Higher and Higher (The Moody Blues song)
Encyclopedia
"Higher and Higher" is the opening track of The Moody Blues
1969 album To Our Children's Children's Children
, a concept album about space travel.
"Higher and Higher", which begins the album, describes space travel as one of man's greatest feats. The verses of the song are spoken by Mike Pinder
, rather than sung. Sound effects of a rocket launching begin the song and last for the first minute. The band had asked NASA
for a recording of a rocket launch to use but they were disappointed (it was described as "a damp squib") so they had to create their own.
"Higher and Higher" was also the Moody Blues' first full length song that was written by the band's drummer Graeme Edge
. Edge was usually the writer of short spoken-word interludes that appeared at the beginning and end of previous albums. In the recordings, they were usually recited by Mike Pinder
.
Graeme Edge has stated that his inspiration for the song came upon seeing the Apollo 11
crew members Neil Armstrong
and Buzz Aldrin
first walk on the moon on July 20, 1969.
The Moody Blues continue to perform "Higher and Higher" live in concert. Graeme Edge
now provides the lead spoken verses in concert since Mike Pinder is no longer with the band. Since this requires Edge to take center stage to recite the verse, the drums are performed by their back-up drummer Gordon Marshall. At the end of the verses, Edge then returns to the drum set and concludes the song on the drums.
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
1969 album To Our Children's Children's Children
To Our Children's Children's Children
To Our Children's Children's Children is the fifth album by The Moody Blues, first issued in late 1969. It was the first album released on the group's newly formed Threshold Records label, which was named after the band's previous album from the same year, On the Threshold of a Dream.It was...
, a concept album about space travel.
"Higher and Higher", which begins the album, describes space travel as one of man's greatest feats. The verses of the song are spoken by Mike Pinder
Mike Pinder
Michael Thomas "Mike" Pinder is an English rock musician, and is a founding member or the British rock group, the Moody Blues. He left the group following the recording of the band's album, Octave, in 1978...
, rather than sung. Sound effects of a rocket launching begin the song and last for the first minute. The band had asked NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
for a recording of a rocket launch to use but they were disappointed (it was described as "a damp squib") so they had to create their own.
"Higher and Higher" was also the Moody Blues' first full length song that was written by the band's drummer Graeme Edge
Graeme Edge
Graeme Charles Edge is best known as the drummer and a songwriter for the Moody Blues, but has also led his own outfit, the Graeme Edge Band.-Biography:...
. Edge was usually the writer of short spoken-word interludes that appeared at the beginning and end of previous albums. In the recordings, they were usually recited by Mike Pinder
Mike Pinder
Michael Thomas "Mike" Pinder is an English rock musician, and is a founding member or the British rock group, the Moody Blues. He left the group following the recording of the band's album, Octave, in 1978...
.
Graeme Edge has stated that his inspiration for the song came upon seeing the Apollo 11
Apollo 11
In early 1969, Bill Anders accepted a job with the National Space Council effective in August 1969 and announced his retirement as an astronaut. At that point Ken Mattingly was moved from the support crew into parallel training with Anders as backup Command Module Pilot in case Apollo 11 was...
crew members Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong
Neil Alden Armstrong is an American former astronaut, test pilot, aerospace engineer, university professor, United States Naval Aviator, and the first person to set foot upon the Moon....
and Buzz Aldrin
Buzz Aldrin
Buzz Aldrin is an American mechanical engineer, retired United States Air Force pilot and astronaut who was the Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing in history...
first walk on the moon on July 20, 1969.
The Moody Blues continue to perform "Higher and Higher" live in concert. Graeme Edge
Graeme Edge
Graeme Charles Edge is best known as the drummer and a songwriter for the Moody Blues, but has also led his own outfit, the Graeme Edge Band.-Biography:...
now provides the lead spoken verses in concert since Mike Pinder is no longer with the band. Since this requires Edge to take center stage to recite the verse, the drums are performed by their back-up drummer Gordon Marshall. At the end of the verses, Edge then returns to the drum set and concludes the song on the drums.
Personnel
- Justin HaywardJustin HaywardJustin Hayward is an English musician, best known as singer, songwriter and guitarist in the rock band The Moody Blues.Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England...
: acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals - John Lodge: bass guitar, backing vocals
- Mike PinderMike PinderMichael Thomas "Mike" Pinder is an English rock musician, and is a founding member or the British rock group, the Moody Blues. He left the group following the recording of the band's album, Octave, in 1978...
: vocals, mellotron - Ray ThomasRay ThomasRay Thomas is an English musician, best known as the flautist and as a singer and composer in the rock band, The Moody Blues.-Career:...
: tambourine, backing vocals - Graeme EdgeGraeme EdgeGraeme Charles Edge is best known as the drummer and a songwriter for the Moody Blues, but has also led his own outfit, the Graeme Edge Band.-Biography:...
: drums, percussion