Breathe deep the gathering gloom Watch lights fade from every room Bedsitter people look back and lament Another day's useless energy is spent Impassioned lovers wrestle as one Lonely man cries for love and has none New mother picks up and suckles her son Senior citizens wish they were young Cold-hearted orb that rules the night Removes the colors from our sight Red is grey and yellow-white But we decide which is right And which is an illusion
The lead singer, Justin Hayward, is 76 and still touring! He’s still got that beautiful voice. I was blessed to have seen him live last year. And, he wrote this song when he was 19 !
This album was made to be listened to in its entirety, like a symphony. This was in the beginnings of the progressive rock era that continued into the 1970s. Great music is timeless.
Days of Future Past is a concept album. Night being the end of a day puts Knights in White Satin (slang for love letters) at the end of the album. I love this album, one of my top 20 all time, I'd say
The album simultaneously cover a day and a week, progressing through both as the album plays. The thing that made this album really beautiful was the collaboration of the rock group and the lush sound of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. This is a truly beautiful album, and like Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" it should not be taken one song at a time, but rather as a whole.
@@BP-kx2ig The flute and violin are a mellotron. Oh, yeah, sure, I believe you. And the rest of the song she didn't hear is also a mellotron, including the gong and the poetry reading.
@@lysanamcmillan7972The violin part was a mellotron. The flute was a real flute played by Ray Thomas. The rest of the string section was a mix of real orchestra and mellotron.
This is the single version. The orchestra is used only on the album version during the final verse and during poem section. The flute is played by Ray Thomas and the orchestral sounds are the mellotron played by Mike Pinder.
This is from their album Days of Future Passed, and it follows a day in the life of someone, starting from morning and ending with this song, and the poem at the end. It’s meant to be heard sequentially. Another song from it is Tuesday Afternoon
I'm Just a Singer is one of those that I always remember as being overrated, but then I put it on, and it blows my mind and melts my nervous system. Absolute banger!
Appropriately, they had several moods, and they were spot on with each of them, and they could reproduce that sound perfectly in concert, every single time. It just amazed me.
The Moody Blues are an often overlooked group because they came out the same time as The Beatles and The Stones. But they are great. Some of their classics include: "Ride My See-Saw", "I'm Just A Singer In A Rock And Roll Band", "Tuesday Afternoon" "The Question", "Go Now", The Voice", "Isn't Life Strange", "Story In Your Eyes".
Seesaw is my favorite in my iTunes collection. I've played it over 100 times in just the last 12 years. A couple of other songs I love not mentioned are "Blue World," "It's Up to You," The Stroy In Your Eyes," "Question," and "Legend of a Mind" (Timothy Leary's dead... No, no, no, no... he's outside...looking in!"
That song came out in 1967 or 68. I was 21 in 1968. This is one of the best popular songs ever written. There are people alive today who would not be here but for this song.
I was born in 68 but was lucky enough to have a cool FM rock station that loved album rock. The first album I ever bought was LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER! LOL! I was a kid!
@@DianeJennings I guess I am one of those parents lol., Now around the same time frame was a group called Procol Harum with a Favorite song of mine Called, "whiter Shade of Pale.,
All the Moody Blues hits utilized the mellotron which set them apart from other rock bands. What's really interesting regarding the mellotron, its speed can be adjusted. The Moody Blues started adjusting the speed of the mellotron in their songs like their song about Timothy Leary the guy who caused a big acid revolution in the 1960's. The mellotron created this psychedelic sound in The Moody Blues.
@@michaelchambers7691That is another song that can cause an ear worm. Every song in "Search for the Lost Cord" is amazing. But that is the song that made me a huge fan.
I am grateful to my parents for sharing the music they enjoyed with my brothers and I. Both of them appreciate Moody Blues music and we had the privilege of seeing them twice in concert. Magnificent experience and magnificent music.
The original studio version is even better. I love this song. I remember about 50 years ago sitting in my car with my girlfriend one night overlooking the ocean listening to this. Sticks in my mind to this day
The song is from the 1967 album called Days of Future Passed. Tuesday Afternoon was another hit song from that album. You reacted to the radio version. The album cut is longer, and includes a spoken poem and a long orchestral section. I think it's the more interesting and dramatic version. You might want to listen to it in your spare time (if you have any). Time by Pink Floyd, the first song you ever reacted to on your channel, is from the concept album Dark Side of the Moon. Other well-known concept albums include Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles, and What's Going On by Marvin Gaye. Some other rock and pop songs that use flute: Living in the Past by Jethro Tull (or just about anything else by them)' Moondance by Van Morrison Undun by The Guess Who California Dreaming by The Mamas and the Papas Color My World by Chicago There Is a Mountain by Donovan Ruby Tuesday by The Rolling Stones Spill the Wine by Eric Burdon and War. Flute is also used in jazz sometimes. Herbie Mann and Hubert Laws specialized in it.
Diane, as a 63yo lover of 60’s-80’s rock-n-roll, now sitting here longing for days gone by I guess, I love how your reactions instantly take me back in time and remind me of how I felt the first time or, even the 100th time, hearing certain songs. I think some of us actually feel a little younger seeing that there is now another, younger generation, at least in appearance, that appreciates these songs that so touched our lives in so many different ways so many years ago. Thank you for your reactions to these songs, no judgements, just honest reactions and feelings. Thanks for making me feel young again a few minutes at a time.
Hey Diane, as @Jeff_Lucthman mentioned the album version has a spoken poem at the end of this song. Worth listening to. "Breath deep the gathering gloom, Watch lights fade from every room, Everyday people look back and lament, Another day's useless energy spent, Empassioned lovers wrestle as one, Lonely man cries out for love and has none, New mother picks up and suckles her son, Senior citizens wish they were young. Cold hearted orb rules the night, removes the color from our sight. But we decide which is right. And which is illuision."
@@bassnote_1 Was the song I was listening to when I came down off a 14 hour LSD high. I thought the hallucinations would never end. When I finally woke up the next day it was the most beautiful morning and everything returned to normal.
I was never a concert goer, but I did happen to see the Moody Blues. Loved the "Days of Future Passed" album and played it a lot. "Tuesday Afternoon" off the same album is good, and of course there are live concert videos. This is from 1967, as rock was first maturing and developing an experimental side. The flower power hippy culture was just starting, and there was a new interest in the beauty of nature, personal spirituality, and magical fantasy. So the concept for the album "Days of Future Passed" is a poem about the phases of a day, seeing it as a cycle of life with a dash of mystical meaning.
This version was filmed in Paris in 1967. As someone else commented it was the radio version which did not include the spoken poem at the end which is on the album version. You can listen to that here: ua-cam.com/video/gqaiS-sDQyY/v-deo.html The song was originally released in 1967 when I was 7 and I immediately fell in love with the sound. Of course I didn't really get the lyrics until I was in my teens. You are correct that they are great live. Here is their live performance at the Royal Albert Hall on May 1, 2000. It doesn't have the poem at the end but the music and vocals are phenomenal. In my opinion they only improved with age since this performance is 33 years after the song was originally released. Great reaction Diane! ua-cam.com/video/MjUqfRrWwcM/v-deo.html
The Moody Blues were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. No surprise with their large catalog of music. They were one of my favorite groups in the 60s and 70s. Fun review, Diane.
Exactly! Iv'e been saying thing up above in this thread. I've seen dozens of bands. Some a couple of dozen times. I saw the Moddies 7-8 times in the 80s and 90s. In terms of playing to perfection every time, they knocked it out of the park. Never failed. Always blew me away that they could do that. The guitars, the vocals, always spot on. Astounding. So memorable.
This song was released in 1967. There were no violins in this recording. That was a Mellotron, a keyboard instrument that played short audio tapes with recorded orchestral instruments. It had a very distinctive sound, was difficult to play since each tape was an only few seconds long, and it broke down frequently. But it was a fabulous signature sound for the Moody Blues and was also used a lot by the Beatles. I last saw the Moody Blues live in 2018. After being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they retired as a band and Justin and John now tour separately. The Moody Blues are my favorite band, far more than even the Beatles. I am from that time so this is my music. But different people have different tastes and different experiences. If they are not your favorite, that's OK. It seems you do appreciate the artistry, and that's wonderful! I couldn't ask for more! Thanks for making this video!
Days of Future Passed was recorded with the London Festival Orchestra under the direction of Peter Knight. There was a full orchestra, not just violins.
