On the Threshold of a Dream
Encyclopedia
On the Threshold of a Dream is the fourth album by The Moody Blues
, released on the Deram label in 1969. It was their last album to be released by the band before they formed their own record label, Threshold
, to be distributed by Decca Records
.
Like the band's preceding two albums, On the Threshold of a Dream follows a concept
. The album explores dreams, especially on the second side, which climaxes with the "Voyage" suite, inspired in part by Strauss
' Also sprach Zarathrustra
. The piece, by Mike Pinder
, features mellotron
orchestration and flute. The album begins with a poem accompanied by electronic sounds, and similar sounds finish the album as well; LP editions of the album were pressed to continue these sounds into the album's run-out groove, causing them to play continuously until the record player's tonearm is lifted. (Tape and CD versions of the album end with these sounds slowly faded out.)
On The Threshold of a Dream provided The Moody Blues with their first British #1 album, and also increased their American fortunes by becoming their first Top 20 album there. The album also enjoyed lengthy stays in both album charts. Ironically, its one and only single, "Never Comes the Day
", was a commercial flop.
In March 2006 the album was completely remastered into SACD
format and repackaged with nine extra tracks.
In 2008 a remaster for standard audio CD was issued with the same bonus tracks
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....
, released on the Deram label in 1969. It was their last album to be released by the band before they formed their own record label, Threshold
Threshold Records
Threshold Records was a record label created by The Moody Blues, after their 1969 album On the Threshold of a Dream.It was a UK subsidiary of Decca Records and a U.S. subsidiary of London Records...
, to be distributed by 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....
.
Like the band's preceding two albums, On the Threshold of a Dream follows a concept
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
. The album explores dreams, especially on the second side, which climaxes with the "Voyage" suite, inspired in part by Strauss
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
' Also sprach Zarathrustra
Also sprach Zarathustra (Richard Strauss)
Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 is a tone poem by Richard Strauss, composed in 1896 and inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical treatise of the same name. The composer conducted its first performance on 27 November 1896 in Frankfurt...
. The piece, by 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...
, features mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
orchestration and flute. The album begins with a poem accompanied by electronic sounds, and similar sounds finish the album as well; LP editions of the album were pressed to continue these sounds into the album's run-out groove, causing them to play continuously until the record player's tonearm is lifted. (Tape and CD versions of the album end with these sounds slowly faded out.)
On The Threshold of a Dream provided The Moody Blues with their first British #1 album, and also increased their American fortunes by becoming their first Top 20 album there. The album also enjoyed lengthy stays in both album charts. Ironically, its one and only single, "Never Comes the Day
Never Comes the Day
"Never Comes the Day" is a 1969 single by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was written by band member Justin Hayward, and was the only single released from their 1969 album On the Threshold of a Dream. Despite the fact that the album was a number-one hit in the UK, "Never Comes the...
", was a commercial flop.
In March 2006 the album was completely remastered into SACD
Super Audio CD
Super Audio CD is a high-resolution, read-only optical disc for audio storage. Sony and Philips Electronics jointly developed the technology, and publicized it in 1999. It is designated as the Scarlet Book standard. Sony and Philips previously collaborated to define the Compact Disc standard...
format and repackaged with nine extra tracks.
In 2008 a remaster for standard audio CD was issued with the same bonus tracks
Side One
- "In the BeginningIn the Beginning (The Moody Blues song)"In the Beginning" is a 1969 song by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. Written by drummer Graeme Edge, it was released as the opening track on the album On the Threshold of a Dream....
" (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:...
) - 2:22 - "Lovely to See YouLovely to See You"Lovely to See You" is a 1969 song by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was written by the band's guitarist Justin Hayward, and was recorded and released in 1969 on the Moody Blues Album On the Threshold of a Dream....
" (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...
) - 2:33 - "Dear DiaryDear Diary (song)"Dear Diary" is a 1969 song by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. Written by the band's flautist Ray Thomas, "Dear Diary" was first released on the 1969 album On the Threshold of a Dream....
" (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:...
) - 3:55 - "Send Me No WineSend Me No Wine"Send Me No Wine" is a 1969 song by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. Written by the band's bassist John Lodge, "Send Me No Wine" was first released on the 1969 album On the Threshold of a Dream....
