The Golden years of The Moody Blues

Sunday grey afternoon..... yep it is time for some Moody Blues.

The Moody Blues are an English rock band originally from Birmingham. Founding members Michael Pinder and Ray Thomas performed an initially rhythm and blues-based sound in Birmingham in 1964 along with Graeme Edge and others, and were later joined by John Lodge and Justin Hayward as they inspired and evolved the progressive rock style.

The following albums were recorded in the prime years of the band (1967-1973), albeit remastered in either 2006 or 2007. Thanks goes out to the original uploader!

Important I: Please note that when opening the rar files you might encounter an error about the pathway being too long, if that is the case just unrar to the shortest path possible.

Important II: if you like the music, buy it!

The Days of Future Passed, The Moody Blues' second official album (released in 1967 and remastered in 2006), was their first of what would be a succession of concept albums.

The concept of both the stage show and the album was very simple, tracing an "everyman's day" from dawn to night, from awakening to sleep. The seven tracks spawned two hit singles: "Tuesday Afternoon", which on the album was actually titled "The Afternoon: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)", and "Nights in White Satin" which hit No. 2 five years after the LP's original release. Both remain commercial radio mainstays across various formats and de rigueur performances in concert.

Side I
1. "The Day Begins" (Peter Knight & The Moody Blues) / "Morning Glory" (Graeme Edge) (unlisted track) – 5:51
2. Dawn: "Dawn is a Feeling" (Mike Pinder) – 3:49
3. The Morning: "Another Morning" (Ray Thomas) – 3:56
4. Lunch Break: "Peak Hour" (John Lodge) – 5:29

Side II
5. The Afternoon: "Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)" (Justin Hayward) / "(Evening) Time to Get Away" (Lodge) – 8:23
6. Evening: "The Sunset" (Pinder) / "Twilight Time" (Thomas) – 6:40
7. The Night: "Nights in White Satin" (Hayward) / "Late Lament" (Graeme Edge) (unlisted track) - 7:39

Additional SACD Deluxe Edition tracks
1. "Tuesday Afternoon" – 4:20 alternate mix
2. "Dawn Is A Feeling" – 2:19 alternate version
3. "The Sun Set" – 2:49 alternate version without orchestra
4. "Twilight Time" – 2:27 alternate vocal mix
5. "Night In White Satin" – 4:26 mono mix from single released November 1967
6. "Fly Me High" (Hayward) – 2:54 Recorded March 30, 1967; released as single May 1967
7. "I Really Haven't Got The Time" (Pinder) – 3:07 Recorded March 30, 1967; released as b-side May 1967
8. "Love & Beauty" (Pinder) – 2:23 Recorded July 17, 1967; released as single September 1967
9. "Leave This Man Alone" (Hayward) – 2:58 Recorded July 17, 1967; released as b-side September 1967
10. "Cities" (Hayward) – 2:23 Recorded July 17, 1967; released November 1967 as b-side to "Nights in White Satin"
11. "Long Summer Days" (Hayward) – 3:12 Recorded May 19, 1967 and released on Caught Live + 5
12. "Please Think About It" (Pinder) – 3:40 Recorded June 29, 1967 and released on Caught Live + 5
13. "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (Bennie Benjamin/Gloria Caldwell/Sol Marcus) – 2:23 live May 9, 1967 for BBC Saturday Club
14. "Love & Beauty" – 2:12 live September 20, 1967 for BBC Easybeat
15. "Leave This Man Alone" – 2:52 live September 20, 1967 for BBC Easybeat
16. "Peak Hour" – 3:22 live September 20, 1967 for BBC Easybeat
17. "Nights in White Satin" – 3:48 live January 1, 1968 for BBC Dave Symonds
18. "Fly Me High" – 2:45 live January 1, 1968 for BBC Dave Symonds
19. "Twilight Time" – 2:08 live January 1, 1968 for BBC Dave Symonds

Part I is to be found here, here, here or here. Part II is to be found here and Part III one could find here. If you like the album try to buy it here.

In Search of the Lost Chord, released in 1968 (remastered in 2006), was the third album by The Moody Blues, and the second to feature Justin Hayward and John Lodge.

