６４年成立的The Moody Blues英國搖滾樂隊跟今天許多搖滾樂的那種便宜的風格截然不同: 不可錯過。 儘管Moody Blues樂隊以他們華麗深邃的迷幻搖滾專輯而著稱，但它們實際上是脫胎於不列顛入侵使得R&B小型爵士樂隊。英國的伯明翰，眾多優秀樂隊的誕生地，諸如當時的El Riot & Rebels, Moody Blues也成立於此，由Ray Thomas (和聲/主唱)和Mike Pinder (鍵盤/主唱），後又招幕Denny Laine (吉他/主唱), Graeme Edge (鼓手) ，以及Clint Warwick（貝斯/歌唱），樂隊陣容正式固定下來。 編輯本段早期發展 1964年3月，樂隊在伯明翰首次亮相便贏得關注。成軍後6個月，他們贏得了Decca Records 一紙合約，並在64年6月推出首支單曲Steal Your Heart Away,但未能進入英國排行榜。1964年11月。樂隊發行寄予很高希望的第二支單曲Go Now ——翻唱自美國R&B歌手Bessie Banks，不負眾望地登上了英國排行榜的冠軍寶座，也使他們贏得了一系列在頂級場所演出的機會；在美國取得第十名的成績，亦為他們帶來為Beatles 擔任暖場的機會。樂隊緊接着在大洋兩端分發全長專輯，在英國發行Magnificent Moodies,美國是Go Now。可以說這是單曲Go Now的延續，但卻未能延續以前的成功。接下來的單曲Ellie Greenwich,也未能再掀波瀾。1965年3月，他們推出第四支單曲From The Bottom Of My Heart ,風格完全不同以往，這可以說是不列顛入侵時期最非同尋常和令人難忘的唱片之一，卻只取得英國排行榜第22名。經歷繁重巡演後的樂隊，進行了一次人員變動，Clint Warwick退出了樂隊，他的位置被John Lodge取代。1966年8月， Laine也離開了樂隊，Ray Thomas找來前隊友歌手兼吉他手的Justin Hayward加入樂隊。 編輯本段民謠歌曲 60年代民謠和輕微迷幻搖滾風行一時，Beatles在他們的民謠唱片中加入印度音樂元素，Rolling Stones葉發行了如Lady Jane 的唱片。Moody Blues也將傳統的R&B元素引入，創造出全新的，和諧統一的音樂。幾經掙扎後，樂隊得到命運眷顧，參與到了Decca廠牌的一個音樂試驗計劃當中。 樂隊發行了一些單曲，未獲成功。但他們創作的一些歌曲卻引起了製作Tony Clarke的興趣，他找來錄音師Derek Varnods 以及作曲家/指揮家Peter Knight與樂隊合作，用Knight譜寫的管弦樂曲來搭配和映襯Moody Blues的歌曲，創造出以管弦樂為框架的表現生命循環往復的搖滾樂曲，於是，專輯Days of Future Passed 誕生了。這張古典與搖滾交織的專輯先後在英美兩國發行 ，其中單曲Nights in White Satin (Hayward詞曲）在英國排行榜位列第22，在美國上榜的則是由Hayward創作的另一首歌曲Tuesday Afternoon,他們的全長專輯Summer of Love 被很多喜愛管弦/迷幻風格（如Beatles的著名專輯Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts )所欣賞，使得樂隊更多地被積壓的迷幻風格的作品得以發表。鍵盤手Mike Pinder 運用一種叫Mellotron的錄音設備，用鍵的觸頭激化磁頭，使得弦樂聲可以被循環，樂器也可以作出怪誕的弦樂聲效。60年代的眾多知名樂隊如 Beatles，Rolling Stones都開始運用Mellotron設備來錄音；而Pinder 不僅懂得如何去使用Mellotron，更是在工廠生產這種設備（因而它也被暱稱為Pindertrons）。 編輯本段成名伊始 1968年的專輯 In Search of the Lost Chord 將Mellotron完全展現在了公眾面前：整張專輯呈現一種波瀾壯闊的美麗 ，既帶有典型的英國式的隨心所欲（歌曲 Dr. Livingston | Presume ）,又有華麗慵懶西部風情歌曲（Visions of Paradise 和On ）還有迷幻風格的讚歌Legend of A Mind 。1969年樂隊首次在自己的廠牌Threshold發行新專輯 To Our Children's Childern's Children ,他們對錄音，混音技術的運用也更加自如。但是令人頭疼的是，樂隊在現場卻無法還原歌曲的錄音效果 ,只有吉他作品 Gypsy 可以在現場表演。從1970年的專輯 A Queen of Balence開始，樂隊開始錄製適合現場演奏的歌曲，這就包括了不久後的唱片Every Good Boy Deserves Favour。 編輯本段隊員簡介 Moody Blues的五位成員各具特色，Pinder富有激情，Lodge生性搖滾，Edge是位詩人，Thomas 擅長演奏，Hayward則浪漫得不可救藥。樂隊風格多種多樣，既有迷幻，又有流行搖滾。歌迷們不僅把他們當作一支樂隊，更視其為精神偶像。但John Lodge 用I 'm Just a Singer (In a Rock N' Roll Band ) 一曲道破這一現象，這首硬搖滾風格的作品在排行榜上成績很好。有趣的是，1972年樂隊以前的歌曲Nights in White Satin 重新上榜，而且賣得比67年還要好。Days of Future Passed 專輯中的歌曲再次暢銷。但這些輝煌缺使樂隊放慢了腳步，陷入了創作瓶頸之中。72年樂隊準備錄製的新專輯Seven Sojourn卻因巡演壓力而退後，一耽擱就是五年。但在此其間，樂隊成員個人發展都頗有建樹，1975年Pinder聯手Lodge 推 出專輯Blue Jays ,十分成功，其他成員了推出了個人專輯。 20世紀70 年代，早朋克運動和Disco席捲全球之時， Moody Blues大打懷舊牌，先是推出雙張全長回顧性專輯This is The Moody Blues,而後1977年，除了Pinder以外的遠隊成員重聚一堂，與1978年推出專輯Octoave ，登上排行榜榜首，此後的巡演中，樂隊找來了鍵盤手Patrick Moraz。 編輯本段寶刀不老 80年代的Moody Blues仍舊寶刀未老，於1981年推出專輯 Long Distance Voyager，但在新樂隊林立的樂壇，他們稍嫌過時。單曲In Your Wildest Dreams, 以及 I Know You're Out There Somewhere, 都很成功，引人懷舊。1994年，四碟裝的唱片 Time Traveller回顧了樂隊的整個生涯。樂隊還上榜 Polygram 書庫，成為最暢銷的樂隊之一。1999年，他們發行錄音專輯 Strange Times ,一年後發行現場專輯Hall of Fame (它是97年的合集，收錄了從 Days of Future Passed 到Seven Sojourn的七張原版唱片)。2003年，Ray Thomas退出樂壇，Moody Blues 剩下了Harward ,Lodge 和 Edge三個人繼續奮鬥。 詞條圖冊更多圖冊 擴展閱讀： http://www.rockyear.com/
