1970: Una cuestión de equilibrio con los Moody Blues

Contenido de esta entrada:

Introducción

Lanzamiento del álbum

Enlaces, letras y opinión personal

Artículo anterior de Moody Blues: 1969: A los hijos de nuestros hijos

Artículo siguiente de Moody Blues: 1971: Mi, Sol, Si, Re, Fa con los Moody Blues

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Portada del álbum A question of balance

Introducción

En un anterior artículo continuamos la historia de los Moody Blues con la publicación de su quinto álbum To Our Children's Children's Children  y la repercusión que tuvo.

Este artículo lo dedicamos a su siguiente álbum (el sexto):  A Question of Balance. 

En enero 2022 estará disponible el nuevo álbum de John Lodge

El grupo se encuentra en etapa de metamorfosis y su siguiente álbum A Question of Balance  supone un punto de inflexión.  Empiezan a reducir a la hora de grabar las canciones de la técnica de la sobregración, reduciendo el número de instrumentos que incluyen en ellas, de manera que sea más fácil interpretarlos en directo, haciendo más pesado su sonido. Justin Hayward comenzó una ingeniosa exploración del tono de la guitarra a través del uso de numerosos pedales de efectos y fuzzboxes y desarrolló para sí mismo un sonido de solo de guitarra muy melódico. Los Moody Blues ya se habían convertido en un grupo que encabeza el cartel de los conciertos por propio derecho. Aparecieron dos veces en el famoso Festival de la Isla de Wight (se ha lanzado un DVD de su actuación de 1970). 

THE MOODY BLUES -- Live at the Isle Of Wight Festival -- 1970.avi - YouTube

Imagen completa de la portada

Lanzamiento del álbum

 A Question of Balance  fue lanzado el 7 de agosto de 1970 en el Reino Unido y en septiembre de 1970 en los Estados Unidos. Alcanzó el número uno en las listas británicas permaneciendo 19 semanas en lista y el numero tres en los Estados Unidos. Fue indicativo de su creciente éxito en Estados Unidos.

Pantallazo de las listas británicas

El álbum se vendió bien y fue bien recibido por la crítica. Ha conseguido certificarse platino por ventas superiores de 1.000.000 copias. La banda sigue celebrando el 50 aniversario de su lanzamiento.

 

Se extrajo un sencillo del álbum Question que se publicó el 24 de abril de 1970 en el Reino Unido sirviendo de adelanto y promoción del álbum. Como cara B se incluyó el tema Candle Of Life de su anterior álbum. Alcanzó el número dos en las listas británicas permaneciendo 12 semanas recuperando el éxito perdido de anteriores sencillos. También se publicó en el mismo mes en Estados Unidos, aunque con una edición y mezcla diferente a la del álbum llegando al puesto 21 en el Billboard Hot 100. Esta versión eliminó muchos de las sobregrabaciones de Mellotron.

Pantallazo de las lista británica de sencillos.

En noviembre de 1970 se publicó en Francia el sencillo con la canción de Pinder Melancholy Man llegando al número 1 rivalizando con Question publicado en el mes de mayo anterior. En la cara B llevaba el tema Candle Of Life porque en el anterior Question se incluyo el tema Gipsy también del álbum anterior.

En marzo de 2006 el álbum fue completamente remasterizado en formato SACD y reempaquetado con nueve pistas extra. En 2008 se publicó una remasterización para CD de audio estándar con los mismos bonus tracks.

Contraportada del CD de 2006 mostrando los bonus track

Enlaces, letras y opinión personal

Enlace al álbum completo: The M̤o̤o̤d̤y̤ ̤ Blues -- A Q̤ṳe̤s̤t̤i̤o̤n̤ of Balance Full Album

CARA 1

A1  Question    5:43

((Escrita y cantada por – Justin Hayward)

Enlaces

The Moody Blues- Question

The Moody Blues - Question

The Moody Blues - Question (Subtitled)

Letras

Why do we never get an answer

When we're knocking at the door

With a thousand million questions

About hate and death and war?

'cause when we stop and look around us

There is nothing that we need.

In a world of persecution that is burning in its greed.

Why do we never get an answer

When we're knocking at the door?

Because the truth is hard to swallow

That's what the war of love is for.

