Personally, I get a vibe on the order of "Mad World"' and yet, I do agree whole heartedly with my fellow fans! I've ben a fan since Day one, here in Tennessee. These older cuts/deep dives are priceless! Please keep'em coming!
There are so many great songs down the Moodies rabbit hole. I hadn't heard this one before. Great band and Justin's voice. There's nothing he can't sing
When I hear these lyrics with the haunting James Bond like melody, and if I allow, it can put me in a mesmerizing conscious state of mind connecting with moments of certain tranquility or moments of mysterious calm and curiosity that occurred in my life from late adult to early childhood! (I am 74 years old) It is astounding mystery not just happenstance. Reminds me of Isaiah 45:3 I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. Read these lyrics: Are you hearing that lonely laughter as the lights go out on you? Are you getting that sinking feeling as the truth slips into view? But if you care, don't run away Your freedom's inside your head That's what we said Are you sitting on a tiny island as the tide rolls in on you? Are you getting that sinking feeling as it all comes home to you? Picture the wings that take you home Home to the love you need That's what you need Are you hearing that lonely laughter as the lights go out on you? Are you getting that sinking feeling it all comes home to you? But if you care, don't run away Your freedom's inside your head That's what we said That's what we said
In 1973, the Moodies started work on the follow-on album to "Seventh Sojourn". As was typical, they started with a Hayward composition. This was it. It is unfinished. No one can know how they would have completed it. It's almost a certainty that Hayward would have doubled his voice at a mimimim. Since it was his song, Hayward was at the desk with producer Tony Clarke when both were summoned by the other band members and told that there would be no new album. The others were burnt out. Thomas felt he was simply writing the same song over and over again. Pinder wanted to be in California. They would tour later in 1973/1974 but when they came back from touring, they went their separate ways. Hayward and Pinder attempted to do something together but Mike dropped out when Lodge and Clarke showed up. Hayward, Lodge and Clarke would start work on "Blue Jays" in June 1974. Back to the aborted 1973 album, Hayward had "Blue Guitar" at that time. But, since a new Moodies album was not happening, he recorded it with 10cc. It would be released two years later under the Blue Jays umbrella and be a Top 10 hit in the UK. Had the 1973 Moody Blues album been completed, I think "Blue Guitar" could've been the single.
I have only heard this today for the first time & I haven’t stopped listening to it since , there are so many songs I have discovered recently that people have posted on Facebook.
I do agree. Octave isn't The Moody Blues anymore. It's solo work put together on the album. After Seventh Sojourn there was no Moody Blues sound anymore.
@@joemachundaso glad they continued with Moraz, who injected a good dose of energy into the band. With Mike no longer interested the Octave album doesn't have much energy. Moody blues songs don't work well without a good keyboardist who is wanting to do the work.
Next time you go to a baseball game in honor of Jackie Robinson, look out for that angry usher, who may or may not say to you, 'Get yourself off that roof! Right now, or I'll THROOOW you out of the ballpark!!' (It's a children's story-related joke.)
Ui, ein wahrer Schatz. Ich hab gedacht, ich kenne bereits alle Songs der Moodies. Thanks for posting and sharing it. Well done. Greetings from Germany with a big hug! 🤗👍☀️🍀🎶
This was a revelation and very well produced. It is fascinating that there may have been a "core eight" instead of seven albums and what those other tracks may sound like. Also fascinating is Justin Hayward's constant use of "home" in his lyrics (you can never go home any more, the gates of home, bring me some redemption take me home, and many more).
Thanks for the explanation. I was like, No I know every song on their first 8 albums. Which one is this from? Glad they dug it up. An abandoned song from Seventh. They released those 7 albums in a short span of time so I doubt if there are many other remnants.
Love this. I love finding a new (old) song from a favorite band that I hadn't heard before. New arrangements are fantastic. Also, and this is just my crazy opinion here, but does this song sound like it could be used to open a James Bond movie? It's has that James Bond feel to it, here and there. It would have been great if the Moodies had contributed a James Bond theme - and this is the closest I think we'll ever get to that. Carry on.
