British guitarist analyses The Moody Blues live in 2000! 

There’s just no band like the Moody Blues. They were light years ahead of most rock bands with their use of full orchestra . Their music is complex but so harmonious at the same time. I have listened to them since their beginning. Never get tired of hearing them. They are one of a kind. They are awesome.

The Moody's have been a huge part of my life's soundtrack since Days of Future Passed in 1967. Question of Balance, their fourth album, came out in 1970. By then, I had been drafted into the Army and had received orders for Vietnam. I played this album daily for the next year. It not only allowed me an avenue for mental escape but helped me believe that love still existed and it has to come from within. I credit this music for keeping me from cynicism and maintaining my sanity. My children were weaned and grew up with the Moody's and to this day, they often thank me for that exposure. The Moody Blues will one day be played at my funeral. Thank you for doing this.

Justin Hayward has a great voice and is underrated as a guitarist.

To learn as we grow old the secrets of our soul. Nobody told a story like the Moody Blues. Fantastic singers, songwriters and especially musicians. Home run Fil. Circle the bases.

Moody Blues were musically way beyond their time. Extraordinarily talented band. Thanks, Fil, for another great video.

I am now 68 and I have been a huge Moody fan since the late 60's. I was in the U.S. Navy in a land based aviation squadron from 71-75, and living in an enlisted man's barracks where we had 2, 3, and 4 man dorm rooms. I had a very nice component sound system in my room and I was lucky to be able to buy and listen to on a great sound system to so many of the great, great bands that were so famous...and good. Thanks, Fil...!!

Love the Moody Blues, In your wildest dreams is what I heard the day the doctor's told me I had cancer, which it turned out I didn't Thank GOD!

MOODY BLUES, ARE AWSOME , GREAT ONE AGAIN, THEY HELPED ME GET HOME FROM NAM THANKS FIL

"I'm looking for ... someone to change my life ...". Just amazing. I don't feel they were ever fully appreciated for the artists they were.

I was very blessed to see them with an orchestral backup. There were no bad seats. Justin had amazing stage presence. He glowed. Tight band live. Amazing energy.

My favorite band of all time! Everybody knows Nights in White Satin but man, they had so many great songs! Their music is pure, fantastical art. I love Question, and Melancholy Man the most but I love all of their music. ❤❤❤❤❤

There has never been a voice like Justin Hayward. And they created a whole new genre of orchestral rock. Not "prog" but full-throated of integrated orchestra. And as you pointed out, the lyrics ( e.g. "Timothy Leary's dead...")

The Moody Blues are my all-time favorite band, ever since the 60s. I am 64 years old, and over the years have been fortunate enough to go see them in concert three times!! It's an incredible experience to attend, live with full orchestration due to the fact that ahead of their concerts, arrangements are made with each city's local city orchestra to accompany them during their concerts. Their music literally comes ALIVE during their shows! We have collected every album they've done, and hubby and I raised our kids on this music. Both kids still today, listen to and love their music! Thanks for doing this one, Fil. Love, love, love it!

Moody Blues just listen to their records from 1967 onwards all master pieces

Love Fil's EXTRA wide grin every time the camera zooms in on the drums.

Their lead singer Denny Laine left to join Paul McCartney with Wings. Their albums 'On the Threshold of a Dream' and "To Our Childrens' Childrens' Children' (early 70's) were PHENOMENAL albums with amazing success. Thanks Fil - the Moody Blues have so much amazing music, hope you do more! From Lovely to See You Again: "Tell us what you've seen In far away forgotten lands Where empires have turned back to sand" OMG who writes like that anymore?!!!

Justin Hayward is one of the greatest songwriters of our generation.

Excellent analysis Fil and no autotune with the Moody Blues. ✌❤ ROCK!

