Keys of the Kingdom

Last updated

Keys of the Kingdom
Moodykeys.jpg
Studio album by
the Moody Blues
Released25 June 1991
RecordedOctober 1990 – May 1991
Studio Olympic, Mayfair, The Hit Factory and RG Jones, London, UK
Genre Rock
Length53:02
Label Polydor (US)
Threshold (UK)
Producer Christopher Neil
Alan Tarney
Tony Visconti
The Moody Blues chronology
Greatest Hits
(1989)		Keys of the Kingdom
(1991)		 A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra
(1993)
Singles from Keys of the Kingdom
  1. "Say It with Love"
    Released: June 1991
  2. "Bless the Wings (That Bring You Back)"
    Released: August 1991
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Entertainment Weekly C− [3]

Keys of the Kingdom is the fourteenth album by the rock band the Moody Blues, released in 1991. Although some of the tracks recall the songwriting on Sur la Mer , the failure of Keys of the Kingdom to produce any major hit singles would mark the beginning of the Moodies' decline in popularity with mainstream audiences after their success in the MTV video generation.

Contents

The album saw the band beginning to return to a more airy rock oriented sound (similar to The Present), rather than the previous two albums' forays into synthesiser pop. Flautist Ray Thomas plays more of a substantial role on this record, with his first ambient flute piece in eight years. It was recorded and mixed at four London studios: Olympic Studios, RG Jones Recording Studios, Mayfair Studios and The Hit Factory (not to be confused with the NYC-based studio of the same name). Drum machines are still used heavily; Graeme Edge only performs on three songs, with session drummer Andy Duncan providing live drums on two more, and the rest being programmed. [4]

Keyboardist Patrick Moraz was fired from the band after completing only a few tracks for this album, and he is listed as an 'additional' keyboard player. After a lawsuit (broadcast by Court TV) filed by Moraz, their future album and re-release booklets would distance themselves from Moraz – e.g. removing him from photographs that originally featured him - and they never had any future keyboardists become official members of the band.

This was the last Moody Blues album before their extravagant concert at Red Rocks and a series of symphonic tours with orchestras.

Original track listing

Side one

  1. "Say It with Love" (Justin Hayward) – 3:57
  2. "Bless the Wings (That Bring You Back)" (Hayward) – 5:10
  3. "Is This Heaven?" (Hayward, John Lodge) – 4:04
  4. "Say What You Mean (Parts 1 & 2)" (Hayward) – 5:31
  5. "Lean on Me (Tonight)" (Lodge) – 4:58

Side two

  1. "Hope and Pray" (Hayward) – 5:03
  2. "Shadows on the Wall" (Lodge) – 5:07
  3. "Once is Enough" (Hayward, Lodge) (Not put on vinyl LP (Europe only) or cassette, but included on CD format and 7-inch single) – 4:03
  4. "Celtic Sonant" (Ray Thomas) – 5:02
  5. "Magic" (Lodge) – 5:11
  6. "Never Blame the Rainbows for the Rain" (Hayward, Thomas) – 4:57

Personnel

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (1991)Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [5] 29
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [6] 67
UK Albums (OCC) [7] 54
US Billboard 200 [8] 94

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Moody Blues</span> English band

The Moody Blues were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in May 1964. The band initially consisted of drummer Graeme Edge, guitarist/vocalist Denny Laine, keyboardist/vocalist Mike Pinder, multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Ray Thomas, and bassist/vocalist Clint Warwick. Originally part of the British beat and R&B scene of the early–mid 1960s, the band came to prominence with the UK No. 1 and US Top 10 single "Go Now" in late 1964/early 1965. Laine and Warwick left the band by the end of 1966, being replaced by guitarist/vocalist Justin Hayward and bassist/vocalist John Lodge. They embraced the psychedelic rock movement of the late 1960s, with their second album, 1967's Days of Future Passed, being a fusion of rock with classical music that established the band as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive rock. It has been described as a "landmark" and "one of the first successful concept albums".

<i>In Search of the Lost Chord</i> 1968 studio album by The Moody Blues

In Search of the Lost Chord is the third album by The Moody Blues, released in July 1968 on the Deram label.

<i>Seventh Sojourn</i> 1972 studio album by the Moody Blues

Seventh Sojourn is the eighth album by the Moody Blues, recorded at Decca Studio 4 on Tollington Park in North London, and released in 1972.

<i>Octave</i> (album) 1978 studio album by The Moody Blues

Octave is the ninth album by The Moody Blues, released in 1978, 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 left during the album's sessions and declined an offer to tour with the group. He had just started a new family in California, and found that he was not getting along with his bandmates as he previously had. Pinder would be replaced by former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz in time for their 1978-1979 tour, beginning a new era in the band's history. Octave would also be the final studio album from the band produced by Tony Clarke.