The version I have as an extra track on "Seventh Sojourn" is much better than this. The vocals are more to the front and the unnecessary strings aren't on it, leaving the vocal and mellotron to create a wonderful, haunting song which - with extra backing vocals - could easily be in the Moody Blues all-time Top 20 (no mean feat).
Could you please enhance Mike's Number One song with additional arrangement more mellotron at start & even sitar coda & further production, I would be happy to pay you, just name your price & post it on UA-cam
In the middle of recording, the other members of the band told Justin Hayward and producer Tony Clarke that they wanted to stop recording. Mike Pinder, in particular, wanted to move to California with his new wife. So, that was that until the "Octave" sessions.
This song reflects there talent and what they did so well. It sounds like it belonged on seventh sojurn. I wonder if it is on the delux cd version? Would love to speak with Justin or another member about the song. I wish I heard it sooner, all these years gone by with out hearing this song. Thank you for your information on it.
Heard the Moody Blues recorded a double album in 73-74 but were dissatisfied with it, shelved it and was one of the reasons they split in 1974. A lot of personal conflict added to the breakup.
Unlike Ths Beatles "Let it Be" recordings, the ones that Phil Spector overproduced and butchered it with his so called "Wall of Sound" (yeah, don't shoot me Phil!), thus version works well. Nigel, were these enhancements recorded by the Moody Blues? If not, who recorded/produced it? I like the one on the record as well as the other extra tracks, especially the original cut of isn't life strange, with the extended bridge with flute, mellotron and chamberlin- very ethereal sounding. I don't think The Moody's nor Justin Hayward ever performed it live. I've heard the story where it was being considered for a James Bond movie score- certainly has those riffs in it.
I would have put this song on "Octave" in place of "Steppin' in a Slide Zone" (sorry, John). Alternately, it could have gone after "Steppin' in a Slide Zone", and "Top Rank Suite" could have been yanked (placement is important in Moody albums).
"Steppin'" is a better (more Mooyish) song than "Top Rank Suite" so if one had to be dropped.... problem with placing is that as it stood this song has one of those "eternity" Mike Pinder fades which would demand it being the last track - like "My Song" or "Have You Heard".
Can't imagine which album this track would have been on. It doesn't really fit them. Doesn't have the "sound" of Octave. Perhaps it would have worked on Seventh Sojourn or The Present.
In this case, we are faced with the typical example of the song whose original final result, before the addition of various instruments, is to be completely reviewed. The vocals, already at the origin, are "buried" by the instruments, a very bad idea of the sound engineers of the time. Even if we think that the song was never finished, the mix is not up to the geniuses of Music that were the Moody Blues. It was therefore extremely reckless, and even suicidal, to try to revalue this song with the addition of other instruments, which only "mask" the existing instruments, which themselves mask the vocals. So in this case, it would not have been necessary to touch, it was useless, because too badly mixed from the start. We should have taken the original tapes, remixed, and only AFTER adding any instruments ...
Um, this edit throws the whole song off but I just couldn't bring myself to post a main comment with my critique, he worked so hard on it. I'll finish with Everybody needs to look up the original version to hear Island as it should be heard.
I Iove the extra instrumentation added to this song to complete it. I appreciate the effort you have made. It sounds very much like a completed song that could have been on Seventh Sojourn. cttcaegoaktd 😛😛😛😛😛😛😛
The voice on this guy!
And he's not even trying here. This is just a demo.
I absolutely love this song…Wow!👍👏👏👏♥️🌹
Personally, I get a vibe on the order of "Mad World"' and yet, I do agree whole heartedly with my
fellow fans! I've ben a fan since Day one, here in Tennessee. These older cuts/deep dives are priceless! Please keep'em coming!
