Never really got into the Moody Blues. I was (and still am) a big prog rock fan. Back in the day loved both the big names (Floyd, Yes, Genesis, ELP etc) and the less well know bands (PFM, Greenslade etc) but never really got into The Moodys.
I knew the singles of course but always find them a little too twee and polite.
I did buy “To Our Children’s Children’s Children”, Remember finding in a bargain bin and so took a chance, but didn’t think much of it. Oh, and a compilation but again something I didn’t play it much.
But given that you wanted thoughts on it I thought I would give it a play and have to say I am very pleasantly surprised.
Coming out in ’68 it very much of its times, full of great harmonies (especially on “House of Four Doors”. and hooks, lyrics seem a little poor but can easily ignore due to the great tunes. Indeed, the harmonies at times remind me of the Beach Boys. And of course the whole album displays huge Beatles influence, both in songwriting and performance (and not just the Sitars)
Hard to comment on individual tracks as I have only played it 4 or 5 times and always takes me a while to get into individual bits, but I do feel that the sum is most definitely better than the parts. So definitely early Prog in that respect and it maybe why I never got into the compilation (which did have some of these songs on it) as they would seem out of place without each other.
Although 1 thing to say is that a Mr Bowie must have been familiar with the album as “Departure>Ride My See-Saw” must have had an influence on “Future Legend > Diamond Dogs”
So thanks for highlighting this album, will definitely be playing it lots in the future and may even delve deeper into the bands other recordings.
Thanks for your thoughts DaveP and for taking the time to post here. It's really appreciated
You know what, I think that you have summed up how I feel about the album. The whole is definitely great than the sum of it's individual tracks and I too have generally picked up Moodies albums in bargain bins but rarely play them so the 60's listening group is a great way to discover / rediscover albums from that period
So far I have found this album more enjoyable that I initially anticipated, not having played it for probably 20 years.
Will be posting more track comments as I get the time and again, thanks for contributing to the thread
One of the two singles from the album, and probably one of the most recognisable tracks as well. I think that, for the casual listener, which I am, when you think of the Moody Blues, you quite often think of this track
It’s actually a really beautiful song. Very melodic and I really, really like it. Great Track.
Very 60’s vibe to this and again, a rather recognisable track for the casual listener like me.
Really nice sound and I like the distortion in the recording.
Not sure whether it’s the case but I’m sure that Steve Miller must have listened to this track, in fact the whole album, before maying Book Of Dreams. A very good acid / psychedelic song
Another flute led track, but when you have as good as player as Ray Thomas, why not?
A little too laid back / mellow for my liking but Quite beautiful in it's own way but doesn’t feel like it’s going very far and enhancing the album too much.
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I find it a perfectly pleasant track, but it really doesn’t grab me. Nothing against it, I just can’t put my finger on why I find it a little throw away. Others may love it and I totally get that you might
These last two tracks from In Search of…. Need to be listened to together.
The word is a spoken word track of about 45 seconds which leads into the final track on the album, Om.
Very atmospheric track which I really like. A good conclusion to the album. A little bit trippy with sitar, tabla and a whole load of chanting (not a bad thing), this might be my favourite track on the album. Very George Harrison sounding.
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