Posted on 11/21/2024 4:47:07 PM PST by nickcarraway
It was no instant success, but gradually, the group’s new marriage of pop and orchestral ingredients began to turn heads.
In the timeless flight of the Moody Blues, “Nights In White Satin” is such a classic that it’s strange to recount the slow, almost faltering progress of this epic ballad when it was first released.
Justin Hayward’s song, and its parent album, the Moodies’ career-changing Days Of Future Passed, were both released on November 10, 1967 — and for the first few weeks of their lives, the sum total of their UK chart presence was precisely nil.
But gradually, the group’s new marriage of pop and orchestral ingredients began to turn heads. With the additional attractions of Mike Pinder’s keyboard effects on the Mellotron, little-used in popular music to that point, and Ray Thomas’ flute, both the single and the album began to capture the imagination of both the public and the media.
“Satin” may have had an uncertain start, but few singles have gone on to such recurring and multi-faceted success, both in the UK and around the world. After attracting radio support, the single on Decca’s Deram label finally made the British Top 50 in the first week of 1968, some seven weeks after release.
It was the first chart appearance of the Moodies’ new line-up, retooled with the addition of Hayward and John Lodge. This was also the first time the group name had been on the UK singles list for more than two years, since “Everyday” limped to No.44.
Even then, “Satin” only just clambered onto the bottom rung of the Top 50, as The Beatles continued at No.1 into the new year with “Hello Goodbye.” The ballad then climbed to No.35, making less than spectacular progress over the coming weeks before coming to a halt at No.19 on the February 20 chart. It fared much better elsewhere, going all the way to No.1 in 1968 in Holland, and reaching the Top 10 in Austria, Belgium and Switzerland, and the Top 20 in Germany.
A continuing chart story
The initial UK activity was enough to kick-start Days Of Future Passed, which showed up on the bestsellers for the first time in late January 1968 and got as high as No.27 in both February and March. The album reappeared from time to time over the next few years, making its last showing in 1973. By then, with the Moodies established as a major album and touring force, “Nights In White Satin” had belatedly become a massive hit, reaching No.2 in Billboard and No.1 in the rival Cash Box countdown.
That transatlantic success, in turn, prompted the first reissue of “Satin” in the UK, where it charted anew and became a much bigger hit second time around. The song spent three weeks in the Top 10 in late 1972 and early 1973, landing at No.9. In 1979, it rose once again, in a new 12-week run that gave it another five weeks in the Top 20 and a No.9 peak.
This historic recording even managed one further chart week in 2010, prompted by a performance of the song by the eventual winner of that year’s X Factor series, Matt Cardle. Those satin sheets that inspired Justin Hayward were made of the most enduring material.
We saw Mannheim Steamroller last Christmas and was surprised by the founder’s biggest hit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd5ZLJWQmss
The Moody Blues is one of the many bands that is easy to listen to decades later because stations didn’t over play them. The Moody’s were prog before prog was cool.
2nd worst song ever written….after McArthur Park.
I will say though, The Wrecking Crew did a great job on that one, especially the middle section.
Both bands are from Birmingham. Same place that gave us Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Steve Winwood. Heck of a music scene in that city.
Both bands are from Birmingham. Same place that gave us Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Steve Winwood. Heck of a music scene in that city.
ELO - Birmingham Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riXNeEki07A
That’s funny because on that same album is Mr Blue Sky, which the Birmingham Blues (EFL team) play during warm ups.
Only Hayward and Lodge are left.
That does seem kinda darkish.
That and Whiter Shade….
Both epic 60s rock ballads
Love both
Hate to bring up tripping but man moody blues were the best cooling off music when on the downward slope after the peak
Usually so soothing after that “work” as Bob Weir described it recently lol
“Timothy Learys dead no no he’s outside looking in”
Leary was a punani obsessed flake honestly who mooched off gullible rich women
I was more a Kesey and the pranksters sort
Anyhow Moody Blues
The thinking man’s band
In a Gadda da Vida has to figure in there somewhere -- but I like Nights in White Satin. It's musically imperfect, but broke new ground for many half-decent bands to follow.
That was my impression. Lovely to think about...
It's the British accent -- it sounds pretentious no matter what. Now imagine those lyrics in Bob Dylan's voice and the same doggerel rhyme will communicate itself very differently:
Impassioned lovers wrestle as oneHear? All it needs now is “And the times, they are a-changin'!”
Lonely man cries for love and has none
New mother picks up and suckles her son
Senior citizens wish they were young
The first time I heard it in the mid 70’s as a youngster, I was hooked that sound.
Roundabout by Yes was another. The loved that sound with orchestration. ELP and Kansas became favorites also.
But what about the cake in the rain?
I always thought of Bob Dylan as an overrated no-talent.
He at least was good humored enough to cooperate with the Wonder Who? (Four Seasons) do their own take on one of his “Don’t Think Twice”) , and they greatly improved it.
I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band)
As a former DDJ, we liked the live version of Freebird.
14 minutes and 10 seconds. I still remember it to this day. Used to play it when a lady came to visit me at the station (I was all alone at night, no other employees were there).
Damn straight!
Wichita Lineman is one of the greatest songs ever. I say that as a rock lister mostly.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.