Harmonizing their vocals is what made them stand out and made them unique. Great job fil as always

I remember seeing them on a sultry summer night, with full orchestral accompaniment. Pure magic. I swear we were singing with Justin and the entire audience levitated off the ground. At least if felt that way. However, it couldn’t compare to Knights in White Satin. It was my first experience hearing rock and classical musicians perform together. The audience walked quietly back to their cars. We were all smiling. Then, as the cars started up, a local FM radio station played the Moody Blues records in the same order as they were presented in the concert. The night just kept on with its musical journey. Blissed out on nothing but music...so powerful. I wish we could have experienced the Beatles doing all of Sgt. Peppers that way. I’m grateful for experiencing this musical experience. No sense crying over the experiences that would never happen. Peace out.

"It's all about the flow and the MOOD of the performance, no pun intended" 😂 ~Fil, 2019

This is a song that blows me away. Thanks for analyzing this not so obvious pick.

When performers have this much mileage and are still able to bring it at this level LIVE...a blessing to them and us.

I'm 64 and I had every album from this group. They, like James said below, were the soundtrack of my days also. I finally got to see them about the time of this performance (but not at Albert Hall). It was a great show in a small venue (about 800 seats) which made it really personal. I miss this type of music. And they were really top musicians. They created a lot of music from 5 guys. Also, their production work in the studio was ahead of most in the day. And they still have great voices today.

There is something magical about a legendary band playing their songs with an orchestra that makes all their years and songs together even more epic. Another good one, thanks Fil. :)

Thank you, Fil. I appreciate all your hard work in creating these videos. You could spend the next six months just covering all the hits from the Moody Blues. I still pull out all my old records from the Moodies and listen to them play.

One of my all time favorite music videos back in the day was Moody Blues "Your Wildest Dreams"

You've outdone yourself Fil. Thank you dearest for highlighting the brilliant, timeless, relatable Moody Blues. ;)

Hi Fil! I saw them Apr 06, 2009 @ The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, FANTASTIC!!! Studio perfect, didn't miss a beat, or a note. One of the finest performances I've ever been to...

I can't tell you how many times I've seen the Moody Blues in concert. Great choice Fil! One of my all time favorites!! Thank you so much for this!! 💕💕

AAAAAAAHHHHH!!! THE MOODY BLUES!!!! 10 times in concert, still have the tickets!

Hey #3! These guys have been on my “best of the ‘60’s” list since, well, the ‘60’s. Oh yeah, hit 63 last July, so I’ve heard all the best music of ANY generation, but those decades of 60’s-70’s gave us the all time best bands/tunes. However, we find ourselves losing the main players of those years and eventually, in the future, they will be remembered in much the same way we look to Bach, Beethoven, Liszt,Handel as the progressive musicians of their era. Take it all in now, while they are still around.

First concert I ever attended was The Moody Blues. I went never really knowing much about The Moody Blues I completely got hooked and started buying all their albums. What a unique band and unique sound.

Anything MoodyBlues is great

I love The Moody Blues! One of my favourites, the lyrics and music 💙 Such a shame that my peers aren’t into this music so much (I’m 17)

Thank you so much, Fil 😉

I can't even express my life long love of the Moody Blues!!! I have been listening to them since I was 10! Yup 47 years and I was fortunate to have seen them twice!! I remember when Nights in White Satin first played in the states, I used to go to sleep listening to Seventh Sojourn just truly amazing!!

One of my favorite Bands.... Days of Future Past album an epic masterpiece..

I'm just a singer in a rock n Roll band. 🤭 1970 was the middle if not the pinnacle of a decade of the most phenomenal lyrics and song compositions. I'm a fan of the sixties british beat, but what you said is true. As soon as the british bands landed in the USA it changed them forever. The USA influenced their style of playing music but it also gave them a different perspective of the world as a whole. Also some artists continued to venture to other parts of the world that also had a great impact on them. ( like those that visited the maharishi in India) 🦚

The Moody Blues have always been a favorite band of mine. They come right out of the gate blasting, then immediately slow down, then come right back at you. Such beautiful vocals throughout their music. Thank you for bringing them around again❤️👌

I never got to see The Moody Blues, but they are a great band with great songs.

As a young hippy (im 64 now) to a lot of us at the time it was 'Search for the lost chord' and 'Threshold of a Dream' that were the killer moodys albums..we used to trip all the time to these albums, they were just so on point

This band is a standout that is indeed something to be acknowledged, thanks again for a great pick to feature Fil!