@@kitharley6159 yes, the album contains orchestration. The actual song section played here contains none. The 'violin sound' as well as the 'backup vocals' were all made with the Melotron by Mike Pinder. The full album version does include orchestration as an intro/outro, with some stuff sprinkled into the song section.
Yes, the Mellotron was a unique instrument that could produce analog sounds from tape samples long before synthesizers were developed. There is a UA-cam video of Paul McCartney playing one.
Moody Blues had the world by the nuts for about 6 years. Their albums were journeys from the 1st song to the last. Some of the very best musicians and song writers of their day. Our local am radio station would play a 15 minute uninterrupted song fest of the Moody Blues every night at mid-night. Pinder, Thomas and Hayward all had beautiful voices. You have no idea how good they were.
Yes, please watch and listen to the same song done decades later with a full live orchestra. Compare the two. It is amazing. The song and the artist matured immensly.
One of my Moody Blues favorites was Ride My Seesaw. They did a wonderful job of fusing classical instruments with rock, as well as coming up with some crazy melodies.
A masterpiece of complete musicianship from the writing through to the production . It’s a timeless classic so chilled and relaxing. There is a live version which is also awesome. Great reaction especially when the flute comes in.
❤❤❤ Thanks for listening. When this song came out, there were two versions. AM radio ruled the airwaves with Top 40, and FM was alternate rock. Top 40 songs were generally single 45 rpm and short. 3 minutes or less so sponsors could get as much ad revenue per hour as possible. FM was new and looking to change how people listened to music. They were famous for playing the longer 33 and a third rpm lp album cuts in stereo. Music talent liked this approach and began producing longer pieces, some taking up the entire side of an album. The album version of Nights is outstanding, at over 9 minutes. There is a great live version from the late 2000s at a mere 7 minutes. That was like the 40th anniversary of this song. I can't make you watch, but I think you should. Love your work,Diane.
If you want to see the strings, check out the version of this same song they did at the Royal Albert Hall - It's amazing. Great song from an album that was foundational in the formation of progressive rock. Check out "Question" or "Story In Your Eyes" for some other Moodies songs and thanks for doing this one.
Diane, so great that you've discovered the 'Moodies'! I grew up listening to them as one of my very favorite groups, they were about as big as any band in the late 60s and early 70s, and it's quite the rabbit hole I have a feeling you're about to go down with them even if you were somewhat ambivalent about this particular song or video! Especially for five solid years they were incredibly prolific with seven straight albums, all of them notable. "Starting" around 1967 or so, after they took on their ultimate configuration, band members wise, that would stand for the next decade +, with Denny Laine leaving but adding Justin Hayward and John Lodge as the lead singers (and guitarist and bassist respectively), and eventually most prolific songwriters--especially Hayward. And this song, "Nights...," was their first hit from their first album in that form as a group, Days of Future Past, the "concept album" referred to. (Earlier, with Danny Laine, they had a mild hit called "Go Now," but the group didn't sound at all like they did from DOFP-onward, (so I see that original/earlier group and song as almost unrelated to what most people came to know as The Moody Blues) ...and DOFP was uniquely recorded with an orchestra,...but all their following albums would be "just" with the band and, likely also, studio musicians, though you often felt like it was still with orchestra because the sound was so full. They carried on with that sound even live. Over the past several years, a couple of their original (DOFP) main members passed away, but until recent years the remaining members with a substitution or two have been recording occasionally and touring off and on all these decades--in other words they never really went completely away and, unlike most "oldies groups," always / still played to big audiences. For the past 15 years or so, Justin Hayward has also toured with his own small, mostly acoustic quartet where they play a lot of the famous Moody Blues songs, as well as his solo compositions. If you want to listen to the Moody Blues live, check out their concert at Royal Albert Hall (in 2000), which also was very nostalgically in front of an orchestra. I think you will like the live version of "Nights..."! The entire 2+ hour show is on UA-cam. (One video is mislabeled 2008. Look for the one with no year in the title.). In the meantime, two great "typical but entirely different" example studio songs to check out--a "rocker" and one more of a ballad--are Story In Your Eyes and Land of Make Believe. The video of "Nights..." that you presented was likely done behind (ie using the audio of) the original studio version of Nights in White Satin. You can tell by listening to the original in full, or most any live version, that this one cuts off at the end,...but originally it continues on for a little bit, especially the orchestra version live, to a great building-crescendo ending. The Moody Blues' best years, IMO, are their first seven or eight albums. Actually, culminating appropriately in the Seventh Sojourn, after which they broke up for a couple years...but what I call their "8th," Justin Hayward and John Lodge did on their own - a great album called 'Blue Jays,' but being MB's frontmen it really sounds very recognizable and full and lush like a lot of The Moody Blues' songs, to the extent that only casual fans or listeners actually think it's the MBs.. A couple years later, the Moodies re-formed with their actual 8th album as the "full" MBs, also appropriately called "0ctave." More than you asked! (Later edit: someone(s) I think correctly pointed out that the version of "Nights..." in this video was very likely done with the slightly shorter radio cut vs the Days of Future Passed album version.)
My very favorite band of all time and their classic song! Thanks for reacting to it. The Wikipedia intro paragraph you read was accurate, but the missing key information is that Denny Laine and Clint Warwick were replaced by Justin Hayward and John Lodge respectively in 1966, and these two guys would go on to define much to most of the bands sound for the rest of their career. The violin you referred to is actually a Mellotron, a keyboard that has a piece of tape recording of an orchestra playing that note for every key on the keyboard. They probably felt for the purposes of this promotional video that it was impractical to include such a large instrument in the shot. It was played by Mike Pinder, and later, by Patrick Moraz in 1978. I have seen them live three times, and yes, they kicked absolute ass. I also had a forth row seat at one of Justin Hayward’s solo concerts four years ago. It’s true “Your Wildest Dreams” would be the next one to cover because it was a Billboard #1 in 1986. They also have a lot of very moving deep album cuts. The Present album from 1983 is my favorite one lately. Thanks and Slainte!!
@@headlibrarian1996the long instrumental sections were recorded using an orchestra but starting with this album Mike Pinder switched from playing Hammond organ and piano to the Mellotron!
There is a really cool video showing the mellotron part of this song being played. It's a great demo for those who don't know what it is or how it works. Check it out. ua-cam.com/video/DUAj3ql1DFI/v-deo.htmlsi=QJuZufVsb27_XWqXa
I saw them live in concert in the mid 70’s I have been to many many concerts since and none of them have left me feeling like I did then, I saw Justin Heywood there lead singer’s last year and it brought back memories.
The album this is from they recorded with an orchestra, which is why you don't see a violinist. The full version is phenomenal, and is easily one of the top 10 songs of all time. Fun Fact: It was used at the beginning of Tim Burton's Dark Shadows movie (from 2012)...they played a large percentage of the song which is rare. Love the band, love love love this song. If you put it in your playlist, it'll grow on you. Thanks for sharing! ~Be Blessed
The Moody Blues were revolutionary and way ahead of their time. Anyone who loves music, no matter their age, has heard of and knows this song. I find it hard to believe that you haven't heard the song or the band for someone who covers music.
My parents are big Moody Blues fans. I took them to see them play about 15 years ago when they played near us. They are a great live band but they have a concert video at Red Rocks, playing with a full orchestra. It is worth checking out. Tuesday Afternoon is another of my favorites.
Love the Moody’s! One of those bands I’ve been lucky enough to see many times. This is actually the second iteration of the band. The first featured Denny Laine and the breakout song “Go Now”. Graeme Edge died fairly recently and will be hugely missed.
Yes, they're almost like two entirely different bands, even though later (66/67-on, after Denny Laine) sharing a few founding members and the name. Go Now was a mild hit I remember hearing a few times when it came out, but didn't have the lasting power that a lot of other "British Invasion" (affectionately called in the US), certainly the Beatles and later Moody Blues songs would have. Go Now has sometimes been included in those commercial multiple disc compilations you've seen advertised "Rock'n'Roll Hits of the 60s" and some such, that's about it.
Had to look up the stats as it was so long ago. Went to number one in the UK and was in the top 10 in the US. I’m in my mid 70’s now and my memory is less trustworthy than it once was. The only time I ever saw it performed was when Denny did it on the”Wings over America” tour in the mid ‘70’s@@springertube
@@williamschroeder1458 Yes, I remember it on the airwaves, but certainly didn't recall it being ranked particularly high or lasting that long. Was not a 45 but I remember our buying or friends talking about, like we did with just about all other top hits on the radio.