There are so many great songs down the Moodies rabbit hole. I hadn't heard this one before. Great band and Justin's voice. There's nothing he can't sing
Love the Moodies...longtime fan and first time hearing this. Could fit in well in a James Bond film...
Great performance by the Moodies
Pure British music!
When I hear these lyrics with the haunting James Bond like melody, and if I allow, it can put me in a mesmerizing conscious state of mind connecting with moments of certain tranquility or moments of mysterious calm and curiosity that occurred in my life from late adult to early childhood! (I am 74 years old) It is astounding mystery not just happenstance.
Reminds me of Isaiah 45:3
I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
Read these lyrics:
Are you hearing that lonely laughter as the lights go out on you?
Are you getting that sinking feeling as the truth slips into view?
But if you care, don't run away
Your freedom's inside your head
That's what we said
Are you sitting on a tiny island as the tide rolls in on you?
Are you getting that sinking feeling as it all comes home to you?
Picture the wings that take you home
Home to the love you need
That's what you need
Are you hearing that lonely laughter as the lights go out on you?
Are you getting that sinking feeling it all comes home to you?
But if you care, don't run away
Your freedom's inside your head
That's what we said
That's what we said
Yep, James Bond-like for sure!
In 1973, the Moodies started work on the follow-on album to "Seventh Sojourn". As was typical, they started with a Hayward composition. This was it. It is unfinished. No one can know how they would have completed it. It's almost a certainty that Hayward would have doubled his voice at a mimimim. Since it was his song, Hayward was at the desk with producer Tony Clarke when both were summoned by the other band members and told that there would be no new album. The others were burnt out. Thomas felt he was simply writing the same song over and over again. Pinder wanted to be in California. They would tour later in 1973/1974 but when they came back from touring, they went their separate ways. Hayward and Pinder attempted to do something together but Mike dropped out when Lodge and Clarke showed up. Hayward, Lodge and Clarke would start work on "Blue Jays" in June 1974. Back to the aborted 1973 album, Hayward had "Blue Guitar" at that time. But, since a new Moodies album was not happening, he recorded it with 10cc. It would be released two years later under the Blue Jays umbrella and be a Top 10 hit in the UK. Had the 1973 Moody Blues album been completed, I think "Blue Guitar" could've been the single.
Hayward has stated that he didn't feel "Blue Guitar" was right for the Moodies.
yes he said that but I greatly disagree.
And Justin and John did Blue Jays which was great
Very interesting. Thank you.
The Blue Jays were a big disappointment to a lot of people.
Love anything Moodies.
ME TOO....EXCEPT A SONG CALLED "LOVE & BEAUTY"......HAVE YOU LISTENED TO "THE HOUSE OF FOUR DOORS"?.....😇❤🤗🙏
It's wonderful how the Moodies songs still touch the soul after all these years
My favorite beloved band since 1971!!! Love them so much!!
Enriched my life in so many ways!!! xxxx Grateful!!!
Very Seventh Sojourn. Can't get enough of that album.
Wish they had left Pinder’s instrumental in “Isn’t Life Strange”
I never knew this existed but wonderful to hear... How many "incomplete" works I wonder are waiting for our ears to listen?!! 🤔❣️
NOT ENOUGH I AM SURE......🙏😇❤🤗👽💋
Love island
I have only heard this today for the first time & I haven’t stopped listening to it since , there are so many songs I have discovered recently that people have posted on Facebook.
Not many. They did away with all the rejects
Simply amazing!
Dang never heard this before..TY for this VERY enjoyable gem.Its Great
Absolutely beautiful
Cant ever thumbs down
Amongst Moodies, Floyd and 007... ❤
love the original pics. Everyone was so skinny. Wonderful talent. Thanks
Excellent restoration work! Seamlessly great quality!
I do agree. Octave isn't The Moody Blues anymore. It's solo work put together on the album. After Seventh Sojourn there was no Moody Blues sound anymore.
The mellotron was an important ingredient to the classic moody sound
@@joemachundaso glad they continued with Moraz, who injected a good dose of energy into the band.
