1968 studio album by The Moody Blues
In Search of the Lost Chord is the third album by The Moody Blues , released in July 1968 on the Deram label.
Content
In Search of the Lost Chord is a concept album around a broad theme of quest and discovery, including world exploration ("Dr. Livingstone, I Presume "), music and philosophy through the ages ("House of Four Doors"), lost love ("The Actor "), spiritual development ("Voices in the Sky "), knowledge in a changing world ("Ride My See-Saw "), higher consciousness ("Legend of a Mind "), imagination ("The Best Way to Travel "), and space exploration ("Departure"). Space exploration would go on to become the theme of the Moodies' 1969 album To Our Children's Children's Children , inspired by and dedicated to the Apollo 11 mission. The mysterious "lost chord" of the title is revealed to be the mantra "Om " (in the last stanza of Graeme Edge 's poem "The Word"). According to keyboardist Mike Pinder , the title was inspired by Jimmy Durante 's humorous song, "I'm the Guy that Found the Lost Chord," itself a reference to "The Lost Chord " by Sir Arthur Sullivan .[ 1]
Recording
Sessions for the album commenced in January 1968 with the recording of Thomas's "Legend of a Mind ." Whereas the London Festival Orchestra had supplemented the group on Days of Future Passed , the Moody Blues played all instruments themselves (approximately 33) on In Search of the Lost Chord .[ 2] Indian instruments such as the sitar (played by guitarist Justin Hayward ), the tambura (played by keyboardist Mike Pinder ) and the tabla (played by drummer and percussionist Graeme Edge ) made audio appearances on several tracks (notably "Departure", "Visions of Paradise " and "Om"). Other unconventional (for the Moodies) instruments were also used, notably the oboe (played by percussionist/flute player Ray Thomas ) and the cello (played by bassist John Lodge , who tuned it as a bass guitar). The mellotron , played by Pinder, produced many string and horn embellishments.[citation needed ]
Having already experimented with spoken word interludes on "Morning Glory " and "Late Lament " on Days of Future Passed , the group tried the practice again on the Graeme Edge-penned pieces "Departure" and "The Word." The latter was recited by Pinder, who was the primary reciter of Edge's poems on this and other Moody Blues albums. "Departure," which escalates from mumbling to hysterical laughter, is a rare studio example of Edge reciting his own words.[citation needed ]
Release
In Search of the Lost Chord was released on 26 July 1968. It peaked at number 5 in the UK Albums Chart [ 7] and reached number 23 on the US Albums Chart .[ 8] Neither of the two singles from the album, "Ride My See-Saw" nor "Voices in the Sky", charted in the top 40 on the Billboard charts, although the latter reached number 27 on the UK singles chart.
In Search of the Lost Chord was remastered into SACD in March 2006 and repackaged into a 2-CD Deluxe Edition. Although the other Moody Blues albums released in Deluxe Editions in 2006 featured their original quadrophonic mix (encoded as 5.1 surround sound ), In Search of the Lost Chord had never been released in this format, and a new mix was not released until 2018 when a 5.1 mix was released as part of the 50th anniversary box set.[ 9] In 2008 a remaster for single standard audio CD was issued with the nine bonus tracks.
In November 2018 the album was reissued as a five-disc, In Search of the Lost Chord - 50th Anniversary Box Deluxe Edition set.