Their "Threshold of a Dream" album is amazing. They were the first to really utilize entire orchestras for songs. And their album art was cutting edge.
This song comes at the end of the 2nd greatest theme album in the rock catalog. The first being The Wall. All of the songs are about diifferent times of the day, e.g., morning, afternoon, evening, and Nights In White Satin. Brilliant album. Saw the MB's in concert around 20 years ago. Excellent.
Diane listens to Nights in White Satin and thinks it’s grand She might prefer I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band) It’s a bit more upbeat, much like Question and The Voice A live version of Isn’t Life Strange, would also be a good choice Departure/Ride My See-Saw is trippy and I would also advise That you check out my favorite: The Story in Your Eyes
The lead singer wrote this song about a maid at a hotel they stayed at for a few weeks. He had a crush on her, but never got the courage to ask her out
I am 61 and enjoy it when the youngins find out about OUR music. I have actually tried to listen to today's music (and I never wanted to grow old and say "kids these days don't know what good music is") and while I can find a few artists I enjoy (Pink, Lil Nas X, Adele) most of the stuff is techo-rap that sound like it was made in a computer lab. So I really get a kick when they "discover" things that we all knew - like "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac or "Long, Long, Time" by Linda Ronstadt or "Running Up that Hill" by Kate Bush!!
This song was released in the US twice. The first time in late 1967, it didn't do so well, failing to crack the top 100. It was reissued in 1972 and this time it was a big hit, making it to #2 on the charts. I remember it from this second time around. In 1967, I was only 9 years old and it wasn't played on Top 40 radio. In 1972, I was old enough to appreciate it, plus it got a lot more airplay. While I don't dislike the song, it is a bit ponderous for my tastes, especially the longer album version which has a spoken word poem called "Late Lament" tacked onto the end. It kind of gives me the same sort of depressing vibe as "When the Music's Over" by The Doors. I prefer some of the band's more lively tunes, like "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock n' Roll Band)" and "The Story in Your Eyes." Still, it is probably useful for you to hear things "Like Nights in White Satin" that fall outside the more stereotypical classic rock feel, so you don't think everything was Beatles, Stones, and Hendrix back then.
The full orchestral sound in the introduction was performed by the London Festival Orchestra, but the "violin" in the rest of the song was provided by keyboardist Mike Pinder on his Mellotron, a keyboard instrument that used actual sampled instruments on tape loops. The Mellotron could also sound like a flute, but the flute on "Knights in White Satin" was performed on a real flute by band member Ray Thomas.
The Moody Blues were a band out of the UK and popular in the 70's and 80's. Their Greatest Hits album is very good and great to listen to. Their song "Question" is one of my favorites of theirs.
Justin Hayward the lead singer wrote this song at the age of 19!, the name came from them calling themselves M&B after a local brewery in the Birmingham area!, they hoped to get some sponsorship but it didn't happen so they made the name from the 2 letters, Danny Lane was the origional lead singer who left shortly after the World wide hit 'Go now' as they found it difficult to follow it up! he was replaced by Justin Hayward as lead guitarist& John Lodge on bass,there first album with the revised band members was 'Days of future passed' probably the first concept album maybe along with the Beatles 'Sargent peppers lonely hearts club band' both released in 1967.There is a version of 'Nights' with the London Festival orchestra of the fore mentioned album! the Moody's have sold over 80 million albums,Hayward& Lodge are still involved with solo tours,they were a successful but underrated band & were the first band to sell out 'The Hollywood Bowl' 2 nights running.
In this version, what you are hearing is not a violin but a Mellotron. This was an early keyboard sampler that contained taped samples of instruments, choral parts, and rhythms. Mike Pinder, the keyboard player, took one Mellotron and removed the rhythm section sound effects in favour of more instruments. This allowed him to have both strings and horns, for example. I'll have to think about what other songs by the Moody Blues to recommend; their back catalog is extensive.
Here's my shortlist: Rock songs: "Ride My See-Saw" (the title may be odd, but it generally means how life has ups and downs), "The Story In Your Eyes", "I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band)" (which is John Lodge's response to people thinking the band had all the answers). Ballads: "What Am I Doing Here?" (a little obscure, but good if you like Lord of the Rings type stuff), "The Tide Rushes In", "The Actor" Their biggest hit (apart from "Nights"): "Question" (there's an interesting story how it came together). Trippiest Song: "Legend of a Mind" (a kind of ode to Timothy Leary, who was quite the character in the 1960s). 1980s: "Gemini Dream", "Blue World", "Your Wildest Dreams" (won an award for best video), "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" *Note about the Moodies' "concept albums": unlike, say The Who's Tommy, the concept albums by the Moody Blues were more thematically-centred than narratively. There was no "story" per se, unless you made one up in your head. **Further Note about "Ride my See-Saw": should you choose to check this one out, make sure to find a version that includes the spoken word "Departure" at the start. If the video doesn't mention it, it will be the longer version.
You should check out the album, “On the Threshold of a Dream”, including the opening track, “Lovely to See You”! Other Moody Blues songs of note: Tuesday Afternoon, Ride My See-Saw (an uptempo rocker!), Question, The Story in Your Eyes, Voices in the Sky, Isn’t Life Strange, I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band), Legend of a Mind, The Word/Om, Never Comes the Day, Higher and Higher, Gypsy (Of a Strange and Distant Time), After You Came & You and Me. All of these came from the early run of the band, from 1967 to 1972 (it should be noted, singer Justin Hayward joined in 1967, and took the band into a ver different direction than what they had done before). They broke up (or went on hiatus - or holiday, as you might say in Britain, LOL!) for a time (personally, I think they took a break, for other projects). They regrouped in 1978 for an album, Octave, and keyboardist Mike Pinder was replaced with former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz. The album album struggled against the dominant music genres of the time (specifically punk & disco), and was not too successful, but had a couple standout tracks, Steppin’ in a Slide Zone & Driftwood. The following album (“Long Distance Voyager”) fared much better, their strongest in a decade, with several great songs. The singles, Gemini Dream, The Voice and Talking Out of Turn, as well as 22,000 Days & Veteran Cosmic Rocker! The 80s continued with classic Moodies songs, such as Sitting at the Wheel, Blue World, Your Wildest Dreams (their first top 10 single in America since Nights in White Satin, 14 years earlier!), The Other Side of Life, Slings & Arrows & I Know You’re Out There Somewhere (their final top 40 single in the U.S.). Their first 90s album, Keys of the Kingdom wasn’t a hit, mainly due to changing times & tastes, but it stands as a continuation of the music they’d been releasing since Ling Distance Voyager, 10 years earlier. Say it With Love, Hope and Pray & Bless the Wings That Bring You Back are all similarly great in the latter years as a successful band, still making music for over 25 years at that point. They would go on to perform a concert at a Colorado concert venue, backed with a full orchestra, that they released as a live album a couple years after Keys of the Kingdom (from that tour), “A Night at Red Rocks”, to which there’s also a live concert video available. Loads of classics from throughout their career! If you enjoyed Night in White Satin, and want to delve deeper into their catalog, these are the songs to take you down that rabbit hole! I hope you enjoy!
One of my favorite groups of all time. Moodies were one of the first rock groups to use full orchestra and each played multiple instruments, composed songs, and sang. Saw the live twice and last year saw Justin Hayward perform in Aspen. Still one of the finest voices in rock history.
Diane, If you've ever (luckily) seen them play live, they always manage to make this song come out of nowhere during their set. It never ceases to haunt when played.
At the top of my favorite groups. I was lucky enough to meet Justin Hayward in the mid-1990's at a small bookshop in Atlanta when he was beginning to move more of his work. He was very personable and humble. The six or seven concerts I attended never disappointed. They will always be legendary.
"Threshold of a Dream" is a masterpiece! Not mentioned much in light of their later mega hit singles and albums. It is an hour spent journeying into wonder, mystery and beauty.
I saw the Moody Blues in concert in Southern California in the mid 1990s. Fantastic! One of the best concerts I ever saw. Have been a fan since the early 1970s.
