Classic Rock Album of the Day- The Moody Blues- In Search of the Lost Chord (1968) **** 1/2
Today's review is dedicated to Mike Pinder, who I belatedly found out passed away a month ago at age 82. Pinder was an undisputed pioneer and progenitor of what is abd would become electronic keyboard. It is well documented of his involvment with the inventors of the Moog and Mellotron, and he was the first to put this fantiastic tool to good use in popular music. Pinder was not only a technical pioneer, and musician, but he also had many songwriting contritubitions to this criminally under-rated band. Listen to any Moody Blues album from the 1960's. No one was making music like this. And they were so versatile too. They excelled at rocking, ballads, beautiful melodic, psychadaelia, and had great pop sensibilities that set them apart from anyone else. We've had plenty of discussions of which band started prog. A strong argument could be made for them. But... it is sad to see these legends who are now dying natural deaths in their 80's falling by the wayside. The Moody's now are just Hayward and Lodge.
And another side note for the legacy of Mike Pinder. People seem to forget has his spoken word is included in a lot of Moody Blues material. His voice to me, is almost Rod Serling, James Earl Jones, powerful in nature. I am suprised he didn't get a lot of more work in narration post 1972.
Listening to any of the first say 7 or so albums, it is strikingly evident that a lot of their music is way ahead of it's time. This was a very dedicated and talented group, that made sure that all their stuff was consitently not only great from album to album, but each individual LP is fully listenable by itself. Any Moody Blues album is also a trip through the cerebral. They are talent incarnate. ISOTLC was unique in that the band wasn't vaguely disgusing their foray into psychadaelia with tunes like "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". Hell, they were giving homage to acknowledged Godfather of LSD at the time Timothy Leary. Also listen to "The Best Way to Travel". There was no veiling what that meant.
I chose Chord today, on the just pure audaciousness. It is a fairly evenly dispersed project among the crew. But it was so massively different than the prior album that, these almost sound like two different bands. You will not go wrong, with what some critcs call the "Core 7". All of them are excellent. And one final editorial that I kind of touched on earlier.... The Rolling Stone/Creme/Rock and Roll Hall of Shame, waited until 2018 to put them in the Hall.
SHAMEFUL! With ISOTLC you are getting a perfect sample of early Moody Blues, was about, and I am guessing you will enjoy it. I always have. And a warning: Ranking albums like this one is not fair in some respect. Most of even the lower ranked songs are really good too.
Fun Fact: The Moody Blues first American gig was supporting this LP in '68, opening for Canned Heat. Ahhhh only in the '60's huh?
Side 1-
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Departure- Mystical intro with narration that gives a fine indication of greatness to come.
Ride My See Saw- Excellent melodic obvious Justin Hayward type of song. There weren't too many prog songs at the time that I would characterize as pop. This is about as close as it gets. Vocal harmonizatons are impeccable. Songs rolls and flows with ease. If you are here for the guitar stuff, this is your cut. This was the only charting single from the album, and it only reached #61, Still, What a start for this ride.
2Dr. Livingstone, I Presume- An obvious Ray Thomas effort, as he seemed to be the most enthusiastic of the Hallucinogenic fare. I think Thomas slightly wanted to emulate the Beatles recent efforts into nonsenical stuff of Sgt. Peppers, and Magical Mystery Tour. On par, with them in some repsect.
5House of Four Doors (Part 1)- Very strange and near or at split personality for the song. I am sure John Lodge intended some allegorical themeing around Legend of a Mind. Song delves from standard mid rocking Moody's to majestic concert hall majesticism. Gateway song? /s
6Legend of a Mind- The band's ode to Timothy Leary. And man did they ever nail this song on every front. Every band member contributes at the highlest level. The song is a hodgepodge of style and key/time changes. And the chorus vocals?, and the flute solo?, and Mellotron infusion? Easily one of my favorite top 5 tunes by the band. Bonus: In might be one of the earliest rock music videos, the guys do this one from an English Estate. And I don't give a shit that it was lip synced (below)
1House of Four Doors (Part 2)- The back bookend of this saga. Effective to the theme. The point that the "Doors" are the weakest part of this LP just shows how powerfully good this LP is.
7Side 2-
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Voices in the Sky- Very nice ballad by Hayward, that is a favorite with some fans, just tastes I guess, but not "A" status to my liking. This is still a good one, on a great album. Hayward would get much better at this in subsequent albums.
9The Best Way to Travel- Mike Pinder's biggest contribution. He takes psychadaelia concept to new heights. And gives a clinic on keyboard wizardry. A technique that would be used enmasse for the next few years by other bands who didn't do it near as well I bet this was a fav of the trippin' hippies in the day.
3Visons of Paradise- Same pretty much comment as with "Voices" but with an interesting Ray Thomas flute accompaniment, eastern sitar add that is kind of Beatlesque. Hate to say it, but Hayward kept this from becoming a 5 star LP. Just me talking though.
8The Actor- The best effort from Justin Hayward, though it does have kind of Blue Jay feel (add Lodge). Gives his best and most powerful voice, and I really enjoy how Pinder stretches the mellotron into full orchestraization mode. Musical brilliance
4The Word/ Om- Narrative and closing that is beautifully apt for this classic. Om's harmonization and eastern influenced jam is excellent. I really don't consider this as much as a song, but a prologue to a prog album of the ages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5UdP-SFNgYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_TbovyVOzs