Legacy
In the Q and Mojo Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock , the album was placed at number 37 in its list of "40 Cosmic Rock Albums".[ 10]
Track listing
2006 SACD Deluxe Edition bonus disc Title Writer(s) 1. "Departure" (Alternate mix ) Edge 0:55 2. "The Best Way to Travel" (Additional vocal mix) Pinder 4:03 3. "Legend of a Mind" (Alternate mix) Thomas 6:43 4. "Visions of Paradise" (Instrumental version) Hayward, Thomas 4:30 5. "What Am I Doing Here?" (Original version) Hayward 3:53 6. "The Word" (Mellotron mix) Edge 1:01 7. "Om" (Extended version) Pinder 6:07 8. "A Simple Game" (Justin Hayward vocal mix) Pinder 3:26 9. "King and Queen" (1968 studio recording) Hayward 3:53 10. "Dr. Livingstone, I Presume" (BBC Top Gear Session 16 July 1968) Thomas 2:57 11. "Voices in the Sky" (BBC Top Gear Session 16 July 1968) Hayward 3:52 12. "Thinking is the Best Way to Travel" (BBC Top Gear Session 16 July 1968) Pinder 3:38 13. "Ride My See-Saw" (BBC Top Gear Session 16 July 1968) Lodge 3:49 14. "Tuesday Afternoon" (BBC Afternoon Pop Show 7/10/68) Hayward 3:23 15. "A Simple Game" (1968 single 'B' side) Pinder 3:44
2008 Single Standard CD Remaster bonus tracks Title Writer(s) 13. "A Simple Game" (Justin Hayward vocal mix) Pinder 3:26 14. "The Best Way to Travel" (Additional vocal mix) Pinder 4:03 15. "Visions of Paradise" (Instrumental version) Hayward, Thomas 4:30 16. "What Am I Doing Here?" (Original version) Hayward 3:53 17. "The Word" (Mellotron mix) Edge 1:01 18. "Om" (Extended Version) Pinder 6:07 19. "Dr. Livingstone, I Presume" (BBC Top Gear Session 16 July 1968) Thomas 2:57 20. "Thinking is the Best Way to Travel" (BBC Top Gear Session 16 July 1968) Pinder 3:38 21. "A Simple Game" (1968 single 'B' side) Pinder 3:44
2018 In Search of the Lost Chord (50th anniversary deluxe set)
Disc: 1 – The original stereo mix & bonus tracks Title 1. "Departure" (The original stereo mix) 0:45 2. "Ride My See-Saw" (The original stereo mix) 3:39 3. "Dr. Livingstone, I Presume" (The original stereo mix) 2:58 4. "House of Four Doors" (The original stereo mix) 4:13 5. "Legend of a Mind" (The original stereo mix) 6:36 6. "House of Four Doors (Part 2)" (The original stereo mix) 1:47 7. "Voices in the Sky" (The original stereo mix) 3:28 8. "The Best Way to Travel" (The original stereo mix) 3:14 9. "Visions of Paradise" (The original stereo mix) 4:15 10. "The Actor" (The original stereo mix) 4:39 11. "The Word" (The original stereo mix) 0:49 12. "Om" (The original stereo mix) 5:50 13. "Voices in the Sky" (mono) 3:27 14. "Dr. Livingstone, I Presume" (mono) 2:49 15. "Ride My See Saw" (mono - Previously unreleased on CD) 3:45 16. "A Simple Game" (mono) 3:46 17. "Legend of a Mind" (mono mix – Previously unreleased) 6:40
Disc: 2 – new stereo mix and new vocal mix / remastered Title 1. "Departure" ("In Search of the Lost Chord" new stereo mix) 0:46 2. "Ride My See-Saw" ("In Search of the Lost Chord" new stereo mix) 3:40 3. "Dr. Livingstone, I Presume" ("In Search of the Lost Chord" new stereo mix) 2:56 4. "House of Four Doors" ("In Search of the Lost Chord" new stereo mix) 4:12 5. "Legend of a Mind" ("In Search of the Lost Chord" new stereo mix) 6:36 6. "House of Four Doors (Part 2)" ("In Search of the Lost Chord" new stereo mix) 1:48 7. "Voices in the Sky" ("In Search of the Lost Chord" new stereo mix) 3:30 8. "The Best Way to Travel" ("In Search of the Lost Chord" new stereo mix) 3:12 9. "Visions of Paradise" ("In Search of the Lost Chord" new stereo mix) 4:12 10. "The Actor" ("In Search of the Lost Chord" new stereo mix) 4:56 11. "The Word" ("In Search of the Lost Chord" new stereo mix) 0:49 12. "Om" ("In Search of the Lost Chord" new stereo mix) 5:51 13. "A Simple Game" (Justin Hayward Vocal Mix / Remastered 2018) 3:44
Disc: 3 – BBC Radio One "Top Gear" Session / various extra mixes Title 1. "Dr. Livingstone, I Presume" (BBC Radio One "Top Gear" Session / 1968) 2:59 2. "Voices in the Sky" (BBC Radio One "Top Gear" Session / 1968) 3:53 3. "The Best Way to Travel" (BBC Radio One "Top Gear" Session / 1968) 3:39 4. "Ride My See-Saw" (BBC Radio One "Top Gear" Session / 1968) 3:50 5. "Tuesday Afternoon" (BBC Radio One John Peel "Top Gear" session – 16 July 1968) 3:24 6. "Departure" (alternate mix – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968) 0:54 7. "The Best way to Travel" (additional vocal mix – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968) 4:03 8. "Legend of a Mind" (alternate mix – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968) 6:45 9. "Visions of Paradise" (instrumental mix – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968) 4:30 10. "The Word" (Mellotron mix – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968) 1:02 11. "Om" (extended mix – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968) 6:08 12. "King and Queen" (Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968) 3:54 13. "Gimmie a Little Something" (Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968) 3:12 14. "What Am I Doing Here?" (full version – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968) 3:54 15. "A Simple Game" (Justin Hayward vocal version – Mixed at Decca Studios, West Hampstead in September 1968) 3:26