" (John Lodge) - 2:19 - "To Share Our LoveTo Share Our Love"To Share Our Love" is a 1969 song by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. Written by the band's bassist John Lodge, it was the sixth track from their 1969 album On the Threshold of a Dream....
" (Lodge) - 2:54 - "So Deep Within YouSo Deep Within You"So Deep Within You" is a 1969 song by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. Written by the band's keyboardist Mike Pinder, it was first released in April 1969 as the B-side to the single "Never Comes the Day." It was later released on the 1969 album On the Threshold of a Dream, which "Never...
" (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...
) - 3:01
Side Two
- "Never Comes the DayNever Comes the Day"Never Comes the Day" is a 1969 single by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was written by band member Justin Hayward, and was the only single released from their 1969 album On the Threshold of a Dream. Despite the fact that the album was a number-one hit in the UK, "Never Comes the...
" (Hayward) - 4:42 - "Lazy DayLazy Day (song)"Lazy Day" is a 1969 song by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was written by the band's flautist Ray Thomas, although he does not play flute on this particular song...
" (Thomas) - 2:42 - "Are You Sitting Comfortably?Are You Sitting Comfortably? (song)"Are You Sitting Comfortably?" is a 1969 song by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was written jointly by band members Justin Hayward and Ray Thomas. It was recorded and released in 1969 on the Moody Blues Album On the Threshold of a Dream....
" (Hayward, Thomas) - 3:29 - "The Dream" (Edge) - 0:57
- "Have You Heard (Part 1)Have You Heard (The Moody Blues song)"Have You Heard" is a 1969 song by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. Written by the band's keyboardist Mike Pinder, "Have You Heard" is actually a two-part song, and both parts were recorded and released in 1969 on the Moody Blues Album On the Threshold of a Dream.Both parts of "Have You...
" (Pinder) - 1:40 - "The VoyageThe Voyage (song)"The Voyage" is an instrumental song by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It is the second song in a three-part suite that concludes their 1969 album On the Threshold of a Dream...
" (Pinder) - 3:58 - "Have You Heard (Part 2)Have You Heard (The Moody Blues song)"Have You Heard" is a 1969 song by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. Written by the band's keyboardist Mike Pinder, "Have You Heard" is actually a two-part song, and both parts were recorded and released in 1969 on the Moody Blues Album On the Threshold of a Dream.Both parts of "Have You...
" (Pinder) - 2:32
2006 SACD Expanded Edition Tracks (also 2008 remaster)
Bonus tracks on the SACD version:- "In The Beginning (Full Version)" (Edge) - 3:28
- "So Deep Within You (Extended Version)" (Pinder) - 3:30
- "Dear Diary (Alternate Vocal Mix)" (Thomas) - 4:05
- "Have You Heard (Original Take)" (Pinder) - 3:53
- "The Voyage (Original Take)" (Pinder) - 4:20
- "Lovely To See You (BBC Top Gear Session 18 February 1969)" (Hayward) - 2:26
- "Send Me No Wine (BBC Top Gear Session 18 February 1969)" (Lodge) - 2:40
- "So Deep Within You (BBC Tony BrandonTony BrandonTony Brandon is a British radio presenter and comedian.-Early career:Brandon originally worked on television and abroad as a comedian...
Session 2/4/69)" (Pinder) - 3:08
- "Are You Sitting Comfortably (BBC Tony BrandonTony BrandonTony Brandon is a British radio presenter and comedian.-Early career:Brandon originally worked on television and abroad as a comedian...
Session 2/4/69)" (Hayward, Thomas) - 3:39
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
1 |
| 1969 | Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
20 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | "Never Comes the Day Never Comes the Day "Never Comes the Day" is a 1969 single by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was written by band member Justin Hayward, and was the only single released from their 1969 album On the Threshold of a Dream. Despite the fact that the album was a number-one hit in the UK, "Never Comes the... " |
Billboard Hot 100 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... |
91 |
Personnel
- Justin Hayward: vocals, guitar
- John Lodge: vocals, bass, cello
- Ray Thomas: vocals, harmonica, flute, tambourine
- Graeme Edge: drums, percussion, vocals
- Mike Pinder: vocals, mellotron, Hammond organ, piano, cello
- Phil Travers: cover art-work