Cold hearted orb that rules the night Removes the colours from our sight Red is gray and yellow, white But we decide which is right And which is an illusion
Pinprick holes in a colourless sky Let insipid figures of light pass by The mighty light of ten thousand suns Challenges infinity and is soon gone Night time, to some a brief interlude To others the fear of solitude
Brave Helios, wake up your steeds Bring the warmth the countryside needs
Dawn: Dawn Is A Feeling Mike Pinder
Dawn is a feeling A beautiful ceiling The smell of grass Just makes you pass Into a dream
You're here today No future fears This day will last A thousand years If you want it to
You look around you Things they astound you So breathe in deep You're not asleep Open your mind
You're here today No future fears This day will last A thousand years If you want it to
Do you understand That all over this land There's a feeling In minds far and near Things are becoming clear With a meaning
Now that you're knowing Pleasure starts flowing It's true life flies Faster than eyes Could ever see
You're here today No future fears This day will last A thousand years If you want it to
Morning: Another Morning Ray Thomas
Balloons flying Children sighing What a day to go kite flying Breeze is cool Away from school Cowboys fighting out a duel Time seems to stand quite still In a child's world, it always will
Fish is biting So exciting Lunchtime sounds so inviting Angler Bill He gets a thrill Sitting, watching bobbing quill Time seems to stand quite still In a child's world, it always will
Yesterday's dreams Are tomorrow's sighs Watch children playing They seem so wise
Mary Green Today is a queen One thousand dollies are a dream In cotton frocks and golden locks Her palace is an orange box
Time seems to stand quite still In a child's world, it always will
Lunch Break: Peak Hour John Lodge
I see it all through my window, it seems Never failing like millions of bees All that is wrong No time to be won All they need to do What can be done
Peak hour Peak hour Peak hour
Minds are subject to what should be done Problems solved, time cannot be won One hour a day One hour at night Sees crowds of people All meant for flight
Peak hour Peak hour Peak hour
It makes me want to run out and tell them They've got time Take a step back out And look in I found out I've got time....
