Track Listing

1. The Voice - The Moody Blues, New World Philharmonic
2. Talking Out Of Turn - The Moody Blues, New World Philharmonic
3. Gemini Dream - The Moody Blues, New World Philharmonic
4. In My World
5. Meanwhile
6. 22,000 Days
7. Nervous
8. Painted Smile
9. Reflective Smile
10. Veteran Cosmic Rocker

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34928 in Music
• Released on: 1986-05-15
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds
• Running time: 46 minutes

CD Description
LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER signaled the revitalisation of the Moodies. After a six-year layoff, they'd regrouped for 1978's OCTAVE, which met with mixed reviews. Three years later, theupdated sound of VOYAGER brought them back to the top of the charts. Ex-Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz's synthesizers replace Mike Pinder's Mellotron, and there's a distinct early-'80s sheen to the upbeat hits "Gemini Dream", which chronicles the band's comeback efforts quite literally, and "The Voice". "Talking out of Turn" sounds like nothing so much as a more sophisticated Little River Band, but one cannot deny its gentle, bouncy appeal.
Gentle, acoustic ballads like "In my World" and "Nervous", however, wouldn't sound out of place on ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM. For the diehards, Ray Thomas (whose flute is conspicuously absent in much of this '80s-centric production) provides that essential element of quirky British theatricality with his closing, self-referential triptych of "Painted Smile", "Reflective Smile", and "Veteran Cosmic Rocker". The last of these offerings proves that the Moodies have more self-knowledge than their critics would like to believe.

Customer Reviews

The album that introduced the Moodies to a new generation
This is the first Moody Blues album without founder-member Mike Pinder on keyboards, with those duties taken by Patrick Moraz, and it hailed a new beginning for the band. Far less involved with the mysticism that had dominated their earlier albums, the songs on this album are good quality AOR songs that reflect a more mature and down-to-earth frame of mind.
Stand out tracks for me are Justin Hayward's 'The Voice' and 'In My World' and Ray Thomas' closing trilogy of 'Painted Smile', 'Reflective Smile' and 'Veteran Cosmic Rocker', which shows that the Moodies can at least take a joke! The album also includes one of my least favourite Moodies song, 'Gemini Dream', but you can't have everything.
The Moodies trademarks, i.e. rich harmonies, strong melodies and excellent musicianship are all evident throughout. If you only know the band from 'Nights In White Satin', or you stopped listening to them in the 70's, you won't go far wrong by re-acquainting yourself with the Moody Blues via this album.

one of their best
This album oozes with talent from all the band members. Justin, John, Ray and Graeme are all well represented here. Justin has the single 'the voice' that opens the album. It is a nice mid tempo song with subtle keyboards and acoustic guitars, but not a stand out. 'Talking out of turn' is a John ballad that has an excellent melody and nice orchestral overdubs. His voice is a little weak to be a stand out track though. 'Gemini dream' is the other single and is a collaboration between John and Justin. It is a fast paced keyboard orientated rocker. It is the only track where Moraz's synthesiser work threatens to take over. On their 1986 album 'the other side of life' this would have fit perfectly and been a stand out track. Here, it is mediocre.
The album really picks up after this and the rest of the songs are pure genius. 'In my world' is an instantly likeable Justin ballad. It is a really romantic soft song, awash with loads of acoustic guitars and a beautiful melody. An instant stand out. 'Meanwhile' is Justin's other contribution, which is a mid tempo folk ballad. It is also beautiful with nice lower vocal meldodies and a catchy chorus.
Graeme contributes '22,000 days'. It is an unorthodox but brilliant song. It has a nice riff going and John's lead vocals are better suited here. The chorus is sung by Justin, John and Ray, with some really nice harmonica passages from Ray.
'Nervous' is a stand out John ballad. It is beautifully soft at the start, with some nice flute work from Ray. It almost becomes anthem like in the chorus part and the play out instrumental section is spectacular.
Ray is well represented on the last three tracks. 'Painted smile' is a familiar theme for Ray. It seems like a happy go lucky buncy song, much in the vain of 'Carousel' from his solo album. However, if one looks at the lyrics, it is a really deep song. Fantastic music and an interesting arrangement, away from the acoustic rhythm, bass, drums approach.
'Reflective smile' is a 30 secnd spoken passage, leading into what is possibly the best track on the album 'Veteran cosmic rocker'. An amazing melody, brilliant strong baritone vocals from Ray, and excellent eastern and rovky instrumental passages. This track most harks back to older Moody blues, with subtle sitars used, which can be heard right at the end of the album.
A fantastic album, which really shows the band had not lost the talent from the crucial first seven albums.

Do The Journey!
You're probably reading this because of some existing interest in the Moody Blues but haven't bought all of their albums. Well....Do The Journey and become a Long Distance Voyager! This is just a part of the 4 decades output I've been following them through so it's hard to categorise for any new comers. Their name says it all.. Moody....Blues, but in a pop/rock sort of way that delivers serious music and a good feeling too. Just buy ALL of their original albums: remember, I'm Hard To Please, and I don't part with cash easily!