The energy of this band could power a city for weeks! They didn't anything in their pockets on this one! Seriously, they played it until it hurt. What's even more amazing is that they're still rockin' to this day.
The Moodies were/are extraordinary. One could argue that they actually were the first "Prog" rock group. And Symphonic. And classic. From 1967 onward, they changed music. And by the way--that keyboard player pioneered the melotron (strings from keyboard). Awesome stuff. Glad I got to see them once. You have much more to hear, Hari.
RIP Graeme Edge (drums) and Ray Thomas (sax). Written and sung by John Lodge (bass), along with Justin Hayward (guitar) and Mike Pinder (mellotron). An energetic closing song to their 1972 masterpiece album "Seventh Sojourn". "I'm Just a Singer in a R&R Band" was their response to fans who (due to their often philosophical lyrics) put them on a pedestal and thought they knew the answers to the universe. Cheers.
There are various stories of how the lyrics for this song came about. This is from an interview by the composer John Lodge, the bassist and singer from the track. It's from an interview he gave Song Writing Magazine in 2021. “This is where one of the lyrics for I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) came from… I remember coming back from a tour and there was a whole load of people camped out in my front garden! I was like, ‘Er… What are you doing?’ and they all said, ‘John, we’ve come to tell you you’re going to save the Earth. You’re going to be flying the spaceship and fly us all to safety…’ And I was like, ‘Pardon? Just a minute, I actually don’t like flying! So I won’t be me.’ And they said, ‘When the time comes, it will be you.’ “So that’s when I started thinking: ‘Hang on, I’m just a singer in a rock ‘n’ roll band. I know nothing.’ And that’s why, at the very end of the song, I wanted to put, ‘We’re all just singers in a rock ‘n’ roll band.’ Also, it was the Vietnam War and around Europe there were riots going on all over the place, so I included lyrics like ‘Riots by the people for the people.’ In other words, you’re destroying yourself. “And I talk about, ‘Scorched earth, scorching this earth,’ and there was that incredible photograph of the young girl on fire and that hit me really hard, so that’s why I put that into the song. I wanted to put all that into a rock ‘n’ roll song, so I remember sitting in my music room with my guitar."
I remember reading some of the back story on this song. It seems to be partly inspired by a fanatical (in a good way) fan of the band. The band arrived to a city 2-3 days early, ahead of their performance, and saw a fan camping out for several days trying to obtain tickets. Some of the members talked to him and provided him with front row seats, free of charge, for the show. But they did not understand his fanatical devotion, hence- "I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band."
That's a little different from what I heard via several John Lodge interviews. Let me see if I can find one to quote. I'll put it in a separate comment if I do.
@@barrycohen311 I would say, "Nah," on you trippin'. The story I found is quite different than what I remember hearing before, which is sort of a combination of the one you shared and the one I found. The story I heard is that there was a fan for about a week outside the stadium, but rather than wanting to get in, he had signage which proclaimed the Moody Blues as the new Saviors of the World. And that the fan was severely angry at the band when nothing changed after their show. 🤷♀️
Another wonderfully modest/honest rock star is Alice Cooper: "If you're listening to a rock star to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are."
I remember seeing that it was written as a reaction to fans believing that they must have the answers! Spot on reaction. I've loved them since the "Threshold of a Dream" LP, which I fell asleep to many times in the 70s!
One of the best songs of the 70's! John's music, lyrics and fantastic bass riff, Mike's soaring keyboards, Justin's breathtaking guitar solo, and Graeme's driving drums make this one of my all time favorite songs! This would be the last song on their last album before they took a break in the early 70's, and they lyrics are definitely a message to their fans not to get too carried away or take them too seriously. If you have the chance, you should check out some of their live versions where Justin does an extended guitar solo. Thanks for another great Moodies reaction Harri!
Those guys have more talent in their pinkies than most musicians could ever hope for in a lifetime. Rumor has it that they had to keep Graham Edge in a cage with Keith Moon and Nick Mason between gigs.
