Thursday 3/2/23 8pm ET: Feature LP: Moody Blues – Other Side Of Life (1986)

The Other Side of Life is the twelfth studio album by English progressive rock band the Moody Blues, released April 9, 1986 by Polydor Records.

This was the first Moody Blues album since 1978’s Octave, and only the second since 1969’s On the Threshold of a Dream, not to be released by the Moodies’ custom label, Threshold Records. Beginning with this album, and continuing through 1999’s Strange Times, albums would be branded “in association with Threshold Records”.

1. “Your Wildest Dreams” 4:52
2. “Talkin’ Talkin'” 3:56
3. “Rock ‘n’ Roll Over You” 4:51
4. “I Just Don’t Care” 3:29
5. “Running Out of Love” 4:25
6. “The Other Side of Life” 6:53
7. “The Spirit” 4:19
8. “Slings and Arrows” 4:29
9. “It May Be a Fire” 4:57

Justin Hayward – vocals, guitar
John Lodge – vocals, bass
Ray Thomas – tambourine, backing vocals, flute
Graeme Edge – drums, percussion
Patrick Moraz – keyboards, synthesizers

Wednesday 10/5/22 7pm ET: Feature LP: Moody Blues – Sur La Mer (1988)

Sur la Mer is the thirteenth album by The Moody Blues. It was released June 6, 1988. It features the hit single “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere”, a sequel to their 1986 hit “Your Wildest Dreams”. Much of the music on the album would fit in the “synthpop” genre, though it does bear more rock and acoustic influences than its predecessor.

Flautist and vocalist Ray Thomas did not appear on the album, although he remained a member of the band at the time during which it was recorded.

“I Know You’re Out There Somewhere” 6:37
“Want to Be with You” 4:48
“River of Endless Love” 4:45
“No More Lies” 5:13
“Here Comes the Weekend” 4:13
“Vintage Wine” 3:38
“Breaking Point” 4:56
“Miracle” 4:56
“Love Is on the Run” 5:00
“Deep” 6:50

Justin Hayward – vocals, guitars, keyboards, drum sequencing
John Lodge – vocals, bass guitar, keyboards, drum sequencing
Graeme Edge – drums, percussion
Patrick Moraz – keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements

Thursday 3/31/22 6pm ET: Feature LP: Moody Blues – Seventh Sojourn (1972)

Seventh Sojourn is the eighth album by the Moody Blues, released November 17, 1972.

1. “Lost in a Lost World” 4:42
2. “New Horizons” 5:11
3. “For My Lady” 3:58
4. “Isn’t Life Strange” 6:09
5. “You and Me” 4:21
6. “The Land of Make-Believe” 4:52
7. “When You’re a Free Man” 6:06
8. “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)” 4:18
9. “Isn’t Life Strange” (original version) 8:10
10. “You and Me” (Beckthorns backing track) 6:33
11. “Lost in a Lost World” (instrumental demo) 4:41
12. “Island” (previously unreleased) 4:30

Justin Hayward ― vocals, guitars
John Lodge ― vocals, bass, acoustic guitar
Ray Thomas ― vocals, flute, tambourine, saxophone, oboe
Graeme Edge ― drums, percussion, vocals
Mike Pinder ― vocals, Chamberlin, piano, harmonium

Friday 3/11/22 10pm ET: Feature LP: Moody Blues – A Question of Balance (1970)

A Question of Balance is the sixth album by The Moody Blues. The album was an attempt by the group to strip down their well-known lush, psychedelic sound in order to be able to better perform the songs in concert. Released August 7, 1970, the album reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom and #3 in the United States.

