Gemini Dream
Encyclopedia
"Gemini Dream" is a 1981 single by the progressive rock
band The Moody Blues
. It reached #12 in the U.S. charts
. It was the first single released from their 1981 album Long Distance Voyager
, which also included "Painted Smile
," another track from the album, on the B-side. Two more songs from Long Distance Voyager, "The Voice
" and "Talking Out of Turn
", were subsequently released as singles after the album's release.
"Gemini Dream" was written jointly by the band's lead guitarist Justin Hayward
and bassist John Lodge, both of whom won an ASCAP songwriting award for it. While Hayward and Lodge had collaborated on a duet album outside of the Moody Blues in 1975 called Blue Jays
, "Gemini Dream" was the first song performed by the Moody Blues that they had written together.
"Gemini Dream" is also notable for the fact that it was the first Moody Blues single to feature Patrick Moraz
on keyboards. Moraz had replaced the original keyboardist Mike Pinder
, who left the band shortly after completion of their previous album Octave
for personal reasons. Moraz was hired to take Pinder's place in time for the Moody Blues 1979 "Octave World Tour." After the tour, Moraz was then retained as a permanent member of the band, and he recorded with the Moody Blues up until 1991.
"Gemini Dream" was also the first Moody Blues single released on Polydor Records
, who had recently acquired Decca Records
. Decca had been the Moody Blues previous record label.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
. It reached #12 in the U.S. charts
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It was the first single released from their 1981 album Long Distance Voyager
Long Distance Voyager
Long Distance Voyager is the tenth album by the British rock band The Moody Blues, first released in May 1981. on the group's Threshold record label...
, which also included "Painted Smile
Painted Smile
"Painted Smile" is a 1981 song by the English progressive rock band The Moody Blues, first appearing on their 1981 album Long Distance Voyager. It was later released on the B-Side of "Gemini Dream."...
," another track from the album, on the B-side. Two more songs from Long Distance Voyager, "The Voice
The Voice (The Moody Blues song)
"The Voice" is the second single released from The Moody Blues' 1981 album Long Distance Voyager. The song continued the success of previous single "Gemini Dream", becoming a Top 40 hit on the US pop chart, where it peaked at #15 in September 1981. The song had previously topped the Billboard Top...
" and "Talking Out of Turn
Talking Out of Turn
"Talking Out of Turn" is a 1981 single by the English progressive rock band The Moody Blues, and it was the third and final single released from their 1981 album Long Distance Voyager...
", were subsequently released as singles after the album's release.
"Gemini Dream" was written jointly by the band's lead guitarist Justin Hayward
Justin Hayward
Justin Hayward is an English musician, best known as singer, songwriter and guitarist in the rock band The Moody Blues.Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England...
and bassist John Lodge, both of whom won an ASCAP songwriting award for it. While Hayward and Lodge had collaborated on a duet album outside of the Moody Blues in 1975 called Blue Jays
Blue Jays (album)
Blue Jays is a 1975 album by Justin Hayward & John Lodge. It was recorded and released during the Moody Blues' five-year hiatus.The track "Blue Guitar", originally released as a non-album single credited to Hayward & Lodge in September 1975 but performed by Hayward with the band 10cc, was added to...
, "Gemini Dream" was the first song performed by the Moody Blues that they had written together.
"Gemini Dream" is also notable for the fact that it was the first Moody Blues single to feature Patrick Moraz
Patrick Moraz
Patrick Philippe Moraz is a progressive rock keyboard player. He is best known as the keyboardist for the progressive rock band Yes, from 1974 to 1976, and the Moody Blues from 1978 to 1991...
on keyboards. Moraz had replaced the original keyboardist Mike Pinder
Mike Pinder
Michael Thomas "Mike" Pinder is an English rock musician, and is a founding member or the British rock group, the Moody Blues. He left the group following the recording of the band's album, Octave, in 1978...
, who left the band shortly after completion of their previous album Octave
Octave (album)
Octave is the ninth album by The Moody Blues, and their first release after a substantial hiatus following the success of the best-selling Seventh Sojourn in 1972. The album proved to be the last for the group with keyboardist Mike Pinder, who departed during the album's sessions, and declined an...
for personal reasons. Moraz was hired to take Pinder's place in time for the Moody Blues 1979 "Octave World Tour." After the tour, Moraz was then retained as a permanent member of the band, and he recorded with the Moody Blues up until 1991.
"Gemini Dream" was also the first Moody Blues single released on Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
, who had recently acquired Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
. Decca had been the Moody Blues previous record label.
Personnel
- Justin HaywardJustin HaywardJustin Hayward is an English musician, best known as singer, songwriter and guitarist in the rock band The Moody Blues.Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England...
: electric guitar, vocals - John Lodge: bass guitar, vocals
- Patrick MorazPatrick MorazPatrick Philippe Moraz is a progressive rock keyboard player. He is best known as the keyboardist for the progressive rock band Yes, from 1974 to 1976, and the Moody Blues from 1978 to 1991...
: keyboards - Ray ThomasRay ThomasRay Thomas is an English musician, best known as the flautist and as a singer and composer in the rock band, The Moody Blues.-Career:...
: backing vocals - Graeme EdgeGraeme EdgeGraeme Charles Edge is best known as the drummer and a songwriter for the Moody Blues, but has also led his own outfit, the Graeme Edge Band.-Biography:...
: drums, percussion