Track Listing

1. Departure
2. Ride My See-Saw
3. Dr. Livingstone, I Presume
4. House Of Four Doors (Part 1)
5. Legend Of A Mind
6. House Of Four Doors (Part 2)
7. Voices In The Sky
8. The Best Way To Travel
9. Visions Of Paradise
10. The Actor
11. The Word
12. Om

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10602 in Music
• Released on: 1997-03-03
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Running time: 42 minutes

CD Description
After helping lay the groundwork for concept albums and progressive rock with 1967's orchestra-enhanced suite DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED, the Moodies retrenched for the follow-up. Theyabandoned the orchestra but kept their sound as rich as before by playing a multitude of instruments themselves, including everything from sitar to cello to oboe. At the time, it was remarkable enough for these instruments to appear on a rock record, much less to be played by the band itself. The string-laden conceptual pieces of DAYS were replaced by shorter, more concise songs that leaned more toward Beatlesque pop and displayed a pronounced Eastern influence.
Graham Edge's short spoken-word pieces provide a properly arty framework for the Moodies' blend of swooping mellotron, haunting flute, and rich, multi-tracked harmonies. The slightly Hollies-ish "Ride my Seesaw", one of the band's strongest rockers,is a highlight. Flutist/vocalist Ray Thomas provides the quirky Britishness so essential to '60s UK pop-rock with his music-hall-on-acid number "Dr. Livingstone I Presume". The soaring harmonies of "Legend of a Mind" work in praise of Timothy Leary and his "trips to astral planes". IN SEARCH OF THELOST CHORD is the most exotic, trippy album in the Moodies'catalogue.

Customer Reviews

A True Classic Sixties Album!
Released during a period of rock ‘n roll psychodelia, this is arguable the Moody Blues most productive and progressive album of the times. Nearly half the songs are still part of their concert listing. “Departure” is another trademark introduction that has been the motif of so many of their albums – a unique and mind-blowing beginning. Highlights include Lodge’s “Ride My See-Saw”, a concert closing song, while “Dr. Livingstone” and “Legend Of A Mind” are still classics that can be heard on the radio almost as much as “Nights In White Satin”. “House Of Four Doors (Part 1 and 2)” provide continuity to the collection and scores of special effects. An earmark of the period is produced with “The Word” followed by “Om”, the only songs that seem dated. Two of the Moody Blues best and most romantic songs are Hayward’s “The Actor”, a truly unique and inventive ballad and “Voices In The Sky”. They are both performed and sung beautifully in concert. Other than “Days Of Future Passed”, this is one of their most popular albums from that period. Plus, just take a look at that cover!

Pop Psychodelia
This is one of the groups finest pop-psychodelia recordings. Incorporating sound effects like creaking doors, explosions and everything a 1960's mellotron could do, this experience is as close to an acid trip one could have (if one ever did).
"Ride My See-Saw" is a standard concert encore and "Dr. Livingstone..." soars from simple pop rock to fast paced rock 'n roll with enough bridges and changes to satisfy any mind. "Voices In The Sky" is Justin Hayward's beautiful ballad contribution and "The Actor" is nothing short of plaintive, soul-searching love angst. The harmonies are incredible.

There is a reason certain CD's are released on GOLD - the quality shines through!

The best album, by anyone, ever.
Of all the magical albums produced by the Moody Blues between 1967 and 1972, the best came in 1968. It had an Eastern theme, with plenty of sitar from Hayward and extremely bizzare vocal harmonies. Kicking off with Graeme Edge's maniacal laugh, the album includes some of the best Moodies songs ever written: Thomas's "Legend of a Mind", Hayward's "Visions of Paradise" and "The Actor", Pinder's "Om", the whole album blends together in a truly mind-blowing fashion. It's simultaneously relaxing and stirring, depending on your mood! I cannot describe how good this album is, but you'll know, as you hear the pulse beat in the background after the sitar solo in "Om" (beating Pink Floyd's pulse by a year) that you've heard something truly special. Forget any other five-star ratings: Britney Spears gets them, I know, I've looked. But this is one that MEANS something. Because this was recorded fourteen years before I was born, and it still sounds great to me.