The Moody Blues have had a sterling career, and in the ‘80s they shifted into an enjoyable synth-pop style. Read on to explore the best Moody Blues songs from the 1980s.
The Moody Blues began their career in the mid-1960s as a “beat group” that was part of the British Invasion, an influx of top-flight U.K. groups that stormed the charts in the U.S. The Moodies hit it big with “Go Now,” sung by future Wings member Denny Laine.
When singer/guitarist Laine left the band along with bassist Clint Warwick, they were replaced by Justin Hayward and John Lodge, respectively – both of whom contributed to a major shift in the group’s style from R&B-inflected rock/pop to orchestral-leaning and complex progressive rock/pop.
That style, which debuted on 1967’s Days of Future Passed, helped to more or less create the genre of prog rock as we know it, and the group would continue to delve into that sound throughout the late ‘60s and early ‘70s – including on two of the best prog rock albums of 1969.
By the 1980s, the group had seen some personnel changes, with gifted writer and Mellotron master Mike Pinder (RIP) leaving the group (replaced by former Yes member Patrick Moraz), and they managed to soldier on by remaking themselves into more of a synth pop-leaning unit on 1981’s Long Distance Voyager.
The Moody Blues continued to deliver terrific tracks and well-structured albums well into the ‘80s
That new direction was cemented and furthered on 1986’s The Other Side of Life, which featured one of the group’s biggest latter-day hits: “Your Wildest Dreams,” which was bolstered by a legendary video that saw heavy airplay on MTV.
While the group is likely best remembered for their pioneering “classic” era in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, they delivered a bevy of top-flight tracks from their four albums released in the 1980s, so let’s take a look at the 15 best Moody Blues songs from the 1980s according to us here at Random Fandom.
15. “In My World” – Long Distance Voyager – 1981
Somewhat reminiscent of “The Land of Make-Believe” from 1972’s Seventh Sojourn, this delicate track written by Justin Hayward is the fourth track from 1981’s Long Distance Voyager, and it features some lovely pedal steel guitar work from session whiz B.J. Cole.
Hayward is a master of wistful-sounding lyrics and melodies that are delivered with his crystal-clear voice featuring notable vibrato, and this rather simple song showcases its writer’s supreme abilities with aplomb. Quite notable for keyboardist Patrick Moraz’s exploratory synth lines intersecting with the ethereal pedal steel.
14. “Talkin’ Talkin’” – The Other Side Of Life – 1986
The Moody Blues’ best album of the 1980s has to be 1986’s The Other Side of Life, which features this upbeat rocker containing synth flourishes that are typical of this era of the group as its second track.
This number features Hayward and bassist John Lodge sharing lead vocal duties as well as an interesting vox preset on the synth played expertly by Moraz. The driving bass line is also of particular note.
13. “22,000 Days” – Long Distance Voyager – 1981
By the ‘80s, the Moodies had lost one of their more foundational writers and arrangers in Mike Pinder, and another founding member, flautist Ray Thomas, began to take something of a step back as Hayward and Lodge took near-complete creative control (to admittedly impressive success).
However, LDV continued to have contributions from all remaining members, with this track being written by drummer Graeme Edge and featuring lead vocals from all three remaining singing members: Hayward, Lodge and Thomas. Combine that with a terrific guitar riff and lyrics that ruminate about the average lifespan of a human, and you’ve got a severely underrated deep cut from the Moodies’ ‘80s oeuvre.
12. “Talking Out of Turn” – Long Distance Voyager – 1981
A single from LDV, the album version of this Lodge-penned track extends out to over seven minutes long, though the song gets it point across after the first chorus.
Still though, this is an ambitious and extremely dramatic song that is eminently enjoyable to listen to. Much of the Moodies’ ‘80s output, though especially LDV, owes quite a debt to late ‘70s and early ‘80s Electric Light Orchestra (to its benefit), and this heavily orchestral track certainly fits that bill.
11. “Painted Smile” – Long Distance Voyager – 1981
Long Distance Voyager ends with a trifecta of Ray Thomas-penned tracks, with the first one, “Painted Smile,” being the best. This song brings to mind a track like “Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite” by The Beatles as it attempts to create a carnivalesque atmosphere.
Ultimately, it succeeds, as there are crowd noises, calliope trills courtesy of Moraz and one of Thomas’s most spirited vocal takes ever. This is a little-known Moodies album track, yet it should be essential listening for fans of the inimitable Ray Thomas.
10. “I Just Don’t Care” – The Other Side Of Life – 1986
An underappreciated track from the Moodies’ most successful album of the 1980s, The Other Side of Life, this song has a lovely fretless bass line that is both hypnotic and melodic, with very little instrumentation on top of it save for some synth brass parts courtesy of Moraz.
Thankfully, the Moodies never abandoned their rock roots, as this song’s stunningly beautiful melody is underscored by a striking guitar solo featuring Hayward’s signature syrupy tone. An auspicious start to the top 10.
9. “Gemini Dream” – Long Distance Voyager – 1981
A single from the Moodies’ comeback album LDV, this propulsive rocker features one of Lodge’s best late-era basslines – a squelchy and funky part that keeps the listener grooving while also grounding the rest of the song.
This track was long a live favorite of Moody Blues fans as well as the group themselves, and it remained in their setlists for the rest of their career for the most part.
8. “Running Out Of Love” – The Other Side Of Life – 1986
A straightforward rock song with a simple beat and memorable lyrics – this is surely an easy song to enjoy. While this track was only released as a promo single from The Other Side of Life, a video was made for it (see below), which is understandable, since it’s eminently catchy and would have likely done quite well on the charts.