1. “Question” 5:40
2. “How Is It (We Are Here)” 2:48
3. “And the Tide Rushes In” 2:57
4. “Don’t You Feel Small” 2:40
5. “Tortoise and the Hare” 3:23
6. “It’s Up to You” 3:11
7. “Minstrel’s Song” 4:27
8. “Dawning Is the Day” 4:22
9. “Melancholy Man” 5:49
10. “The Balance” 3:33
11. “Mike’s Number One” 3:36

Justin Hayward – vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin
John Lodge – vocals, bass
Ray Thomas – vocals, flute, tambourine
Graeme Edge – drums, percussion, whispered vocal on “Don’t You Feel Small”
Mike Pinder – vocals, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer, piano, harpsichord, maracas, acoustic guitar

Monday 1/3/22 6pm ET: History of Rock and Roll (Hour 27)

Monday 12/20/21 12am ET: Feature LP: Moody Blues – Octave (1978)

Octave is the ninth album by The Moody Blues, released June 9, 1978, and their first release after a substantial hiatus following the success of the best-selling Seventh Sojourn in 1972. The album proved to be the last for the group with keyboardist Mike Pinder, who left during the album’s sessions and declined an offer to tour with the group. He had just started a new family in California, and found that he was not getting along with his bandmates as he previously had. Pinder would be replaced by former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz in time for their 1978-1979 tour, beginning a new era in the band’s history. Octave would also be the final studio album from the band produced by Tony Clarke.

The album’s title is a musical pun: it references both the notion of an octave; and as a word derived from the Latin octavus it refers to this being the eighth album with the then-current band configuration (following on from the previous album title Seventh Sojourn).

Octave was considered a departure from previous Moody Blues albums, mainly because of the group’s use of lounge-style organs and synthesizers in place of a Mellotron or Chamberlin (Pinder’s song “One Step Into the Light” references the Mellotron). Real strings were used on three songs: “Under Moonshine” and “I’m Your Man” (both written by Ray Thomas), as well as “Survival” (written by John Lodge).

Released after a considerable break, which saw The Moody Blues returning in an era of punk music and disco, Octave produced a reduced commercial outcome for the band, but reached No. 6 in the United Kingdom and went platinum in the United States, where the album reached No. 13. The album produced the hit single “Steppin’ in a Slide Zone”, which hit No. 39 in the US, in addition to “Driftwood”.

“Steppin’ in a Slide Zone” – 5:29
“Under Moonshine” – 5:00
“Had to Fall in Love” – 3:42
“I’ll Be Level with You” – 3:48
“Driftwood” – 5:03
“Top Rank Suite” – 3:42
“I’m Your Man” – 4:21
“Survival” – 4:09
“One Step into the Light” – 4:29
“The Day We Meet Again” – 6:19

Justin Hayward – vocals, guitars, keyboards
John Lodge – vocals, bass, keyboards
Mike Pinder – vocals, organ, synthesizer, Mellotron, piano, electric piano, acoustic guitar
Ray Thomas – vocals, flute, harmonica, tambourine
Graeme Edge – vocals, drums, percussion

Thursday 10/14/21 12pm ET: Feature Artist: Moody Blues

The Moody Blues are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1964, initially consisting of keyboardist Mike Pinder, multi-instrumentalist Ray Thomas, guitarist Denny Laine, drummer Graeme Edge, and bassist Clint Warwick. The group came to prominence playing rhythm and blues music. They made some changes in musicians but settled on a line-up of Pinder, Thomas, Edge, guitarist Justin Hayward, and bassist John Lodge, who stayed together for most of the band’s “classic era” into the early 1970s.

Their second album, Days of Future Passed, which was released in 1967, was a fusion of rock with classical music which established the band as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive rock. It has been described as a “landmark” and “one of the first successful concept albums”. The group toured extensively through the early 1970s, then took an extended hiatus from 1974 until 1977. Founder Mike Pinder left the group a year after they re-formed and was replaced by Swiss keyboardist Patrick Moraz in 1978. In the following decade they took on a more synth-pop sound and produced The Other Side of Life in 1986, which made them the first act to earn each of its first three top 10 singles in the United States in a different decade. Health troubles led to a diminished role for founder Ray Thomas throughout the 1980s, though his musical contributions rebounded after Moraz departed in 1991. Thomas retired from the band in 2002.

The band’s last album was the Christmas album December (2003), after which they eschewed recording any further albums. However, they continued to tour throughout the first decade of the 2000s and still reunite periodically for events, one-off concerts, short tours and cruises.

