/guitar/vocals: 1966-2018). Died 2025.
  • Patrick Moraz (keyboards: 1978-91)
  • Mike Pinder (keyboards/vocals: 1964-78). Died 2024.
  • Ray Thomas (flute/harmonica/sax/percussion: 1964-2002). Died 2018.
  • Clint Warwick (bass/vocals: 1964-66). Died 2004.


Links

Awards

Compilations


Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to charts.


Spotify Playlist

Check out my Spotify playlist The Moody Blues 1964-2003 which includes all of the songs from the above collections plus additional material.

The Magnificent Moodies/Go Now (1965):

  • Steal Your Heart Away *** (Sept. ’64, 48 CL)
  • Go Now (Nov. ’64, 10 BB, 6 CB, 6 GR, 8 HR, 4 Cl, 11 UK, 2 CN, 12 AU, 20 DF) VB, AN
  • I Don’t Want to Go on Without You ** (3/6/65, 43 CL, 33 UK)
  • From the Bottom of My Heart I Love You ** (6/5/65, 93 BB, 70 CB, 82 HR, 35 CL, 22 UK, 23 CN)
  • Everyday *** (11/20/65, 44 CL, 44 UK)
  • Stop! * (2/12/66, 98 BB, 93 CB, 89 HR, 45 CL, 88 CN)
  • This Is My House But Nobody Calls *** (9/5/66)
  • Life’s Not Life *** (1/13/67)

* only on The Magnificent Moodies
** only on Go Now
*** only on the 50th anniversary edition of The Magnificent Moodies

The original album, The Magnificent Moodies, was released in the UK. A reworked version was released in the U.S. as Go Now. A 50th anniversary reissue included all of the songs from both versions plus additional material.


Days of Future Passed (deluxe version, 1967/2017):

  • Fly Me High (5/5/67) PR
  • I Really Haven’t Got the Time (B-side of “Fly Me High,” 5/5/67) PR
  • Long Summer Days * (recorded 5/19/67) PR
  • Please Think About It * (recorded 6/29/67) PR
  • Love and Beauty (10/1/67) PR
  • Leave This Man Alone (B-side of “Love and Beauty,” 10/1/67) PR
  • Cities (B-side of “Nights in White Satin,” 11/10/67) PR

These songs were added to the 2017, 3-disc 50th anniversary edition of Days of Future Passed. They were also all featured on the 1987 Prelude archival collection.

* First appeared on Caught Live + 5 (1977).


Days of Future Passed (1967):

  • Nights in White Satin (11/10/67, 2 BB, 1 CB, 1 GR, 1 HR, 37 AC, 1 CL, 9 UK, 1 CN, 8 AU, 1 DF) TM, OW, V-UK, V-US, GH, VB, AN
  • Tuesday Afternoon (6/29/68, 24 BB, 26 CB, 7 GR, 27 HR, 5 CL, 12 CN, 4 DF) TM, OW, GH, VB, AN
  • Late Lament (19 DF) PR, TM, AN
Check out the DMDB page for this album here.


In Search of the Lost Chord (1968):

  • King and Queen * (recorded 2/13/68) PR
  • Gimme a Little Somethin’ * (recorded 3/17/68) PR
  • Voices in the Sky (6/28/68, 43 CL, 27 UK) OW, VB, AN
  • Ride My See Saw (12/12/68, 61 BB, 50 CB, 21 GR, 46 HR, 6 CL, 42 UK, 33 CN, 5 DF) TM, OW, V-UK, V-US, GH, VB, AN
  • Legend of a Mind (10 CL, 22 DF) TM, AN
  • Dr. Livingstone, I Presume
  • The Actor TM
  • The Word TM
  • A Simple Game * (B-side of “Ride My See Saw,” 10/12/68) PR, TM
  • What Am I Doing Here? * (recorded 11/17/68) PR

* These songs were first featured on Caught Live + 5 (1977), later added to the archival collection Prelude (1987), and included on the 50th anniversary edition of In Search of the Lost Chord.

