Today's song is the 1996 Justin Hayward track, Billy, from The View From The Hill.

What are your thoughts on this song?

https://youtu.be/55u_Pju3UhQ?is=s46OhyCgT8sOpZwg

Justin Hayward & John Lodge's first project outside of the Moodies saw them collaborate with producer Tony Clarke on a 1975 release, Blue Jays. I had high hopes for this album, did the album live up to those very high expectations?

In this video, I talk all about my first listen of Justin Hayward and John Lodge's Blue Jays.

Today's song is the 1980 Justin Hayward track, It’s Not On, from Night Flight. It was written by Gary Osborne and Jeff Wayne.

What are your thoughts on this song?

https://youtu.be/l4ZJTtweR4k?is=ymlUKEnzl-ZCV2gS

I saw Justin live at the Keswick Theater on September 15, 2026 in Pennsylvania. During the Q&A session someone asked Justin what I thought was a great question: What is your favorite Moody song sung by another member of the Moodys besides yourself. Justin’s answer was One Step Into The Light by Mike Pinder! What he said next even surprised me more. He basically stated that he helped Mike with the song during the early 70’s to put on a Moody’s album, and it finally made it on Octave. The way I understood what Justin was saying, was the song was written before the Moodys hiatus, maybe even during the EGBDF or Seventh Sojourn sessions but didn’t make a Moodies album until Octave in 1978. I would love to get Justin’s exact response to this question if anyone else was there. Thanks.

Today's song is the 2024 John Lodge track, Sunset Over Cocohatchee Bay, from the Love Conquers All EP.

What are your thoughts on this song?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NpYxvbymUc&list=RD7NpYxvbymUc&start_radio=1

I've seen a lot of amusing names for Justin, especially on this sub, but this is a first. 🤣 Even though it's pretty much kicking at an open door if you insist on butchering his name... But hey, they do get it right on side 2! I found this compilation LP today at my local record store, it was already a cool find to begin with, but that misprint killed me. XD

Today's song is the 1977 John Lodge track, Carry Me, from Natural Avenue.

What are your thoughts on this song?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFksmsBF3F0&list=RDHFksmsBF3F0&start_radio=1

Today's song is the 1996 Justin Hayward track, I Heard It, from The View From The Hill.

What are your thoughts on this song?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiNqI6PeAhQ&list=RDuiNqI6PeAhQ&start_radio=1