Minds are subject to what should be done Problems solved, time cannot be won One hour a day One hour at night Sees crowds of people All meant for flight
Peak hour Peak hour Peak hour
The Afternoon: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?) Justin Hayward
Tuesday afternoon I'm just beginning to see Now I'm on my way It doesn't matter to me Chasing the clouds away
Something calls to me The trees are drawing me near I've got to find out why Those gentle voices I hear Explain it all with a sigh
I'm looking at myself Reflections of my mind It's just the kind of day To leave myself behind So gently swaying Through the fairy-land of love If you'll just come with me And see the beauty of
Tuesday afternoon Tuesday afternoon
Tuesday, afternoon I'm just beginning to see Now I'm on my way It doesn't matter to me Chasing the clouds away
Something calls to me The trees are drawing me near I've got to find out why Those gentle voices I hear Explain it all with a sigh
This single was released in July, 1968 and backed with "Another Morning". Picture sleeve is French.
Evening: Time To Get Away John Lodge
Evening has come to pass The time of day doesn't last Evening has earned its place today I'm tired of working away
Working, living it brings Only way to have those things Toiling has bought too many tears Turn round all those past years
Evening time to get away Evening time to get away Evening time to get away Till next day
Live all you people You can see where you're at It doesn't really hurt you So that can depend
Evening time to get away
Live all you people You can see where you're at It doesn't really hurt you So that can depend
Evening time to get away Evening time to get away
Evening: The Sunset Mike Pinder
When the sun goes down And the clouds all frown Night has begun for the sunset
See it with your eyes Earth re-energized By the sun's rays every day Take a look out there Planets everywhere
When the sun goes down And the clouds all frown Night has begun for the sunset
Shadows on the ground Never make a sound Fading away in the sunset Night has now become Day for everyone
I can see it all From this great height I can feel the sun Slipping out of sight And the world still goes on Through the night
Evening: Twilight Time Ray Thomas
Twilight Time, to dream awhile In veils of deepening gloom As fantasy strides over colourful skies The fog disappearing from view
In twilight time, dream with me awhile
A nightingale plays a dark mellow phrase Of notes that are rich and so true An aerial display by the firefly brigade Dancing to tunes no one knew
In twilight time, dream with me awhile In twilight time, dream with me awhile
Building castles in the air Whistling to the wind As nature bows down her head See what tomorrow brings
Twilight time, dream with me awhile
Bats take to wing, like puppets on string Prancing in cool evening air In a sightless glide, no reason to hide Away from the sun's blinding stare
In twilight time, dream with me awhile In twilight time, dream with me awhile
The Night: Nights in White Satin Justin Hayward
Nights in white satin Never reaching the end Letters I've written Never meaning to send
Beauty I'd always missed With these eyes before Just what the truth is I can't say anymore
'Cause I love you Yes I love you Oh how I love you
Gazing at people Some hand in hand Just what I'm going through They can understand
Some try to tell me Thoughts they cannot defend Just what you want to be You will be in the end
And I love you Yes, I love you Oh, how I love you Oh, how I love you
Nights in white satin Never reaching the end Letters I've written Never meaning to send
Beauty I'd always missed With these eyes before Just what the truth is I can't say anymore
'Cause I love you Yes, I love you Oh, how I love you Oh, how I love you
'Cause I love you Yes, I love you Oh, how I love you Oh, how I love you
This single is the only song in history to chart three times in its original form: 1967, 1972 and 1979. "Cities" was not released on any album until Prelude in 1987. French picture sleeve shown here.
Late Lament Graeme Edge
Breathe deep the gathering gloom Watch lights fade from every room Bedsitter people look back and lament Another day's useless energy spent
Impassioned lovers wrestle as one Lonely man cries for love and has none New mother picks up and suckles her son Senior citizens wish they were young
Cold hearted orb that rules the night Removes the colours from our sight Red is grey and yellow, white But we decide which is right And which is an illusion