It's not the way that you say it

When you do those things to me.

It's more the way that you mean it

When you tell me what will be.

And when you stop and think about it

You won't believe it's true.

That all the love you've been giving

Has all been meant for you.

I'm looking for someone to change my life.

I'm looking for a miracle in my life.

And if you could see what it's done to me

To lose the love I knew

Could safely lead me through.

Between the silence of the mountains

And the crashing of the sea

There lies a land I once lived in

And she's waiting there for me.

But in the grey of the morning

My mind becomes confused

Between the dead and the sleeping

And the road that I must choose.

I'm looking for someone to change my life.

I'm looking for a miracle in my life.

And if you could see what it's done to me

To lose the love I knew

Could safely lead me to

The land that I once knew.

To learn as we grow old

The secrets of our souls.

It's not the way that you say it

When you do those things to me.

It's more the way you really mean it

When you tell me what will be.

Why do we never get an answer

When we're knocking at the door

With a thousand million questions

About hate and death and war?

When we stop and look around us

There is nothing that we need.

In a world of persecution that is burning in its greed.

Videos

Actuación en la televisión francesa en 1970

Moody Blues - Question (1970) - YouTube

Actuación en Red Rocks en 1982 acompañados de una orquesta.

Question The Moody Blues Live At Red Rocks - YouTube

En directo en el Royal Albert Hall en 1997:

Moody Blues - Question - Royal Albert Hall - YouTube

Mi opinión sobre la canción:

Bonita balada con buen fondo instrumental.

Portada del sencillo en Francia.

A2 How Is It (We Are Here)  2:48

(Escrita y cantada por – Mike Pinder)

Enlaces

the moody blues - how is it ( we are here )

How Is It (We Are Here)

Moody Blues: How Is It (We Are Here)?

The Moody Blues - How Is It (We Are Here)

The Moody Blues How is it we are here (Subtitulos-Español/Ingles)

Letras

How is it we are here, on this path we walk,

In this world of pointless fear, filled with empty talk,

Descending from the apes as scientist-priests all think,

Will they save us in the end, we're trembling on the brink.

Men's mighty mine-machines digging in the ground,

Stealing rare minerals where they can be found.

Concrete caves with iron doors, bury it again,

While a starving frightened world fills the sea with grain.

Her love is like a fire burning inside,

Her love is so much higher it can't be denied,

She sends us her glory, it's always been there,

Her love's all around us, it's there for you and me to share.

Men's mighty mine-machines digging in the ground,

Stealing rare minerals where they can be found.

Concrete caves with iron doors, bury it again,

While a starving frightened world fills the sea with grain.

How is it we are here

How is it we are here

How is it we are here

Mi opinión sobre la canción:

Bonita balada

A3 And the Tide Rushes In    2:57

(Escrita y cantada por – Ray Thomas)

Enlaces

the moody blues- the tide rushes in

And The Tide Rushes In

And The Tide Rushes In

Moody Blues: The Tide Rushes In

Moody Blues - As The Tide Rushes In - Lyrics

Letras

I've been searching for my dream

A hundred times today

I build them up, you knock them down,

Like they were made of clay,

Then the tide rushes in

And washes my castles away.

Then I'm really not so sure

Which side of the bed I should lay,

I should lay...

You keep looking for someone

To tell your troubles to,

I'll sit down and lend an ear

Yet I hear nothing new.

Then the tide rushes in

And washes my castles away.

Then I'm really not so sure

Which side of the bed I should lay,

I should lay...

Blackbird sitting in a tree

Observing what's below

Acorns falling to the ground,

He'll stay and watch them grow.

Mi opinión sobre la canción:

Canción con aires folk con buen fondo de teclados.

A4 Don't You Feel Small   2:40

(Escrita por – Graeme Edge Cantada por - Hayward, Thomas, Pinder, John Lodge; silbido Edge)

Enlaces

Don't You Feel Small

Don't You Feel Small

the moody blues don't you feel small

Moody Blues: Don't You Feel Small

Don't You Feel Small

Letras

Ask the mirror on the wall

Who's the biggest fool of all,

Bet you feel small,

It happens to us all.

See the world

Ask what's it for,

Understanding, nothing more,

Don't you feel small,

It happens to us all.