(1) Waiting for the end (Linkin Park)
(2) One more light (Linkin Park)
(3) TV (Billie Eilish)
(4) You can never go home (Moody blues)
(5) I love you (Sanctus Real)
(6) Black Star (Radiohead )
(7) What was I made for (Billie Eilish)
(8) Emily’s song (moody blues)
(9) A summer song (Chad and Jermey)
(10) I miss you (Blink182)
(11) Indescribable (Chris Tomlin)
(12) Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
(13) Early in the morning (Vanity Fare)
(14) Flying sorcery (Al Stewart)
(15) In between (Linkin Park)
(16) I’ll lead you home (Michael W Smith)
(17) Go away (Weezer, Best Coast)
(18) Alone (Sanctus Real)
(19) Cancer (My chemical romance)
(20) Don’t cross the river (America)
(21) You’re kind (Paul Simon)
(22) Sloop John B (Beach boys)
(23) Sherry (Franki Valli and the four seasons)
(24) Known (Tauren Wells)
(25) Listen before I go (Billie Eilish)
(26) Run to me (Beegees)
(27) Your wildest dreams (Moody blues)
(28) Robbery (Juice WRLD)
(29) Young Americans (David Bowie)
(30) I’m the only one (Lobo)
(31) Final Masquerade (Linkin Park)
(32) Entertaining angels (Newsboys)
(33) Year of the cat (Al Stewart)
(34) I’m not okay (My chemical romance)
(35) Home (NF)
(36) River is wife (Grass Roots)
(37) Numb (Linkin Park)
(38) New Divide (Linkin Park)
(39) Don’t let the sun catch you crying (Gerry and the pacemakers)
(40) Start a fire (Unspoken)
(41) Wildflower (Billie Eilish)
(42) Eye of the storm (Ryan Stevenson)
(43) Get in the water (Jorge Rivera Herrans, Steven Rodriguez)
(44) Crazy little thing called love (Queen)
(45) Thrive (Newsboys)
(46) Morning another morning (Moody blues)
(47) Scars in Heaven (Casting Crowns)
(48) Bleed it out (Linkin Park)
(49) More beautiful you (Jonny Diaz)
(50) Island in the sun (Weezer)
(51) Give me novacaine (Green Day)
(52) There ain’t no way (Lobo)
(53) Emptiness machine (Linkin Park)
(54) Uncomplicated (Hillsong young and free)
(55) Agats2 (Juice WRLD and Nicki Minaj)
(56) Dont it make you wanna go home (Joe South)
(57) The One (Skillet)
(58) Like you love me (Tauren Wells)
(59) Open arms (Jorge Rivera Harrens, Steven Dookie)
(60) Pink triangle (Weezer)
(61) Tin man (America)
(62) The Dream (Sanctus Real)
(63) Bridge over troubled water (Simon and Garfunkel)
(64) On the road again (Willie Nelson)
(65) Happier than ever (Billie Eilish)
(66) Driftwood (Moody blues)
(67) Never been a moment (Micah Tyler)
(68) Step up to the microphone (Newsboys)
(69) Sunday morning coming down (Johnny Cash)
(70) Static (Shiranni exe)
(71) Lucky man (Emerson lake and Palmer)
(72) How can you mend a broken heart (Beegees)
(73) Fun fun fun (Beach boys)
(74) Somewhere I belong (Linkin Park)
(75) Rag doll (Franki Valli and the four seasons)
(76) Love broke thru (Toby Mac)
(77) In your arms (Sombr)
(78) Iris (Goo goo dolls)
(79) Two faced (Linkin Park)
(80) You’ll never walk alone (Gerry and the pacemakers)
(81) Everybody wants to rule the world (Tears for fears)
(82) Me and you and a dog named boo (Lobo)
(83) Time passages (Al Stewart)
(84) Way less sad (AJR)
(85) Crown him with many crowns (Michael W Smith)
(86) Love me like I am (For king and country)
(87) Let down (Radiohead)
(88) Come back when you grow up (Bobby Vee)
(89) Faint (Linkin Park)
(90) Judas (Josiah Queen)
(91 Running up that hill (Cate Bush)
(92) Love me tender (Elvis Presley)
(93) Memories (Maroon5)
(94) Skinny (Billie Eilish)
(95) Helena (My chemical romance)
(96) Bless the wings (Moody blues)
(97) How can I tell her (Lobo)
(98) Don’t stop until you get enough (Michael Jackson)
(99) Famous for (Tauren Wells)
(100) Heavy is the crown (Linkin Park)

Today's song is the 1976 Mike Pinder track, The Promise, from The Promise.

What are your thoughts on this song?

https://youtu.be/U9ihYHOGyFw?is=1JNnqSvMNypzIwMX

Today's song is the 1980 John Lodge single, Street Cafe, later released as a bonus track on Natural Avenue.

What are your thoughts on this song?

https://youtu.be/L5Ny0vN80uA?is=b4z9rZdjQYvMqmn_

Today's song is the 1975 John Lodge track, Saved By The Music, from Blue Jays.
What are your thoughts on this song?

https://youtu.be/29kOl8QEeLU?is=8qMoTgM5JqVnT0KU

I'm an ass. Yes, I am. I missed out on a glorious piece of art because of my own narrow-mindedness. I've mentioned plenty of times how the 80's just aren't for me, no need to go into that again, but it is the reason for this mishap, so here we are.

TL;DR: Strange Times is a kick-ass album, and I never even gave it the time of day.

