Legend of a Mind
Encyclopedia
"Legend of a Mind" is a song by the British progressive rock
band The Moody Blues
, and was written by the band's flautist Ray Thomas
, who provides the lead vocals. "Legend of a Mind" was recorded in January 1968 and was first released on the Moody Blues' album In Search of the Lost Chord
. It was the first song recorded for the album.
The original promotional black-and-white film for the song was filmed on location at Groot-Bijgaarden Castle near Brussels
in Belgium
.
The song's lyrics are about 1960s LSD icon Timothy Leary
. Leary was an advocate for the use of LSD
, enjoying its "spiritual" benefits, with one of his catchphrases being "Turn on, tune in, drop out
." The song's lyrics describe both Leary and the effects of LSD, such as:
as well as:
"Legend of a Mind" is one of the Moody Blues' longer songs, lasting about six and a half minutes (although it is not quite as long as "Nights in White Satin
," which is seven and a half minutes). The song also features a flute solo by Ray Thomas, lasting about two minutes in the middle.
During the 1980s, Thomas and keyboardist Patrick Moraz
(who joined the band in 1978, replacing Mike Pinder
) modified the live performance of the song by composing a flute and keyboard duet as part of the flute solo. The flute and keyboard duet on "Legend of a Mind" was sometimes the most popular part of The Moody Blues concerts, and Ray Thomas often received a standing ovation at the end of the flute solo for his performance. Even after Moraz left the band in 1991, the flute and keyboard duet continued to be performed as part of the song with session-musician Bias Boshell
playing the keyboard. The full live recording of the song can be found on the deluxe edition of their live album A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.
"Legend of a Mind" has not been performed live since Ray Thomas
retired from the band in 2002.
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....
, and was written by the band's flautist Ray Thomas
Ray Thomas
Ray Thomas is an English musician, best known as the flautist and as a singer and composer in the rock band, The Moody Blues.-Career:...
, who provides the lead vocals. "Legend of a Mind" was recorded in January 1968 and was first released on the Moody Blues' album In Search of the Lost Chord
In Search of the Lost Chord
-2006 SACD Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks:In Search of the Lost Chord was remastered into SACD in March 2006 and repackaged into a 2 CD Deluxe Edition.Extra tracks on the Deluxe Edition are:#"Departure" – 0:55...
. It was the first song recorded for the album.
The original promotional black-and-white film for the song was filmed on location at Groot-Bijgaarden Castle near Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
The song's lyrics are about 1960s LSD icon Timothy Leary
Timothy Leary
Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
. Leary was an advocate for the use of LSD
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
, enjoying its "spiritual" benefits, with one of his catchphrases being "Turn on, tune in, drop out
Turn on, tune in, drop out
"Turn on, tune in, drop out" is a counterculture phrase popularized by Timothy Leary in 1967. Leary spoke at the Human Be-In, a gathering of 30,000 hippies in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and uttered the famous phrase, "Turn on, tune in, drop out". In a 1988 interview with Neil Strauss, Leary...
." The song's lyrics describe both Leary and the effects of LSD, such as:
He'll fly his astral plane
Takes you trips around the bay
Brings you back the same day
as well as:
He'll take you up,
He'll bring you down.
He'll plant your feet back firmly on the ground.
He flies so high,
He swoops so low.
He knows exactly which way he's gonna go.
"Legend of a Mind" is one of the Moody Blues' longer songs, lasting about six and a half minutes (although it is not quite as long as "Nights in White Satin
Nights in White Satin
"Nights in White Satin" is a 1967 single by The Moody Blues, written by Justin Hayward and first featured on the album Days of Future Passed.It is in the key of E minor Aeolian.-Single releases:...
," which is seven and a half minutes). The song also features a flute solo by Ray Thomas, lasting about two minutes in the middle.
During the 1980s, Thomas and keyboardist 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...
(who joined the band in 1978, replacing 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...
) modified the live performance of the song by composing a flute and keyboard duet as part of the flute solo. The flute and keyboard duet on "Legend of a Mind" was sometimes the most popular part of The Moody Blues concerts, and Ray Thomas often received a standing ovation at the end of the flute solo for his performance. Even after Moraz left the band in 1991, the flute and keyboard duet continued to be performed as part of the song with session-musician Bias Boshell
Bias Boshell
Tobias "Bias" Boshell is an English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the founder of folk rock band Trees.He was born in Wye, Kent, was educated at Bedales and the Royal College of Music...
playing the keyboard. The full live recording of the song can be found on the deluxe edition of their live album A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.
"Legend of a Mind" has not been performed live since Ray Thomas
Ray Thomas
Ray Thomas is an English musician, best known as the flautist and as a singer and composer in the rock band, The Moody Blues.-Career:...
retired from the band in 2002.
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...
: acoustic guitar, backing vocals - John Lodge: bass guitar, backing vocals
- Mike PinderMike PinderMichael 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...
: mellotron, backing vocals - 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:...
: vocals, flute - 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, tablaTablaThe tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...