The Moody Blues’ most successful singles include “Go Now”, “Nights in White Satin”, “Tuesday Afternoon”, “Question”, “Gemini Dream”, “The Voice” and “Your Wildest Dreams”. The band has sold 70 million albums worldwide, which includes 18 platinum and gold LPs. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

Monday 8/23/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 70’s

The best music from 1970 – 1979

Monday 8/16/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 70’s

The best music from 1970 – 1979

Monday 8/9/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 70’s

The best music from 1970 – 1979

Monday 8/2/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 70’s

The best music from 1970 – 1979

Monday 7/26/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 70’s

The best music from 1970 – 1979

Monday 7/19/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 70’s

The best music from 1970 – 1979

Thursday 3/18/21 1am ET: Feature LP: Moody Blues – In Search of The Lost Chord (1968 / 2018)

In Search of the Lost Chord is the third album by The Moody Blues, released July 26, 1968 on the Deram label.

1. “Departure” (Original stereo mix) 0:45
2. “Ride My See-Saw” (Original stereo mix) 3:39
3. “Dr. Livingstone, I Presume” (Original stereo mix) 2:58
4. “House of Four Doors” (Original stereo mix) 4:13
5. “Legend of a Mind” (Original stereo mix) 6:36
6. “House of Four Doors (Part 2)” (Original stereo mix) 1:47
7. “Voices in the Sky” (Original stereo mix) 3:28
8. “The Best Way to Travel” (Original stereo mix) 3:14
9. “Visions of Paradise” (Original stereo mix) 4:15
10. “The Actor” (Original stereo mix) 4:39
11. “The Word” (Original stereo mix) 0:49
12. “Om” (Original stereo mix) 5:50
13. “Voices in the Sky” (mono) 3:27
14. “Dr. Livingstone, I Presume” (mono) 2:49
15. “Ride My See Saw” (mono – previously unreleased on CD) 3:45
16. “A Simple Game” (stereo) 3:46
17. “Legend of a Mind” (mono mix – previously unreleased) 6:40

1. “Departure” (“In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix) 0:46
2. “Ride My See-Saw” (“In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix) 3:40
3. “Dr. Livingstone, I Presume” (“In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix) 2:56
4. “House of Four Doors” (“In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix) 4:12
5. “Legend of a Mind” (“In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix) 6:36
6. “House of Four Doors (Part 2)” (“In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix) 1:48
7. “Voices in the Sky” (“In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix) 3:30
8. “The Best Way to Travel” (“In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix) 3:12
9. “Visions of Paradise” (“In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix) 4:12
10. “The Actor” (“In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix) 4:56
11. “The Word” (“In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix) 0:49
12. “Om” (“In Search of the Lost Chord” new stereo mix) 5:51
13. “A Simple Game” (Justin Hayward vocal mix / remastered 2018) 3:44

BBC Radio One Top Gear session / various extra mixes

1. “Dr. Livingstone, I Presume” (BBC Radio One Top Gear session / 1968) 2:59
2. “Voices in the Sky” (BBC Radio One Top Gear session / 1968) 3:53
3. “The Best Way to Travel” (BBC Radio One Top Gear session / 1968) 3:39
4. “Ride My See-Saw” (BBC Radio One Top Gear session / 1968) 3:50
5. “Tuesday Afternoon” (BBC Radio One John Peel Top Gear session – 16 July 1968) 3:24
6. “Departure” (Alternate mix – mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, September 1968) 0:54
7. “The Best way to Travel” (Additional vocal mix – mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, September 1968) 4:03
8. “Legend of a Mind” (Alternate mix – mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, September 1968) 6:45
9. “Visions of Paradise” (Instrumental mix – mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, September 1968) 4:30
10. “The Word” (Mellotron mix – mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, September 1968) 1:02
11. “Om” (Extended mix – mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, September 1968) 6:08
12. “King and Queen” (Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, September 1968) 3:54
13. “Gimmie a Little Something” (Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, September 1968) 3:12
14. “What Am I Doing Here?” (Full version – mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, September 1968) 3:54
15. “A Simple Game” (Justin Hayward vocal version – mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, September 1968) 3:26

Wednesday 11/25/2020 6pm ET: Feature LP: Moody Blues – Time Traveller (1994)

Time Traveller is a five-disc compilation album by the Moody Blues. The set is presented in strict chronological order, beginning with the 1966 addition of Justin Hayward and John Lodge (omitting the earlier Denny Laine and Clint Warwick-led R&B period), shortly before the release of Days of Future Passed, and continuing through 1993’s A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. The set includes several previously unreleased or rare tracks, songs from the Hayward/Lodge album Blue Jays, and a solo track (“Forever Autumn”) by Hayward.