With Mike no longer interested the Octave album doesn't have much energy.
Moody blues songs don't work well without a good keyboardist who is wanting to do the work.
Thank you for this! 💘 the Moodies so much!
Beautiful melody year 70
Wonderful arrangement & resolution of song, many thanks ;-)
Very well done! It's nice to hear what the Moody Blues' recording of this song might have sounded like, had they finished it.
thank you Jackie.
This and Pinder's Simple Game.
Fantastic music from The Moody Blues as always! Happy Jackie Robinson Day recognition and God bless everyone
Next time you go to a baseball game in honor of Jackie Robinson, look out for that angry usher, who may or may not say to you, 'Get yourself off that roof! Right now, or I'll THROOOW you out of the ballpark!!' (It's a children's story-related joke.)
Ui, ein wahrer Schatz. Ich hab gedacht, ich kenne bereits alle Songs der Moodies. Thanks for posting and sharing it. Well done. Greetings from Germany with a big hug! 🤗👍☀️🍀🎶
This was a revelation and very well produced. It is fascinating that there may have been a "core eight" instead of seven albums and what those other tracks may sound like. Also fascinating is Justin Hayward's constant use of "home" in his lyrics (you can never go home any more, the gates of home, bring me some redemption take me home, and many more).
I AS WELL MADE THAT OBSERVATION......JOHN LODGE ALSO USES THE WORD "HEAVEN" IN HIS LYRICS.....😇❤🙏💋🐳
@Beaver McFluffy's World I agree. I never knew it before . Is incredible. I wonder if Mike P. participated on any of it with his mellotron.
Eccelente !!! 👍
This really sounds like vintage Moody Blues! Good job!
THANK YOU FOR THIS!
Thanks for the explanation. I was like, No I know every song on their first 8 albums. Which one is this from? Glad they dug it up. An abandoned song from Seventh. They released those 7 albums in a short span of time so I doubt if there are many other remnants.
thanks for that! again a great text as it can only come from the Moody Blues!
Curiosly enough, the song is an island in itself.
Lovely woodwind and fuzz guitar.
Nice additions, flute, horns...
Good song, odd it wasn't used on "Octave" -
I rather like this version!
I think this song would has been a great hit...in those times
Love this. I love finding a new (old) song from a favorite band that I hadn't heard before. New arrangements are fantastic. Also, and this is just my crazy opinion here, but does this song sound like it could be used to open a James Bond movie? It's has that James Bond feel to it, here and there. It would have been great if the Moodies had contributed a James Bond theme - and this is the closest I think we'll ever get to that. Carry on.
That is the first thing I thought of!
Well it does have that chromatic ascending motif in the mellotron (or chamberlain?) which is very Bond-like. I never noticed that before!
@@asymptoticspatula That IS part of the original unfinished mix not the posters edit
@@fueledbylove yes I know
@@asymptoticspatula Oops, sorry
The version I have as an extra track on "Seventh Sojourn" is much better than this. The vocals are more to the front and the unnecessary strings aren't on it, leaving the vocal and mellotron to create a wonderful, haunting song which - with extra backing vocals - could easily be in the Moody Blues all-time Top 20 (no mean feat).
Great! I love the additional instruments added to further complete this song! Really good! Thank you, good sir!
sttgaegoaktd
Could you please enhance Mike's Number One song with additional arrangement more mellotron at start & even sitar coda & further production, I would be happy to pay you, just name your price & post it on UA-cam
And in standard A441 tuning!
Very "Moody."
In the middle of recording, the other members of the band told Justin Hayward and producer Tony Clarke that they wanted to stop recording. Mike Pinder, in particular, wanted to move to California with his new wife. So, that was that until the "Octave" sessions.
This song reflects there talent and what they did so well. It sounds like it belonged on seventh sojurn. I wonder if it is on the delux cd version? Would love to speak with Justin or another member about the song. I wish I heard it sooner, all these years gone by with out hearing this song. Thank you for your information on it.
