Moody Blues/CA,USA 1981 Millard Tapes

MOODY BLUES in 1981 welcomed former REFUGEE/YES member Patrick Moraz and sent “LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER” to number one in the US. Introducing a valuable live album that allows you to experience the best of the commercial heyday. What is infused into this work is “June 28, 1981 Long Beach Performance”. Continuing from last year, the project to discover the master of legendary master Mike Millard is active in 2021, and this work is the latest work. Not only the sound of Mirrored Magic shines, but also the preciousness of MOODY BLUES from the Moraz era is dazzling. First, let’s look back at the tour schedule at the peak of his career. [“LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER” released on May 15th]・May 26th-30th: Europe (4 performances)・June 2nd-9th: UK (8 performances)・June 15th-July 19th : North America #1 (26 performances) ←★Coco★・October 16th – December 6th: North America #2 (34 performances) This is MOODY BLUES in 1981. Perhaps reflecting their No. 1 ranking in the U.S., the band’s largest ever U.S. tour was realized. The Long Beach performance of this work was the 10th concert of “North America #1”, which was the beginning. This work recorded at such a show is a masterpiece that shows the skill of the legendary Millard. Millard seems to have been a fan of MOODY BLUES, and recorded them several times from 1974 (!) to 1990. He is often overlooked because he records a variety of bands/artists, but he actually doesn’t repeatedly record unless he really likes a band. The legend’s actions and works tell the story of how much he loved MOODY BLUES. And since it is such a mirrored sound, it perfectly understands the sound output of MOODY BLUES. It realizes a beautiful soundboard-like recording more than usual. In fact, the sound is extremely tight at zero distance. There was lively applause at the beginning of the performance and between songs, but even then, the sound of the performances and singing voices was so great that I wondered if the radio station had intentionally overdubbed the lively applause. There is. However, this work was not “iron-clad” either. The beginning of the opening “Gemini Dream” is also missing recording, but another is the master freshness. As you can see from the title, this work is based on the 1st generation (not the original cassette), but perhaps because it has not been well preserved, there is a slight drop in the sound in the original sound online, and the pitch changes in the middle. It was crazy. Of course, this work is corrected with careful mastering. It’s not a perfect restoration, but it’s in the best possible condition. I can’t lie, so I have listed some difficulties, but there is no doubt that the recording itself is at the masterpiece level even in the collection of master Millard. In fact, “LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER TOUR” also has the FM sound board of the Chicago performance as a standard, but this work is much better (to be honest, it is incomparable). This ultra-tight sound is a show by the rising star MOODY BLUES, who became the best hit maker of our time with his two works, “OCTAVE” and “LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER.” Unlike the Chicago performance sound board mentioned above, it is a full set, so let’s compare and organize it here. Prog Era (11 songs) Days of Future Past: Twilight Time/Tuesday Afternoon/Nights In White Satin In Search of Lost Chords: Legend Of A Mind/Ride My See-Saw Children’s Children To the children of: Gypsy, Question of Balance: The Balance/Question, Dome: The Story In Your Eyes, Seventh Sojourn: Isn’t Life Strange/I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band) Restart Era (12 songs) – Dawn of the New World: The Day We Meet Again (★) / Steppin’ In A Slide Zone / Driftwood – Voyager: Gemini Dream / The Voice / Nervous / Meanwhile (★) / Talking Out Of Turn /22,000 Days/Painted Smile (★) /Reflective Smile/Veteran Cosmic Rocker (★) *Note: Songs marked with a “★” cannot be heard even on the standard FM soundboard at the Chicago performance. …and it looks like this. The numbers from the progressive rock era, which is considered the golden age in Japan, have been reduced to about half, and the new side is a large feature as if to express “rebirth.” In particular, all the songs from the new album “LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER” except “In My World” are being played on a large scale, and it is also a big hit. The hot mood of being in the middle of a big hit comes out from the speakers. Of course, Moraz, who played as part of the EL&P/YES family, was also very active. Although it is more ensemble-oriented than playing a solo, the performance that makes use of the mellotron surprisingly is wonderful. The Mellotron is often used to create a profound effect, but MOODY BLUES has proven that it can be used not only for that purpose, but also for all kinds of expressions, such as crying and a light sense of speed. In this work, the taste is doubled by the stage tension. It’s also a delicious album of Mellotron from the 80’s, which was considered outdated. MOODY BLUES from the Moraz era were at their peak as a pop hit maker, while ceding the conceptual path of yesteryear to PINK FLOYD. This is a valuable live album where you can experience the full show with a masterpiece recording by master Millard. Although it may not be perfect, it is a masterpiece that symbolizes 1981 with a sound that exceeds that of a standard FM soundboard and a long length. Exquisite audience recording of Patrick Moraz’s “June 28, 1981 Long Beach Performance”. The sound digitized from legendary master Mike Millard’s 1st Gene Master is super tight with no sense of distance. In 1981, there was also an FM sound board of the Chicago performance as a standard, but this work is much better (to be honest, it is incomparable). All songs from the new album “LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER” except “In My World” are being played on a large scale, and they are also very popular. This is a valuable live album where you can enjoy the passionate mood of being in the midst of a big hit from the speakers, and the Mellotron that Moraz manipulates. Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA, USA 28th June 1981 PERFECT SOUND Disc 1 (67:26) 1. Gemini Dream 2. The Day We Meet Again 3. The Story In Your Eyes 4. Twilight Time 5. Tuesday Afternoon 6. The Voice 7. Nervous 8. Meanwhile 9. Steppin’ In A Slide Zone 10. Talking Out Of Turn 11. The Balance 12. Isn’t Life Strange 13. Gypsy 14. Driftwood Disc 2 (45:26) 1. 22,000 Days 2. Painted Smile 3. Reflective Smile 4. Veteran Cosmic Rocker 5. I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band) 6. Nights In White Satin 7. Legend Of A Mind 8. Question 9. Ride My See- Saw Justin Hayward – Guitar, Vocals John Lodge – Bass, Guitar, Vocals Ray Thomas – Vocals, Flute, Percussion, Harmonica Patrick Moraz – Keyboards Graeme Edge – Drums, Percussion