Friday Music

A couple of years ago I noted and celebrated the 50th anniversary of my high school graduation from James Madison High School in Milwaukee.  The Mighty Knights.  This song figured significantly in that period as it was the theme song for a high school prom - Knights In White Satin.

Composed by Justin Hayward it was featured on the album Days of Future Passed.  It was originally released as a single in 1967 barely charting in the US.  When reissued in 1972 the single rose to number two in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 making it the band's most successful single in the US.  

Nights In White Satin was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

This is a terrific 1970 live recording from my favorite city.... 

Friday Music

From the 1972 album Seventh Sojourn this is an audio restoration remasters from the original analog vinyl recording.  This is a 2023 version remastered for maximum musical details and offers higher perceptions of around 18 dB dynamic range level - higher than the standard 12dB level typical of digital versions. 

If you've got a good pair of Blue Tooth headphones this is a good fit.  From the Moody Blues, You and Me...

Friday Music

Something special for this Friday.

A 1968 concert produced for French television.

This is a nugget of a time capsule as this group was at a crossroads here - breaking loose of their earlier bluesy genre and exploring a unique music art form that they could call their own.  They still have their feet in both worlds with this nice collection of a bit of each. 

Fascinating (to me at least) is observing the audience reaction as the music progresses. And Graeme Edge really cuts-loose on the percussion During Peak Hour at 35:20.  The intimate venue makes you want to be there.

Bonus is the opening song is one of my all time faves.

The Moody Blues.....

Friday Music

The British band was born in Birmingham in 1964 and included Mike Pinder on keyboards, Ray Thomas, Graeme Edge on Drums, guitarist Justin Hayward and John Lodge on bass.

The group took a break from one another in 1974 – reuniting in 1977. Over the life of the group more than 70 million albums were sold worldwide – including 18 platinum and gold LPs. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

This single was released in 1970 (fond high school memories) on the album A Question of Balance. It was the band’s effort to break out of the psychedelia stereotype and better perform in live concert settings.

This is a very good cover of one of my favorite Moody Blues songs by The Neighborhood Picnic Band.

It’s Up To You…….

Friday Music

From 1969 this song was written by Moody Blues band member Justin Hayward. 

Popularized on the album On the Threshold of a Dream as a single this tune was a commercial flop.  Same for Mike Pinder’s B-Side recording from the same album - So Deep Within You.  Guess you have to read between the lines or understand late 60s early 70s 'make out' music, eh?  Sigh...

I digress.

One of my favorites of black light nighttime listening - Never Comes the Day…. 

 

Work away today, work away tomorrow.

Never comes the day for my love and me.

I feel her gently sighing as the evening slips away.

If only you knew what's inside of me now…

Friday Music

This is one of my personal Top Ten Tunes.  And this video is the first published on the blog to launch some of the oddball music that finds its way here on a weekly basis. 

Originally released on The Moody Blues 1967 album Days of Future Passed - a concept album chronicling a typical day – this song was subsequently released as a single in 1968. 

According to an interview with Justin Hayward, he wrote "Tuesday Afternoon" while sitting in the middle of a field near his home in England on a beautiful spring afternoon. He claims that he had his acoustic guitar in hand and the song just came to him. The song features Hayward on lead vocals and acoustic guitar. The backing melody comes from the mellotron, which was played by Mike Pinder. There is also a short flute solo at the end played by Ray Thomas. - Wikipedia

Friday Morning Music

Recording executives at Deram were skeptical about the hybrid style of this group that pioneered the use of rock and roll, classical musical music and the Mellotron that Michael Pinder has been introduced-to.

I came of age with this group.

Rare, early 1968 footage and they were clean-shaven and not so shaggy yet.  Sixteen minutes and three popular songs - live.  Enjoy...