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.
One of my favorite albums of all time. I wore out the 8-track tape when I was in college.
“I also hated that song Rooster by Aline in Chains, who I didn’t like anyway. But then I read it was about his father in Vietnam, and how they tried to kill him.”
Wow, I like Alice in Chains. Never knew what the song Rooster was about. Now I will like it even more. Thanks.
White satin is probably the best thing a knight can wear, apart from steel plate which is only worn by squires and damsels in distress anyway. Assuming it has magical enchantments giving it an armor class rating. The dexterity bonus is obvious.
I neither loved nor hated the song. But like several popular songs over the years, it was played far too much on the radio.
“I’d like to get to know you,...I can’t promise that I’ll love you..”
I couldn’t make that promise.
I’ve often wondered what the Knights in white sat in.
LOL, you are right. Damnit, ok. I still hate nights in white satin but love Your Wildest Dreams.
Jimmy Webb went to my community college (San Bernardino Valley Junior College) but was a year or two ahead of me. His piano teacher, Russell Baldwin, was my music theory instructor and he used to talk about Webb from time to time. Apparently Webb was from Oklahoma or Texas and was trying to get to LA, so he didn’t stay long enough to get his associates’ degree.
I think they inspired the movie “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”.
“... love Your Wildest Dreams.”
I like that one, too, and “Gemini Dreams”.
My favorite is “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere.”
Nights in White Satin was used recently for a perfume commercial, with Timothée Chalamet. It caused a generational dilemma: the older viewers knew the song but had no idea who the skinny kid was, while the younger viewers knew Chalamet but had no idea what the song was.
Huge Moody Blues fan here- saw them at least 30 times since 1978....
Two stories on this song:
1- Justin Hayward wrote it as the result of a bad break-up.
2- Graeme Edge used to tell the story how a DJ told Edge, he (the DJ) was responsible for the song being so popular as he was on the overnight shift and would come into work piss drunk and would need to relieve himself once he got to the studio. He needed a long song to make sure he had enough time take a leak. Hence he would open every one of his shows with “NIWS”. Edge, who was a really funny guy, said, “So we owe all our success to a drunk DJ with a weak bladder!!”
2nd worst song ever written….after McArthur Park.
________________________________
Yes, and who exactly left that cake out in the rain?
My favorite band
His father never talked about his experience in the war much, but when his son played the song for him, he really thought it hit the nail on the head, and it brought them closer together.
I remember when bands had unique lyrics and sounds instead of today’s formulaic and now AI written songs and autotune dependent singers.
What it meant was that they had thew recipe when they went to the park every day for lunch. They were in love. But eventually they, “lost the recipe,” and it was never the same again.
[Days of Future Passed was written for listening on LSD.]
Correct. If it had been written as a drinking song it would have been Days of Future Pissed. 🤣
I read they are the only band to have there first three hits in different decades.
Oh. A hidden meaning. After a break up.
Cool.
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