Moody Blues Belong In The Hall of Fame

In October the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will honor itself with a 25th anniversary shindig at Madison Square Garden. The usual suspects will be performing: U2, Clapton, Springsteen, etc. Goody for them! They certainly deserve it. Yet there are so many other acts who should be in the Hall of Fame and the most glaring omission is the Moody Blues.

I recently saw the band entertain thousands of fans on a lovely summer night in the Sierra foothills. Lead singer Justin Hayward has aged quite well. He still has a mop of auburn hair and boyish looks and he still plays a mean guitar. There were a few notes he couldn't hit during the show but 99% of the time his voice sounded terrific, singing two decades of songs, most of which he wrote.

Bassist John Lodge played with a youthful enthusiasm and drummer Graeme Edge let fellow percussionist Gordon Marshall handle most of the skin pounding. Smart decision since Marshall is a fantastic drummer and engaging showman. Surrounded by other talented musicians the Moody Blues put on one of the best shows I've seen in a long time. Opening with "The Voice" the concert touched on the familiar: "Questions,""Nights In White Satin""Ride My See-Saw" and the obscure: "Driftwood" and "Are You Sitting Comfortably?" I had completely forgotten about the last one, an English ballad with King Arthur imagery, and it sounded wonderful in the open air of the Ironstone Winery amphitheater.

The unexpected highlight was "Isn't Life Strange." This powerful tune from 1972 went from quiet verse to thundering crescendo leading into the chorus. Fit for a Philharmonic Orchestra, its hard to believe this beautiful song was once a Top 30 hit in the USA!

I think every person who buys a ticket goes to their show hoping to hear one or two specific songs. The Moody Blues played my wish list back to back! "The Story In Your Eyes" had an edge to it when Hayward and Lodge strutted the stage in rock star fashion. Then came "Your Wildest Dreams," one of those songs that can make you cry or make you smile. I think I did a little of both. I couldn't help but think about the terrific video which won the Billboard Video Of The Year award in 1986.

Think about it!

The Moody Blues started in 1965 with the Top 10 single "Go Now," (featuring Denny Laine who would later join with Paul McCartney and Wings). That song was featured in one of the first music videos ever made! (Called promotional films back then.) Over twenty years later they won an award for best video, slugging it out with the pretty hair bands half their age on MTV.

And they're not in the Hall Of Fame?

Their first album with Hayward was 1967's Days Of Future Passed recorded with the London Festival Orchestra. It reached #3 in the US and spawned two massive hits: "Tuesday Afternoon" and "Nights In White Satin." How many high school proms have used "Nights" for their theme? How many other songs with a poem at the end of it were played on Top 40 radio? Imagine selling your new record company on an expensive concept album when you only had one hit and the guy who sang it had left the band! The Moodys did all that and Days was a commercial and artistic success.

And they're not in the Hall Of Fame?

From 1967 to 1988 the Moody Blues stayed on the charts and hit number one in the US with two classic albums: Seventh Sojourn and Long Distance Voyager. During that time they were one of the first bands to start their own record label: Threshold. Let's not forget the positive themes that run throughout the band's extensive catalogue. Like their contemporaries The Beatles, the Moody Blues (and especially Hayward) chose to focus on uplifting and insightful lyrics, disdaining the decadent rock and roll party imagery. They can rock hard if needed, but their success has shown that art and good times are a pleasing combination. Over forty years of touring and the Moodys sound better than they did in 1973 when I first saw them.

And they're not in the Hall Of Fame?

Let's take a look at who has been inducted, starting with the opening act at Ironstone: Dave Mason. I have no qualms with this great guitarist getting the honor. He wrote "Feeling Alright" - one of the greatest rock anthems ever - and of course he made it in as a founding member of Traffic. That's one of my favorite bands of all time. Yet they only recorded a handful of albums and their commercial success was limited at best.

Who else? Percy Sledge? For one hit? The Ronettes? They didn't perform or write their hits! Miles Davis? He made one kinda rock album! The Ventures and Duane Eddy? Instrumental acts...I mean really? Del Shannon? Who knows anything but "Runaway" by this guy?

How about bands who were so talented they changed the face of music by exploring unknown technology and still sold records and packed arenas? Does YES and Emerson, Lake & Palmer come to mind? Or Procul Harum? What about the good time bands who have been touring for decades and still selling out shows? Are you telling me CHICAGO isn't in the Rock Hall of Fame? With all those hits and terrific musicianship?

Those four bands should be in the Hall of Fame.

But The Moody Blues have to be.

No "questions" asked.