@@arichison Yes, it's a bonus track on the remastered "Seventh Sojourn" CD.
Heard the Moody Blues recorded a double album in 73-74 but were dissatisfied with it, shelved it and was one of the reasons they split in 1974. A lot of personal conflict added to the breakup.
Any hint about where those songs are??
@@sialatorah Not exactly, but I think parts of the songs made it to Justin and John's Blue Jays album
@@petercena9497 really interesting.
Unlike Ths Beatles "Let it Be" recordings, the ones that Phil Spector overproduced and butchered it with his so called "Wall of Sound" (yeah, don't shoot me Phil!), thus version works well.
Nigel, were these enhancements recorded by the Moody Blues? If not, who recorded/produced it? I like the one on the record as well as the other extra tracks, especially the original cut of isn't life strange, with the extended bridge with flute, mellotron and chamberlin- very ethereal sounding.
I don't think The Moody's nor Justin Hayward ever performed it live.
I've heard the story where it was being considered for a James Bond movie score- certainly has those riffs in it.
Many thanks. Additional recording by me.
@@glassmountain10, you did very well indeed. Excellent!
😛sttgaegoaktd
Ahhhh...THAT'S why. They certainly had those classic Bond chords in the instrumental refrain.
Great song; wonderful band. But the references to albums by the group are misleading. Please improve this!
I would have put this song on "Octave" in place of "Steppin' in a Slide Zone" (sorry, John). Alternately, it could have gone after "Steppin' in a Slide Zone", and "Top Rank Suite" could have been yanked (placement is important in Moody albums).
"Steppin'" is a better (more Mooyish) song than "Top Rank Suite" so if one had to be dropped.... problem with placing is that as it stood this song has one of those "eternity" Mike Pinder fades which would demand it being the last track - like "My Song" or "Have You Heard".
Can't imagine which album this track would have been on. It doesn't really fit them. Doesn't have the "sound" of Octave. Perhaps it would have worked on Seventh Sojourn or The Present.
I like the song,but not with the additional instruments on this version.
I don’t remember this song. Strange.
Isn't life strange, this might have ended up on Seventh Sojourn.
Needs more oboe. Couldn't hear any oboe. Also, more cowbell.
lollolololol More cowbell SNL!! lololol
Actually, I think the original "unfinished" mix is perfect. Everything additional makes it bad.
who added the strings?
On which album can I find the song ?
The remastered Seventh Sojourn CD has it. It’s also on the Timeless Flight box set.
Someone wondered why this wasn't on OCTAVE. Justin Hayward said recording OCTAVE was a miserable experience that he just wanted to end.
Great album though, Octave. A work of love I suppose.
In this case, we are faced with the typical example of the song
whose original final result, before the addition of various instruments,
is to be completely reviewed. The vocals, already at the origin,
are "buried" by the instruments, a very bad idea of the sound engineers
of the time. Even if we think that the song was never finished,
the mix is not up to the geniuses of Music that were the Moody Blues.
It was therefore extremely reckless, and even suicidal,
to try to revalue this song with the addition of other instruments,
which only "mask" the existing instruments, which themselves
mask the vocals. So in this case, it would not have been necessary to touch,
it was useless, because too badly mixed from the start.
We should have taken the original tapes, remixed, and only AFTER
adding any instruments ...
Açtually said to be a Chamberlin..7th sjrn
Love the Moody Blues, but this is not one of their best - fortunately they hv many more good ones, lol
Ugghhh....it's sped up! Sounds like utter crap compared to the other version of this.
Um, this edit throws the whole song off but I just couldn't bring myself to post a main comment with my critique, he worked so hard on it. I'll finish with Everybody needs to look up the original version to hear Island as it should be heard.
I Iove the extra instrumentation added to this song to complete it. I appreciate the effort you have made. It sounds very much like a completed song that could have been on Seventh Sojourn.
cttcaegoaktd
😛😛😛😛😛😛😛