The one band that I most regret for never seeing them live.

Best Band EVER.....😎😎😎😎 FROM AUSTRALIA....

Thank you,Gorgeous Fil❣

Really appreciate your insight Fil and analysis of a deserving Hall of Fame band. The Moody Blues were ahead of their time taking into account they played with the London Philharmonic in 1967. Their talent and place in music history cannot be debated; a true gem of a band

Several years ago my daughter gave me the CD of this concert. One of the most amazing performances I've ever listened to! As always, excellent annallyis!

I find your analyses tapes very educational for anyone who wants to learn about music. I love them! Keep up the great work :-) Concert videos are my favourite ones to watch.

I love the Moody Blues. Didn't realize how long it as been since I listen to them last. Time seems to be flying faster these days. So it was very pleasant to listen to them. AND got to pick up information on them that I didn't know. Thanks for the great evening Fil.

Thank you for your anaylis of the Moody Blues. I was one of the ones who requested them. Their Days of Future Past album got me thru some tough high school years.❤one of my most favorite bands..great anaylis 👍

OHHHHHH THIS SONG😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍THIS BAND HAS ALL THE RIGHT STUFF! THANK YOU F I L 💖 IT'S BEEN LONG TIME SINCE I HEARD THIS ONE

I got to see them perform with Detroit Symphony in Northern Michigan at Castle Farms at Charlevoix. Best concert I ever went to in my lifetime. A fan since 1968 0r 69.

Wow! Fil! Just have to say again, Thanks!! That was great! Love what you're doing!

Saw them live outdoors with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra back in the ninety's and it was awesome! I remember Ray Thomas playing a flute solo and getting a standing ovation.....from the Symphony Orchestra! So cool! Something about being outdoors with the orchestra was just incredibly powerful. And it didn't even rain in Vancouver that day but a lot of people were carrying umbrellas. I asked why and was told I would find out soon enough. When the music started all the ducks on the lake panicked and flew directly over the crowd. Umbrellas popped open everywhere and I knew then why people brought them! Fortunately I was not hit by falling duck poop but it was close and many of the unprepared were not so lucky!

Big thumbs up for this phenomenal band. Isaw them live in Boston Massachusetts and was so impressed with a 4 piece band sounding like an orchestra with their use of the Melotron keyboard. They were booked with The Young Rascals. The Moody Blues were such a favorite here in the USA. Everyone loved them for their ability to connect in a deep meaningful way. 😀👍🏽🎶🔥♥️🔥🎶😍

There is no gymnastics with instruments with the moodys. Just great songwriting played beautifully. Thanks Fil

I recently got my old turntable set up and started playing my old albums, and played my old, this is the Moody Blues. Still has a mystical quality that gets ones imagination going, and brings me back to the days of going over to the only friend who had a stereo back in the day, and listening to this down in his parents basement.

This track still on my playlist. Great to sing along when I am driving. Love it, after 50 years. Never going to date

Love the Moody Blues! Thanks Fil.

I love the Moody Blues. So Magical

John Lodge is an incredible bassist.

The Moody Blues Are A big part of my life! No other group are like them. The are tuned int to a timeless cosmic conscience They ate classic rock 🎸 And a class act ❤

I didn’t like them very much at first in the late 70’s because they were so mellow and they grew on me and I realized they have always been on a higher musical level and they were highly underrated.

Whoa! Fastest click, ever!! So happy you chose them and this song and this era performance! Thank you, it was wonderful to learn about them preparing to work live with an orchestra. All their songs that I know really seem like exciting journeys to me.

You hit one of my favorites from the the beginning. You've said everything there is to say. I've got a great album of Moody Blues with Orchestra at Red Rock. Beautiful music. Highly recommend it. I'm so glad the boys decided to put that show together. I have a small tag with Moody Blues. A few years ago, I sold a Washburn accoustic bass to MIke Pender's son Mike Pender. That's it. One last thing. My friends and I would never play a single cut from Days of Futures Past. We'd listen to all of it or not at all. It was the rule.

