The Present
Encyclopedia
The Present is the eleventh album by The Moody Blues. It is the second album of the Patrick Moraz
era. It had three minor hit singles, "Blue World
" (#62) , "Sitting at the Wheel
" (#27) and "Running Water
".
The album itself features strong compositions, but with a track order designed to capitalise on the legacy of the more successful Long Distance Voyager, with Justin Hayward's songs at the beginning and Ray Thomas' as finales.
The Present also became, in 1983, the first compact disc
manufactured worldwide. In November 2008, the album was remastered and released on CD with two extra tracks.
The cover is a pastiche of Maxfield Parrish
's famous painting Daybreak
, with some subtle details: The crossed arms of the standing child is said to symbolise the roman numeral X, this being the Moody Blues' tenth album (with Lodge and Hayward).
Singles - Billboard (North America)
Patrick Moraz
Patrick Philippe Moraz is a progressive rock keyboard player. He is best known as the keyboardist for the progressive rock band Yes, from 1974 to 1976, and the Moody Blues from 1978 to 1991...
era. It had three minor hit singles, "Blue World
Blue World
"Blue World" is a 1983 hit single by The Moody Blues. It was first released as single in August 1983, and was later released on the album The Present. "Blue World" was one of three singles from The Present, with the others being "Sitting at the Wheel" and "Running Water." Blue World also...
" (#62) , "Sitting at the Wheel
Sitting at the Wheel
"Sitting at the Wheel" is a 1983 hit single by The Moody Blues, written by John Lodge. It was first released on November 19, 1983, only one week after their previous single, "Blue World," was released...
" (#27) and "Running Water
Running Water (The Moody Blues song)
"Running Water" is a 1984 single by The Moody Blues, and it was the final of three singles released from their 1983 album The Present. The two previous single from The Present were "Blue World" and "Sitting at the Wheel." Running Water was later released as a single in March 1984, with "Under My...
".
The album itself features strong compositions, but with a track order designed to capitalise on the legacy of the more successful Long Distance Voyager, with Justin Hayward's songs at the beginning and Ray Thomas' as finales.
The Present also became, in 1983, the first compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
manufactured worldwide. In November 2008, the album was remastered and released on CD with two extra tracks.
The cover is a pastiche of Maxfield Parrish
Maxfield Parrish
Maxfield Parrish was an American painter and illustrator active in the first half of the twentieth century. He is known for his distinctive saturated hues and idealized neo-classical imagery.-Life:...
's famous painting Daybreak
Daybreak (painting)
Daybreak is a painting by Maxfield Parrish made in 1922. Daybreak is regarded as the most popular art print of the 20th century, based on number of prints made: one for every four American homes. According to the The National Museum of American Illustration, it has outsold Andy Warhol's Campbell's...
, with some subtle details: The crossed arms of the standing child is said to symbolise the roman numeral X, this being the Moody Blues' tenth album (with Lodge and Hayward).
Side One
- "Blue WorldBlue World"Blue World" is a 1983 hit single by The Moody Blues. It was first released as single in August 1983, and was later released on the album The Present. "Blue World" was one of three singles from The Present, with the others being "Sitting at the Wheel" and "Running Water." Blue World also...
" (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...
) - 5:20 - "Meet Me Halfway" (Hayward, John Lodge) - 4:08
- "Sitting at the WheelSitting at the Wheel"Sitting at the Wheel" is a 1983 hit single by The Moody Blues, written by John Lodge. It was first released on November 19, 1983, only one week after their previous single, "Blue World," was released...
" (Lodge) - 5:40 - "Going Nowhere" (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:...
) - 5:33
Side Two
- "Hole in the World" (Lodge) - 1:54
- "Under My Feet" (Lodge) - 4:51
- "It's Cold Outside of Your Heart" (Hayward) - 4:27
- "Running WaterRunning Water (The Moody Blues song)"Running Water" is a 1984 single by The Moody Blues, and it was the final of three singles released from their 1983 album The Present. The two previous single from The Present were "Blue World" and "Sitting at the Wheel." Running Water was later released as a single in March 1984, with "Under My...
" (Hayward) - 3:23 - "I Am" (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:...
) - 1:40 - "Sorry" (Thomas) - 5:02
2008 Remastered CD Expanded Edition
- Blue WorldBlue World"Blue World" is a 1983 hit single by The Moody Blues. It was first released as single in August 1983, and was later released on the album The Present. "Blue World" was one of three singles from The Present, with the others being "Sitting at the Wheel" and "Running Water." Blue World also...
(Single Edit) - 3:15 - Sitting at the WheelSitting at the Wheel"Sitting at the Wheel" is a 1983 hit single by The Moody Blues, written by John Lodge. It was first released on November 19, 1983, only one week after their previous single, "Blue World," was released...
(Steve Greenberg Remix) - 3:49
Personnel
- Justin Hayward - vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- John Lodge - vocals, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Ray Thomas - vocals, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, fluteWestern concert fluteThe Western concert flute is a transverse woodwind instrument made of metal or wood. It is the most common variant of the flute. A musician who plays the flute is called a flautist, flutist, or flute player.... - Graeme Edge - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Patrick Moraz - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Pip Williams - sequencing
Chart positions
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Pop Albums | 26 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "Blue World Blue World "Blue World" is a 1983 hit single by The Moody Blues. It was first released as single in August 1983, and was later released on the album The Present. "Blue World" was one of three singles from The Present, with the others being "Sitting at the Wheel" and "Running Water." Blue World also... " |
Mainstream Rock | 32 |
| 1983 | "Blue World" | Pop Singles | 62 |
| 1983 | "Blue World" | Billboard Hot 100 | 62 |
| 1983 | "Sitting at the Wheel Sitting at the Wheel "Sitting at the Wheel" is a 1983 hit single by The Moody Blues, written by John Lodge. It was first released on November 19, 1983, only one week after their previous single, "Blue World," was released... " |
Mainstream Rock | 3 |
| 1983 | "Sitting at the Wheel" | Pop Singles | 27 |
| 1983 | "Sitting at the Wheel" | Billboard Hot 100 | 92 |