The album peaked at #23 on the U.S. album charts upon release in July 1968.In the UK, the album reached #5. Neither of the two singles from the album, "Ride My See-Saw" and "Voices in the Sky," charted in the top 40 on the Billboard charts, although the latter reached #27 on the UK singles chart.

1. Departure Edge 0:45
2. Ride My See-Saw Lodge 3:39
3. Dr. Livingstone, I Presume Thomas 2:58
4. House of Four Doors, Pt. 1 Lodge 4:13
5. Legend of a Mind Thomas 6:36
6. House of Four Doors, Pt. 2 Lodge 1:47
7. Voices in the Sky Hayward 3:28
8. The Best Way to Travel Pinder 3:14
9. Visions of Paradise Hayward, Thomas 4:15
10. The Actor Hayward 4:39
11. The Word Edge 0:48
12. Om Pinder 5:50
13. Departure [Alternate Mix] Edge 0:56
14. The Best Way to Travel [Additional Vocal Mix] Pinder 4:04
15. Legend of a Mind [Alternate Mix] Thomas 6:45
16. Visions of Paradise [Instrumental Version] Hayward, Thomas 4:31
17. What Am I Doing Here? [Original Version] Hayward 3:56
18. The Word [Mellotron Mix] Edge 1:03
19. Om [Extended Version] Pinder 6:09
20. A Simple Game [Justin Hayward Vocal Mix] Pinder 3:27
21. King and Queen Hayward 3:55
22. Doctor Livingstone I Presume [#] Thomas 2:59
23. Voices in the Sky [#] Hayward 3:54
24. Thinking Is the Best Way to Travel [#] Pinder 3:39
25. Ride My See Saw [#] Lodge 3:50
26. Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon) [#] Hayward 3:26
27. A Simple Game [Single 'B' Side] Pinder 3:44

Part I is to be downloaded here, Part II can be done here and Part III is to be found here. If you want to buy the album, please do it here.

On the Threshold of a Dream (released in 1969 and remastered in 2006) is the fourth album by The Moody Blues and was released on the Deram label in 1969. Like the band's preceeding two albums, On the Threshold of a Dream follows a concept. The album explores dreams, especially on the second side, which climaxes with the "Voyage" suite, inspired in part by Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra.

On The Threshold of a Dream provided The Moody Blues with their first UK #1 album, and also increased their American fortunes by becoming their first Top 20 album there

1. In the Beginning 2:08
2. Lovely to See You 2:34
3. Dear Diary Thomas 3:56
4. Send Me No Wine 2:20
5. To Share Our Love 2:54
6. So Deep Within You 3:07
7. Never Comes the Day 4:43
8. Lazy Day Thomas 2:43
9. Are You Sitting Comfortably 3:29
10. The Dream Edge 0:58
11. Have You Heard, Pt. 1 1:28
12. The Voyage 4:11
13. Have You Heard, Pt. 2 2:31
14. In the Beginning [*] 3:28
15. So Deep Within You [*] 3:29
16. Dear Diary [*] 4:05
17. Have You Heard [*] 3:52
18. The Voyage [*] 4:19
19. Lovely to See You [*] 2:26
20. Send Me No Wine [*] 2:40
21. So Deep Within You [*] 3:08
22. Are You Sitting Comfortably 3:38

Part I can be downloaded here, while part II is here. The album can, of course, also be bought here.

To Our Children's Children's Children was first issued in late 1969 and later remastered (in 2006).

It is the fourth of what are popularly considered the group's "core seven" albums from 1967-72, and as such represents the peak of their career to some. While the song chosen for the single, "Watching and Waiting," by itself was not a major hit, taken as a whole the album is remarkably balanced, featuring strong songwriting contributions from all five band members.

