by Robert Wilkinson
Besides the string of phenomenal October birthdays we've been celebrating the last few weeks, we continue with another one today! From Bruce Springsteen, Mahatma Gandhi, and Groucho Marx to John Lennon, Jackson Browne, Paul Simon, and Chuck Berry, Libra rocks! Today’s show celebrates the birthday and creative work of one of the truly remarkable musical talents of the 20th century, Mister Justin Hayward.
Though they haven't produced a chart hit in many years, the Moody Blues created an amazing body of work in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Their songs were magical, metaphysical, and at times, supersonic! Justin Hayward (14 October 1946) was the guitarist and songwriter who gave the world some of the most beautiful songs in the history of music.
Need a hint? "Your Wildest Dream." Need another? "Nights in White Satin." Today features a lot of videos of this amazing guitarist and songwriting engine of The Moody Blues.
A treasure trove of some of the most magnificent music ever made follows. The Moody Blues created an amazing sound unlike anything before or since. Mystical and melodic, profound and playful, this band made some of the greatest music on Earth for over 20 years. If you don't know who they were, or even if you do, today is a special treat!
And now, the phenomenal songs and musicianship of the great Justin Hayward!
The originals! Here’s a very early video of the Moody Blues lip synching (as was the fashion of the day) Justin Hayward's "Nights in White Satin" in 1967. From the radical experimental album Days of Future Passed, the Summer of Love was something to experience!
From the next year comes another lip synched performance of "Nights in White Satin" from Prague, 1968, during a time of revolution in Eastern Europe.
From the Summer of 1968, here’s 46 brilliant minutes of a VERY early incarnation of the Moodies with Justin performing live on French television!
The Moody Blues Live on French TV July 1968 – Pt. 1 (“Tuesday Afternoon,” “Nights in White Satin” (version 1), “Legend of A Mind,” “Bye Bye Bird,” “Fly me High”)
The Moody Blues Live on French TV July 1968 Pt. 2 (“Fly me High” (version 2), “I've got a Dream,” “Beautiful Dream” (unreleased song by John Lodge), “Don't let me be Misunderstood,” “Peak Hour,” “Nights in White Satin” (version 2).)
From a great 1968 BBC appearance on Colour Me Pop we have “Ride My See Saw” and ”Om” (From In Search of the Lost Chord, written by Mike Pinder)
I found it again! Here’s the full 25 minute 1968 BBC episode of the Moody Blues on Colour Me Pop, where we have this set! “Ride My See Saw,” “Dr Livingstone I Presume,” “House Of Four Doors,” “Voices In The Sky,” “The Best Way To Travel,” “Visions Of Paradise,” “The Actor,” and “Om.”
From the Tom Jones tv show in 1969, a live performance of “Ride My See Saw” (from In Search of the Lost Chord, written by John Lodge)
Last year I had a b/w June 1969 performance at Kremlin-Bicentre of the Moodies doing “Never Comes the Day,” but it’s disappeared. So instead, here’s the original music video for "Never Comes The Day"
Here's the Moody Blues performing a haunting piece of music in Jazz Bilzen-Belgium, 1969. Written by Mike Pinder, it's the final suite of On the Threshold of A Dream, "Have you heard"/"The Voyage"
Once upon a time, I had the entire 79 minute set from the 1970 Isle of Wight, but it disappeared, along with the 6 of 7 parts of a great documentary on the Moody Blues at the Isle of Wight. While the first is still gone, I found this which links to parts 2 through 7 (Pt. 1 is blocked in the US). For your enjoyment, The Moody Blues Live at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival
Live on television, "Tuesday Afternoon" (From Days of Future Passed)
Justin doing a solo acoustic version of "Tuesday Afternoon" from the 1990 video, Legend of a Band.
A live b/w performance of "Gypsy"
A few more live performance gems:
From 1998 in California, here’s a live performance by Justin, not with the Moodies, of "The Actor." (From In Search of the Lost Chord)
"Voices in the Sky" (From In Search of the Lost Chord)
Ray Thomas singing "Legend of a Mind" from The Other Side of Red Rocks.
"Voices in the Sky" from the TOSORR dvd
I found several classics from the Moody Blues performing at Wembley Stadium in 1984:
"Steppin' in a Slide Zone" & "Talking out of turn"
From 1988, the Moodies live performing “Nights In White Satin” and “Want to Be With You”
Here's an audio-only Rare version of "Slide Zone" by the Moody Blues live in San Diego
And now, a couple of original music videos of the last hits of this timeless band, both written by Justin:
"I Know You're Out There Somewhere"
In a peculiar turn of events, I found a 1970 Paris concert that features their early hits. I thought it was lip synched, but found out they really did play, with the assistance of a backing track (since re-creating their studio sound would have been all but impossible given the technology of the day. No mellotrons on the road!!)
These are very close to the original studio versions of their early albums, with them looking young and beautiful, so I suppose these performances work. All these songs were written by Justin Hayward except where noted.
"Legend of a Mind." From "In Search of the Lost Chord," written by Ray Thomas. "Timothy Leary's dead, no no no no he's on the outside, looking in..." This album was the first to feature the Mellotron, which would later become one of rock's standard instruments.
"Never Comes The Day," (From On The Threshold of A Dream)
"Lovely To See You" (From 1969's On The Threshold of a Dream)
"Lazy Day" (from On The Threshold of a Dream, written by Ray Thomas)
"Are You Sitting Comfortably" (from On The Threshold of a Dream, written by Justin Hayward and Ray Thomas)
"Gypsy" (From 1969's To Our Children's Children's Children)
"Candle Of Life" (From To Our Children's Children's Children written by John Lodge)
“Question” (From A Question of Balance written by Justin Hayward)
This year I found the entire show again except for the first number, “Lovely To See You.” The rest of the set autoloads, so have fun watching The Moody Blues in Paris - 1970
Here are two great shows! First, an hour and 37 video of their show at Red Rocks! The Moody Blues Live at Red Rocks – 1992
Their 90 minute set with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra in 1994 doing “Starlight Traveler” is gone this year, so instead here’s an hour of the second part of a stop on their Days of Future Past tour! Four your enjoyment, The Moody Blues Live with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra in Hollywood - 2017
We’ll close this tribute with two great video performances! First, 2 hours and 41 full broadcast live! The Moody Blues Live at the Royal Albert Hall
For our encore, we fast forward another 11 years to an hour and 18 show! The Moody Blues Live in Texas - 2011
For the second encore, we fast forward another 7 years to Cedar Park Texas for a two part show!
The Moody Blues Live in Texas – 2018 Pt. 1 (39 min.)
The Moody Blues Live in Texas – 2018 Pt. 2 (59 min.)
We’ll close with a rocker! From 1994 at the Hollywood Bowl, ”I’m Just A Singer in a Rock and Roll Band”
I hope you have as much fun watching these as I did in assembling them. A truly unique band, an extraordinary talent, and a timeless joyous music unlike any other.
Happy Birthday, Justin. You're a beautiful man with a magical gift. I’ve been a fan of your music since 1967. May you live a long, long time!
© Copyright 2023 Robert Wilkinson
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