<i>Long Distance Voyager</i> 1981 studio album by The Moody Blues

Long Distance Voyager is the tenth album by the Moody Blues, first released in May 1981 on the group's Threshold record label. It was the group's first album featuring keyboardist Patrick Moraz in place of co-founder Mike Pinder, who left after Octave in 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Thomas</span> British musician (1941–2018)

Raymond Thomas was an English musician, singer and songwriter. He was best known as a founding member of the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues. His flute solo on the band's 1967 hit single "Nights in White Satin" is regarded as one of progressive rock's defining moments. In 2018, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues.

<i>The Other Side of Life</i> 1986 studio album by the Moody Blues

The Other Side of Life is the twelfth studio album by English progressive rock band the Moody Blues, released in April 1986 by Polydor Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graeme Edge</span> British musician (1941–2021)

Graeme Charles Edge 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 the bandleader of his own outfit, the Graeme Edge Band. He contributed his talents to a variety of other projects throughout his career. In 2018, Edge was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues.

<i>The Present</i> (Moody Blues album) 1983 studio album by The Moody Blues

The Present is the eleventh album by the Moody Blues, released in 1983. This was the group's last original studio album to be released on their custom label, Threshold Records.

<i>Sur la Mer</i> 1988 studio album by The Moody Blues

Sur la Mer is the thirteenth album by the Moody Blues. It was released in 1988. It features the hit single "I Know You're Out There Somewhere", a sequel to their 1986 hit "Your Wildest Dreams". Much of the music on the album would fit in the "synthpop" genre, though it does incorporate more rock and acoustic influences than its predecessor.

<i>Strange Times</i> (Moody Blues album) 1999 studio album by The Moody Blues

Strange Times is the fifteenth and penultimate studio album by the rock band the Moody Blues, released in 1999. The sound features mostly acoustic guitar, slightly processed electric guitar, light organ, flute, and string arrangements, with heavy synthesizer use in the fast-paced opening track, "English Sunset". This was the last Moody Blues album to feature longtime flautist and vocalist Ray Thomas.

<i>December</i> (The Moody Blues album) 2003 studio album by The Moody Blues

December is the sixteenth and final studio album by the Moody Blues. It is their first studio album since The Magnificent Moodies in 1965 to feature cover songs in addition to original material. In the time between the band only released one cover on record, "This Is the Moment" on the 1994 Time Traveller box set. It is also their only album to be recorded and released following the departure of Ray Thomas.

"Legend of a Mind" is a song by the British progressive rock band the Moody Blues, and was written by the band's flautist Ray Thomas, who provides the lead vocals. "Legend of a Mind" was recorded in January 1968 and was first released on the Moody Blues' album In Search of the Lost Chord. Prominently featuring the Mellotron, it was the first song recorded for the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)</span> 1973 single by The Moody Blues

"I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" is a 1973 hit single by the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues, written by the band's bassist, John Lodge. It was first released in 1972 as the final track on the album Seventh Sojourn and was later released as a single in 1973, with "For My Lady" as its B-side. It was the second single released from Seventh Sojourn, with the first being "Isn't Life Strange", which was also written by Lodge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gemini Dream</span> 1981 single by The Moody Blues

"Gemini Dream" is a 1981 single by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It reached number 12 on the US Hot 100, as well as number 1 on the Canada RPM Top 100 Singles chart. It is ranked as the 28th biggest Canadian hit of 1981.

<i>Anthology</i> (The Moody Blues album) 1998 compilation album by The Moody Blues

Anthology is a compilation album by the progressive rock band the Moody Blues. It was released in the US on 20 October 1998. It was not released in the UK until 2001 under the title The Collection with different artwork but with the same tracks as the US release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Driftwood (Moody Blues song)</span> 1978 single by The Moody Blues

"Driftwood" is a 1978 single by the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues. It was the second single released from the album Octave, after "Steppin' in a Slide Zone". Written by Justin Hayward, "Driftwood" is a slow love ballad, in a similar manner to "Nights in White Satin" and "Never Comes the Day."

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (The Moody Blues album) 1989 compilation album by The Moody Blues

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by the progressive rock band the Moody Blues, released in 1989. The band recorded new versions of "Isn't Life Strange" and "Question" with orchestration by the London Symphony Orchestra. The arrangements were overseen by Anne Dudley, who also produced the recordings with Justin Hayward and John Lodge. In 1990, only a year after its original release, the album was re-released as Legend of a Band: The Story of the Moody Blues with different artwork to coincide with the release of the home video documentary of the same name.

<i>Gold</i> (The Moody Blues album) 2005 greatest hits album by The Moody Blues

Gold is a compilation album by The Moody Blues, released in 2005 by Polydor Records as part of Polydor's Gold series.

References

  1. ↑ Connolly, Dave. Keys of the Kingdom at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
  2. ↑ Kampert, Patrick (11 July 1991). "The Moody Blues – Keys of the Kingdom". Chicago Tribune .
  3. ↑ DiMartino, Dave (23 August 1991). "Keys of the Kingdom Review". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 21 December 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "The Moody Blues – Keys of the Kingdom Lyrics". Webwriter.f2s.com. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  5. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1629". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  6. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Moody Blues – Keys of the Kingdom" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  7. ↑ "The Moody Blues | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  8. ↑ "The Moody Blues Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.