Mike Pinder died the other day. Mike was a founder of the group The Moody Blues – I wasn’t a fan at the time of their inception. The group was later joined by Justin Hayward in I think 1967. I was a college prep student in high school graduating in 1968. I wasn’t into music that much; I was much more interested in getting the money to attend college. But in that year before I graduated a friend introduced me to the album “Days of Future Passed,” with the song “Nights in White Satin.” The group brought into the concept of an accompanying orchestra; I was hooked. Mike was one of the first in rock to use the Mellotron which duplicated many of the sounds of an orchestra. Hayward wrote the song, but Pinder’s voice is heard at the end of the song reciting Graeme Edge’s poem “Late Lament.” The song has never lost it’s magic to me. Here is a copy of his obituary:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mike-pinder-the-moody-blues-keyboardist-founding-member-dead-obit-1235010490/
My favorite album of theirs was "On the Threshold of a Dream".
Moody Blues, One of my favorite groups of that era.
Stan
My favorite was also "on the Threshold of a dream"
I went to a few of their concerts, and really like them. Pinders voice was special
StanMac wrote:
Moody Blues, One of my favorite groups of that era.
Stan
I have all of their albums except the compilations.
I saw them in concert in Orlando, FL years ago. Circa 1997/98?
My favorite group of all time, liked them from the outset. "Nights in White Satin" right there at the top of their albums. RWODDVIRA nailed their "hook", the full orchestra. Saw them in Boston in the late 60's.
Last time I saw them was on TV when they played Red Rocks. They aged a bit, but they still rocked the crowd.
R-I-P Mike
They are my second favorite group after Pink Floyd
For some unknown reason they were ignored by the Hall of Fame committee for many years.
Finally inducted in 2018
R.I.P. Mike
BBurns
Loc: South Bay, California
rwoodvira wrote:
Mike Pinder died the other day. Mike was a founder of the group The Moody Blues – I wasn’t a fan at the time of their inception. The group was later joined by Justin Hayward in I think 1967. I was a college prep student in high school graduating in 1968. I wasn’t into music that much; I was much more interested in getting the money to attend college. But in that year before I graduated a friend introduced me to the album “Days of Future Passed,” with the song “Nights in White Satin.” The group brought into the concept of an accompanying orchestra; I was hooked. Mike was one of the first in rock to use the Mellotron which duplicated many of the sounds of an orchestra. Hayward wrote the song, but Pinder’s voice is heard at the end of the song reciting Graeme Edge’s poem “Late Lament.” The song has never lost it’s magic to me. Here is a copy of his obituary:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mike-pinder-the-moody-blues-keyboardist-founding-member-dead-obit-1235010490/Mike Pinder died the other day. Mike was a founder... (
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You may really enjoy this clip from America's Got Talent - Sep 9, 2014
Emily West - Nights in White Satin
mr spock wrote:
They are my second favorite group after Pink Floyd
For some unknown reason they were ignored by the Hall of Fame committee for many years.
Finally inducted in 2018
R.I.P. Mike
The RnR Hall folks used the excuse for years, that because of the turnovers in the group, they didn't know just which "Moody Blues" to induct. That was hogwash, and I wrote to them a number of times expressing my displeasure. My feelings are that when in doubt, induct 'em all.
Thanks for passing that along.
I still enjoy "Days The Future Passed" with the London Festival Orchestra. I found a CD of Christmas music by that orchestra and it sounded the same as their instrumental parts.
In Search Of The Lost Chord's "Thinking Is The Best Way To Travel" had some remarkable audio mixing when heard on decent headphones. I always though that album to have a better message than The Amboy Duke's "Journey To The Center Of The Mind."
Sad to lose those folks.
I think that I would be hard put to find a song of the Moody Blues that I did not love. Two that don't get the attention they should are Melancholy Man and The Other Side of Life. I got to see them a couple of times in concert and went away amazed at them.
MoT
Loc: Barrington, IL
I heard the MBs for the first time in a friends apartment in Boston where I was an undergraduate engineering student. I was blown away by "Tuesday Afternoon"and "Nights in white Satin". The entire album is a unique piece of musical art. Pinder was the cornerstone on the MBs and was sorely missed when he left and went with Paul McCarthy and Wings. The MBs have been on my play list first on my reel to reel, then cassette player and finally on my iPhone. My son has my vinyl collection and I have the CDs and digital versions. The art on their album covers is worthy of framing and hanging on the wall. After all these years (I am 77) I still listen to the MBs at least once a week. I wish I could photograph the images their music produces in my mind. If only I could paint! Their music is unique and I suspect will live on for a long time. Younger generations are discovering the MBs and are blown away by "Days of Future Passed".
Lucian
Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio
What a great group that was. One of my favourite songs of theirs was Melancholy Man. Although they had so many great songs it is difficult to pick just one. Many people have never heard that one. How many of you lot have heard of it, I'd like to know? and if you had not and have now since listened to it, how did you like it? I love the way it builds up to quite a powerful song and the use of the Moog Synthesizer in there is excellent.
Emerson Lake and Palmer were another great group, saw them in concert in Cardiff one time, but we rarely hear about them when people speak of the old groups.
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