The Moody Blues...I used to listen to “Days of Future Past” on my dads old 8 track. Then in the early 90’s they had a huge resurgence with their “Live at Redrocks” album. Seems like that experience had an impression on them too! I wonder how much time the orchestra has to devote to learning their tunes and who arranges the music for the orchestra? And by the way, Fil, it’s my turn to thank you! I’m 43, been playing guitar since I was 16, and I come up with chord progressions/songs for my own amusement. I had a progression where I was wondering how I was going to add in a chorus and bring it back around to the verse...and then I watched your analysis of Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman”. Your analysis opened my mind to be able to see that I didn’t have to follow a formula! Old dogs DO learn new tricks!...if they have the right teacher! Thanks a bunch, brother! ROCK!

Thank you! I was 14 when Days of Future Passed was released in the US. Like the advent of the Beatles, their music completely changed the way I looked at rock and its possibilities. They are a major part of the soundtrack of my life and are my favorite band to this day. They are one of those rare bands who sound as good (or better) live as they do in the studio recordings.

Setting near the front row of a Moody concert in the 70's was a complete religious experience. The first meaningful band when I started smoking pot in 1968

I like any musician who can play an acoustic 12 string live on stage at the Royal Albert Hall! Listening from Ho Chi Minh City right now where I'm having my 12 string repaired.

I remember when this was a hit. It is one of the few songs I still sing in my day to day wanderings. Some day I will have to make a list. There really aren't that many.

I love your insight

Mike Pinder does not get the recognition he deserves,true genius.

I saw the Moodies in San Diego in the late 90's. It was pure joy.

Yesssss!Oh how I love The Moody Blues! EGBDF "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" That's you Fil. 🙂

I was fortunate to see The Moody Blues twice in the 1980's . Great band . Justin Hayward is a great song writer , as is John Lodge and dear old Ray Thomas . I have this video on DVD from their box set released a a few years ago .

The Moody Blues an english rock band from Birmingham came on the scene with some powerful hit songs like Question, Your Wildest Dreams, Nights in White Satin, and Tuesday Afternoon a personal favorite and many more. The group consisted of keyboardist Mike Pinder, multi-instrumentalist Ray Thomas, guitarist Denny Laine, drummer Graeme Edge, originally bassist Clint Warwick and later settled with Justin Hayward on guitar and John Lodge on bass boasting a sound so unique because it was rock that included full orchestral accompaniment of which our ears had never been exposed to such melodic musical arrangements. In those early rock days not only would one buy the album but next came the listening when in my case we all would sit around and just listen to their music enjoying song after song defining the musical emotion and even in the car going on those early morning surfing trips music like Question would be playing at the highest decibel levels. In recent years I have seen The Moody Blues perform in Santa Barbara, Ca. at the Arlington Theatre and the emotion they share through their performance is as powerful as it was then back in the early concert days; definitely, The Moody Blues are one of the great bands that have inspired rock and roll music. In 2018 The Moody Blues, selling 70 million albums worldwide including 18 platinums and gold LPs were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Saw them in the 70's and then not again until around this tour. I think with the local symphonies in two different cities...maybe Omaha and Denver? They and Yes had been two of my favorite bands in the 70's and I fully expected some kind of age related degradation but...nope. Perfect shows. Note for note, vocal for vocal. Just like I used to play them at 11 on my B&O turntable and the massive amp speaker setup from the 70's.

Now you're cooking with GAS!!!!!

They sure are a great group even older.

Moodies were a huge part of my musical heritage for 50 years. I've seen them 3 times. Ray Thomas followed only 100 people on Twitter and I was proud to be one of them.

I talked with a Cleveland disc jockey back in 1983 to find out why the Moody Blues album "The Present", that came out that year, wasn't played on the radio when their previous 1981 album "Long Distance Voyager" went to #1. She literally told me to call her at 3 A.M. the next day when she was filling in overnight. I called her and she said the disc jockeys used a secret list of songs they call "the disc jockey song list". She said bands need to do a lot more than simply have a good song or album to be played on the radio. There are payoffs she told me and said "you didn't hear it from me".

You're so right on Wings of Pegasus.Ive followed him for decades.

