ARTIST: The Moody Blues 
TITLE: In Search of the Lost Chord
YEAR RELEASED: 1968
CHART ACTION: #23 US, #5 UK
SINGLES: Voices in the Sky (#27 UK), Ride My See-Saw (#61 US, #42 UK
OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: Legend of a Mind
LINEUP: Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas, Graeme Edge
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: The Moodys follow up their breakthrough with a very well arranged and played album that contains quite a bit of late 60’s philosophical hooey.
SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: Ditching the orchestra and using Mike Pinder’s mellotron and Roy Thomas’ windwoods for that ‘orchestra’ feel, The Moody Blues create a well-crafted album with great pop and rock elements.
“Ride My See-Saw” is first rate, and “Dr. Livingstone I Presume”, “The Best Way to Travel”, “Voices in the Sky”, and “Legend of a Mind” are great examples of a meld of progressive ideas in rock-and-roll. They share the stage with some tracks that are a bit…outlandish…and of that time. (I’m looking at you “House of Four Doors” and “Om”).
The lyrics are definitely of a time and place. Tributes to Timothy Leary and going to another plane of conscious thought (I guess) abound. Really, it’s best to kind of realize that this was a 1968 record for 1968 heads, and enjoy the tunes for what they are.
NOTES & MINUTIAE: The title was inspired by a Jimmy Durante song.
IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: Yes, many with bonus tracks and other content.
GRADE A-: It’s sometimes ridiculous, but mostly enjoyable, and definitely transports you to 1968, man.
