Seventh Sojourn
Encyclopedia
Seventh Sojourn, released in 1972, is the eighth album by The Moody Blues
.
In Seventh Sojourn, The Moody Blues used, besides the Mellotron
, a keyboard called the Chamberlin
, a device similar to the Mellotron
created by the original inventor of the device, Harry Chamberlin. It could simulate orchestral sounds more realistically and easily than the Mellotron.
Seventh Sojourn reached #5 in the United Kingdom, and became the band's first American chart topper, spending five weeks at #1 to close out 1972.
Two hit singles came from this album: "Isn't Life Strange
" (#13 UK, #29 US) and "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
" (#36 UK, #12 US). However, both songs were overshadowed by the re-release of "Nights in White Satin
," which had been first released in 1967. Whereas both singles from Seventh Sojourn made the top 40, "Nights In White Satin" bested both, hitting #9 in the UK and #2 in the United States and gaining the highest American chart position for a Moody Blues single.
Several songs contain overt political references. Mike Pinder's "Lost in a Lost World
" laments the brutality of revolution ("Revolution never won / It's just another form of gun") and racial tension ("In their eyes it's nation against nation against nation / With racial pride"). "You and Me," like "Question" from two years earlier, alludes to ongoing wars and conflicts, including Vietnam
("There's a leafless tree in Asia"), Africa ("Under the sun there's a homeless man"), and the Arab-Israeli conflict ("There's a forest fire in the valley / Where the story all began"). In the 1990 Documentary "The Moody Blues: Legend of a Band," Bassist John Lodge described "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
" as a response to fans who mistakenly read guru-like wisdom into the Moodies' often philosophical lyrics. The song makes a clear statement that the band is just as worried by the crises of the modern world and has just as few answers as everyone else.
In contrast, "The Land of Make-Believe" describes a utopian world where "heartaches can turn into joy." This highly melodic track employs a complex and counterpoint-filled accompaniment in which contrasting lines are introduced in succession: First by the acoustic guitar (played by Hayward), then bells (Edge), then bass (Lodge), flute (Thomas), and finally electric guitar (Hayward again). Each part is unique, but ultimately blends well with the others, in keeping with the theme of the song's lyrics ("Only love will see us through / You know what love can do to you").
As this album proved difficult to record, with a 1973 follow-up quickly shelved after inception, the group decided to go on hiatus after their tour of Asia in 1974, before reuniting for Octave
in 1977 and its subsequent tour.
In April 2007 the album was remastered into SACD
format and repackaged with four extra tracks. "Island", the fourth bonus track, was recorded in 1973 and is an incomplete recording of one of the songs that were intended to be released on the aforementioned follow-up record.
In 2008 a remaster for standard audio CD was issued with the same bonus tracks.
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....
.
In Seventh Sojourn, The Moody Blues used, besides the Mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
, a keyboard called the Chamberlin
Chamberlin
The Chamberlin is an electro-mechanical keyboard instrument that was a precursor to the Mellotron. It was developed and patented by Iowa, Wisconsin inventor Harry Chamberlin from 1949 to 1956, when the first model was introduced. Various models and versions of these Chamberlin music instruments...
, a device similar to the Mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
created by the original inventor of the device, Harry Chamberlin. It could simulate orchestral sounds more realistically and easily than the Mellotron.
Seventh Sojourn reached #5 in the United Kingdom, and became the band's first American chart topper, spending five weeks at #1 to close out 1972.
Two hit singles came from this album: "Isn't Life Strange
Isn't Life Strange
"Isn't Life Strange" is a 1972 single by the English rock band The Moody Blues. Written by bassist John Lodge, it was the first of two singles released from their 1972 album Seventh Sojourn, with the other being "I'm Just a Singer "...
" (#13 UK, #29 US) and "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
"I'm Just a Singer " is a hit 1973 single by the English progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was first released in 1972 as the final track on the album Seventh Sojourn. "I'm Just a Singer " was later released as a single in 1973, with "For My Lady" on the B-side...
" (#36 UK, #12 US). However, both songs were overshadowed by the re-release of "Nights in White Satin
Nights in White Satin
"Nights in White Satin" is a 1967 single by The Moody Blues, written by Justin Hayward and first featured on the album Days of Future Passed.It is in the key of E minor Aeolian.-Single releases:...
," which had been first released in 1967. Whereas both singles from Seventh Sojourn made the top 40, "Nights In White Satin" bested both, hitting #9 in the UK and #2 in the United States and gaining the highest American chart position for a Moody Blues single.
Several songs contain overt political references. Mike Pinder's "Lost in a Lost World
Lost in a Lost World
"Lost in a Lost World" is a 1972 song by the progressive rock band, The Moody Blues. Written by keyboardist Mike Pinder, it is the opening track of their 1972 album Seventh Sojourn. It is essentially a protest song by Mike Pinder against evil tyrannical governments."Lost in a Lost World"...
" laments the brutality of revolution ("Revolution never won / It's just another form of gun") and racial tension ("In their eyes it's nation against nation against nation / With racial pride"). "You and Me," like "Question" from two years earlier, alludes to ongoing wars and conflicts, including Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
("There's a leafless tree in Asia"), Africa ("Under the sun there's a homeless man"), and the Arab-Israeli conflict ("There's a forest fire in the valley / Where the story all began"). In the 1990 Documentary "The Moody Blues: Legend of a Band," Bassist John Lodge described "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
"I'm Just a Singer " is a hit 1973 single by the English progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was first released in 1972 as the final track on the album Seventh Sojourn. "I'm Just a Singer " was later released as a single in 1973, with "For My Lady" on the B-side...
