The Moody Blues have been musical mainstays on concert stages, recordings and the airwaves. The Moody Blues were also one of the pioneers of the progressive rock. They also pioneered the mellotron.
All over the years, almost forty years, The Moody Blues released sixteen studio albums. Their debut album, “Go Now-Moody Blues #1”, aka “The Magnificent Moodies”, aka “The Beginning”, is a pure R&B album, as a lot of English R&B acts in the mid of the 60’s, without have anything to do with their future works. Their second album, “Days Of Future Passed”, is definitely an album with a very important historical significance. It was one of the first conceptual albums, one of the first progressive rock albums, one of the first albums with the fusion of orchestral and rock elements and the first album to have the use of a mellotron. Following this album, The Moody Blues released more six very successful albums of great quality, especially in terms of prog, in the following years, 1968-72. After a hiatus of six years they released another studio album “Octave”, in 1978. It’s generally regarded as a less good album, and regarded, perhaps, as the beginning of the decline of the band. This was also the last album with their original keyboardist Mike Pinder.
It was in this context that appeared “Long Distance Voyager”. It was the group’s first album featuring keyboardist Patrick Moraz, who previously had worked with Refugee and Yes, in place of Pinder. In many respects Pinder had been the spiritual and creative centre of the group. His virtuosity on the mellotron and chamberlain had provided the classical and orchestral sound that had made them famous. But by the other hand, Moraz despite had played with Yes for a short period of time was technically a very competent musician that brought a more modern sound to the band.
“Long Distance Voyager” is partially a conceptual album, as only half of the songs relate to the “voyager” referred to in the album’s title. The opening number, “The Voice”, is a good track filled with great melody and interest. It contains somewhat mystical lyrics, but the sound is very commercial and contained an excellent guitar solo. It was very representative of the early 80’s, yet superior to most of what was being produced then. “Talking Out Of Turn”, unfolds slowly and methodically and maintains its rich arrangements throughout its seven plus minute duration, with heavy orchestral elements. The successful single, “Gemini Dream”, is a fun rocker track that is driven by Moraz’s keyboards. The ballad, “In My World”, features Hayward’s brightly strummed acoustic guitar complemented by a pedal steel by the guest B. J. Cole. “Meanwhile”, is an acoustic track, pleasant like an early 70’s soft rock songs with acoustic guitar and a nice electric piano by Moraz. It’s a good song overall. “22,000 Days”, is a bombastic rock with thoughtful and hopeful lyrics. 22,000 were considered about the number of days in an adult life and the song is focused on how they should be used. “Nervous”, is one of the great lost songs of The Moody Blues’ catalogue. It begins slow and mellow but gradually soars with strings and an orchestral sound. The final three tracks comprise a mini suite that combines themes of carnival jesters and the chaos experienced backstage at a rock show. “Painted Smile” and the wonderful “Veteran Cosmic Rockers”, were connected by a short poem. They used circus imagery and have a childlike quality to them. “Veteran Cosmic Rockers”, would become a part of their stage act and, as time passed and the group aged, it would take on new meaning. The three last tracks give to the album a thematic and a prog feeling and close the album nicely.
Conclusion: “Long Distance Voyager” remains as one of the best and most interesting progressive rock albums to have emerged from the early 80’s. It’s both, powerful and uplifting, serving as a clear statement that The Moody Blues were alive despite the huge difficulties passed by the traditional prog acts, in those times. “Long Distance Voyager” is surely the best album made by the band since their golden era and it’s also the last truly consistent album made by them. It’s true this is not the same band that gave us “Days Of Future Passed” with “Nights In White Satin”, but many of these 80’s songs would no doubt be less frustrating if they were recorded in a different era. If you remove the 80’s production values, I’m absolutely convinced the album could have been considered one of the best albums of the band.
