The Moodys

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I told everyone in the Who thread that us old folks were going to see The Moody Blues Friday, April 1, second row. Well the front row seats in front of my wife and I were empty the whole time, ;) never once did I have the only old chick in the whole place up dancing right in front of me. As usual they were very good, starting to show their age a little. Drummer Graeme Edge came from behind his drums to announce that he had just turned 75 two days before. I watched him the whole concert, he never missed a lick. Justin Hayward's voice cracked a few times but Nights in White Satin sounded real good. I'll cut him some slack as this was their second to last stop on the tour.

Good seats all right.







 
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Very nice!

I've always liked them. "Seventh Sojourn" was my first real rock album. Carl Perkins was actually my first album, but I didn't consider him to be "real" rock! I was just thinking about that yesterday!
 
Very nice!

I've always liked them. "Seventh Sojourn" was my first real rock album. Carl Perkins was actually my first album, but I didn't consider him to be "real" rock! I was just thinking about that yesterday!

Being from Memphis I can assure you that Carl Perkins was real rock, he was one of the founding fathers.


 
I saw the Moody Blues back in 2011 in Portland, Maine, at the Merrill Auditorium. I'd been a fan of theirs since the 1960s, but that was the first time I'd actually seen them live. It was like a geriatric Woodstock! Old people with canes, and using walkers, hobbling in to rock out...just great! :)

A couple of summers ago, my son and I had great seats to see Justin Hayward on a solo acoustic tour, at a wonderful venue in Wilmington, Delaware. He was working with a young man by the name of Mike Dawes, who is an extraordinarily gifted guitarist. Very memorable show...Hayward was very entertaining, as he talked about the origin of some of the band's best-known songs, and he plays the guitar beautifully, something that doesn't often come across when the entire band is on stage.

There's a popular bumper sticker which says "I might be old, but I got to see the best bands." How true that is! :)
 

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Here's another thought about the Moody Blues...

There has never been a hint of scandal or trouble associated with this band. When other groups were making headlines for using drugs, or tearing up hotel rooms, or acting like spoiled rich nitwits, the Moody Blues just kept doing their thing, playing the music they love...and I think that's really terrific! :)
 
They made some of the greatest music ever. I still listen to them, I have several live recordings on my DVR hard drive.

The way they blended rock music with a classical sound was unheard of at the time. "Days of Future Passed" and "On the Threshold of a Dream" were beyond amazing.
 
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But I sure got.......

Ah yes the "good old days" many hours listening to them.:)
Not sure if I accomplished much.;)

I know I got a lot of music memorized.:D


I really like their more, how you say, ethereal ? 'Ever Good Boy Deserves Favor',
'A Question of Balance' and the ones in that vein. A lot of their music is great, but those are my all time faves.
 
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Being from Memphis I can assure you that Carl Perkins was real rock, he was one of the founding fathers.

Well, of course I understand that now!

But when I was 12, for me, he wasn't playing in the same ballpark as Three Dog Night or the Moody Blues. He was more country than either of them, what's referred to as "rockabilly" now.

I knew he rocked. Carl Perkin's Greatest Hits was my first album!

A few years later I had the choice between seeing Elvis or Ted Nugent. Ted was a good first concert for a 16 year-old, but now I sure wish I'd picked Elvis!
 
The Balance

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL4QARsT-4c[/ame]


"The Balance"

After he had journeyed,
And his feet were sore,
And he was tired,
He came upon an orange grove
And he rested
And he lay in the cool,
And while he rested, he took to himself an orange and tasted it,
And it was good.
And he felt the earth to his spine,
And he asked, and he saw the tree above him, and the stars,
And the veins in the leaf,
And the light, and the balance.
And he saw magnificent perfection,
Whereon he thought of himself in balance,
And he knew he was.

Just open your eyes,
And realize, the way it's always been.
Just open your mind
And you will find
The way it's always been.
Just open your heart
And that's a start.

And he thought of those he angered,
For he was not a violent man,
And he thought of those he hurt
For he was not a cruel man
And he thought of those he frightened
For he was not an evil man,
And he understood.
He understood himself.

Upon this he saw that when he was of anger or knew hurt or felt fear,
It was because he was not understanding,
And he learned, compassion.

And with his eye of compassion.
He saw his enemies like unto himself,
And he learned love.
Then, he was answered.

Just open your eyes,
And realize, the way it's always been.
Just open your mind
And you will find
The way it's always been.
Just open your heart
And that's a start.

The Balance, The Moody Blues 1970

If there is any instrument that typifies the Moody's sound it was the Mellotron, a keyboard that used prerecorded strips of tape that gave that swirling sound. They were really finicky and were a super pain in the butt to carry around because they always needed repair and adjustment. But to some bands it's sound was important enough to take the trouble. The beginning of the Beatles "Strawberry Fields Forever" was one of the earliest uses of the Mellotron.
 
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One of my all time favorites: "Go Now". It was received somewhat harshly by some as being too honky-tonk, but still remains one that will get my pause when I hear it playing. As for Moody albums, don't overlook "To Our Children's Children's, Children" from 1969. They never could do much of that album in live concerts due to orchestrations and dubbing to make it, but I remember it fondly as a very high spot in their career.
 
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My wife and I were big fans and went to several live concerts in the late 60`s and early 70`s in Philadelphia, and Memphis. Its good to know they are still performing.
 
My wife and I were big fans and went to several live concerts in the late 60`s and early 70`s in Philadelphia, and Memphis. Its good to know they are still performing.

They're not only still performing, they sound as good as ever. Ray Thomas has retired, unfortunately, but Justin Hayward, John Lodge, and Graeme Edge are still hanging in there. The best part about seeing them now is that they are playing somewhat smaller venues (concert halls rather than stadiums) and thus fans get to be closer to the stage and the band.

You can check out their concert schedule on their website below... :)

The Moody Blues | Official Site
 
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