''Strange Times'' is the fifteenth album by the rock band
the Moody Blues
The Moody Blues were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1964, initially consisting of keyboardist Mike Pinder, multi-instrumentalist Ray Thomas, guitarist Denny Laine, drummer Graeme Edge and bassist Clint Warwick. The group came to ...
, released in 1999. The sound features mostly
acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a musical instrument in the string family. When a string is plucked its vibration is transmitted from the bridge, resonating throughout the top of the guitar. It is also transmitted to the side and back of the instrument, ...
, slightly processed
electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gui ...
, light
organ
Organ may refer to:
Biology
* Organ (biology), a part of an organism
Musical instruments
* Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone
** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument
** Hammond ...
,
flute
The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...
, and string arrangements, with heavy
synthesizer
A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...
use in the fast-paced opening track, "
English Sunset
"English Sunset" is the only single released by The Moody Blues from their 1999 album '' Strange Times'', making it their first single in nearly 8 years. "English Sunset" should not be confused with the Moody Blues' 1967 song "The Sunset" from ...
." This was the last Moody Blues album to feature longtime flautist and vocalist
Ray Thomas
Raymond Thomas (29 December 1941 – 4 January 2018) was an English multi-instrumentalist, flautist, singer, founding member and composer in the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues. His flute solo on the band's 1967 hit single "Night ...
.
This is the last album to contain any reference to the Moody Blues' custom label
Threshold Records
Threshold Records was a record label created by the rock music group the Moody Blues. The name of the label came from their 1969 album ''On the Threshold of a Dream''.
The band formed this label to allow for artistically packaged gatefold covers ...
, with the branding "in association with Threshold Records."
Track listing
#"
English Sunset
"English Sunset" is the only single released by The Moody Blues from their 1999 album '' Strange Times'', making it their first single in nearly 8 years. "English Sunset" should not be confused with the Moody Blues' 1967 song "The Sunset" from ...
" (
Justin Hayward
David Justin Hayward (born 14 October 1946) is an English musician best known as the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of the rock band the Moody Blues. Hayward became the group's principal lead guitarist and vocalist over the 1967–1974 ...
) — 5:05
#"Haunted" (Hayward) — 4:31
#"Sooner or Later (Walkin' on Air)" (Hayward,
John Lodge) — 3:49
#"Wherever You Are" (Lodge) — 3:35
#"Foolish Love" (Hayward) — 3:56
#"Love Don't Come Easy" (Lodge) — 4:33
#"All That Is Real Is You" (Hayward) — 3:33
#"Strange Times" (Hayward, Lodge) — 4:29
#"Words You Say" (Lodge) — 5:31
#"My Little Lovely" (
Ray Thomas
Raymond Thomas (29 December 1941 – 4 January 2018) was an English multi-instrumentalist, flautist, singer, founding member and composer in the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues. His flute solo on the band's 1967 hit single "Night ...
) — 1:45
#"Forever Now" (Lodge) — 4:37
#"The One" (Hayward, Lodge) — 3:39
#"The Swallow" (Hayward) — 4:58
#"Nothing Changes" (
Graeme Edge
Graeme Charles Edge (30 March 1941 – 11 November 2021) was an English musician, songwriter and poet, best known as the co-founder and drummer of the English band the Moody Blues. In addition to his work with the Moody Blues, Edge worked as t ...
) — 3:32
Personnel
*
Justin Hayward
David Justin Hayward (born 14 October 1946) is an English musician best known as the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of the rock band the Moody Blues. Hayward became the group's principal lead guitarist and vocalist over the 1967–1974 ...
— vocals, guitar
*
John Lodge — vocals, bass guitar, guitar
*
Ray Thomas
Raymond Thomas (29 December 1941 – 4 January 2018) was an English multi-instrumentalist, flautist, singer, founding member and composer in the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues. His flute solo on the band's 1967 hit single "Night ...
— vocals, flute, tambourine
*
Graeme Edge
Graeme Charles Edge (30 March 1941 – 11 November 2021) was an English musician, songwriter and poet, best known as the co-founder and drummer of the English band the Moody Blues. In addition to his work with the Moody Blues, Edge worked as t ...
— drums, percussion, vocals
;Additional personnel
*
Danilo Madonia
Danilo Madonia is an Italian musician, composer, producer and arranger.
Background
Born in Genoa (Italy) in 1958, he began to approach music at a very early age, when his father and mother would record their performances on a small reel-to-reel ...
— keyboards, organ, orchestration
Charts
References
1999 albums
The Moody Blues albums
Polydor Records albums
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