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Long Distance Voyager | 
| Artist: The Moody Blues
Label: Decca - Pop
Category: Music
List Price: £8.99
Buy New: £4.98
You Save: £4.01 (45%)
New (39) Used (8) from £3.57
Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 29878
Media: Audio CD
Running Time: 46
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 820105
UPC: 042282010520
EAN: 0042282010520
ASIN: B000001F5Y
Release Date: May 15, 1986
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | The Voice - The Moody Blues, New World Philharmonic | | • | Talking Out Of Turn - The Moody Blues, New World Philharmonic | | • | Gemini Dream - The Moody Blues, New World Philharmonic | | • | In My World | | • | Meanwhile | | • | 22,000 Days | | • | Nervous | | • | Painted Smile | | • | Reflective Smile | | • | Veteran Cosmic Rocker |
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| Customer Reviews:
 A satisfiying album that meets expectation; Moody Blues follower June 1, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Long Distance Voyager(1981)
The collection of Moody blues music stopped after the 1970's as it was felt that this was their most creative period, every track on the Albums by `Deram' and `Threshold', up to this time all fit together and are very familiar, without question all 7 albums deserve 5 star ratings. These 7 albums have been constantly played in vinyl and CD form throughout the past thirty years. If I was on a desert Island these are the albums that would be taken with me.
Only recently is it chosen to take another look at what The Moody Blues are producing after listening to `Blue Guitar', on a compilation Album "The Very Best of Moody Blues", even though it is off the 'Blue Jays', album, lent to me by a friend only recently. What a beautiful piece of work by Justin and made me realise that I should take another look at the bands progress.
The situation with Moody Blues Albums, after the expectations from the previous 7 albums, is that some of the tracks do not sound all that good on first listening. May be on the fifth time round, the familiar sound of the band becomes apparent and the tracks seem to flow together and fit in with the rest of the other albums in the collection.
The album opens with a reasuring, `The Voice', (Justin Hayward) which is in similar vein to `Ride my See-Saw', from the Album `In Search of a Lost Chord'. This then moves onto `Talking out of Turn', (Lodge) which although a ballad, works well with the rest of the album, with a very slight undertone of Motown with the strings section.
There would be difficulty in distinguishing `Gemini Dream' (Hayward/Lodge), although they can be forgiven, as a too similar sound to an ELO track. Justin then brings expectations back with another beautiful ballad and solo vocal with `In my World' with the familiar choral harmonies of the band and guitar solos that the band are well known for.
The track `Meanwhile' is not disappointing and fits in with the Moody Blues music that is familiar, with a deep rhythm and beat that progresses the album through to '22,000 Days' with the bands familiar harmonious vocals. None of the tracks seem out of place even `Nervous' which has a slight undertone of `ELO' again (Lodge), may be its just his voice that makes these tracks similar.
The welcoming rich voice of Ray Thomas, which makes the `Threshold of a Dream' spring back to memory and a reminder why this band is much loved, the tracks `Painted smile', `Reflective smile' and `Veteran Cosmic Rocker', flow into each other in a novel, happy sequence which adds additional colour to the conclusion of the album.
In conclusion: Age will have mellowed hard followers with high expectations of the band, realise the contribution that has been made by them and will not be dissapointed. Some of the tracks are as good as any previously composed in the 70's and the album is well worth collecting.
 one of their best December 20, 2005
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This album oozes with talent from all the band members. Justin, John, Ray and Graeme are all well represented here. Justin has the single 'the voice' that opens the album. It is a nice mid tempo song with subtle keyboards and acoustic guitars, but not a stand out. 'Talking out of turn' is a John ballad that has an excellent melody and nice orchestral overdubs. His voice is a little weak to be a stand out track though. 'Gemini dream' is the other single and is a collaboration between John and Justin. It is a fast paced keyboard orientated rocker. It is the only track where Moraz's synthesiser work threatens to take over. On their 1986 album 'the other side of life' this would have fit perfectly and been a stand out track. Here, it is mediocre.
The album really picks up after this and the rest of the songs are pure genius. 'In my world' is an instantly likeable Justin ballad. It is a really romantic soft song, awash with loads of acoustic guitars and a beautiful melody. An instant stand out. 'Meanwhile' is Justin's other contribution, which is a mid tempo folk ballad. It is also beautiful with nice lower vocal meldodies and a catchy chorus.
Graeme contributes '22,000 days'. It is an unorthodox but brilliant song. It has a nice riff going and John's lead vocals are better suited here. The chorus is sung by Justin, John and Ray, with some really nice harmonica passages from Ray.
'Nervous' is a stand out John ballad. It is beautifully soft at the start, with some nice flute work from Ray. It almost becomes anthem like in the chorus part and the play out instrumental section is spectacular.
Ray is well represented on the last three tracks. 'Painted smile' is a familiar theme for Ray. It seems like a happy go lucky buncy song, much in the vain of 'Carousel' from his solo album. However, if one looks at the lyrics, it is a really deep song. Fantastic music and an interesting arrangement, away from the acoustic rhythm, bass, drums approach.
'Reflective smile' is a 30 secnd spoken passage, leading into what is possibly the best track on the album 'Veteran cosmic rocker'. An amazing melody, brilliant strong baritone vocals from Ray, and excellent eastern and rovky instrumental passages. This track most harks back to older Moody blues, with subtle sitars used, which can be heard right at the end of the album.
A fantastic album, which really shows the band had not lost the talent from the crucial first seven albums.
The album that introduced the Moodies to a new generation October 30, 2001
23 out of 24 found this review helpful
This is the first Moody Blues album without founder-member Mike Pinder on keyboards, with those duties taken by Patrick Moraz, and it hailed a new beginning for the band. Far less involved with the mysticism that had dominated their earlier albums, the songs on this album are good quality AOR songs that reflect a more mature and down-to-earth frame of mind.
Stand out tracks for me are Justin Hayward's 'The Voice' and 'In My World' and Ray Thomas' closing trilogy of 'Painted Smile', 'Reflective Smile' and 'Veteran Cosmic Rocker', which shows that the Moodies can at least take a joke! The album also includes one of my least favourite Moodies song, 'Gemini Dream', but you can't have everything.
The Moodies trademarks, i.e. rich harmonies, strong melodies and excellent musicianship are all evident throughout. If you only know the band from 'Nights In White Satin', or you stopped listening to them in the 70's, you won't go far wrong by re-acquainting yourself with the Moody Blues via this album.
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