The bonus fifth disc contains a contribution to the FIFA album Soccer Rocks the Globe otherwise unavailable on a Moody Blues album, plus eight live recordings that were cut from the original 1993 release of A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra but later included in the 2003 2-CD deluxe re-release of A Night at Red Rocks.

The fifth disc was omitted from the 1996 and later re-releases of Time Traveller, thus this version of the set ends with the Keys of the Kingdom sessions.

1. “Fly Me High” 2:53
2. “Love and Beauty” 2:23
3. “Cities” 2:21
4. “Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)” 4:47
5. “The Night: Nights in White Satin/Late Lament” 7:40
6. “Departure/Ride My See-Saw” 1968 4:22
7. “Legend of a Mind” 6:35
8. “House of Four Doors (Parts 1 & 2)” 6:00
9. “Voices in the Sky” 3:29
10. “The Best Way to Travel” 3:13
11. “The Actor” 4:39
12. “In the Beginning” 1969 2:07
13. “Lovely to See You” 2:34
14. “Dear Diary” 3:56
15. “Never Comes the Day” 4:40
16. “Are You Sitting Comfortably?” 3:29
17. “The Dream” 0:53
18. “Have You Heard (Part 1)” 1:23
19. “The Voyage” 4:08
20. “Have You Heard (Part 2)” 2:38

1. “Higher and Higher” 3:58
2. “Gypsy (Of a Strange and Distant Time)” 3:31
3. “Eyes of a Child” 3:11
4. “I Never Thought I’d Live to be a Hundred” 1:05
5. “Beyond” Edge 2:58
6. “Out and In” 3:41
7. “Candle of Life” 4:12
8. “I Never Thought I’d Live to be a Million” 0:33
9. “Watching and Waiting” 4:14
10. “Question” 5:39
11. “Don’t You Feel Small” 2:35
12. “It’s Up to You” 3:11
13. “Minstrel’s Song” 4:24
14. “Dawning Is the Day” 4:24
15. “Melancholy Man” 5:44
16. “Procession” 1971 4:41
17. “The Story in Your Eyes” 2:52
18. “One More Time to Live” 5:39
19. “You Can Never Go Home” 4:14
20. “My Song” 6:18

1. “Lost in a Lost World” 4:41
2. “New Horizons” 5:10
3. “For My Lady” 3:57
4. “Isn’t Life Strange” 6:08
5. “You and Me” 4:19
6. “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)” 4:17
7. “This Morning” 5:55
8. “Remember Me 5:27
9. “My Brother” 3:27
10. “Saved by the Music” 6:08
11. “I Dreamed Last Night” 4:26
12. “When You Wake Up” 5:19
13. “Blue Guitar” 3:39
14. “Steppin’ in a Slide Zone” 5:28
15. “Driftwood” 4:25
16. “The Day We Meet Again” 6:18

1. “Forever Autumn” 4:31
2. “The Voice” 5:16
3. “Talking Out of Turn” 7:16
4. “Gemini Dream” 4:05
5. “Blue World” 5:10
6. “Sitting at the Wheel” 5:37
7. “Running Water” 3:21
8. “Your Wildest Dreams” 4:50
9. “The Other Side of Life” 6:50
10. “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere” 6:37
11. “No More Lies” 5:14
12. “Say It with Love” 3:55
13. “Bless the Wings (That Bring You Back)” 5:09
14. “Lean on Me (Tonight)” 4:57
15. “Highway” 4:35

1. “This Is the Moment” 4:39
2. “The Story in Your Eyes” 3:43
3. “Voices in the Sky” 4:02
4. “New Horizons” 5:58
5. “Emily’s Song” Lodge 4:31
6. “Bless the Wings (That Bring You Back)” 4:16
7. “Say It with Love” 4:52
8. “Legend of a Mind” 9:01
9. “Gemini Dream” 4:27