These Veteran Cosmic Rockers swept into the 80's with the confident majestic 'Long Distance Voyager'. It was the first and only time that the Moody Blues were able to record at Threshold Studio which had been custom designed for the band by Decca before they went on their extended hiatus. They had recorded their comeback album 'Octave' in California to accomodate Mike Pinder who had just started a family there. When it came time to tour for that album Pinder declined. Patrick Moraz had just parted ways with Yes and came in to replace Pinder on keyboards. The group decided to keep Moraz when it came time to record this album. Pinder attempted to sue the band to keep them from releasing an album without him; but it was to no avail. By the time the album was released, Decca Records had been acquired by Polydor and Threshold Studios was dismantled. The first side consists of songs by guitarist Justin Hayward and bassist John Lodge. Side two has another song from each of them, one from drummer Graeme Edge, and closes with a suite of three songs from flutist Ray Thomas. Despite dismissals from critics, 'Long Distance Voyager' made it to number five in the UK and topped the US album chart. It also featured NASA's Voyager spacecraft in the sky on the album cover in the midst of a Mediaeval setting.
Hayward's 'The Voice' modernizes their mystical sound. It peaked at number fifteen on the pop chart and topped the Billboard Top Tracks chart for four weeks.
"'Cos out on the ocean of life my love
There's so many storms we must rise above
Can you hear the spirit calling
As it's carried across the waves
You're already falling
It's calling you back to face the music
And the song that is coming through
You're already falling
The one that it's calling you
Make a promise take a vow
And trust your feelings it's easy now
Understand the voice within
And feel the changes already beginning"
Written by bassist John Lodge, 'Talking Out Of Turn' evokes Pink Floyd and rekindles the grandeur of their days of future past. The single made it to number sixty-five in the US.
"But I took a little more of you each day
When I didn't see that I was breaking you apart
With angry words of love I didn't mean
Oh why, can't believe that I would ever
Talk myself out of tomorrow
Talked like a fool to yesterday
And as the evening loses colour
Your love began to fade away"
The energy of 'Gemini Dream' sounds like XTC by way of ELO. It describes the connection between performer and audience. It was co-written by Hayward and Lodge and made it to number twelve on the US pop chart.
"Long time no see
Short time for you and me
So fine, so good
We're on the road
Like you knew we would"
The lovely pop of 'Meanwhile' is another Hayward composition.
"I think I see where I went wrong
I think I see what's going on
Meanwhile and far away
As the night draws in
He's holding her right now
I can feel it all begin
Meanwhile and far away
When the day is done
I ride away with my friend
Into the setting sun
And the rivers running down
Down to the sea"
'Long Distance Voyager'
full album:
Side One
"The Voice" (Justin Hayward) – 5:21 (lead singer: Justin Hayward)
"Talking Out of Turn" (John Lodge) – 7:18 (lead singer: John Lodge)
"Gemini Dream" (Hayward, Lodge) – 4:09 (lead singers: Justin Hayward, John Lodge)
"In My World" (Hayward) – 7:22 (lead singer: Justin Hayward)
Side Two
"Meanwhile" (Hayward) – 4:08 (lead singer: Justin Hayward)
"22,000 Days" (Graeme Edge) – 5:25 (lead singer: Ray Thomas)
"Nervous" (Lodge) – 5:45 (lead singer: John Lodge)
"Painted Smile" (Ray Thomas) – 3:18 (lead singer: Ray Thomas)
"Reflective Smile" (Thomas) – 0:36 (narrator: Dave Symonds)
"Veteran Cosmic Rocker" (Thomas) – 3:18 (lead singer: Ray Thomas)
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