Prelude

The Moody Blues


Recorded: 1967-1968


Released: October 26, 1987

Peak: --


Sales (in millions): --


Genre: progressive rock

Tracks:

(1) Fly Me High (2) I Really Haven’t Got the Time (3) Leave This Man Alone (4) Love and Beauty (5) Cities (6) A Simple Game (7) Gimme a Little Somethin’ (8) Please Think About It (9) Long Summer Days (10) King and Queen (11) What Am I Doing Here? (12) Late Lament


About the Album:

This archival collection gathers songs never released on a studio album before except “Late Lament” from Days of Future Passed. Four of the songs are singles and B-sides from before that album was released. Five cuts originally appeared on the 1977 Caught Live + 5 album. “Cities” and “A Simple Game” were B-sides for “Nights in White Satin” and “Ride My See Saw” respectively.

On the Threshold of a Dream (1969):

  • Never Comes the Day (4/2/69, 91 BB, 90 CB, 89 HR, 25 CL, 74 CN) TM, V-UK, AN
  • Dear Diary TM
  • In the Beginning TM
  • Lovely to See You TM, OW, AN
  • The Dream TM
  • Have You Ever Heard, Part 1 TM
  • The Voyage TM
  • Have You Ever Heard, Part 2 TM


To Our Children’s Children’s Children (1969):

  • Eyes of a Child (20 CL, 31 DF) TM, OW
  • Watching and Waiting (10/31/69) TM, AN
  • Floating OW
  • Gypsy (Of a Strange and Distant Time) (26 CL) AN
  • Candle of Life AN


A Question of Balance (1970):

  • Question (4/24/70, 21 BB, 19 CB, 14 GR, 19 HR, 4 CL, 2 UK, ,8 CN, 36 AU, 5 DF) TM, OW, V-UK, V-US, GH, VB, AN
  • Melancholy Man (26 DF) TM, OW, AN
  • And the Tide Rushes In (36 DF) TM


Every Good Boy Deserve Favor (1971):

  • The Story in Your Eyes (Aug. ’71, 23 BB, 14 CB, 10 GR, 16 HR, 6 CL, 7 CN, 68 AU, 11 DF) TM, OW, GH, VB, AN
  • After You Came V-UK


Seventh Sojourn (1972):

  • Isn’t Life Strange (4/15/72, 29 BB, 20 CB, 24 GR, 23 HR, 8 CL, 13 UK, 9 CN, 39 AU, 5 DF) TM, OW, V-UK, V-US, GH, VB, AN
  • I’m Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band (1/20/73, 12 BB, 8 CB, 12 GR, 10 HR, 6 CL, 36 UK, 39 AU, 4 DF) TM, OW, V-UK, V-US, GH, VB, AN
  • New Horizons TM, OW
  • For My Lady TM
  • Lost in a Lost World AN


Blue Jays (Justin Hayward & John Lodge, 1975):

  • Remember Me, My Friends AN
  • Blue Guitar (Sept. ’75) VB, AN
  • Forever Autumn (July ’78) VB, AN
Only “Remember Me, My Friends” was on the Blue Jays album. “Blue Guitar” was just released as a single but later added to reissues of the album. “Forever Autumn” is a solo song from Justin Hayward which was featured on Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds (1978).

This Is the Moody Blues

The Moody Blues


Recorded: 1967-1972


Released: October 8, 1974

Peak: 11 US, 14 UK, 2 CN, -- AU, 14 DF


Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, 0.1 UK, 0.6 world (includes US and UK)


Genre: progressive rock


Rating:

4.460 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

Tracks, Disc 1:

(1) Question (2) The Actor (3) The Word (4) Eyes of a Child (5) Dear Diary (6) Legend of a Mind (7) In the Beginning (8) Lovely to See You (9) Never Comes the Day (10) Isn’t Life Strange (11) The Dream (12) Have You Heard? (Part 1) (13) The Voyage (14) Have You Heard? (Part 2)

Tracks, Disc 2:

(1) Ride My See Saw (2) Tuesday Afternoon (3) And the Tide Rushes In (4) New Horizons (5) A Simple Game (6) Watching and Waiting (7) I’m Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band (8) For My Lady (9) The Story in Your Eyes (10) Melancholy Man (11) Nights in White Satin (12) Late Lament


About the Album:

After releasing seven studio albums from 1967 to 1972, the Moody Blues went on hiatus for six years. During that time, they released this two-disc anthology.