Still though, featuring spirited co-vocals from Hayward and Lodge and catchy, simple lyrics such as “I don’t know if it’s me, I don’t know if it’s you, I don’t know if it’s both of us not knowing what to do,” this is an underrated and extremely enjoyable album cut from the Moody Blues.
7. “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere” – Sur la Mer – 1988
Here’s where we truly start to get into some classic Moody Blues songs. All of the top seven songs could more or less be interchangeable depending on your mood, but right now, this writer believes number seven should be the “sequel” to 1986’s “Your Wildest Dreams.”
An eminently catchy and purposefully nostalgic track that acts as a direct successor to the group’s biggest 1980s hit, this synth-heavy track kicks off the band’s 1988 album Sur la Mer with style. A beautiful bed of swirling synths underscores one of Hayward’s best latter-day Moodies melodies, which features lovely call-and-response backing vocals sung by Hayward himself.
6. “The Other Side Of Life” – The Other Side Of Life – 1986
The second single from The Other Side of Life is the album’s hard-hitting title track, which, although listed as written by Justin Hayward, certainly features a vast array of tidbits and synth parts produced by Moraz.
Still though, the thunderous synth bass line, as well as the mysterious lyrics and melody have to be all Hayward, and the song features a classic Moody Blues guitar solo, also courtesy of Hayward, that’s likely one of his best latter-day solos. An anthemic title track from the group’s best 1980s album.
5. “The Voice” – Long Distance Voyager – 1981
You cannot deny that the Moody Blues knew how to kick off their albums throughout the 1980s. While they didn’t qualify for the best opening tracks from debut albums in the 1980s (because their debut album was released in 1965), “The Voice” is an incredible opening salvo that set the scene for much of the Moodies’ ‘80s output.
With a dramatic intro that’s reminiscent of Richard Strauss’s “Also sprach Zarathustra,” the song then launches into synth-heavy sonics propelled by one of Lodge’s best-ever Moody Blues bass lines. The song also features a searing guitar solo from Hayward and some top-flight vocal harmonies. A worthy entry in the top five.
4. “No More Lies” – Sur la Mer – 1988
This might be something of an unorthodox choice, but to this writer, this is among the Moodies’ best-ever straight-up pop songs. It’s catchy with a fairly simple arrangement (by the Moodies’ lofty standards) yet it features masterful writing and a flawless melody that will surely have you singing it long after you’ve listened to it.
With crunchy guitar power chords underpinning the entire track (an unusual attribute for a Moody Blues song) and an expertly crafted outro, this is a masterful pop song from the latter-day Moodies. Even if it is somewhat slight, this features an amazing Hayward vocal over 20 years after “Nights In White Satin” released. Great stuff, and also, what a video!
3. “Blue World” – The Present – 1983
The Moody Blues’ 1983 album The Present is far from their best, most cohesive work. However, it continues the streak of the band beginning their ‘80s album with a bang – as “Blue World” approaches the heights of some of the band’s finest-ever songs across a glittering catalog stuffed to the brim with classic tracks.
Keen-eared fans of the group will notice a number of references to past Moody Blues songs, such as in the couplets “heard the voice, had no choice” and “fly me high, touch the sky” – callbacks to the aforementioned “The Voice” as well as the group’s first single with Hayward as lead vocalist, “Fly Me High.”
A propulsive drum machine part sequenced by Hayward as well as a thumping synth bass line dominate this track, and it truly fits the bill as a “moody” Moodies masterpiece.
2. “Running Water” – The Present – 1983
Two strong songs from The Present are featured back-to-back, with “Running Water” being one of the most beautiful songs that Justin Hayward has ever written. While he has gone on record saying that he doesn’t like how the “cheap Casio” keyboard sound has aged over the years, as an impartial observer (though, admittedly, this writer has recorded a cover of this song before), that attribute only adds to the song’s appeal: despite featuring dated instrumentation, this song remains a universally powerful track in which you can truly feel the intense emotion in Hayward’s powerfully delivered lead vocal.
This track also features nostalgic, wistful lyrics (a Hayward specialty) that are sure to bring a tear to your eye – especially if you can’t help but be haunted by your regrets. Keep an ear out around the 2:45 mark when Hayward’s voice catches, underscoring the supreme emotionality of the song. One of the Moodies’ best-ever tracks and definitely of the best Moody Blues songs from the 1980s, this is also, again, a severely underrated classic.
1. “Your Wildest Dreams” – The Other Side Of Life – 1986
You’d certainly be hard-pressed to find a better “comeback” single than this one from the Moodies, as it introduced the progenitors of the prog rock genre to a whole new generation while also harkening back to the group’s early days and giving longtime fans a shot of nostalgia for days gone by.
Featuring universal themes of lost love as well as trademark terrific lyrics from Hayward about “skies mirrored in your eyes,” the track begins with an ethereal theremin-like tone that is actually being produced by Hayward on a synth guitar.
The entire track is a tour-de-force for the group, and for Hayward in particular, especially when he drops his register to a sexy purr as the song closes out (around the 4:15 mark). Featuring some of the group’s best latter-day three-part harmonies from Hayward, Lodge and Thomas, this is a classic Moody Blues track – one of the best of the group’s entire career – and easily the best from the band’s 1980s output.
Header Image Courtesy Threshold and Polydor, edited by Random Fandom
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