Tracklist for Long Distance Voyager:
1. The Voice
2. Talking Out Of Turn
3. Gemini Dream
4. In My World
5. Meanwhile
6. 22,000 Days
7. Nervous
8. Painted Smile
9. Reflective Smile
10. Veteran Cosmic Rocker
All over the years, almost forty years, The Moody Blues released sixteen studio albums. Their debut album, “Go Now-Moody Blues #1”, aka “The Magnificent Moodies”, aka “The Beginning”, is a pure R&B album, as a lot of English R&B acts in the mid of the 60’s, without have anything to do with their future works. Their second album, “Days Of Future Passed”, is definitely an album with a very important historical significance. It was one of the first conceptual albums, one of the first progressive rock albums, one of the first albums with the fusion of orchestral and rock elements and the first album to have the use of a mellotron. Following this album, The Moody Blues released more six very successful albums of great quality, especially in terms of prog, in the following years, 1968-72. After a hiatus of six years they released another studio album “Octave”, in 1978. It’s generally regarded as a less good album, and regarded, perhaps, as the beginning of the decline of the band. This was also the last album with their original keyboardist Mike Pinder.
It was in this context that appeared “Long Distance Voyager”. It was the group’s first album featuring keyboardist Patrick Moraz, who previously had worked with Refugee and Yes, in place of Pinder. In many respects Pinder had been the spiritual and creative centre of the group. His virtuosity on the mellotron and chamberlain had provided the classical and orchestral sound that had made them famous. But by the other hand, Moraz despite had played with Yes for a short period of time was technically a very competent musician that brought a more modern sound to the band.
“Long Distance Voyager” is partially a conceptual album, as only half of the songs relate to the “voyager” referred to in the album’s title. The opening number, “The Voice”, is a good track filled with great melody and interest. It contains somewhat mystical lyrics, but the sound is very commercial and contained an excellent guitar solo. It was very representative of the early 80’s, yet superior to most of what was being produced then. “Talking Out Of Turn”, unfolds slowly and methodically and maintains its rich arrangements throughout its seven plus minute duration, with heavy orchestral elements. The successful single, “Gemini Dream”, is a fun rocker track that is driven by Moraz’s keyboards. The ballad, “In My World”, features Hayward’s brightly strummed acoustic guitar complemented by a pedal steel by the guest B. J. Cole. “Meanwhile”, is an acoustic track, pleasant like an early 70’s soft rock songs with acoustic guitar and a nice electric piano by Moraz. It’s a good song overall. “22,000 Days”, is a bombastic rock with thoughtful and hopeful lyrics. 22,000 were considered about the number of days in an adult life and the song is focused on how they should be used. “Nervous”, is one of the great lost songs of The Moody Blues’ catalogue. It begins slow and mellow but gradually soars with strings and an orchestral sound. The final three tracks comprise a mini suite that combines themes of carnival jesters and the chaos experienced backstage at a rock show. “Painted Smile” and the wonderful “Veteran Cosmic Rockers”, were connected by a short poem. They used circus imagery and have a childlike quality to them. “Veteran Cosmic Rockers”, would become a part of their stage act and, as time passed and the group aged, it would take on new meaning. The three last tracks give to the album a thematic and a prog feeling and close the album nicely.
Conclusion: “Long Distance Voyager” remains as one of the best and most interesting progressive rock albums to have emerged from the early 80’s. It’s both, powerful and uplifting, serving as a clear statement that The Moody Blues were alive despite the huge difficulties passed by the traditional prog acts, in those times. “Long Distance Voyager” is surely the best album made by the band since their golden era and it’s also the last truly consistent album made by them. It’s true this is not the same band that gave us “Days Of Future Passed” with “Nights In White Satin”, but many of these 80’s songs would no doubt be less frustrating if they were recorded in a different era. If you remove the 80’s production values, I’m absolutely convinced the album could have been considered one of the best albums of the band.
Tracklist for Long Distance Voyager:
1. The Voice
2. Talking Out Of Turn
3. Gemini Dream
4. In My World
5. Meanwhile
6. 22,000 Days
7. Nervous
8. Painted Smile
9. Reflective Smile
10. Veteran Cosmic Rocker