I don't know how to tell you this, but the song you just reacted to is FAR from being the best song on the Moody Blues' 7th album, *Seventh Sojourn.* In fact two of the Moody Blues' BEST SONGS EVER are on that album: *You And Me* & *The Land Of Make Believe.* They both have soaring passages that give me chills. Do yourself & others a favor & react to them both. You will NOT be disappointed...
He has already reacted to both as well as most of the other songs from Seventh Sojourn, so you should definitely check those out. Another favorite of mine from the album that I Believe Harri has yet to hear is "New Horizons". I would highly recommend. It is such a beautiful ballad with beautiful vocals and soaring guitar. Cheers!
They released an album in the late 70s called Octave, that you might find very interesting. A different sort of energy than you might expect from them as well. I'd recommend a song called Steppin in a Slide Zone.
This was released in 1973, from their Seventh Sojourn. It reached Number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100's. The instruments are blazing, so fantastic. From "Go Now" to "Nights in White Satin", The Moody Blues have such a range of tempo to their songs. When this song came out with such an upbeat rock sound, people, including myself, at first didn't recognize this as the Moody Blues. Until you hear their beautiful vocals, the harmonies are a give away. Great memory and reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and Miss Blondie. 👏 Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
Lyrics: I'm just a wandering on the face of this earth Meeting so many people Who are trying to be free And while I'm traveling I hear so many words Language barriers broken Now we've found the key And if you want the wind of change To blow about you And you're the only other person to know, don't tell me I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band A thousand pictures can be drawn from one word Only who is the artist We got to agree A thousand miles can lead so many ways Just to know who is driving What a help it would be So if you want this world of yours To turn about you And you can see exactly what to do Please tell me I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band How can we understand Riots by the people for the people Who are only destroying themselves And when you see a frightened Person who is frightened by the People who are scorching this earth I'm just a wandering on the face of this earth Meeting so many people Who are trying to be free And while I'm traveling I hear so many words Language barriers broken Now we've found the key And if you want the wind of change To blow about you And you're the only other person to know, don't tell me I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band How can we understand Riots by the people for the people Who are only destroying themselves And when you see a frightened Person who is frightened by the People who are scorching this earth Music is the traveler crossing our world Meeting so many people bridging the seas I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band We're just the singers in a rock and roll band I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band
MOODY BLUES, "I'M JUST A SINGER IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND", despite the massive catalog of the Moody Blues. This became my favorite song. Musicly it was most jamming. The band expanded members was great. Another song telling society too get it's shit together. 50 years later that still hasn't happened.
Miss Blondie, thank you so much for requesting this great song from my favorite MB album. I sometimes forget how great these guys are. Harri is a great reminder here. 🌺✌️
I first heard this song on an 8-track player not long after it was released, when I was temporarily stationed on the U.S.S. Midway. It blew me away!!! Great performance of a great song!!!
One of the greatest groups in the world. Four voices working in unison/harmony. Brilliant musicians. Another great one from this album (SEVENTH SOJOURN) is John Lodge's "Isn't Life Strange." John also wrote "I'm Just a Singer..."
I had the luck and pleasure of seeing them in the LA Forum in '70 and even though I was a fan I was blown away by how much more "Rock" they were live. There albums were pieces of art and history so while I can't fault the production their live shows were totally different. From one experience, but it was a big enough surprise I will never forget.
I didn’t hear The Moody Blues until their album Long Distance Voyager, from the early 80’s. Like a lot of classic rock bands, I had to go backwards to hear their classic period.
The drummer is going to have to sleep for three days and three nights to get over that, LOL and I see you did address the sound quality later in the reaction. Yeah check out the studio cut man, it's almost identical but it is fantastic quality. I know you would love it.
This is the first MB song I heard, and it gave me a kind of spinal shock that never lost the grip,and you can never imagine how many thousands of hours I have spent listeneng to their music. In addission to that I have a list of the songs, that I sing along with my guitar🎸 Thanks for the best music 😍
It's 1970, 2am, the bars just closed, get home and throw a few LPs on the turn table. The Moody Blues always made the cut. They are fantastic in concert. Fortunately, I saw them several times, as I didn't get to many other concerts.