The version of “Nights in White Satin” you’ve listened to is so only 1/2 of it. The portion you still need to discover showcases the real talents of the group. Keep in mind, NIWS was released twice. Once in 1969 (not a great success), and again in 1971 (a HUGE success). History teaches us that timing is everything.
Still have the original Days of Future Past LP. It is worth listening to that whole album which was a progression from the beginning of the day, through the morning to lunch on side 1 and afternoon, evening and night on side 2. Nights in White Satin and the poem Late Lament represent the night and the end of the day. The last few lines of Late Lament take us on to the next day as they also appear in the first track of side 1.
In 1971 I saw the Moodys on St Louis MO, USA. They were definitely awesome. I'm now retired and living in Maine. Sill love the Moodys and listen to them often. Glad you enjoyed them. Mike from Maine.
Singer/guitarist/composer Justin Hayward said he wrote the song off the cuff in about as long as he took to play it. No kidding. Then the arrangement was *very* labored. The "violins" weren't visible because the band wasn't playing, they were just miming to the recording. In this version, the "orchestra" may have been a mellotron (see below). No drumming in the video, either. In the studio, the band recorded their parts, it was mixed to another tape, and the orchestra (who Hayward described as "session gypsies who were given a fancy name") were recorded ("overdubbed"). They only had 4 tracks of tape to work with back then, and got the most out of them, "bouncing" from one machine and reel of tape to another. The "aaaahhhh-ah-ahhhh-aaah" backing vocal was was actually from a tape loop keyboard called a mellotron. It's very wonkiness gave it the otherworldly, eerie quality. The very haziness of the primitive recording techniques added something, to my ears, It wouldn't be quite as eerie and moving if it were too tidy and slick.
This is actually the very original version of the song and was released as a 45rpm 7" single. The orchestra was added later for the album. This version is without the orchestra and the mellotron is very prominent to be heard in this version.
@@Nicholas-m8n Thanks. Pretty good job of mimicking an orchestra, then. Pinder was a master of the instrument, no doubt. I love that mellotron sound, and want one!
my brother is 10 years older than me. He grew up in the 70s and I in the 80's. He was a big fan and I ended up loving all their songs. They made a resurgence in the 90's, It makes me sad that people say they have never heard of them.
I saw them live in '95, epic show, they did indeed rock out. Their song "Question" is outstanding, one of their best. But soo many great songs to choose from!
Go back more than half a century in your mind and be a teenager at a school dance when this song was the "smooch" that finished the evening and you may feel the song so much better. The late sixties early seventies was so amazing music wise, you just had to be there.
I love that you ask, where's the violins. The moody blues were famous for being a pivot in music. they introduced an instrument called the melatron, it is what creates that symphonic music. It was in the 90s that they actually added a full on orchestra when they went on tour. There's nothing like hearing the moody blues with an orchestra. It'll be interesting to see if you go through the entire song and listen to their speaking portion. Because The Moody Blues are all so famous for the fact. That they have these wonderful speaking portions in their songs like the lament which is right after nights and white satin. Also, they were known for their album cover. This is from "days of future passed."
My wife and I bought this album after we were married, still have the copy. Love how you can play the whole album all the way through, and the thread of the poetry ties it all together. 43 years later and I will still drop everything when one of the songs from that album comes on. My wife and I had to really hide this album when our sons moved out, because they like it so much. Our middle son had a habit of ACCIDENTALLY mixing our music with his. Got to give him credit for trying, he introduced me to Metallica, and found out 15 yrs later that Hetfield is a year older than me. ;) Best I heard them live was at the Gorge in Oregon back in the 90's.
Another brilliant video Diane! Loved Chewie falling asleep on his little bed behind you 😍🥰!!! Please stay safe and enjoy the rest of your week! Excelsior! Heff
I remember this song when I was in high school during the early 1970's. It's a great song from a time when there where many great songs with incredible music with great meaning. I believe they were a British group that came to America during the British Invasion. They had a lot of great sounds. They blew us away and so did Stair Way to Heaven. I miss the 70's.
Yes, you're just a regular person, darlin' dear, who regularly elevates my mood, among others. This is a great song, and I have heard it was AWESOME live.😘💖💖😎
Glad you picked this song as it's their signature song. It was huge in the early 70's. It's part of the genre of very elaborate and almost symphonic, progressive, long format rock n roll of the era. No school dance at any high school in the USA failed to have this on the playlist. Great slow dancing song with a great romantic lilt. It is a great song that I think is likely to be heard a century from now as people review the music of the past.
This is the short version. There's a poem at the end that I think adds a lot (posted earlier). I'm pretty sure they had a full orchestra behind them for the studio cut. This was my favorite song when I was much younger. Thanks for reviewing this.
Breathe deep the gathering gloom
Watch lights fade from every room
Bedsitter people look back and lament
Another day's useless energy is spent
Impassioned lovers wrestle as one
Lonely man cries for love and has none
New mother picks up and suckles her son
Senior citizens wish they were young
Cold-hearted orb that rules the night
Removes the colors from our sight
Red is grey and yellow-white
But we decide which is right
And which is an illusion
The Poem at the end of the song
Thanks for that.
Yeah I was bummed she didn't include the poem or that the recording she listened to didn't have it. Bummer tho.
Recited by the actor Richard Harris I believe. (The original Dumbledore)
Late Lament is a very beautiful poem to end the song with. 🙂
The lead singer, Justin Hayward, is 76 and still touring! He’s still got that beautiful voice. I was blessed to have seen him live last year. And, he wrote this song when he was 19 !
Saw him a couple of years ago at the Capitol Theater in Clearwater Florida
I saw Justin a few months back ! He did eveything you'd expect plus his most recent solo work.
This album was made to be listened to in its entirety, like a symphony. This was in the beginnings of the progressive rock era that continued into the 1970s. Great music is timeless.
Days of Future Past is a concept album. Night being the end of a day puts Knights in White Satin (slang for love letters) at the end of the album.
I love this album, one of my top 20 all time, I'd say
The album simultaneously cover a day and a week, progressing through both as the album plays. The thing that made this album really beautiful was the collaboration of the rock group and the lush sound of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. This is a truly beautiful album, and like Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" it should not be taken one song at a time, but rather as a whole.
The format was called Rock Opera and the first was Tommy by The Who.
One of the most beautiful songs ever written.
As old as this song is, it never feels dated to me. I think the orchestral accompaniment makes it feel timeless.
There is no orchestra. You are listening to a mellotron. .
@@BP-kx2ig The flute and violin are a mellotron. Oh, yeah, sure, I believe you. And the rest of the song she didn't hear is also a mellotron, including the gong and the poetry reading.
@@lysanamcmillan7972The violin part was a mellotron. The flute was a real flute played by Ray Thomas. The rest of the string section was a mix of real orchestra and mellotron.
I slow danced with my high school gf to this song.
This is the single version. The orchestra is used only on the album version during the final verse and during poem section. The flute is played by Ray Thomas and the orchestral sounds are the mellotron played by Mike Pinder.
This is from their album Days of Future Passed, and it follows a day in the life of someone, starting from morning and ending with this song, and the poem at the end. It’s meant to be heard sequentially. Another song from it is Tuesday Afternoon
I have owned the album on cassette, vinyl, cd & now in digital download format. ❤
The Moody Blues could definitely rock when they wanted to. "I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band)" is a certified banger.
Yes
great suggestion as the words apply even today.
I'm Just a Singer is one of those that I always remember as being overrated, but then I put it on, and it blows my mind and melts my nervous system. Absolute banger!
Appropriately, they had several moods, and they were spot on with each of them, and they could reproduce that sound perfectly in concert, every single time. It just amazed me.
Absotively!
The Moody Blues are an often overlooked group because they came out the same time as The Beatles and The Stones. But they are great. Some of their classics include:
"Ride My See-Saw", "I'm Just A Singer In A Rock And Roll Band", "Tuesday Afternoon" "The Question", "Go Now", The Voice", "Isn't Life Strange", "Story In Your Eyes".
See Saw Rocks. Live Haywood didn't include the poetry at the beginning. It makes the song.
I also really like Gypsy from To Our Children's Children's Children.
Seesaw is my favorite in my iTunes collection. I've played it over 100 times in just the last 12 years. A couple of other songs I love not mentioned are "Blue World," "It's Up to You," The Stroy In Your Eyes," "Question," and "Legend of a Mind" (Timothy Leary's dead... No, no, no, no... he's outside...looking in!"
your comment is sooo true I actually liked them more the Beatles
Not to mention 'Gypsy', "Lovely To See You", "Candle of Life" and "Lazy Day" to name a few more.