Octave (1978):

  • Steppin’ in a Slide Zone (May ’78, 39 BB, 46 CB, 52 HR, 16 CL, 41 CN, 78 AU) OW, VB, AN
  • Driftwood (Oct. ’78, 59 BB, 68 CB, 85 HR, 38 AC, 19 CL, 60 CN, 11 DF) OW, V-UK, V-US, AN

Out of This World

The Moody Blues


Recorded: 1967-1978


Released: October 22, 1979

Peak: -- US, 15 UK, -- CN, -- AU


Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.10 UK


Genre: progressive rock


Rating:

3.165 out of 5.00 (average of 7 ratings)

Tracks:

(1) Nights in White Satin (2) Question (3) Ride My See-Saw (4) Tuesday Afternoon (5) The Story in Your Eyes (6) Isn’t Life Strange (7) Steppin’ in a Slide Zone (8) I’m Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band (9) Voices in the Sky (10) Floating (11) Eyes of a Child (12) New Horizons (13) Driftwood (14) Lovely to See You (15) Melancholy Man


About the Album:

This was a UK-only release. It isn’t a bad collection, but Greatest Hits or Very Best of are better choices.

Long Distance Voyager (1981):

  • Gemini Dream (May ’81, 12 BB, 13 CB, 6 GR, 14 HR, 6 RR, 13 AR, 1 CN, 36 AU, 24 DF) V-UK, V-US, GH, VB, AN
  • The Voice (6/6/81, 15 BB, 15 CB, 7 GR, 16 HR, 6 RR, 16 AC, 1 AR, 9 CN, 91 AU, 2 DF) V-UK, V-US, GH, VB, AN
  • Talking Out of Turn (Nov. ’81, 35 CL, 27 CN, 39 DF) V-UK, AN
  • Veteran Cosmic Rocker (48 CL, 29 DF) V-UK, V-US


The Present (1983):

  • Blue World (8/20/83, 62 BB, 32 AR, 35 UK, 40 CN) VB, AN
  • Sitting at the Wheel (9/2/83, 27 BB, 30 CB, 19 GR, 22 RR, 3 AR, 18 CN, 16 DF) V-US, AN
  • Running Water (Mar. ’84)

Voices in the Sky

The Moody Blues


Recorded: 1967-1983


Released: 11/21/84 (UK), 6/21/85 (US)

Peak: 132 US, -- UK, 91 CN, -- AU, 3 DF


Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK)


Genre: progressive rock


Rating:

4.037 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)

Tracks (UK version):

(1) Ride My See-Saw (2) Talking Out of Turn (3) Driftwood (4) Never Comes the Day (5) I’m Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band (6) Gemini Dream (7) The Voice (8) After You Came (9) Question (10) Veteran Cosmic Rocker (11) Isn’t Life Strange (12) Nights in White Satin

Tracks (U.S. version):

(1) The Voice (2) Question (3) Veteran Cosmic Rocker (4) Isn’t Life Strange (5) Nights in White Satin (6) Ride My See-Saw (7) Driftwood (8) Sitting at the Wheel (9) I’m Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band (10) Gemini Dream


About the Album:

This was the first Moodies’ collection to dip into the band’s ‘80s output, covering songs from 1981’s Long Distance Voyager and, on the U.S. version, 1983’s The Present.

