Octave [Import]

The Moody Blues | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 17, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Ume Imports
• ASIN: B001HMEU7Y
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,393 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of this classic 1978 album from the British Pop/Rock band includes five bonus live tracks and a 16 page booklet. The Moody Blues may not be mentioned in the same breath as The Kinks, The Who, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, but they are more than deserving of being compared to those influential bands. From their beginnings in the '60s to the millennium, The Moody Blues have continued to create exceptional music and expand their devoted fanbase with each new generation. Universal. 2008.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Last Album of the Classic Team, October 11, 2004

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

The Moody Blues released "Seventh Sojourn" in 1972, the seventh album in five years. The constant touring and writing and pressure of fans looking for a musical guru took their toll, and the members of the band decided they needed a break. In 1974 the band formally announced they would be spending time apart to pursue various projects, which everyone took to mean they were breaking up. When "Octave" was released in 1978 fans of The Moody Blues were ecstatic at their return, a return that would mark the last effort that included keyboardist and mellotron expert Mike Pinder.

This album was strongly influenced by the member's solo projects, most particularly Ray Thomas' "From Mighty Oaks" and Mike Pinder's "The Promise." During the hiatus Justin Hayward and John Lodge released "Blue Jays," which sounded remarkably like The Moody Blues but with a very strong romantic and mellow flavor, and there is some of that style on this album as well. Graeme Edge also participated in a project titled "Kick Off Your Muddy Boots," but there appears to be little influence from that album.

The album is a mixed bag of music ranging from fast paced funk and pop to progressive. However, the one notable absence from the album is a unifying concept or theme. Each album of the classic 7 from "Days of Future Passed" through "Seventh Sojourn" was either a concept album or at least a themed album. "Octave" is a conglomeration of music with nothing to unify the selections. It is probably that change from the previous 7 that initially disappointed Moody Blues fans.

The second disappointment is that several of the tracks followed current musical trends rather than setting musical trends. The result is that several of the tracks are weak and detract from the better songs on the CD.

The CD opens with "Steppin' in a Slide Zone," which has elements of traditional Moody Blues music, but the lyrics are infused with so much pop that the song is a shadow of previous Moody Blues effort. This song enjoyed some air play and modest success, but is hardly representative of the Moodies better efforts. I have heard that this song is much better live than this recording.

"Under Moonshine" shows the influence of "Under Mighty Oaks." However, even with the mellow influences, Mike Pinder's synthesizer expertise is critical to this song, and the harmonies are classic Moodies. Ray Thomas' powerful voice is in full and wonderful form. This song is serviceable, if uninspired.

"Had to Fall in Love" could have been on "Blue Jays." The harmony, style and speed of the song are all consistent with that style. The song is elegant, and the backing vocals are pure Moody Blues. The harmonica adds an interesting touch and reminds the listener of days when the Moodies' music was significantly more complex and cutting edge. A person could argue that the song is Justin Hayward on cruise control, as he seems to knock out songs like this with little effort. However, the beauty of the song is undeniable.

Graeme Edge's contribution "I'll Be Level with You" is a fast-paced song that is somewhat different in style from previous fast-paced Moodies songs. The song has an interesting refrain and the guitars and synthesizer provide the most interesting musical moments. Another serviceable song on this CD, but also provides no ground-breaking moments.

A number of reviewers have considered "Driftwood" to be one of the better or even the best selection on this CD. There is little argument that when Justin Hayward has creative moments that those moments can be incredible. This song is a result of one of those moments. As elegant as "Had to Fall in Love" may be, this song is even better. Perhaps the only thing lacking is a stronger synthesizer performance. The saxophone used on this song may have been an attempt to unnecessarily augment the sad nature of the song, a role a synthesizer could have fulfilled.

Just to prove that even Justin Hayward has his off days there is the song "Top Rank Suite." This song sounds as though Justin Hayward is singing something from Elton John's "Rock of the Westies" album, or perhaps something from the Moodies early days that would have fit better on "Prelude." In any case, this song is certainly not one of my favorite songs on this CD.

The second Ray Thomas song, "I'm Your Man," is similar in style to "Under Moonshine." Ray's voice is in full form, but again the song is very mellow for The Moody Blues and, while an acceptable song, has little to commend itself to be a Moody Blues song.

The second John Lodge contribution, "Survival," is reminiscent of his contributions to "Seventh Sojourn" and "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour," as well as "Blue Jays." This song is acceptable but is too similar to his previous songs.

Mike Pinder's sole contribution, "One Step into the Light," bears a lot of similarity to his solo effort "The Promise," but with a Moody Blues influence. The end result is an interesting effort that is part new age, part progressive, part rock and one of the better selections on the CD because it is unusual and different from much of what the Moodies had done in the past. There is an interesting line in this song, "there's one thing that I can do, play my mellotron for you," in reference to the instrument which Mike Pinder used to great effect in early Moodies recordings.

The final track, "The Day We Meet Again," is classic Moodies and another excellent selection. The song could refer to the impending departure of Mike Pinder from the group, or it could refer to the possibility that the Moodies might remain solo acts rather than a group. This progressive-influenced song marked the end of a song, and presaged a new era in Moodies music.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steppin' In A Slide Zone, November 19, 2008

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Dark Star-The Other One (The Bus To Never Ever Land) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Octave (Audio CD)

At last, one of the Moodies most underrated albums gets a remaster. Unfortunately, this album has gotten some bad press ever since it was released in '78 which is sad given the fact that the songs are actually very strong for the most part. This was the first album for the band after their "break" in '73/'74 and the first album since Seventh Sojourn in '72. There had been a bunch of solo albums and side projects during those years and hopes were running high when it was annouced that the band was reuniting for this album. It reached a fever pitch the year before when Caught Live +5 was released. With this album, the band's sound is altered slightly with very little mellotron and more synth. Some at the time saw this as a chance to fit in with late '70's radio although to me, this seems a direction that the band was headed in anyway.

As far as the songs themselves, John's Steppin' In A Slide Zone flat out rocks and Survival is a pretty ballad. Justin's has three strong ballads in Had To Fall In Love, Driftwood and The Day We Meet Again. Ray turns in two classics with Under Moonshine and I'm Your Man while both Michael and Graeme turn in greats in on One Step Into The Light and I'll Be Level With You. This was also Mike's last album as he decided to leave during the recording sessions.

This remastered version also includes five live songs recorded at two shows on the album's tour. While I really like these, I should point out that they are simple two track recordings more than likely taken from a simple cassette master. In other words, it's good sounding bootleg stuff.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A strong return and a fond farewell to Mike Pinder, August 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Octave (Audio CD)

One of the things about the Moody Blues that has always charmed me is how their eclectic personalities come out in their albums. I know their music so well now that even if I hadn't read who wrote the song, I could still tell who did by the way it sounded. Ray Thomas' light, airy songs full of longing for the wonderment of childhood; Justin Hayward's laments of a great love lost; John Lodge's fast-paced, perfect-for-driving rock-and-roll; Graeme Edge's sonorous voice reading poetry I can never really understand; and Mike Pinder's melancholy, anxious, musing tunes about what's going on in our minds. Since Mike left the Moody Blues after this album, I have missed the cerebral aspect he brought to the band. Songs like "Melancholy Man," and "The Best Way to Travel" were unique and engaging. I believe "One Step Into the Light" is one of Mike's best songs, and it is fitting that it was his last recorded with the group. I really would like to see him come back, though