That song came out in 1967 or 68. I was 21 in 1968. This is one of the best popular songs ever written. There are people alive today who would not be here but for this song.
Ha ha ha ha... I get where you're coming from.
i was 17 in 1968 and this song will never die, happy to be young in this period.
I was born in 68 but was lucky enough to have a cool FM rock station that loved album rock. The first album I ever bought was LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER! LOL! I was a kid!
It’s a beautiful song. This is my parents generation, so I’ve heard this song numerous times. I think I appreciate it more the older I get.
Aww that’s nice to hear
@@DianeJennings I guess I am one of those parents lol., Now around the same time frame was a group called Procol Harum with a Favorite song of mine Called, "whiter Shade of Pale.,
@@larrybutler8948 Procul Harum
@@larrybutler8948 Procol Harum.
Yeah, it's one of my mom's favourite songs. I grew up with this and many 1960's - 1970's pop and rock (not disco 😂)
They did a live performance at the Royal Albert Hall with a full orchestra that was phenomenal !!! Worth a watch after seeing this studio version.
I've seen that one and it was better than the original because it was not faked filmed.
Great video
You have not heard this song until you see the video from Royal Albert Hall. P!ease do another reaction, but with the live performance.
@@thomaswermers8300 awesome version
I agree. The Live at the Royal Albert Hall took this to a whole new level
Lead singer Justin Hayward is genius, one of the more underrated singers. They made the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally in 2018
Most good bands never were inducted into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame.
and that's where this video is from
All the Moody Blues hits utilized the mellotron which set them apart from other rock bands. What's really interesting regarding the mellotron, its speed can be adjusted. The Moody Blues started adjusting the speed of the mellotron in their songs like their song about Timothy Leary the guy who caused a big acid revolution in the 1960's. The mellotron created this psychedelic sound in The Moody Blues.
but it is bizarre that the wiki(?) she quotes does not name Hayward in the line up.
@@michaelchambers7691That is another song that can cause an ear worm. Every song in "Search for the Lost Cord" is amazing. But that is the song that made me a huge fan.
I am grateful to my parents for sharing the music they enjoyed with my brothers and I. Both of them appreciate Moody Blues music and we had the privilege of seeing them twice in concert. Magnificent experience and magnificent music.
I grew up listening to this because of my parents too. It was my first concert in the mid 80s.
The original studio version is even better. I love this song. I remember about 50 years ago sitting in my car with my girlfriend one night overlooking the ocean listening to this. Sticks in my mind to this day
We (a few friends) used to sit a room, with just a black light and listen to this. If I lived near the water maybe I'd done it you way. 😂
Aw, yes. The blacks lights. I remember doing that. Friends and some weed.@@bella-xp7qd
1967!!!! I remember loving this as a pre-teen!!! So beautiful!!! Justin Hayward (the singer) still has an amazing voice!!!
The song is from the 1967 album called Days of Future Passed. Tuesday Afternoon was another hit song from that album.
You reacted to the radio version. The album cut is longer, and includes a spoken poem and a long orchestral section. I think it's the more interesting and dramatic version. You might want to listen to it in your spare time (if you have any).
Time by Pink Floyd, the first song you ever reacted to on your channel, is from the concept album Dark Side of the Moon. Other well-known concept albums include Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles, and What's Going On by Marvin Gaye.
Some other rock and pop songs that use flute:
Living in the Past by Jethro Tull (or just about anything else by them)'
Moondance by Van Morrison
Undun by The Guess Who
California Dreaming by The Mamas and the Papas
Color My World by Chicago
There Is a Mountain by Donovan
Ruby Tuesday by The Rolling Stones
Spill the Wine by Eric Burdon and War.
Flute is also used in jazz sometimes. Herbie Mann and Hubert Laws specialized in it.
Jeff as always coming in with the information😊
@@DianeJennings Knights with Late Lament: YT
ua-cam.com/video/7JFQl_OPofU/v-deo.htmlsi=OHvxwB9W0N0qUw4w
Firefall "Strange Ways," also. Herbie Mann, I had some of his LPS too.
Marshall Tucker Band, i.e. "Can't You See"
@DianeJennings You will also like "Tuesday Afternoon"
Diane, as a 63yo lover of 60’s-80’s rock-n-roll, now sitting here longing for days gone by I guess, I love how your reactions instantly take me back in time and remind me of how I felt the first time or, even the 100th time, hearing certain songs. I think some of us actually feel a little younger seeing that there is now another, younger generation, at least in appearance, that appreciates these songs that so touched our lives in so many different ways so many years ago. Thank you for your reactions to these songs, no judgements, just honest reactions and feelings. Thanks for making me feel young again a few minutes at a time.
Hey Diane, as @Jeff_Lucthman mentioned the album version has a spoken poem at the end of this song. Worth listening to. "Breath deep the gathering gloom, Watch lights fade from every room, Everyday people look back and lament, Another day's useless energy spent, Empassioned lovers wrestle as one, Lonely man cries out for love and has none, New mother picks up and suckles her son, Senior citizens wish they were young. Cold hearted orb rules the night, removes the color from our sight. But we decide which is right. And which is illuision."
red is gray and yellow white. But we decide....
You are correct.
They play that full version along with Maggot Brain by Funkadelic....at least Cleveland radio does
The album starts with the beginning of that poem
@@bassnote_1 Was the song I was listening to when I came down off a 14 hour LSD high. I thought the hallucinations would never end. When I finally woke up the next day it was the most beautiful morning and everything returned to normal.
I was never a concert goer, but I did happen to see the Moody Blues. Loved the "Days of Future Passed" album and played it a lot. "Tuesday Afternoon" off the same album is good, and of course there are live concert videos. This is from 1967, as rock was first maturing and developing an experimental side. The flower power hippy culture was just starting, and there was a new interest in the beauty of nature, personal spirituality, and magical fantasy. So the concept for the album "Days of Future Passed" is a poem about the phases of a day, seeing it as a cycle of life with a dash of mystical meaning.
This version was filmed in Paris in 1967. As someone else commented it was the radio version which did not include the spoken poem at the end which is on the album version. You can listen to that here:
ua-cam.com/video/gqaiS-sDQyY/v-deo.html
The song was originally released in 1967 when I was 7 and I immediately fell in love with the sound. Of course I didn't really get the lyrics until I was in my teens. You are correct that they are great live. Here is their live performance at the Royal Albert Hall on May 1, 2000. It doesn't have the poem at the end but the music and vocals are phenomenal. In my opinion they only improved with age since this performance is 33 years after the song was originally released. Great reaction Diane!
ua-cam.com/video/MjUqfRrWwcM/v-deo.html
The poem from the album edition added more to the listening experience.
The Moody Blues were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. No surprise with their large catalog of music. They were one of my favorite groups in the 60s and 70s. Fun review, Diane.
Hi Diane! You've picked a great one here! Highly recommend listening to this entire album, "Days of Future Passed", it's Wonderful! Boop!
Great suggestion!
I got to see them live. That was the most technically perfect concert. They sounded perfect live, just like the studio albums.
Exactly! Iv'e been saying thing up above in this thread. I've seen dozens of bands. Some a couple of dozen times. I saw the Moddies 7-8 times in the 80s and 90s. In terms of playing to perfection every time, they knocked it out of the park. Never failed. Always blew me away that they could do that. The guitars, the vocals, always spot on. Astounding. So memorable.
I've always enjoyed this song. I think it's the calming, melodic sound that I appreciate.
I get that vibe 😊
This song was released in 1967. There were no violins in this recording. That was a Mellotron, a keyboard instrument that played short audio tapes with recorded orchestral instruments. It had a very distinctive sound, was difficult to play since each tape was an only few seconds long, and it broke down frequently. But it was a fabulous signature sound for the Moody Blues and was also used a lot by the Beatles. I last saw the Moody Blues live in 2018. After being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they retired as a band and Justin and John now tour separately. The Moody Blues are my favorite band, far more than even the Beatles. I am from that time so this is my music. But different people have different tastes and different experiences. If they are not your favorite, that's OK. It seems you do appreciate the artistry, and that's wonderful! I couldn't ask for more! Thanks for making this video!