Disc: 4 – DVD "In Search of the Lost Chord" 96 kHz / 24-bit 5.1 Surround, new Stereo mix and re-mastered original stereo mix Title 1. "Departure" 0:45 2. "Ride My See-Saw" 3:38 3. "Dr. Livingstone, I Presume" 2:59 4. "House of Four Doors" 4:12 5. "Legend of a Mind" 6:37 6. "House of Four Doors (Part 2)" 1:47 7. "Voices in the Sky" 3:29 8. "The Best Way to Travel" 3:14 9. "Visions of Paradise" 4:12 10. "The Actor" 4:56 11. "The Word" 0:49 12. "Om" 5:46 13. "A Simple Game" (Justin Hayward vocal version) 3:44 14. "Departure" (Remastered original stereo mix) 0:44 15. "Ride My See-Saw" (Remastered original stereo mix) 3:39 16. "Dr. Livingston, I Presume" (Remastered original stereo mix) 2:58 17. "House of Four Doors" (Remastered original stereo mix) 4:13 18. "Legend of a Mind" (Remastered original stereo mix) 6:37 19. "House of Four Doors (Part 2)" (Remastered original stereo mix) 1:46 20. "Voices in the Sky" (Remastered original stereo mix) 3:28 21. "The Best Way to Travel" (Remastered original stereo mix) 3:14 22. "Visions of Paradise" (Remastered original stereo mix) 4:15 23. "The Actor" (Remastered original stereo mix) 4:39 24. "The Word" (Remastered original stereo mix) 0:49 25. "Om" (Remastered original stereo mix) 5:47
Disc: 5 – DVD Visual content Title 1. "Introduction" (Live On ORTF "Ce Soir On Danse: The Moody Blues" – 13 July 1968) 2. "Tuesday Afternoon" (Live On ORTF "Ce Soir On Danse: The Moody Blues" – 13 July 1968) 4:42 3. "Nights in White Satin" (Live On ORTF "Ce Soir On Danse: The Moody Blues" – 13 July 1968) 4:41 4. "Legend of a Mind (end section)" (Live On ORTF "Ce Soir On Danse: The Moody Blues" – 13 July 1968) 3:05 5. "Bye Bye Bird" (Live On ORTF "Ce Soir On Danse: The Moody Blues" – 13 July 1968) 4:50 6. "Fly Me High" (Live On ORTF "Ce Soir On Danse: The Moody Blues" – 13 July 1968) 6:43 7. "I’ve Got a Dream" (Live On ORTF "Ce Soir On Danse: The Moody Blues" – 13 July 1968) 3:23 8. "A Beautiful Dream" (Live On ORTF "Ce Soir On Danse: The Moody Blues" – 13 July 1968) 4:13 9. "Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood" (Live On ORTF "Ce Soir On Danse: The Moody Blues" – 13 July 1968) 3:33 10. "Peak Hour" (Live On ORTF "Ce Soir On Danse: The Moody Blues" – 13 July 1968) 6:11 11. "Nights in White Satin" (Live On ORTF "Ce Soir On Danse: The Moody Blues" – 13 July 1968) 4:44 12. "Departure/Ride My See-Saw" (BBC TV "Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord" – 14 September 1968) 3:51 13. "Dr. Livingstone I Presume" (BBC TV "Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord" – 14 September 1968) 2:57 14. "House of Four Doors" (BBC TV "Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord" – 14 September 1968) 5:54 15. "Voices in the Sky" (BBC TV "Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord" – 14 September 1968) 3:24 16. "The Best Way to Travel" (BBC TV "Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord" – 14 September 1968) 3:19 17. "Visions of Paradise / The Actor" (BBC TV "Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord" – 14 September 1968) 3:01 18. "Om" (BBC TV "Colour Me Pop: In Search of the Lost Chord" – 14 September 1968) 2:01 19. "Dr. Livingstone, I Presume" (Live On ORTF: "Carte D'or" – 29 October 1968) 3:02 20. "Ride My See Saw" (Live On ORTF: "Carte D'or" – 29 October 1968) 3:52
Personnel
Musicians
Mike Pinder – vocals, Mellotron , piano, harpsichord , acoustic guitar, bass guitar, cello, autoharp , tambura , spoken vocals
Ray Thomas – vocals, C flute , alto flute , soprano saxophone , oboe , French horn , tambourine
Justin Hayward – vocals, guitars, sitar , harpsichord, bass, percussion, Mellotron, piano
John Lodge – vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, cello , snare drum , tambourine
Graeme Edge - vocals, drums, timpani , tambourine, piano, percussion, tabla , spoken vocal
Technical
Chart positions
Album
Singles
References
External links
Studio albums Live albums Compilations Singles Related articles