Long Distance Voyager

The Moody Blues

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1981
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polydor / Umgd
• ASIN: B000001F5Y
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,323 in Music (See Bestsellers 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-CD (Super High Material CD) paper sleeve pressing of this classic 1981 album. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You won't believe it's the same CD! Universal. 2008. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Re-Birth Of The Moody Blues, October 5, 2004

By	Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

With the departure of their longtime keyboardist Mike Pinder in 1978, the Moody Blues saw one major chapter in their long musical career come to a close, and, with the dawn of the 80's, it was time for the Moodies' second chapter to begin. Obviously, the band's first hurdle to get over was to get themselves a brand-new keyboardist, but who could possibly step into Mike Pinder's giant shoes? Enter Patrick Moraz, the one-time keyboardist for Yes (he played on 1976's "Relayer"). Moraz's contribution to the Moodies was NOT to play mellotron as Pinder did, but to add a more synthesized, 80's-friendly keyboard sound to the band. Some fans pondered whether or not the Moody Blues could survive without Mike Pinder, but the finished album, 1981's "Long Distance Voyager," was a HUGE success, both creatively and commercially, hitting #1 on the U.S. album chart. Mike Pinder may be missed, but there's no denying the freshness that Patrick Moraz's keyboard touch brought to the Moody Blues, and, on top of that, the band rose to the challenge and came up with some truly fantastic songs. Not only does "Voyager" feature the Moodies staples "Gemini Dream" and "The Voice," but also such gems as John Lodge's lovely "Talking Out Of Turn," and Justin Hayward's gorgeous "In My World" (interestingly, both tracks clock in at exactly 7 minutes 17 seconds). Drummer Graeme Edge contributes the thunderous, steady rocker "22,000 Days," one of his very best songwriting contributions to the band, while flautist Ray Thomas wraps the album up in a playful, colorful bow with the circus-themed "Painted Smile," the poem "Reflective Smile," and the classic Moodies shuffler, "Veteran Cosmic Rocker." With "Long Distance Voyager," the Moody Blues re-invented themselves and entered the 80's with tremendous power. "Long Distance Voyager" is one of the Moodies' all-time greatest albums.

12 of 13 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 (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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!

10 of 11 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

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!