Days of Future Passed was recorded with the London Festival Orchestra under the direction of Peter Knight. There was a full orchestra, not just violins.
@@kitharley6159 yes, the album contains orchestration. The actual song section played here contains none. The 'violin sound' as well as the 'backup vocals' were all made with the Melotron by Mike Pinder. The full album version does include orchestration as an intro/outro, with some stuff sprinkled into the song section.
Yes, the Mellotron was a unique instrument that could produce analog sounds from tape samples long before synthesizers were developed. There is a UA-cam video of Paul McCartney playing one.
Moody Blues had the world by the nuts for about 6 years. Their albums were journeys from the 1st song to the last. Some of the very best musicians and song writers of their day. Our local am radio station would play a 15 minute uninterrupted song fest of the Moody Blues every night at mid-night. Pinder, Thomas and Hayward all had beautiful voices. You have no idea how good they were.
Yes, please watch and listen to the same song done decades later with a full live orchestra. Compare the two. It is amazing. The song and the artist matured immensly.
One of my Moody Blues favorites was Ride My Seesaw. They did a wonderful job of fusing classical instruments with rock, as well as coming up with some crazy melodies.
A masterpiece of complete musicianship from the writing through to the production . It’s a timeless classic so chilled and relaxing. There is a live version which is also awesome. Great reaction especially when the flute comes in.
❤❤❤ Thanks for listening. When this song came out, there were two versions. AM radio ruled the airwaves with Top 40, and FM was alternate rock. Top 40 songs were generally single 45 rpm and short. 3 minutes or less so sponsors could get as much ad revenue per hour as possible. FM was new and looking to change how people listened to music. They were famous for playing the longer 33 and a third rpm lp album cuts in stereo. Music talent liked this approach and began producing longer pieces, some taking up the entire side of an album. The album version of Nights is outstanding, at over 9 minutes. There is a great live version from the late 2000s at a mere 7 minutes. That was like the 40th anniversary of this song. I can't make you watch, but I think you should. Love your work,Diane.
Truly a great song. To see them with a full orchestra is mesmerizing!
This song is so beautiful. Who cares what genre!
It makes me emotional. It was a very chaotic time in the world when this came out.
If you want to see the strings, check out the version of this same song they did at the Royal Albert Hall - It's amazing. Great song from an album that was foundational in the formation of progressive rock. Check out "Question" or "Story In Your Eyes" for some other Moodies songs and thanks for doing this one.
Diane, so great that you've discovered the 'Moodies'! I grew up listening to them as one of my very favorite groups, they were about as big as any band in the late 60s and early 70s, and it's quite the rabbit hole I have a feeling you're about to go down with them even if you were somewhat ambivalent about this particular song or video! Especially for five solid years they were incredibly prolific with seven straight albums, all of them notable. "Starting" around 1967 or so, after they took on their ultimate configuration, band members wise, that would stand for the next decade +, with Denny Laine leaving but adding Justin Hayward and John Lodge as the lead singers (and guitarist and bassist respectively), and eventually most prolific songwriters--especially Hayward. And this song, "Nights...," was their first hit from their first album in that form as a group, Days of Future Past, the "concept album" referred to. (Earlier, with Danny Laine, they had a mild hit called "Go Now," but the group didn't sound at all like they did from DOFP-onward, (so I see that original/earlier group and song as almost unrelated to what most people came to know as The Moody Blues) ...and DOFP was uniquely recorded with an orchestra,...but all their following albums would be "just" with the band and, likely also, studio musicians, though you often felt like it was still with orchestra because the sound was so full. They carried on with that sound even live. Over the past several years, a couple of their original (DOFP) main members passed away, but until recent years the remaining members with a substitution or two have been recording occasionally and touring off and on all these decades--in other words they never really went completely away and, unlike most "oldies groups," always / still played to big audiences. For the past 15 years or so, Justin Hayward has also toured with his own small, mostly acoustic quartet where they play a lot of the famous Moody Blues songs, as well as his solo compositions.
If you want to listen to the Moody Blues live, check out their concert at Royal Albert Hall (in 2000), which also was very nostalgically in front of an orchestra. I think you will like the live version of "Nights..."! The entire 2+ hour show is on UA-cam. (One video is mislabeled 2008. Look for the one with no year in the title.). In the meantime, two great "typical but entirely different" example studio songs to check out--a "rocker" and one more of a ballad--are Story In Your Eyes and Land of Make Believe. The video of "Nights..." that you presented was likely done behind (ie using the audio of) the original studio version of Nights in White Satin. You can tell by listening to the original in full, or most any live version, that this one cuts off at the end,...but originally it continues on for a little bit, especially the orchestra version live, to a great building-crescendo ending.
The Moody Blues' best years, IMO, are their first seven or eight albums. Actually, culminating appropriately in the Seventh Sojourn, after which they broke up for a couple years...but what I call their "8th," Justin Hayward and John Lodge did on their own - a great album called 'Blue Jays,' but being MB's frontmen it really sounds very recognizable and full and lush like a lot of The Moody Blues' songs, to the extent that only casual fans or listeners actually think it's the MBs.. A couple years later, the Moodies re-formed with their actual 8th album as the "full" MBs, also appropriately called "0ctave."
More than you asked!
(Later edit: someone(s) I think correctly pointed out that the version of "Nights..." in this video was very likely done with the slightly shorter radio cut vs the Days of Future Passed album version.)
My very favorite band of all time and their classic song! Thanks for reacting to it. The Wikipedia intro paragraph you read was accurate, but the missing key information is that Denny Laine and Clint Warwick were replaced by Justin Hayward and John Lodge respectively in 1966, and these two guys would go on to define much to most of the bands sound for the rest of their career.
The violin you referred to is actually a Mellotron, a keyboard that has a piece of tape recording of an orchestra playing that note for every key on the keyboard. They probably felt for the purposes of this promotional video that it was impractical to include such a large instrument in the shot.
It was played by Mike Pinder, and later, by Patrick Moraz in 1978. I have seen them live three times, and yes, they kicked absolute ass. I also had a forth row seat at one of Justin Hayward’s solo concerts four years ago.
It’s true “Your Wildest Dreams” would be the next one to cover because it was a Billboard #1 in 1986. They also have a lot of very moving deep album cuts. The Present album from 1983 is my favorite one lately. Thanks and Slainte!!
Oh wow! That’s so interesting
@@DianeJennings Here's a video of someone playing Nights in White Satin on a Mellotron. ua-cam.com/video/DUAj3ql1DFI/v-deo.htmlsi=JjdUIqR5juPTwQ7S
Mellotron? I thought they recorded with a live orchestra. Certainly all the live shows I've seen by them used an orchestra.
@@headlibrarian1996the long instrumental sections were recorded using an orchestra but starting with this album Mike Pinder switched from playing Hammond organ and piano to the Mellotron!
There is a really cool video showing the mellotron part of this song being played. It's a great demo for those who don't know what it is or how it works. Check it out. ua-cam.com/video/DUAj3ql1DFI/v-deo.htmlsi=QJuZufVsb27_XWqXa
I saw them live in concert in the mid 70’s I have been to many many concerts since and none of them have left me feeling like I did then, I saw Justin Heywood there lead singer’s last year and it brought back memories.
The album this is from they recorded with an orchestra, which is why you don't see a violinist. The full version is phenomenal, and is easily one of the top 10 songs of all time. Fun Fact: It was used at the beginning of Tim Burton's Dark Shadows movie (from 2012)...they played a large percentage of the song which is rare. Love the band, love love love this song. If you put it in your playlist, it'll grow on you. Thanks for sharing! ~Be Blessed
much of the "violins" heard was actually the mellotron, a keyboard instrument that Mike Pinder was a master of.
The Moody Blues were revolutionary and way ahead of their time. Anyone who loves music, no matter their age, has heard of and knows this song. I find it hard to believe that you haven't heard the song or the band for someone who covers music.
My thoughts exactly! And then to be lukewarm about it.
Such a great song! There is a great live version of this song. Great reaction.
Thank you I’m glad you enjoyed it😊
My parents are big Moody Blues fans. I took them to see them play about 15 years ago when they played near us. They are a great live band but they have a concert video at Red Rocks, playing with a full orchestra. It is worth checking out. Tuesday Afternoon is another of my favorites.