The Moody Blues as versatile as they get - equally adept at the rockers such as this, Question, Story In Your Eyes, etc, as slower, soft, thoughtful ballads such as Land Of Make Believe (from this same album), Never Comes The Day, and so many others.
This one does ramp it up big time so yeah, don't normally hear music from them like this but it's great! I think there are several different stories where this came from so who knows. This is one of their earlier ones with Pinder still on organ. It was first released in 1972 as the final track on the album Seventh Sojourn and was later released as a single in 1973, with "For My Lady" as its B-side. It was the second single released from Seventh Sojourn, with the first being "Isn't Life Strange", which was also written by Lodge.
Man, You totally Nailed it!! Even with the sound quality. I can only hope you can analyze one of my satirical songs. Like, The year the Geese came through' or "the best Harley song ever". You have the insight that everyone should have and your listening abilities are extraordinary. Thanks, Harry.
Watching Graham Edge in this performance, I wonder if it was the inspiration for the character 'Animal' (drummer) in Jim Henson's 'The Muppet Show'? Same wild energy, hair flying everywhere, and even the collapse over the drums at the end. 😊
Miss B - What a terrific submission, I had not seen this video before. The near-frenetic pace of The Moodies on this one makes this song rather unusual for them. Nonetheless, I have always enjoyed the entire Seventh Sojourn album. Harri, your review was excellent and well-informed. Great job by both of you!
They could bring the fire, no doubt about it. One of the 1st bands I ever saw, never a bad show. I know you have heard 'Ride my See Saw' and 'The Story in Your Eyes' before so I think you are not really being truthful saying you didn't know they had such rockin tunes. Cheers.
Harri, Might I suggest "The Story In Your Eyes" or "After You Came" On the "Classic 7" Moodies albums they usually alternated a hard song with more trippier , romantic and introspective ones.
HarriBest, you sound British- are you? Every part of this song is outstanding but the drums are out of this world- the way they start so hard and slow build. This song and "Playing in the Band" (Robert Hunter/Bob Weir) always remind me of each other. like your take and love the Guns n Roses comment. "knackered"- I looked it up- lol.
Honestly I think you would have enjoyed the live version from the Royal Albert Hall of I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band. This is one they were young and crazy and drugged out lol
I grew up with The Moody Blues and like a lot of their stuff but this is Far and Away my favorite song of theirs. If you really like it, I was just listening to the studio cut because the Fidelity on it is about a thousand times better than this recording for whatever reason. But I believe there was a bit of an issue going on here to which has always been an issue where people tell musicians to shut up and play and not voice opinions about things and so I think this is their take on that.
If my memory isn't failing, I think that the Moodys were supported on a tour around this time by Hard Stuff, probably just before the latter band recorded "Bolex Dementia" because they wouldn't be touring after the car crash. Hard Stuff, as the name implies, were a hard rock band so this might have been an influence on the Moodys. You also mentioned the band's wide range of music. "A Simple Game" was also one of their songs ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FC3Ngeqzr98.html , although you will know the Four Tops version better ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-EDID-1NYAjg.html Thanks for the choice, Miss Blondie, it's a great song.
2023; "Riots by the people for the people who are only destroying themselves- and when you see a freightened person who is freightened by the people who are schorching this earth" c1972.
Mankind has nothing learned since 1972.. They're still scorching this earth. And the lyrics from Mike Pinders song " lost in a lost world" from the same album "seventh sojourn" are more topical than ever (" so many people are dying, lost in a lost world"). Moody Blues music and lyrics: Great stuff!
The drums on this are insanely good…but am I the only one who thinks the drummer looks completely confused half the time? See 0:56 and 3:20 as examples. 😂
I didn't care for this song when I listened to back in the late 70's. It was a good song but didn't seem to fit. I enjoy it more today here in the 2020's.