" as a response to fans who mistakenly read guru-like wisdom into the Moodies' often philosophical lyrics. The song makes a clear statement that the band is just as worried by the crises of the modern world and has just as few answers as everyone else.
In contrast, "The Land of Make-Believe" describes a utopian world where "heartaches can turn into joy." This highly melodic track employs a complex and counterpoint-filled accompaniment in which contrasting lines are introduced in succession: First by the acoustic guitar (played by Hayward), then bells (Edge), then bass (Lodge), flute (Thomas), and finally electric guitar (Hayward again). Each part is unique, but ultimately blends well with the others, in keeping with the theme of the song's lyrics ("Only love will see us through / You know what love can do to you").
As this album proved difficult to record, with a 1973 follow-up quickly shelved after inception, the group decided to go on hiatus after their tour of Asia in 1974, before reuniting for Octave
Octave (album)
Octave is the ninth album by The Moody Blues, and their first release after a substantial hiatus following the success of the best-selling Seventh Sojourn in 1972. The album proved to be the last for the group with keyboardist Mike Pinder, who departed during the album's sessions, and declined an...
in 1977 and its subsequent tour.
In April 2007 the album was remastered into SACD
SACD
SACD, founded as Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques on 7 March 1829, is a French collecting society, undertaking collective rights management for authors...
format and repackaged with four extra tracks. "Island", the fourth bonus track, was recorded in 1973 and is an incomplete recording of one of the songs that were intended to be released on the aforementioned follow-up record.
In 2008 a remaster for standard audio CD was issued with the same bonus tracks.
Side One
- "Lost in a Lost WorldLost in a Lost World"Lost in a Lost World" is a 1972 song by the progressive rock band, The Moody Blues. Written by keyboardist Mike Pinder, it is the opening track of their 1972 album Seventh Sojourn. It is essentially a protest song by Mike Pinder against evil tyrannical governments."Lost in a Lost World"...
" (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...
) – 4:42 - "New Horizons" (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...
) – 5:11 - "For My LadyFor My Lady"For My Lady" is a 1973 song by the English progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was written by the band's flautist Ray Thomas, and was first released on the 1972 album Seventh Sojourn...
" (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:...
) – 3:58 - "Isn't Life StrangeIsn't Life Strange"Isn't Life Strange" is a 1972 single by the English rock band The Moody Blues. Written by bassist John Lodge, it was the first of two singles released from their 1972 album Seventh Sojourn, with the other being "I'm Just a Singer "...
" (John Lodge) – 6:09
Side Two
- "You and MeYou and Me (The Moody Blues song)"You and Me" is a song by The Moody Blues from their 1972 album Seventh Sojourn. It is the album's fifth song, and it is the first song on side two ....
" (Hayward, 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:...
), – 4:21 - "The Land of Make-Believe" (Hayward) – 4:52
- "When You're a Free ManWhen You're a Free Man"When You're a Free Man" is a song by The Moody Blues from their 1972 album Seventh Sojourn. It was written by the band's keyboardist Mike Pinder, who also sings the lead vocals....
" (Pinder) – 6:06 - "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)"I'm Just a Singer " is a hit 1973 single by the English progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was first released in 1972 as the final track on the album Seventh Sojourn. "I'm Just a Singer " was later released as a single in 1973, with "For My Lady" on the B-side...
" (Lodge) – 4:18
2007 SACD Expanded Edition Tracks (also 2008 remaster)
Bonus tracks SACD version:- "Isn't Life Strange (Original Version)" (Lodge) – 8:10
- "You and Me (Beckthorns Backing Track)" (Hayward, Edge) – 6:33
- "Lost in a Lost World (Instrumental Demo)" (Pinder) – 4:41
- "Island" (Previously Unreleased) (Hayward) – 4:30
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | "Isn't Life Strange Isn't Life Strange "Isn't Life Strange" is a 1972 single by the English rock band The Moody Blues. Written by bassist John Lodge, it was the first of two singles released from their 1972 album Seventh Sojourn, with the other being "I'm Just a Singer "... " |
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
13 |
| 1972 | "Isn't Life Strange" | Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
29 |
| 1972 | "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) "I'm Just a Singer " is a hit 1973 single by the English progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was first released in 1972 as the final track on the album Seventh Sojourn. "I'm Just a Singer " was later released as a single in 1973, with "For My Lady" on the B-side... " |
UK Singles Chart | 36 |
| 1972 | "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" | Billboard Hot 100 | 12 |
Personnel
- Justin Hayward - vocals, guitar
- John Lodge - vocals, bass
- Ray Thomas - vocals, flute, tambourine
- Graeme Edge - drums, percussion, vocals
- Mike Pinder - vocals, chamberlin, mellotron
Credits
(according to vinyl innersleeve)- Producer - Tony Clarke
- Recording engineers - Derek Varnals and Tony Clarke ("Isn't Life Strange")
- Assistant engineer - David Baker
- Cover and liner art - Phil Travers
- Innersleeve - The Moodies
- All instruments played by The Moody Blues
- Recorded at Tollington Park Studios, London