Diane, you need to react to the live version. Trust me, it's a masterpiece as they include a full orchestra in the concert.
Have a look at the entire album, days of future past, one of the earliest concept albums. I still have my vinyl copy.
Love the Moody’s! One of those bands I’ve been lucky enough to see many times. This is actually the second iteration of the band. The first featured Denny Laine and the breakout song “Go Now”. Graeme Edge died fairly recently and will be hugely missed.
Yes, they're almost like two entirely different bands, even though later (66/67-on, after Denny Laine) sharing a few founding members and the name. Go Now was a mild hit I remember hearing a few times when it came out, but didn't have the lasting power that a lot of other "British Invasion" (affectionately called in the US), certainly the Beatles and later Moody Blues songs would have. Go Now has sometimes been included in those commercial multiple disc compilations you've seen advertised "Rock'n'Roll Hits of the 60s" and some such, that's about it.
Had to look up the stats as it was so long ago. Went to number one in the UK and was in the top 10 in the US. I’m in my mid 70’s now and my memory is less trustworthy than it once was. The only time I ever saw it performed was when Denny did it on the”Wings over America” tour in the mid ‘70’s@@springertube
@@williamschroeder1458 Yes, I remember it on the airwaves, but certainly didn't recall it being ranked particularly high or lasting that long. Was not a 45 but I remember our buying or friends talking about, like we did with just about all other top hits on the radio.
The ending on the extended version is even more fantastic.
Their "Threshold of a Dream" album is amazing.
They were the first to really utilize entire orchestras for songs. And their album art was cutting edge.
@@jackmessick2869 They did not use orchestras for their albums except the first one.
This song comes at the end of the 2nd greatest theme album in the rock catalog. The first being The Wall. All of the songs are about diifferent times of the day, e.g., morning, afternoon, evening, and Nights In White Satin. Brilliant album. Saw the MB's in concert around 20 years ago. Excellent.
Diane listens to Nights in White Satin and thinks it’s grand
She might prefer I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band)
It’s a bit more upbeat, much like Question and The Voice
A live version of Isn’t Life Strange, would also be a good choice
Departure/Ride My See-Saw is trippy and I would also advise
That you check out my favorite: The Story in Your Eyes
You are completely the man, Raspberry.
What Chris said! These are the best
Tuesday Afternoon! That's also a Moody Blues song. Great to listen to. ESPECIALLY on a Tuesday afternoon. 😊
The lead singer wrote this song about a maid at a hotel they stayed at for a few weeks. He had a crush on her, but never got the courage to ask her out
I am 61 and enjoy it when the youngins find out about OUR music. I have actually tried to listen to today's music (and I never wanted to grow old and say "kids these days don't know what good music is") and while I can find a few artists I enjoy (Pink, Lil Nas X, Adele) most of the stuff is techo-rap that sound like it was made in a computer lab. So I really get a kick when they "discover" things that we all knew - like "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac or "Long, Long, Time" by Linda Ronstadt or "Running Up that Hill" by Kate Bush!!
This song was released in the US twice. The first time in late 1967, it didn't do so well, failing to crack the top 100. It was reissued in 1972 and this time it was a big hit, making it to #2 on the charts. I remember it from this second time around. In 1967, I was only 9 years old and it wasn't played on Top 40 radio. In 1972, I was old enough to appreciate it, plus it got a lot more airplay. While I don't dislike the song, it is a bit ponderous for my tastes, especially the longer album version which has a spoken word poem called "Late Lament" tacked onto the end. It kind of gives me the same sort of depressing vibe as "When the Music's Over" by The Doors.
I prefer some of the band's more lively tunes, like "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock n' Roll Band)" and "The Story in Your Eyes." Still, it is probably useful for you to hear things "Like Nights in White Satin" that fall outside the more stereotypical classic rock feel, so you don't think everything was Beatles, Stones, and Hendrix back then.
Late Lament completed the work.
Oh wow I didn’t know that! That’s so interesting
The full orchestral sound in the introduction was performed by the London Festival Orchestra, but the "violin" in the rest of the song was provided by keyboardist Mike Pinder on his Mellotron, a keyboard instrument that used actual sampled instruments on tape loops. The Mellotron could also sound like a flute, but the flute on "Knights in White Satin" was performed on a real flute by band member Ray Thomas.
How much is I love this song I really enjoy Tuesday afternoon
The Moody Blues were a band out of the UK and popular in the 70's and 80's. Their Greatest Hits album is very good and great to listen to. Their song "Question" is one of my favorites of theirs.
I was fortunate to see them live about 10 years ago. They still sounded great.
Nice to see a younger generation discover music from mine. So much for you to discover and learn from the 50s 60s 70s Enjoy!
Justin Hayward the lead singer wrote this song at the age of 19!, the name came from them calling themselves M&B after a local brewery in the Birmingham area!, they hoped to get some sponsorship but it didn't happen so they made the name from the 2 letters, Danny Lane was the origional lead singer who left shortly after the World wide hit 'Go now' as they found it difficult to follow it up! he was replaced by Justin Hayward as lead guitarist& John Lodge on bass,there first album with the revised band members was 'Days of future passed' probably the first concept album maybe along with the Beatles 'Sargent peppers lonely hearts club band' both released in 1967.There is a version of 'Nights' with the London Festival orchestra of the fore mentioned album! the Moody's have sold over 80 million albums,Hayward& Lodge are still involved with solo tours,they were a successful but underrated band & were the first band to sell out 'The Hollywood Bowl' 2 nights running.
In this version, what you are hearing is not a violin but a Mellotron. This was an early keyboard sampler that contained taped samples of instruments, choral parts, and rhythms.
Mike Pinder, the keyboard player, took one Mellotron and removed the rhythm section sound effects in favour of more instruments. This allowed him to have both strings and horns, for example.
I'll have to think about what other songs by the Moody Blues to recommend; their back catalog is extensive.
Here's my shortlist:
Rock songs: "Ride My See-Saw" (the title may be odd, but it generally means how life has ups and downs), "The Story In Your Eyes", "I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band)" (which is John Lodge's response to people thinking the band had all the answers).
Ballads: "What Am I Doing Here?" (a little obscure, but good if you like Lord of the Rings type stuff), "The Tide Rushes In", "The Actor"
Their biggest hit (apart from "Nights"): "Question" (there's an interesting story how it came together).
Trippiest Song: "Legend of a Mind" (a kind of ode to Timothy Leary, who was quite the character in the 1960s).
1980s: "Gemini Dream", "Blue World", "Your Wildest Dreams" (won an award for best video), "I Know You're Out There Somewhere"
*Note about the Moodies' "concept albums": unlike, say The Who's Tommy, the concept albums by the Moody Blues were more thematically-centred than narratively. There was no "story" per se, unless you made one up in your head.
**Further Note about "Ride my See-Saw": should you choose to check this one out, make sure to find a version that includes the spoken word "Departure" at the start. If the video doesn't mention it, it will be the longer version.
The violins and other background instrments were The London Philharmonmic Orchestra
You should check out the album, “On the Threshold of a Dream”, including the opening track, “Lovely to See You”!
Other Moody Blues songs of note:
Tuesday Afternoon, Ride My See-Saw (an uptempo rocker!), Question, The Story in Your Eyes, Voices in the Sky, Isn’t Life Strange, I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band), Legend of a Mind, The Word/Om, Never Comes the Day, Higher and Higher, Gypsy (Of a Strange and Distant Time), After You Came & You and Me. All of these came from the early run of the band, from 1967 to 1972 (it should be noted, singer Justin Hayward joined in 1967, and took the band into a ver different direction than what they had done before). They broke up (or went on hiatus - or holiday, as you might say in Britain, LOL!) for a time (personally, I think they took a break, for other projects). They regrouped in 1978 for an album, Octave, and keyboardist Mike Pinder was replaced with former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz. The album album struggled against the dominant music genres of the time (specifically punk & disco), and was not too successful, but had a couple standout tracks, Steppin’ in a Slide Zone & Driftwood. The following album (“Long Distance Voyager”) fared much better, their strongest in a decade, with several great songs. The singles, Gemini Dream, The Voice and Talking Out of Turn, as well as 22,000 Days & Veteran Cosmic Rocker! The 80s continued with classic Moodies songs, such as Sitting at the Wheel, Blue World, Your Wildest Dreams (their first top 10 single in America since Nights in White Satin, 14 years earlier!), The Other Side of Life, Slings & Arrows & I Know You’re Out There Somewhere (their final top 40 single in the U.S.). Their first 90s album, Keys of the Kingdom wasn’t a hit, mainly due to changing times & tastes, but it stands as a continuation of the music they’d been releasing since Ling Distance Voyager, 10 years earlier. Say it With Love, Hope and Pray & Bless the Wings That Bring You Back are all similarly great in the latter years as a successful band, still making music for over 25 years at that point. They would go on to perform a concert at a Colorado concert venue, backed with a full orchestra, that they released as a live album a couple years after Keys of the Kingdom (from that tour), “A Night at Red Rocks”, to which there’s also a live concert video available. Loads of classics from throughout their career! If you enjoyed Night in White Satin, and want to delve deeper into their catalog, these are the songs to take you down that rabbit hole! I hope you enjoy!