1. Higher and Higher 4:06
2. The Eyes of a Child, Pt. 1 3:23
3. Floating Thomas 2:58
4. The Eyes of a Child, Pt. 2 1:23
5. I Never Thought I'd Live to Be a Hundred 1:05
6. Beyond 2:58
7. Out and In 3:49
8. Gypsy 3:33
9. Eternity Road 4:19
10. Candle of Life 4:14
11. Sun Is Still Shining 3:39
12. I Never Thought I'd Live to Be a Million 0:33
13. Watching and Waiting 4:16
14. Gypsy [#] Hayward 4:17
15. Candle of Life [#] 4:58
16. Sun in Still Shining [#] 4:06
17. Gypsy [#] Hayward 3:21
18. Sunset [#] Pinder 3:53
19. Never Comes the Day [#] 4:42
20. Are You Sitting Comfortably [#] 2:53
21. The Dream [#] Edge 0:57
22. Have You Heard/The Voyage/Have You Heard [#] 5:50
23. Nights in White Satin [#] 3:12
24. Legend of a Mind [#] 4:37

Part I can be downloaded here, Part II is to be found here and Part III is to be found here. The album can of course be also be bought here.

The band's sixth (but fifth concept album) album is A Question Of Balance (1970 and remastered in 2006). The album was an attempt by the group to strip down their well-known lush, psychedelic sound in order to be able to better perform the songs in concert. In order to be able to play as many new songs as possible from their new album live, the group decided (temporarily) to abandon their method of heavy overdubbing for A Question of Balance.

For the first time, The Moody Blues used political strife as a basis for songwriting with the UK number two hit in May 1970, "Question", which dealt with the controversy resulting from the ongoing Vietnam War.

Side I (click to download)
1. "Question" (Justin Hayward) – 5:40
2. "How Is It (We Are Here)" (Mike Pinder) – 2:48
3. "And The Tide Rushes In" (Ray Thomas) – 2:57
4. "Don't You Feel Small" (Graeme Edge) – 2:40
5. "Tortoise And The Hare" (John Lodge) – 3:23

Side II (click to download)
1. "It's Up To You" (Hayward) – 3:11
2. "Minstrel's Song" (Lodge) – 4:27
3. "Dawning Is The Day" (Hayward) – 4:22
4. "Melancholy Man" (Michaël Pinder) – 5:49
5. "The Balance" (Edge/Thomas) – 3:33

You can buy the album here.

The band next album is the Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, which was released in 1971 and remastered in 2007. The album reached #1 on the UK album charts, in addition to a three week stay at #2 in the U.S., and produced one top-40 single, "The Story In Your Eyes."

1. "Procession" 4:40
2. "The Story in Your Eyes" 2:56
3. "Our Guessing Game" 3:34
4. "Emily's Song" 3:42
5. "After You Came" 4:38
6. "One More Time to Live" 5:41
7. "Nice to Be Here" 4:23
8. "You Can Never Go Home" 4:14
9. "My Song" 6:24
10. "The Story in Your Eyes" (Original Version) 3:33
11. "The Dreamer" 3:42

You can download the album here or buy it here.

The seventh and last concept album, The Seventh Sojourn, released in 1972 (and remastered in 2007), was the eighth album released by The Moody Blues.

The Seventh Sojourn managed to reach #5 in the UK, and became the band's first U.S. chart topper, spending five weeks at the summit to close out 1972.

1. "Lost in a Lost World" (Mike Pinder) – 4:42
2. "New Horizons" (Justin Hayward) – 5:11
3. "For My Lady" (Ray Thomas) – 3:58
4. "Isn't Life Strange" (John Lodge) – 6:09
5. "You and Me" (Hayward, Graeme Edge) – 4:21
6. "The Land of Make-Believe" (Hayward) – 4:52
7. "When You're a Free Man" (Pinder) – 6:06
8. "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" (Lodge) – 4:18
9. "Isn't Life Strange (Original Version)" (Lodge) – 8:10
10. "You and Me (Beckthorns Backing Track)" (Hayward, Edge) – 6:33
11. "Lost in a Lost World (Instrumental Demo)" (Pinder) – 4:41
12. "Island" (Previously Unreleased) (Hayward) – 4:30

Part I (94 MB) download links are here, here, here, here or here, Part II (79 MB) links can be found here, here, here, here, or here*. If you like the album, you could buy it from here.