The Moody Blues album “Long Distance Voyager” was my introduction to progressive rock, the start of a long love affair with prog*.
* “prog” is short for “progressive”. Prog rock is characterized by bombastic, intricate instrumental numbers with poetic lyrics, very long songs. Well known “prog” bands include Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Kansas, and Pink Floyd.
I’m not sure what inspired me to purchase this album. I really liked the lead song, “The Voice”, and maybe it was available on Columbia House and I went for it. I’m glad I did.
“Long Distance Voyager” was released in May 1981, near the end of the 15 year long run of concept albums like “Pet Sounds”, “Dark Side of the Moon”, and “The Wall”.
LDV is not really a concept album but it definitely has a consistent feeling to it. A lot of albums were and continue to be 10-12 songs released at the same time on the same media, and that’s about all the songs have in common.
The songs cover themes like love lost (“Talking Out of Turn”, “Meanwhile”) and growing old (“22,000 Days” and “Veteran Cosmic Rocker”) as well as being in a band (“Gemini Dream”, “Painted Smile”).
What I loved about the album is how it flowed. The songs don’t necessarily connect directly (although the last two do) but you can just listen to the album straight through without any jarring transitions. I like that.
This is a detailed look at Long Distance Voyager.
In the past few decades, I’ve delved deeper into prog rock and I really enjoy the genre. You can’t take it too seriously – the pomposity and grandeur are extreme at times – but you have to admire the musicianship and the writing and the sheer bravado to craft an album like “Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of the War of the Worlds” (featuring Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues!), Genesis’ The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, or Jethro Tull’s Aqualung.
There’s nothing like a good 8 or 10 minute long song to really bring out the instrumental runs and kill any hope of making a radio hit!
Anyway, if you haven’t heard “Long Distance Voyager”, maybe you should stream it and enjoy the flow.
P.S. check out the Voyager spacecraft on the album cover!
Hey Steve, this post brings back a lot of memories for me! I remember when my older brother brought home Long Distance Voyager on 8-track, and the first time I snuck in his bedroom, when he was gone of course, and listened to it with headphones, The Voice blew me away with that revolving keyboard melody, great stuff! My older brothers had stacks of 8-tracks and I listened to them all many times. To this day when I hear certain songs that were on those 8-tracks, I can tell you the spot the song cut out to change to another channel!
Thanks for the post!
Hey Sheldon, that’s the power of music, isn’t it? It transports you.
“The Voice” is such a great song. I always crank the volume when it comes on.
I remember listening to 8-tracks in our car. It’s been a few years!