One of my favorite groups of all time. Moodies were one of the first rock groups to use full orchestra and each played multiple instruments, composed songs, and sang. Saw the live twice and last year saw Justin Hayward perform in Aspen.
Still one of the finest voices in rock history.
Diane, If you've ever (luckily) seen them play live, they always manage to make this song come out of nowhere during their set. It never ceases to haunt when played.
At the top of my favorite groups. I was lucky enough to meet Justin Hayward in the mid-1990's at a small bookshop in Atlanta when he was beginning to move more of his work. He was very personable and humble. The six or seven concerts I attended never disappointed. They will always be legendary.
Now this is a real Golden Oldie. Very good band with a unique style and sound. Nice reaction to this tune. Keep on rocking! 😊🎉❤
I love the Moody Blues. 60s, 70s and 80s. They have some of the best music.
"Threshold of a Dream" is a masterpiece! Not mentioned much in light of their later mega hit singles and albums. It is an hour spent journeying into wonder, mystery and beauty.
I spent hours listening to this song. I wore out my 33 lp.
I saw the Moody Blues in concert in Southern California in the mid 1990s. Fantastic! One of the best concerts I ever saw. Have been a fan since the early 1970s.
The version of “Nights in White Satin” you’ve listened to is so only 1/2 of it. The portion you still need to discover showcases the real talents of the group. Keep in mind, NIWS was released twice. Once in 1969 (not a great success), and again in 1971 (a HUGE success).
History teaches us that timing is everything.
Still have the original Days of Future Past LP. It is worth listening to that whole album which was a progression from the beginning of the day, through the morning to lunch on side 1 and afternoon, evening and night on side 2. Nights in White Satin and the poem Late Lament represent the night and the end of the day. The last few lines of Late Lament take us on to the next day as they also appear in the first track of side 1.
In 1971 I saw the Moodys on St Louis MO, USA. They were definitely awesome. I'm now retired and living in Maine. Sill love the Moodys and listen to them often. Glad you enjoyed them. Mike from Maine.
Singer/guitarist/composer Justin Hayward said he wrote the song off the cuff in about as long as he took to play it. No kidding. Then the arrangement was *very* labored. The "violins" weren't visible because the band wasn't playing, they were just miming to the recording. In this version, the "orchestra" may have been a mellotron (see below). No drumming in the video, either.
In the studio, the band recorded their parts, it was mixed to another tape, and the orchestra (who Hayward described as "session gypsies who were given a fancy name") were recorded ("overdubbed"). They only had 4 tracks of tape to work with back then, and got the most out of them, "bouncing" from one machine and reel of tape to another.
The "aaaahhhh-ah-ahhhh-aaah" backing vocal was was actually from a tape loop keyboard called a mellotron. It's very wonkiness gave it the otherworldly, eerie quality.
The very haziness of the primitive recording techniques added something, to my ears, It wouldn't be quite as eerie and moving if it were too tidy and slick.
This is actually the very original version of the song and was released as a 45rpm 7" single. The orchestra was added later for the album. This version is without the orchestra and the mellotron is very prominent to be heard in this version.
@@Nicholas-m8n Thanks. Pretty good job of mimicking an orchestra, then. Pinder was a master of the instrument, no doubt. I love that mellotron sound, and want one!
my brother is 10 years older than me. He grew up in the 70s and I in the 80's. He was a big fan and I ended up loving all their songs. They made a resurgence in the 90's, It makes me sad that people say they have never heard of them.
My wife and I were lucky enough to see them live with our local symphony orchestra. What a great concert!
A most hauntingly beautiful work.
The flute player, wow, that's cool
Ray Thomas. A great multi-instrumentalist, baritone, and soulful man.
Nights in White Satin is the most beautiful song ever written
God Only Knows by the Beach Boys is Paul McCartney's favorite song
Born in 1948 I’ve seen and heard ALL of the phases of music and regard the 60s and 70s as the finest time for great music !
I saw them live in '95, epic show, they did indeed rock out. Their song "Question" is outstanding, one of their best. But soo many great songs to choose from!
Go back more than half a century in your mind and be a teenager at a school dance when this song was the "smooch" that finished the evening and you may feel the song so much better. The late sixties early seventies was so amazing music wise, you just had to be there.
This song will never grow old! It’s beautiful!❤
First time a rock group and a symphony ever had produced an album together!
Don't know of one since.
The album was called, "Days of future passed"
Magnification by Yes has a Symphony Orchestra playing with them.
I love that you ask, where's the violins. The moody blues were famous for being a pivot in music. they introduced an instrument called the melatron, it is what creates that symphonic music. It was in the 90s that they actually added a full on orchestra when they went on tour. There's nothing like hearing the moody blues with an orchestra.
It'll be interesting to see if you go through the entire song and listen to their speaking portion. Because The Moody Blues are all so famous for the fact. That they have these wonderful speaking portions in their songs like the lament which is right after nights and white satin. Also, they were known for their album cover. This is from "days of future passed."
My favorite is Once Upon A Time. That story happened to me. Love lost. High School Sweetheart. My first -- Her first
My wife and I bought this album after we were married, still have the copy. Love how you can play the whole album all the way through, and the thread of the poetry ties it all together. 43 years later and I will still drop everything when one of the songs from that album comes on. My wife and I had to really hide this album when our sons moved out, because they like it so much. Our middle son had a habit of ACCIDENTALLY mixing our music with his. Got to give him credit for trying, he introduced me to Metallica, and found out 15 yrs later that Hetfield is a year older than me. ;) Best I heard them live was at the Gorge in Oregon back in the 90's.
I listened to this beautiful song in concert and cried. It was so emotional for me.
Saw them live in concert in 1972. They were very good, and still are.
The wrong one baby.Listen to the full song live with full orchestra,it's astounding.
Another brilliant video Diane! Loved Chewie falling asleep on his little bed behind you 😍🥰!!! Please stay safe and enjoy the rest of your week!
Excelsior!
Heff
Timeless as it is Authorial. Probably one of the Greatest songs of Ever!
I remember this song when I was in high school during the early 1970's. It's a great song from a time when there where many great songs with incredible
music with great meaning. I believe they were a British group that came to America during the British Invasion. They had a lot of great sounds. They blew us away and so did Stair Way to Heaven. I miss the 70's.
Hi Diane, try listening to Tuesday afternoon, by The Moody Blues.
Yes, you're just a regular person, darlin' dear, who regularly elevates my mood, among others. This is a great song, and I have heard it was AWESOME live.😘💖💖😎
Glad you picked this song as it's their signature song. It was huge in the early 70's. It's part of the genre of very elaborate and almost symphonic, progressive, long format rock n roll of the era. No school dance at any high school in the USA failed to have this on the playlist. Great slow dancing song with a great romantic lilt. It is a great song that I think is likely to be heard a century from now as people review the music of the past.
This is the short version. There's a poem at the end that I think adds a lot (posted earlier). I'm pretty sure they had a full orchestra behind them for the studio cut. This was my favorite song when I was much younger. Thanks for reviewing this.
Absolutely amazing band! Great song, loved your reaction!🧡🙏
This song never gets old, thank you sharing ❤️
Under The Sun - Black Sabbath.
They lived a lot closer to you fellas than they ever did to me...
I was 13 when the song hit the charts and I'm still in love with it to this day.
Nights is THE best and most romantic rock song ever written (IMO).
Yes I saw them LIVE in 1978 and yes they kicked ass
It's a lot cooler when you listen to it with the speaking parts.