My Gosh. I’m not even half way thru your video Fil and this performance made me cry. The Moody Blues are an extremely talented band and one of my favorites growing up. But this song with the strings added with so much feeling in the lyrics just made me cry for the beauty of the song. I can see colors when I hear music. Not by drugs or anything I’ve just been able to see colors when I close my eyes to a song. This was just an overwhelming experience. Thank you Fil. Great analysis. As always. ❤️🤘🏼

I love The Moody Blues and have all their late 60's and 70's albums. I remember my parents being very happy that, at age 15, I was listening to "orchestra music" (Days of Future Passed) instead of Alice Cooper. LOL

Brilliant analysis Fil! One of my all time favorite bands. Saw them over 30 years ago in Detroit,and they were incredible!

Thank you so much for this post!!! Sometimes in life you remember where you were when something extraordinary happens. That was the case as I drove on Interstate 285 in Atlanta so many years ago. Question came on the radio. No other way to put it, I was stunned with what I heard.This was NOT the rock and roll I was accustomed to hearing from any band. It was something that seemed to transcend rock. And I never looked back! As with so many of their songs, they mixed progressive music with philosophy and life, with lyrical and instrumental messages on a whole new level, at least for some of us. I saw them in Atlanta and then again in Phoenix years later. Sitting there before the show in Phoenix I looked around. The audience was filled with young children, families and the very old. All were there to witness something quite unique. In the years following, I was never disappointed at their not being inducted into the Hall of Fame, even though that finally happened. The reason I wasn't disappointed was that the Moody Blues music is more than rock and roll. It's transcendent. And they just don't fit into a mold. Thank you again for continuing to listen to us, and for this post.

Wow I saw them in 2000 and just saw Hayward 2 months ago.

T.S. Eliot: "We shall not cease from exploration/And the end of all our exploring/Will be to arrive where we started/And know the place for the first time. "Little Gidding."

Really nice analysis - especially with how much is going on in this performance. The melodies, lyrical content, dynamics, and the sheer number of people on stage delivering a solid live performance makes this an enjoyable one to listen to and watch. Thanks, Fil!

I remember hearing the Moody Blues as a kid in the 70's. I didn't know how to take them. They were a very deep meaning band. It took me years to not just to warm up to them. I guess there was a lot of maturing to do. In order to understand and really enjoy them. Still do !. One correction for you. The Moody Blues. Did not see the younger generation. With their views and protests of the Vietnam War. They were of the Generation who fought the War. The same age as the Solders. Seeing and sharing the mood of the times. There was protesting all over the World. Not only the US. Also the UK and throughout Europe. Music was the same. Blowing in the Wind, What's Going on by Marvin Gaye. Billy Don't be a Hero, Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods, One Tin Solider, Covin. The list goes on. The Moody Blues is still an Awesome Band. Great video. Rock on !.

My favorite group and one of the few concerts I attended back in their early days. The use of an orchestra just magnifies the music ten-fold. The most unique band in history.

I saw them in 81 Long Distance Voyager tour and again in 96+97 w/orchestra. Hard to pick out my fave show but in 96 I had front row seats. And I got up to dance w/my gal for NIghts. Through most of the 70's I vacillated between Hendrix and the Moody Blues. It's the honest mix of rock and classical with deep meaningful lyrics. They left behind a great body of work. Time Traveler is a 5 CD set which encompasses so much of it. Thanks for the post.

My all-time favorite song by The Moody Blues! Many thanks for posting this. 😊😊😊

I saw these guys in concert twice in the early 70's when Mike Pinder was in the band. He was so good on the mellotron the band was like a small symphonic orchestra.

Thanks for the blast from the past! Flawless performance. A lot of time & work put in to achieve this standard. Thanks for sharing and analysis once again!♥

He has half the audience singing with him.

Woohoo!!! I've been on another binge session today and was so excited to see this pop up :D

Fil, thank you taking my suggestion of Justin. He's a great guitarist,singer and songwriter.

Moody Blues! One of my all time favorite bands! Great song! When I was in High School, Nights in White Satin was our anthem! We just spelled it differently, Knights instead of Nights. The music dynamics, the lyrics, complex and intense.