Time is now to spread your voice,

Time's to come there'll be no choice,

Why do you feel small,

It happens to us all.

Look at progress,

Then count the cost,

We'll spoil the seas

With the rivers we've lost.

See the writing on the wall,

Hear the mirror's warning call.

That's why you feel small,

It happens to us all.

Ask the mirror on the wall

Who's the biggest fool of all,

Bet you feel small,

It happens to us all.

Videos

The Moody Blues Don't you feel small - Subtitulos Español - YouTube

Mi opinión sobre la canción:

Buena conjunción de voces. Temas también de aires folk gracias a la flauta.

A5 Tortoise and the Hare   3:23

(Escrita y cantada por – John Lodge)

Enlaces

Tortoise And The Hare

Moody Blues: Tortoise and The Hare

Tortoise And The Hare

The Moody Blues - Tortoise And The Hare

The Moody Blues A Question Of Balance 05 Tortoise and the Hare

Letras

You know he's moving fast,

Be he's still going slow,

He's ahead in the race,

And there is not far to go,

And your load is so heavy

And your legs want to rest.

It's all right, it's all right, it's all right.

You think he's way up in front

But he's so far behind.

He's asleep in the grass,

And he's run out of time.

While your load was so heavy

You never wanted to stop.

It's all right, it's all right, it's all right.

Your friend is heavy

But he was ready

And never stopped for a while

And while you were sleeping

He went on keeping the final line in his mind.

It's all right, it's all right, it's all right.

It's all right, it's all right, it's all right.

Your friend is heavy

But he was ready

And never stopped for a while

And while you were sleeping

He went on keeping the final line in his mind.

It's all right, it's all right, it's all right.

It's all right, it's all right, it's all right.

It's all right, it's all right, it's all right.

It's all right, it's all right, it's all right.

It's all right, it's all right, it's all right.

Videos

Moody Blues - Tortoise and the Hare (1970) - YouTube

The moody blues - Tortoise and the hare - YouTube

Mi opinión sobre la canción:

Canción animada como la carrera de la liebre.

CARA 2

B1  It's Up to You  3:11

(Escrita y cantada por – Justin Hayward)

Enlaces

The Moody Blues - It's Up To You

It's Up To You (Original Mix)

It's Up To You

It's Up To You The Moody Blues

It's Up To You

Letras

When the breeze between us calls, love comes and lingers into our lives,

And the leaves begin to fall, you point your finger at me.

I love you-

I love you-

In the sadness of your smile love is an island way out to sea,

But it seems so long ago we have been ready trying to be free.

And it's up to you,

Why won't you say?

Make our lives turn out this way.

If they knew, that we have got nothing to lose,

No reason to hide from what's true.

In the world of me and you

All is forgotten when we're inside

And the words that pass us by,

I am not listening, all of it's lies.

And it's up to you,

Why won't you say?

Make our lives turn out this way.

If they knew, that we have got nothing to lose,

No reason to hide from what's true,

That we have got nothing to lose.

Mi opinión sobre la canción:

Canción rockera.

B2 Minstrel's Song        4:27

(Escrita y cantada por – John Lodge)

Enlaces

Minstrel's Song (Original Mix)

Minstrel's Song

the moody blues minstrel's song

Minstrel's Song

Moody Blues-Minstrel's Song

Letras

Words a simple song

A minstrel sings

A way of life in his eyes

Hear the morning call of waking birds

When they are singing, bringing

Love - love.

Everywhere love is all around,

Everywhere love is all around.

Now the winter's gone

Cold wind has blown

The endless stream in our lives

Where the minstrel sings

This simple song

He's always bringing, singing,

Love - love.

Everywhere love is all around,

Everywhere love is all around.

Listen to the one

Who sings of love.

Follow our friend,

Our wandering friend,

Listen to the one,

Who sings of love.

Everywhere love is around,

Around, around.

Here the nations sing

Our minstrel's song,

As he walks by in their lives

Soon the spring will come,

And everyone will all be singing, bringing

Love - love

Everywhere love is all around,

Everywhere love is all around.

Listen to the one

Who sings of love.

Follow our friend,

Our wandering friend,

Listen to the one,

Who sings of love.

Everywhere love is around,

Around, around.

