Long Distance Voyager

The Moody Blues | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polydor / Umgd
• ASIN: B000001F5Y
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,508 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A regular fixture on the pop charts throughout the '70s, the Moody Blues roared into the '80s with this tremendously successful record. In fact, the album sounds only slightly different than its predecessors; the synthesizer textures are heavier (thanks to former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz), but the band's flair for catchy, melodic compositions is still very much in evidence. In retrospect, songs like "The Voice," "Talking Out of Turn" and "In My World," while solid, don't exactly measure up to such all-time Moodies classics like "Ride My See-Saw" or "Tuesday Afternoon." Still, this is probably the last truly consistent album the band ever made. --Dan Epstein

Product Description

Japanese only SHM pressing. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. Universal. 2009. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY! A Magnificent Re-release of "Long Distance Voyager," by "The Moodies!" :), November 30, 2008

By 

Kevin Martinell KevyGuy (Dunmore, PA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Long Distance Voyager (Audio CD)

There are so many reviews of the albums of The Moody Blues all over the web, so please forgive me if I repeat what anyone had already said or for not being too original in my review. Here is my experience of this remastered edition of "Long Distance Voyager"...

First off, just like the famous early seven CD re-releases by The Moody Blues, whether they be the 1997 remasters or the 2006/2007 expanded editions, we are once again treated to another topnotch remastering job for the CD reissue of "Long Distance Voyager" ... What better candidate to have, when it comes to this task, than Moody Blue band member Justin Hayward?! :) Also, notice how the songs sort of segue together, unlike the original CD release from the 80's, where there would be two or three second gaps between the tracks, so once the last droplet of sound fades from a previous song, the next tune picks up right from that point ... This format takes Moody Blues listeners back to the early albums, when there were no silent gaps between the tracks. I had a feeling that this album would be remastered again, since it was previously remastered by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, when the limited edition gold CD was released in 1997 ... Usually, albums that are remastered on gold CD's get remastered again, and I'm glad that "Long Distance Voyager" received the recognition it deserved. :)

After "Seventh Sojourn," the latter Moody Blues albums feature synthesizers replacing the mellotrons, as any Moody fan can tell you of course, plus Justin Hayward sings in a more mellow manner than the way he sang on the late 60's/early 70's albums. John Lodge rocks a bit more, at a few points, compared to on the earlier albums (Beginning with "Sitting At The Wheel" from "The Present"). Also, orchestral arrangements grace certain tracks ("Talking Out Of Turn" and "Nervous," from this album). Not so much spoken-word poetry, either, until "Strange Times." Sound-wise, "Long Distance Voyager" is loaded with beautiful heavily-echoed, cooing, and buzzing synthesizer sounds ("The Voice"/"Meanwhile"/"Painted Smile"), layered acoustic guitar ("In My World"/"Nervous"), wild mouth organ overdubs ("22,000 Days"/"Veteran Cosmic Rocker"), and scattered haunting effects (Ex: The intro to "The Voice," Ray Thomas' "Dear Diary-esque" vocals in the middle of "22,000 Days," the atmosphere of "Reflective Smile," and the tail end of "Veteran Cosmic Rocker" with the sitar and backwards vocal). Justin and John also provide combined vocal harmony really well on many of the latter Moody Blues tracks, such as "Gemini Dream." Fortunately, "Long Distance Voyager" features the full seven-minute version of John Lodge's "Talking Out Of Turn," as does "Time Traveller" ... The song just isn't the same when it is "butchered," as it was on compilations like "Anthology" and "The Singles+."

For the bonus track, the single edit of "The Voice" made a nice reprise, after listening to the entire album ... This edit previously made an appearance on the Moody Blues compilation, "Voices In The Sky," from 1984.

There's more ... The CD booklet that accompanies this release is loaded with photos, lyrics, and a history of the band, so you get your money's worth on not just the disc, but with the insert, too! While both the original CD release and the Mobile Fidelity gold CD featured the lyrics and info that was featured on the vinyl release, this expanded release one-ups things by adding the extra info and shots of the band!

This is a very satisfying remastered CD reissue of "Long Distance Voyager!" Congratulations and job well done to Justin Hayward and everyone who worked on this fantastic CD re-release! Now, let's all hope and pray for some remasters of "The Other Side Of Life," "Sur La Mer," "Keys Of The Kingdom," a return of the "This Is The Moody Blues" and "Legend Of A Band" compilations, and also a return of the version of "Strange Times" that featured the bonus tracks, "Highway" and "This Is The Moment" ... Then, I'm sure we'll all be joyous and grateful "Moodies" fans. :) Thanks for reading and God Bless!

~KevyGuy :)
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a comeback!, February 15, 2001

By 

Matt Walsh (Pepperell, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Long Distance Voyager (Audio CD)

The Moody Blues made seven extraordinary albums in six years in the late 60's and early 70's, then broke up for half a decade and reunited for the disappointing "Octave" in 1978. Three years later, they exploded onto the 80's pop scene with a fantastic new album that exceeded all expectations.