The Other Side of Life (1986):

  • Your Wildest Dreams (4/19/86, 9 BB, 10 CB, 14 GR, 11 RR, 1 AC, 2 AR, 55 CN, 20 AU, 1 DF) GH, VB, AN
  • The Other Side of Life (6/7/86, 58 BB, 18 AC, 11 AR, 80 AU, 8 DF) GH, AN
  • Rock and Roll Over You (9 DF)


Sur La Mer (1988):

  • I Know You’re Out There Somewhere (6/4/88, 30 BB, 40 CB, 32 GR, 36 RR, 9 AC, 2 AR, 52 UK, 15 CN, 37 AU, 9 DF) GH, VB, AN
  • Here Comes the Weekend (9/3/88, 50 AR)
  • No More Lies (10/29/88, 15 AC)

Greatest Hits

The Moody Blues


Recorded: 1967-1988


Released: November 21, 1989

Peak: 113 US, 71 UK, -- CN, -- AU


Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, -- UK


Genre: progressive rock


Rating:

4.228 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)

Tracks:

(1) Your Wildest Dreams (2) The Voice (3) Gemini Dream (4) The Story in Your Eyes (5) Tuesday Afternoon (6) Isn’t Life Strange (7) Nights in White Satin / Late Lament (8) I Know You’re Out There Somewhere (9) The Other Side of Life (10) Ride My See-Saw (11) I’m Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band (12) Question (1988 version)


About the Album:

This is a seemingly unnecessary collection given the glut of compilations from Moody Blues up to this point. However, this is the first set to feature “Your Wildest Dreams” and “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere.” Still, one is better going with 1996’s The Very Best of if, for no other reason, it features the original version of “Question” instead of the 1988 re-recording featured here.

The Very Best of

The Moody Blues


Recorded: 1964-1988


Released: September 3, 1996

Peak: -- US, 13 UK, -- CN, -- AU


Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.30 UK


Genre: progressive rock


Rating:

4.238 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)

Tracks:

(1) Go Now (2) Tuesday Afternoon (3) Nights in White Satin (4) Ride My See-Saw (5) Voices in the Sky (6) Question (7) The Story in Your Eyes (8) Isn’t Life Strange (9) I’m Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band (10) Blue Guitar (11) Steppin’ in a Slide Zone (12) Forever Autumn (13) The Voice (14) Gemini Dream (15) Blue World (16) Your Wildest Dreams (17) I Know You’re Out There Somewhere


About the Album:

This was also released as The Best of. Of the single-disc anthologies highlighted on this page, this one is the best bet with 17 cuts covering the widest swath of the band’s career. It also is presented chronologically, which is important for a group who changed their sound enough over the years to make non-chronological sets more jarring.

Keys of the Kingdom (1991):

  • Say It with Love (6/22/91, 31 AC, 22 AR, 36 CN, 26 DF) AN
  • Bless the Wings That Bring You Back (Aug. ’91) AN
  • Highway * AN

* recorded during the sessions for Keys of the Kingdom but not released until 1994 on the Time Traveller box set.

Anthology

The Moody Blues


Recorded: 1964-1991


Released: October 20, 1998

Peak: --


Sales (in millions): --


Genre: progressive rock


Rating:

3.928 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings)

Tracks, Disc 1:

(1) Go Now (2) Tuesday Afternoon (3) Nights in White Satin / Late Lament (4) Ride My See-Saw (5) Legend of a Mind (6) Voices in the Sky (7) Lovely to See You (8) Never Comes the Day (9) Gypsy (Of a Strange and Distant Time) (10) Candle of Life (11) Watching and Waiting (12) Question (13) Melancholy Man (14) The Story in Your Eyes (15) Lost in a Lost World (16) Isn’t Life Strange (17) I’m Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band

Tracks, Disc 2:

(1) Remember Me My Friend (2) Blue Guitar (3) Steppin’ in a Slide Zone (4) Driftwood (5) Forever Autumn (6) The Voice (7) Talking Out of Turn (8) Gemini Dream (9) Blue World (10) Sitting at the Wheel (11) Your Wildest Dreams (12) The Other Side of Life (13) I Know You’re Out There Somewhere (14) Say It with Love (15) Bless the Wings That Bring You Back (16) Highway


About the Album:

For fans looking for more than a single-disc anthology, this is absolutely the way to go. The selection and chronological presentation is well done.

Strange Times (1999):

  • English Sunset (8/17/99)


December (2003):

  • December Snow (Nov. ’03)

Resources/References:


Related DMDB Links:


First posted 5/11/2026.