Mi opinión sobre la canción:

Buen tema con aires pop.

B3 Dawning Is the Day       4:22

(Escrita y cantada por – Justin Hayward)

Enlaces

Dawning Is The Day (Full Original Mix)

Dawning Is The Day

Dawning Is The Day ~ Moody Blues

Dawning Is The Day

Dawning Is The Day

Letras

Rise, let us see you,

Dawning is the day,

Miss, misty meadow,

You will find your way,

Wake up in the morning to yourself and leave this crazy life behind you.

Listen, we're trying to find you.

Flow to the sea,

You know where to go,

Still we are free,

No one tells the wind which way to blow.

Wake up in the morning to yourself,

Open your eyes and start to be you.

Listen, we think we can see you.

Baby there's no price upon your head,

Sing it, shout it.

Now the angry words have all been said.

Do it, don't doubt it.

So rise, let us see you,

Dawning is the day,

Miss, misty meadow,

You will find your way,

Wake up in the morning to yourself, open your head and look around you.

Listen, we think we have found you.

Mi opinión sobre la canción:

Bonita balada

B4 Melancholy Man    5:49

(Escrito y cantado por Mike Pinder) 

Enlaces

Melancholy Man

Melancholy Man

Melancholy Man

Moody Blues - Melancholy Man (1970)

The Moody Blues - Melancholy Man (Subtitulos Ingles/Español)

Letras

I'm a melancholy man, that's what I am,

All the world surrounds me, and my feet are on the ground.

I'm a very lonely man, doing what I can,

All the world astounds me and I think I understand

That we're going to keep growing, wait and see.

When all the stars are falling down

Into the sea and on the ground,

And angry voices carry on the wind,

A beam of light will fill your head

And you'll remember what's been said

By all the good men this world's ever known.

Another man is what you'll see,

Who looks like you and looks like me,

And yet somehow he will not feel the same,

His life caught up in misery, he doesn't think like you and me,

'Cause he can't see what you and I can see.

Mi opinión sobre la canción:

Bonita canción melancólica.

B5 The Balance   3:33

(Escrito por Graeme Edge, Ray Thomas recitado por Mike Pinder)

Enlaces

The Balance

Moody Blues - The Balance Lyrics

the moody blues -the balance

Letras

After he had journeyed,

And his feet were sore,

And he was tired,

He came upon an orange grove

And he rested

And he lay in the cool,

And while he rested, he took to himself an orange and tasted it,

And it was good.

And he felt the earth to his spine,

And he asked, and he saw the tree above him, and the stars,

And the veins in the leaf,

And the light, and the balance.

And he saw magnificent perfection,

Whereon he thought of himself in balance,

And he knew he was.

Just open your eyes,

And realize, the way it's always been.

Just open your mind

And you will find

The way it's always been.

Just open your heart

And that's a start.

And he thought of those he angered,

For he was not a violent man,

And he thought of those he hurt

For he was not a cruel man

And he thought of those he frightened

For he was not an evil man,

And he understood.

He understood himself.

Upon this he saw that when he was of anger or knew hurt or felt fear,

It was because he was not understanding,

And he learned, compassion.

And with his eye of compassion.

He saw his enemies like unto himself,

And he learned love.

Then, he was answered.

Just open your eyes,

And realize, the way it's always been.

Just open your mind

And you will find

The way it's always been.

Just open your heart

And that's a start.

Mi opinión sobre la canción:

Bonito final apoteósico para el álbum

Mi opinión personal sobre el álbum:

Disco que marca un cambio en el estilo. Es el primero que Mike Pinder utiliza el sintetizador Moog uniéndose al rock electrónico, con el que sustituyen los arreglos orquestales y los instrumentos adicionales que facilitan la interpretación del álbum en directo.

Créditos

Justin Hayward – voz principal y coros (1, 4, 6, 8), mandolina, guitarra eléctrica y acústica

John Lodge – voz principal y coros (4, 5, 7), bajo eléctrico

Ray Thomas – voz principal y coros (3, 4), flauta, pandereta

Graeme Edge – coros (4), batería, percusión

Mike Pinder – voz principal y coros (2, 4, 9, 10), Mellotron, sintetizador Moog, piano, clavecín, guitarra acústica, maracas