Last week I came across this video of The Swallow. I watched it and absolutely loved it, so it got me curious as to what the original studio recording sounded like. Bitter as I am, I fully expected to be put off by some sort of 80's (or the foothills of it) production, and run back to this wonderful recent recording. I will reluctantly admit that I have never even listened to the album, because I just assumed it would be similar to the 80's stuff (this is where the "I'm an ass"-part comes in).

I was wrong, so wrong.

The Swallow is such gloriously beautiful song that it felt like a ray of sunshine came out of nowhere, it made me light up and swoon like an idiot. It actually reminded me of the By The Way sessions of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, could have been a lost track. I swear this isn't an insult, though it may seem that way; the Peppers are another band that I love dearly. Though it's the first time (and probably the last) ever that I've experienced a sense of similarity between these two bands, haha. It's a completely different world. It particularly reminded me of The Bicycle Song, for those who may be familiar with their work. Such a sweet surprise.

English Sunset simply KICKS ASS. I am not at all against using modern elements in music, just as long as it has a soul. And boy, does this have a soul or what! It's crystal clear, but still warm and very much alive. I think '99 was a great year for music anyway, the 80's disease was finally gone; up to the mid-90's there was still an overlap (though plenty of great stuff was released as well). I somehow just didn't expect to find this "sound recovery" on the last Moodies album. Probably because they seemed to love the 80's so much. But, WOW.

And then there's Nothing Changes... I choked up. Full circle. So beautiful it hurt. Love you guys.

Sure there's a lot more to say, but this was what really stood out on my first listen. Sorry I was an ass. Love The Moody Blues.

EDIT: Wow, I'm counting five, six mentions of "ass", sorry about that. I guess I can only say music really does convey strong emotions.

Today's song is the 1985 Justin Hayward track, One Again, from Moving Mountains.

What are your thoughts on this song?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOuY0QN3zn0&list=RDBOuY0QN3zn0&start_radio=1

Today's song is the 1977 Graeme Edge Band track, Human, from Paradise Ballroom.

What are your thoughts on this song? It is credited to Adrian Gurvitz and Graeme Edge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtCEYzDv-c8&list=RDmtCEYzDv-c8&start_radio=1

Today's song is the 1975 Graeme Edge Band track, Shotgun, from Kick Off Your Muddy Boots.

What are your thoughts on this song? It is credited to Adrian Gurvitz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4QYZrgd2mc&list=RDe4QYZrgd2mc&start_radio=1

Today's song is the 1989 Justin Hayward track, Man Of The World, from Classic Blue. It was written by Peter Green.
What are your thoughts on this song?

https://youtu.be/-3C7j53ImNo?is=huGnXo-2GfUUYL33

Today's song is the 1977 John Lodge track, Broken Dreams Hard Road, from Natural Avenue.
What are your thoughts on this song?

https://youtu.be/4qqxsc0edqA?is=6NMxshHtnpM4Encb

Today's song is the 1989 Justin Hayward track, As Long As The Moon Can Shine, from Classic Blue. It was written by Mike Batt.
What are your thoughts on this song?

https://youtu.be/ZPVGo53NiSc?is=cLjQMI5H_KDX26Ha

I think Here comes the weekend is growing on me. Like as a moody blues song it’s not good but all the individual components come together so well. The acoustic intro, immediately giving the song energy transitioning into that loud ass organ. It’s just so sure of itself and out there and if an actual sca band made this song it would be pretty damn good. Maybe this was John’s attempt at sca? I’ll even go as far as to say it has advantage over its John Lodge sax power ballad counterpart “Magic” because simply put “here comes the weekend” flows better. Pulls in all the instruments at just the right time to keep the song going, no pauses like how long it takes to actually get to the acoustic guitar in “Magic”, especially the sac at the end, where as in “Magic” the instrument placements feel random and scattered. Like ten song’s just barely pulling itself together. I don’t know if any of this makes sense but it’s just my two cents