What made this album even more impressive was that the band succeeded so completely despite a crushing blow: the loss of keyboardist and singer/songwriter Mike Pinder, who left the band to raise a family. Pinder was an extremely important part of the band's sound, but the Moodies simply re-invented their sound with new keyboardist Patrick Moraz (from Yes.) It was a little flashier and a little less haunting, but their fantastic song-writing skills and collective talent made the album shine.

This album had two big hits: Justin Hayward's awesome rocker "The Voice" and the Hayward/Lodge composition "Gemini Dream," about the Moodies' return to the rock scene. But every song on here is an absolute gem, especially the gorgeous ballads "In My World" and "Nervous," Graeme Edge's riveting "22,000 Days" and Ray Thomas's closing trilogy, "Painted Smile/Reflective Smile/Veteran Cosmic Rocker", which is experimental rock at its most impressive and energetic.

This album is extremely uplifting, powerful, beautiful and inspirational, and it ROCKS. They wouldn't make another album this good until 1999's "Strange Times," and even that doesn't live up to the grandeur of "Long Distance Voyager." If there's one post-classic-period album that lives up to those first seven masterpieces, this is it!

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Moodies Entered Another Decade, October 10, 2002

By 

Lonnie E. Holder "The Review's the Thing" (Columbus, Indiana, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Long Distance Voyager (Audio CD)

The Moodies made their mark in the 60s and extended that success into the early 70s. They spent some time apart in the mid-70s and then released "Octave", which was the last album on which Mike Pinder appeared. "Octave" was not the stellar production of the classic 7, and while it was a sort of "comeback", it wasn't the comeback the Moodies could have hoped for.

"Long Distance Voyager" showed the Moodies not only had it, they HAD it. This album went all the way to #1, matching the success of "Seventh Sojourn". Much of the Moodies 60s magic was in this album, and it is a fitting addition to the classic 7, though more in the vein of "Seventh Sojourn" than the earlier works.

This album had a flavour of the earlier otherwordly Moodies music, but was more generally a rocker flavored by the occasional ethereal concept.

Justin Hayward starts the album off with a decent song "The Voice", which continues some of the Moodies 60s concepts, with a dash of relationship thrown in as Justin seems to be talking to his significant other. The lyrics are generally okay with occasional weak points. The music is excellent, and Patrick Moraz' keyboards do not overwhelm the selection.

John Lodge then has a very good selection with "Talking Out of Turn", about someone saying something they shouldn't have to their loved one and regretting it. The lyrics and music are well matched here, and Patrick Moraz understated keyboards make this song feel like the Moodies of yore.

John Lodge and Justin Hayward kick in next with "Gemini Dream", a rocker that is just a good fun song, which believe it or not is a love song.

Justin Hayward's "In My World" follows. I must admit that this song is my favorite from this CD. I know, it's a maudlin love song, all mellow and pop/rockish. But the buildup from the beginning is wonderful, and the music ranks with some of the best that Justin has done. There are a couple of weak spots in the lyrics as Justin tries to cram a couple of extra words in time with the music, but I'll forgive that for the backing vocals and the bridge and the rest of the song.

Justin is well represented on this CD as another of his songs, "Meanwhile", follows. Though I like "In My World", "Meanwhile" is probably artistically Justin's best song on this CD, and perhaps the best on the CD. This song is about love lost, and there are few people that can croon about love won, love lost or just plain love as well as Justin.

Graeme Edge seems to contribute something unusual to every album, and "22,000 Days" is every bit as unusual as anything he's ever done. This song is about the approximate number of days of adult life we have to do whatever we are going to do. What the song says is to make use of the little time you have doing something worthwhile and productive. I enjoy this song.

"Nervous" by John Lodge has a peaceful, quiet start. Another love song, but a neat one. The song starts out quietly and slow, acoustic, in fact. The song stays relatively quiet until suddenly it takes off in the chorus. Good John Lodge song, among his best.

"Painted Smile", "Reflective Smile" and "Veteran Cosmic Rocker" by Ray Thomas finish off the album. I enjoy all three, though they are a tad bit gimmicky with the circus theme for the first two. However, the three form a theme. The juxtaposition of "Veteran Cosmic Rocker" as an entertainer next to clown entertainers was not an accident. The most poignant line is from "Veteran Cosmic Rocker" where Ray sings:

"He's the VETERAN COSMIC ROCKER
He's afraid that he will die

It's this line that ties together the circus theme with the rock theme. All performers have a fear of failing on stage. In their own way rock performers wear their own face and their own makeup. In life, we all have our performances, and perhaps we too are afraid that someday we will fail to please our audience. Fortunately for the listener, this album does please the listener, and fortunately The Moody Blues can still make good music. ...

Enjoy everyone!